Golden State Warriors (10-8) at Houston Rockets (13-7)
Tipoff: Friday, 12/6/2013, 5:00 PM PDT
Location: ToyotaHouston, TX
TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM
Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors (by @goldenstatenz)
The tests just keep on coming for the banged-up Golden State Warriors. Having already played 11 of their first 19 games on the road, the Dubs begin another 3-game trip tonight in Houston. The Warriors and the Rockets played four times last year, each coming away with a 30-point victory at the Toyota Center, while the Rockets took both games at Oracle Arena.
Each of the four games featured it’s share of bad blood, most famously starting with Mark Jackson‘s choice to foul the Rockets down 30 points to prevent the Rockets from breaking the NBA’s single-game 3-point record. After the game, Houston’s “third star,” Chandler Parsons, tweeted Jackson’s one-time defensive catch-phrase:
Hand down, man down!! Big win for us. Wheels up to Miami.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) February 6, 2013
Judging by Parsons’ shoot-around comments, it certainly doesn’t seem like he’s over it, either.
“Everything that happened last year, that’s over with, but you know, we don’t forget. Things were said, and that’s just gonna have to take place between the lines tonight.”
But the rivalry that budded rather quickly last season, has almost been forgotten this year after Houston’s signing of Dwight Howard. Having lost 3 of 4 to the Rockets last season, I’m sure the Warriors remember it well, but the Rockets’ new star has his own issues with other teams, namely the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Warriors’ more publicized rivalries, with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets last season, have been factors as well.
To the media, and to ESPN, apparently, this is just another game. Tonight the network will be showing the Nuggets at the Boston Celtics. It’s really too bad, given how good this game could get. Our Maggie Pilloton highlighted some of the key match-ups earlier this week.
I can’t be sure how much either team will remember what happened last year, but given they’re also teams with similar goals, there’s definitely the possibility of a still-budding rivalry.
As for the game itself, Jackson knows slowing down the Houston offense will be his team’s biggest challenge:
“James harden is handful, his ability to create offense, get you to the free throw line, playing pick and roll and isolation situations. You add Dwight Howard, a dominant big man, it’s a tall task to try and contain that team, which we recognized last year, and the challenges have only increased.”
Tonight’s game will probably come down to the Warriors’ back-court and how well they can manage to shoot on the road. The Dubs need contributions from other places to win what will likely be a shootout, but managing to beat a high-scoring Rockets team with poor shooting from Steph Curry and Klay Thompson would be almost miraculous.
Another focus for the Warriors? Rebounding. In some of their tougher tests this year, the Warriors have struggled to rebound the basketball on either end. Keeping the Rockets from getting second shot opportunities will be key. Andrew Bogut on slowing Dwight:
“He’s strong, he works pretty hard in the paint, is constantly banging against you trying to get offensive rebounds and lobs and easy baskets. So I’ve got to do my work early and make sure he doesn’t get any easy looks. If he’s making 4-5 foot hook shots and making jumpers, so be it, we’ll live with that. But if he’s getting easy dunks and tip-ins, then I’m not doing my job.”
Lastly, I’d love to see if there’s any carry over from the coaches. Kevin McHale certainly remembers Jackson’s tactics last season, and I wonder if either of them will encourage their teams to be a bit more physical in a game like tonight’s. After all, the two teams are separated by just 1.5 games in the standings.
Without Andre Iguodala, slowing James Harden will be up to Thompson and Harrison Barnes, with a little Kent Bazemore and Draymond Green thrown into the mix. If they can force him into mistakes, then they’ll still have a good shot tonight, even playing short-handed.
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