Houston Rockets: 5 keys for rest of series vs. Warriors

The Houston Rockets came up short in Game 1 , but they have the tools to take down the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Houston Rockets are looking for a big showing against the Golden State Warriors in their second round matchup of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. They have become bitter rivals in this new era and are running back their Western Conference Finals matchup from 2018. While Game 1 kicked off in California, the Rockets are looking to bounce back from a tough loss.

The Rockets are not happy with how Game 1 went against the Warriors. Despite keeping it close for most of the game, some questionable missed calls played a part in their frustration. It looks like they will be taking things a bit further as they continue to build a case against the favorable officiating for the Warriors.

The Rockets have been building a case against the Warriors dating back to last season, when similar shenanigans seemed to affect their playoff hopes. While this might be a small victory for the Rockets organization, it does not change the outcome of their last postseason meeting and, on top of that, how Game 1 played out earlier this week.

Missed calls aside, there are reasons for the Rockets to worry. They were significantly out-rebounded and were a -12 in points in the paint. If they’re going to play shot-for-shot against the Warriors, their 29.8 percent shooting on 47 shots from behind the arc also needs to get better.

The Rockets were given a solid scapegoat with the three missed calls in Game 1. However, it is far from a claim to victory. They are still down 1-0  in the series and will need to find a way to carry some momentum back to Houston. The Rockets could get more favorable foul calls in Game 2, but wins cannot be decided in that fashion. To beat the Warriors, the Rockets need to be firing on all cylinders, and there are a few important factors to keep in mind as they gear up for Game 2.