Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 6 vs. Rockets
3. Patching up the holes will be key
The most beautiful and misunderstood element of basketball is the symbiotic relationship between stars and role players.
Both the Warriors and Rockets need their best players to outplay the other team’s best players, as having the best, second-best and third-best guy on the floor is the quickest path to victory in the NBA. However, the success of said guys — Curry, Durant, Thompson, Green, James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, Eric Gordon — is dependent on the exploitation of the opposition’s weakest link.
Throughout this series, the Rockets have been able to attack Nick Young offensively and ignore Kevon Looney defensively. Those elements have been just as important as Harden, Paul and Gordon playing well. More accurately, the former has been essential to the latter occurring.
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In Game 6, Young was a major culprit in Houston’s 61-point first half. Upon his entrance with 2:03 remaining in the first half, Golden State surrendered three consecutive triples, followed by Young fouling Harden going for a fourth.
Swaggy P’s atrocious defense has been a theme all series, especially since Andre Iguodala’s absence begun in Game 4. Given Young’s inability to make up for it at the other end (though he did have a strong second half offensively), one has to wonder if Steve Kerr wouldn’t be better off playing Patrick McCaw.
Yes, McCaw was temporarily paralyzed just two months ago. No, he did not play a single minute of basketball until garbage time in Game 6. Still, he looked better than Young has all series.
The simple reality is that McCaw defends, and this alone makes him a better option should Iguodala again not suit up. Although he struggled offensively all season, he has more championship experience than Young, who the moment has seemed too big for, particularly on the road.
Could something as minor as giving Young’s 10-12 minutes to McCaw decide a Game 7 between two teams with three MVPs and up to six Hall-of-Famers? Given the way that role players affect said stars, the answer is unequivocally yes.