No-Curry Warriors handle Rockets in series that looks over at 2-0
The most succinct take on Monday’s Game 2 between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets came shortly after the second-quarter buzzer. With the Warriors up 66-58 despite not dressing presumptive back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry due to a right ankle injury, veteran wing Andre Iguodala met CSN Bay Area’s Ros Gold-Onwude for the channel’s halftime interview.
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He proceeded to compare a playoff game to a scrimmage:
Now, to be fair, Iguodala pretty clearly meant that the experience of playing without Curry was similar to what he goes through in practice, when he usually plays without the league’s top scorer and shooter. Nevertheless, a number of viewers and fans on social media took his words as a description of the Rockets and the style of Game 2. And it’s hard to blame them, because Iguodala inadvertently captured the feeling of the matchup. The Warriors controlled this game and their opponent with an ease that’s rarely associated with the intensity of playoff basketball. The 115-106 win improved Golden State’s series lead to 2-0, but it also appeared to confirm that Houston lacks the focus to give the defending champions an honest challenge.
It’s hard to put any faith in the Rockets in large part because the dynamics of the matchup did not appear to change even with Curry out. The Warriors created shots in both transition and the halfcourt with relative ease, catching the Rockets on missed assignments and switches with enough regularity to feel like one or two missed opportunities would be replaced by several more chances in a matter of moments. Golden State shot 49.4 percent from the field (including a relatively poor 8-of-23 from deep) and 27-of-38 from the line, numbers that don’t communicate a high level of efficiency as much as an ability to get plenty of good looks. There was no point in the game at which the Warriors seemed unable to hold onto a lead or put themselves into a position to win. They encountered very little resistance.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
