If Game 1 is any indication of how the rest of the series will play out, we could be looking at one of the best conference finals in recent memory. The Golden State Warriors held off the Houston Rockets to take Game 1 at home, 110-106, in a game that featured momentum swings, clutch shooting, and a wild finish. Both MVP top vote getters played like MVPs, and a few unlikely faces emerged into the spotlight. Let’s take a look at how the Warriors won Game 1, and how each team should feel going forward.
Early on in this one, the Rockets seemed to be having their way with the Warriors all over the floor. Golden State played sloppily, and Dwight Howard forced a few quick fouls on Andrew Bogut. When that looked like it could be a big factor, however, Howard was taken out by Josh Smith, and was forced to miss a significant period of time. He had played reasonably well prior to the injury, altering a few shots and putting back a couple big jams. However, the injury forced both teams to go small, and this played right into the Warriors’ hands.
Then, the complementary players stepped up for Golden State. Shaun Livingston played the game of his life, and helped spark a run that overcame a 16-point deficit in the second quarter. The crowd was electrified, and it helped the Warriors surge to a three-point halftime lead. Stephen Curry hit one of his patented ridiculous buzzer-beaters, which set up a fantastic second half.
The end of the third quarter and the fourth quarter became the James Harden show. The MVP runner-up put on a clinic, hitting tough shot after tough shot over Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. He ended up with 28 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals, but it ultimately wasn’t enough. Curry was simply too much in the fourth quarter, as he put on yet another show en route to 34 points and the victory. Late in the fourth, the game was tied (thanks to Harden), but the Rockets couldn’t get enough stops, and had too many defensive breakdowns to close it out.
That’s not to say the final two minutes weren’t interesting, however; Trevor Ariza, Smith, and Corey Brewer made sure of that. After the Warriors took an 11 point lead and looked like they would cruise to a win, Smith scored 4 quick points, Ariza stole the ball a couple of times, and then hit a 3 with 16 seconds left to cut the lead to 2. However, that’s as close as they would get, as Curry hit a few clutch free throws to seal the deal.
Game 1 was intriguing in how it ultimately played out. The Rockets played nothing like the team that got whooped by the Warriors four times this season. James Harden was a monster, and Josh Smith and Trevor Ariza played like Houston needed them to in order to have a chance. However, they have to feel dumbfounded that they could play a great game, get big, productive minutes from Clint Capela, and still lose. Then again, the Warriors will do that to you.
A healthy Dwight Howard could decide game two. Right now, he is questionable with a sprained knee, but it would seem like he’s going to play. He can put pressure on the Warriors if he’s playing well, and force them to play big, or go small and hope the mismatches work in their favor. The Warriors are so versatile, however, that it just might not matter. Throw in that Klay Thompson had a subpar game from the field, and it seems like the Rockets missed their biggest opportunity to steal a game on the road. If the Splash Brothers get back on track together, this series is already over. As it stands, however, Houston still has a chance, but they’ll need Harden to play exactly like Game1 in the entire series.