Hoops Habit
Fansided

Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Game 2 vs. Rockets

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) attempts a shot over Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) in the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) attempts a shot over Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) in the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Golden State Warriors
Apr 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) and guard James Harden (13) walk down the court after the Rockets were called for a foul against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Rockets Are Done

Don’t get me wrong; It was incredibly impressive watching the Warriors handily win a playoff game without the league’s leading scorer. Thompson rose to the occasion, Iggy and Livingston continued to fulfill their roles and Draymond Green nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.

But if there’s one thing that we learned about this first round series Monday night, it’s that the goose of the Houston Rockets is completely and unequivocally cooked. In fact, it’s like they held that goose under an actual rocket right as it was about to launch and tried to cook it by just burning the s**t out of it. It’s singed black. Now a dinner alternative is needed.

Harden is still putting up decent raw numbers, but he’s never appeared to care less. Whether it’s his defense, his lack of chemistry with his teammates or the simple knowledge that he cannot overcome this insurmountable challenge from an all-time great team, the Beard looks incapable of doing anything more than maybe extend the series to five games.

It’s not just Harden and his lack of leadership either. Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer look like shells of their former selves. Donatas Motiejunas hardly plays, and Clint Capela and Terrence Jones have been banished from J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation. Michael Beasley is a high usage joke.

Even Dwight Howard, who was a bonafide MVP candidate as recently as 2011, hardly touches the ball on offense and when he does, he’s getting swatted by a 31-year-old Andrew Bogut.

Last season, everything went right for Houston’s chemistry, Harden was an legitimate MVP candidate and the Rockets made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

This year, they barely snuck into the playoffs, they’re about to bow out of the first round, and their quick and ugly exit will harken change, kickstarting a new era for the franchise as Daryl Morey tries to figure out how to rebuild this roster into a championship-caliber team.

Next: No. 1