I watched Game 2 last night, had a few thoughts:
- It's dispiriting not to even get close in a game like this. If you can't beat the Warriors without Curry, I don't think there's any chance if and when he does get back in the game.
- Motiejunas started the game, which I like (definitely better than Brewer!). But there were some issues on the defensive end. The Rockets were trying to switch everything, but in particular Motiejunas and Ariza were very quick to switch their assignments on Green and Thompson. This caused problems because Motiejunas just isn't used to having to work his way round screens. The Warriors would induce the switch, then have Bogut set a pick for Thompson. Motiejunas just can't get through Bogut's picks, so Thompson gets free for open looks. I think it's fine to have D-Mo out there, but he needs to be less willing to switch onto Thompson - if they can keep him on Green he's more likely to be able to keep up.
- There were several points in the game where Bickerstaff tried a dual-PG look with Beverley and Terry on the floor. That's all well and good, but when the Warriors are playing Livingston at PG they are running out lineups where everyone is 6'6" or taller. There's just no way to hide two shorter defenders against that group. And it's even worse when they take Livingston out and just make Draymond Green the point guard as they did late in the game.
- Ariza played really poorly tonight. Sometimes he just doesn't seem to be able to hold onto the ball in what should be straightforward situations for an NBA-level player. There was one particularly egregious one where Harden fired him a pass (admittedly, pretty fast) and he just dropped it. Then there was that airballed three early on. The team really needs him to be firing on all cylinders - they've got to be knocking down their three pointers when they do manage to pull off a drive-and-kick.
- Terry and Smith were making their threes tonight - I'm not sure this is something the team can really rely on going forward. On the flipside, Iguodala couldn't miss for the Warriors so maybe that evens out.
- Maybe the Rockets should trying hacking Bogut and Ezeli a bit more? They tried it a couple of times in Game 2 with mixed success, but if they end up in the bonus early it's the sort of thing that might help change the pace of a game that's getting away from them.
- A few times Bickerstaff was playing Beasley at Centre. I'm kind of torn - on the one hand, he's really not a good enough defender to anchor the defense, but on the other hand they need some way of counter-acting the Death-Lineup and he can really take advantage of the extra space that comes from not having a proper big on the floor. Maybe it'll be OK for spot minutes, but it's not something I'd really want to rely on going forwards...
ST
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Bonus: we get to watch him let Klay score the easy lay-up.
