Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Rockets

3. Warriors play…the other kind of road game

In my Game 1 takeaways, I compared the Warriors’ performance to what they did in Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They weathered an early storm, kept it close, and finished it with a Klay Thompson flurry.

Following that line of comparison, Game 2 against Houston was a lot like Games 3 and 4 against OKC. Early turnovers led to transition layups and open 3s, igniting the crowd and emboldening role players.

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Rockets not named James Harden or Chris Paul combined for 42 points in Game 1. They doubled that number in Game 2, scoring 84.

We know that role players play better at home, but that boost comes more from the crowd than from the markings on the floor. Houston changed up its offense Wednesday night, moving the ball and initiating its actions earlier. That helped. It is harder to play that way against a set, switching defense though, and Golden State’s nine turnovers in Game 1 allowed it to get set with far more regularity.

The Rockets still could have won Game 1. Harden is that brilliant in isolation, and Houston did force Golden State into iso-ball if its own. The Warriors gave themselves a chance to steal a game though, and they succeeded. If they can protect home-court, that’s all that matters.

If the Warriors want to avoid a long series, they better deliver a Game 1-like effort in Game 5 — which is now guaranteed to take place. A Game 2 repeat certainly won’t cut it.