WARRIORS AT ROCKETS DISCUSSION

Does Durant being out negatively affect the Warriors, or do they jell and kick azz without him? Tough call! Please discuss.

Do you really think a team that was going 6.5 deep is going to get better by removing the best scorer on the planet and replacing him with Jonas Jerebko?   

I’ve been thinking about this game all day..  The best thing that happened to Vegas is the Warriors winning game 5 in the fashion that they did.  HOU lost without KD playing? Steph and Klay caught fire? Warriors now catching 7 pts? Count me in!!

like Green has said before, “we don’t need Durant”...now is time for the old Warriors gang Curry, Klay, Green to provide it.  

I have a feeling the Dubs will be fine without KD tonight. Don't know if they win, but feel they will be in the game at the end.

If Rockets blow out the warriors in G6, they will win G7. 

If they win by a single digit, they will lose G7. 

You can look at this two ways: 1) GS held their own, and won the game without KD. 2) GS barely won that game, and were only without KD for 15 minutes or so. How will GS handle the situation without him for 48? With an opening line of 5.5 (some books) and going to 7.5 (some books), are the linesmakers showing the bettor we should have a game 7? It appears that way, but appearances aren't always worthy.

This isn't so much about losing Durant as it is about not having anyone at all to play those 45 minutes.   Warriors were only playing 6 deep with a sprinkling of Livingston in there.  Does anyone really think they can get it done starting Jerebko with absolutely no bench at all?   Houston wins by double digits tomorrow..  could see a massacre really.  

 

The only way the Warriors win is if Houston's 3s don't drop. And i'll let you in on a little sevret, the only way they were winning this game with KD is id Houston's 3s don't drop.

Why does everyone think all Durant’s minutes are going to jerebko? Be ready to see a lot more Jordan bell, looney and mckinnie as well. Warriors bench might look a lot worse than it was 2-3 years ago when KD wasn’t on the team, but when you have a core of good/great players, it’s a lot easier for your role players to step up and get some productive minutes out of them. Having said that, I do think Hou gets it done game 6, but it should still be a dog fight.

Steph Curry has a big game because historically he's been great in these spots, Warriors might even be up at half time but ultimately their thin bench catches up to them and the Rockets win by 8. Game 7 at Oracle Rockets cruise

Warriors bench is weak. Nowhere near what they had pre Durant. Barnes, Lee , Barbosa, Sleights, plus a healthy Livingston. Rockets win this series. I agree, for once, with Bob.

 

Yeah....this statement sums it up. People just are hoping beyond hope. The OP's initial post was just a stupid question.

7.5 pts is too many 

Here's the thing you have to remember, PJ Tucker has been guarding Durant for most of the series, now his attention can go to Klay or Curry. Let's not forget that Durant is one of the better defenders on the Warriors right up there with Green and Klay. You also lose Durant's shot blocking ability. If Rockets are going try to shutdown or limit Curry then there are saying okay let's see if Green or Klay can beat us. 

There is a phenomenon of teams playing very well the first few games or so after losing a player to injury. I actually think tonight’s game will still be pretty close. 

I am sounding more and more like Bob everyday, but Warrior fans hoping that this team somehow find their 2014 pre Durant juju is just wishful thinking. The bench is garbage and is about to be exposed for what it is. The PJ Tucker point is an excellent clarification of where the Rockets D will now focus their attention. It also allows the Rockets to go Capela for fewer minutes if they so choose, strengthening the perimeter defense even more. 

This bench in it's current form compared to the 2014 bench is a joke. They are nowhere near equal. People forget about Harrison Barnes shooting 40-plus% from 3's. People forget about the athletic Barbosa. Lee on the inside. Speights defending and hitting 3's. Livingston with 5 years of fewer miles. Iggy in his prime. If the 2019 bench played the Warrior 2014 bench in a 7 game series it would be a 4-0 sweep.

I’ve actually been on the rockets every game this series but I can’t do it tonight. Either take the points or no play. 

Interesting game. The Warriors aren’t deep and I think it’s the difference tonight only because the Warriors aren’t dumb. They know very well they have a Game 7 at home in their back pocket in 48 hours. Do you go all out playing 6-7 guys 40+ minutes? Or if you see the game slipping a bit if/when Rockets go up by 6,7,8 points, do you kinda pack it in and go all-in for Game 7? Steve Kerr is not dumb - I think the most likely outcome of this game is that the Rockets run away with this one and win going away.