Houston Rockets: 5 keys for rest of series vs. Warriors
2. Kevin Durant needs to be slowed down
While slowing down Kevin Durant is easier said than done, it needs to be a realistic goal for the Rockets. Curry and Klay Thompson were on the verge of missing Game 1 with ankle injuries and their overall play after a hard-fought series against the Los Angeles Clippers seemed to take its toll.
Kerr says Klay and Steph came in this morning for treatment on their sprained ankles. He says both players are questionable for Game 1. He wants to see how both respond to more treatment before game time.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) April 27, 2019
They were not at their absolute best and it helped the Rockets keep the game close, for the most part. However, the same cannot be said for Durant.
KD has been the ultimate closer for the Warriors. His efforts in the playoffs make him one of the best players of all time, and his ability to take over the important games often makes him the best player on the court. The Rockets did a good job of containing the other scorers on the Dubs, but Durant’s 35 points separated him from everyone else.
After losing to the Warriors, Patrick Beverly and Lou Williams said it best:
At the end of the day, Durant is able to take his game to new heights in the important games. He thrives in them, and the only thing you can do is play your absolute best and most strategic defense to help slow him down.
On top of that, the Rockets need to keep him away from the charity stripe. He sank 12 of 15 free throws in Game 1 against the Rockets, and did even better against the Clippers in the series-clinching game with 14 of 15 free throws made. He is the last person who should be getting 15 free attempts, and the Rockets need to do what they can to slow that down.
Slowing down Durant is a classic “easier said than done” situation, but if Houston can keep his wrath at bay, it will be interesting to see how close this series can get. The Rockets have proven to be a scary squad when they want to be, and Game 2 could be the perfect proving ground to take back the momentum. Slowing Durant down will undoubtedly help that.