Words Can’t Describe How Good The Warriors Are
From the Warriors’ beatdown of the Suns to the Rockets’ 5-game win streak, I broke down everything important from last night’s games.
The Houston Rockets 5-Game Win Streak; By The Numbers
At one point, the Houston Rockets were on track to be the worst team ever. They had lost 15 straight games and held a record of 1-16. Instead of laying down and dying, the Rockets have won 5 straight games.
Their weird cast of veterans and raw young players has turned into a high-flying unit. After weeks of begging for some excitement from this team, we’ve got it.
Let’s look at the numbers and see just how the Rockets are doing this thing called winning.
Rockets ORtg During Win Streak: 116.1 (5th over that span)
Rockets ORtg In 2022: 101.6 (28th in NBA)
During their winning streak, the Rockets’ offense has been playing like their namesake. After starting the season with one of the worst offenses in the NBA, they have turned things around in a big way. How did they do that?
Less Daniel Theis = Winning
Over the first 17 games of the season, Daniel Theis was playing 23.3 minutes per game. The German center is a solid player but wasn’t what the Rockets needed.
His fit with Christian Wood was awful and a change was needed. So, to Stephen Silas’ credit, he made one.
Theis has only played in one out of the last 5 games for Houston. Theis not being on the floor has led the Rockets to be playing better.
Expect less Daniel Theis to continue to be a trend for Houston.
Shooting Better
Rockets Restricted Area FGA (season): 32.9 (most in NBA)
Rockets Restricted Area FG% (season): 62.2% (21st)
The Rockets were shooting a lot of shots down low, but they weren’t converting them. That has changed.
Rockets RA FGA (streak): 33.4 (most in NBA)
Rockets Restricted Area FG% (streak): 65.3% (12th)
The Rockets have been pounding the ball down low, this time with much better results. Getting those shots to fall at the rim has been key to their success.
Not to mention the fact that Houston is shooting a lot better from the perimeter during the streak (41% from 3 to 33% for the season).
Who knew that shooting the ball better meant you won more?
It’s good to see the Rockets playing better. They are a talented team with a lot of fun, exciting players. Sure, it took them a while, but they’re back to being a fun team.
I don’t think this winning is sustainable, but I don’t think we’re going to see any more 15-game losing streaks from this team. Now it’s just time for Jalen Green to stop being bad.
Phoenix Suns (96) vs Golden State Warriors (118)
The 2nd edition of the two best teams in the NBA wasn’t as fun as the first one. While we still got to watch two of the best teams in the NBA, Golden State looked like the far better team.
Without Devin Booker, the Suns’ offense struggled tremendously. The Warriors’ defense smothered them with their elite defenders, not giving them any breathing space. The Suns did manage to stay in the game longer than they should have, but the Warriors had one of their signature runs late to pull away.
The Warriors played an all-around dominating game, snapping the Suns’ 18-game win streak and taking control of the #1 seed in the West.
Phoenix Suns
The Pheonix Suns got abused in this game by Golden State. If not for their absurd amount of free throws (35), this game would have been over sooner.
The Suns struggled to score in this game. Without Booker, the offense had to rely on role players who crumbled against the Warriors’ pressure. The bench unit was utterly helpless, struggling to keep pace with what Golden State was doing.
Overall, it was the Suns’ worst game since October. There is no shame in losing to the Warriors, but I’m sure this wasn’t the way they wanted to lose their 18 game win streak.
The Importance of Devin Booker
Devin Booker is one of the best scorers in the NBA. Phoenix beat the Warriors on Tuesday without Booker in the 2nd half, but they felt the effects of not having him for an entire game.
The Warriors honed in on Chris Paul and forced him to be a passer. Their on-ball pressure against the Suns’ role players was smothering. Had Booker been on the floor, the role players would have found an easier time on the perimeter.
Phoenix shot just 38% from the field and 36% from 3, both season lows. Not having Booker made it hard for the Suns to generate offense in this game, showing how important Booker is to this team.
While he’s slated to miss the next few games with this hamstring injury, Phoenix will be grateful to see the 2x All-Star be back on the floor.
The Bench Was Terrible
The Phoenix Suns’ bench has been surprisingly good this season. They might not have the most recognizable names, but they had been productive. Last night against the Warriors, they were the opposite.
The bench unit played terribly. They couldn’t generate open looks, nor could they get stops. Golden State’s bench toyed with them, as it was clear who was the better unit.
I mean, these numbers are ugly;
- 12/37 (32%) FG shooting
- 3/11 (27%) 3-PT shooting
- Cameron Payne – started 0/9 – finished with 3/17 shooting – (-30 plus/minus)
- Cam Johnson -14 plus/minus in 33 minutes
- JaVale McGee -15 plus/minus in 9 minutes
The only positive from the bench unit in this game was Jalen Smith, the failed lottery pick from 2020. He had 7 points in three minutes. Maybe he’s not a bust after all?
wink
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors were ready for this game. After playing sloppy basketball and dropping the first heavyweight fight between these two teams, the Warriors made sure not to make the same mistakes.
Everything that could go right for Golden State went right. From Steph Curry having a great bounce-back game to the excellent play of the bench, Golden State dominated this game.
Golden State flexed their might and that same inevitability from their dynasty days was back in the air. That feeling of how you knew the Warriors were the better team, and it was only a matter of time before they blew the game open.
The Golden State Warriors Are Filthy on Defense
I could have pulled any number of clips from this game to demonstrate this point. There were nearly 100 plays defensively in this game that would have been good material for this segment. From Andrew Wiggins playing Chris Paul full-court to Draymond Green’s superhuman instincts, the Warriors defense is beautiful to watch.
They have so many good, hard-nosed defenders that make you work so hard. It’s incredible to watch the display of defense they put on teams every single night. Here were some of my favorite plays from last night;
Green starts this play by taking away the lob to Ayton perfectly. Payne wants to throw it down low, but Green is right there. When Payne decides to attack the rim, Draymond Green literally eats him alive.
How is this fair?
Chris Paul is getting loaded up on. Andrew Wiggins is hounding him and there are two other Warriors defenders in the area. He can’t make a cross-court pass, so he tries to make the “simple” pass to Payne on the perimeter.
One thing Paul didn’t account for is GP II, who intercepts this pass easily and skies for the two-handed jam.
Golden State’s Monstrous Defense In 2022
99.7 DRtg (1st)
42.1 Opp FG% (1st)
32.5 Opp 3-PT% (5th)
16.2 Opp TO (3rd)
100.3 Opp PPG (1st)
11.6 FGM Allowed In Restricted Area (1st)
62 Opp RA FG% (5th)
Yep. Still unfair.
Andrew Wiggins Is The Glue Guy For This Team
Andrew Wiggins was not 100% in the first matchup between these two teams, and you could tell. Wiggins’ back left him stiff and ineffective, like cardboard. He was unable to do much of anything with his bad back and was missing from that game.
However, in last night’s demolitions, Wiggins’ back must have been feeling better.
From his full-court defense on Chris Paul to his smooth shooting, Wiggins did everything the Warriors needed him to do. Everything seems to be clicking for Wiggins right now. His offense has been efficient and effective, no longer taking stupid shots after a prolonged dribbling session.
This play shows a lot of Wiggins’ growth as a player.
He’s not looking for Curry or Draymond to help him out. He knows he can make that move, so he just does it.
Even with the return of Klay Thompson looming, Wiggins has quietly been great for the Warriors. When he plays like this, finishing with 19 points on 50% shooting, it’s tough to beat GSW. Wiggins is a very talented player and has found a career revival with the Warriors.
Even when Klay Thompson comes back, Wiggins will be as important as ever to this team.
Jarrett Allen Was Worth The Money
Jarrett Allen’s 5-year contract worth $100 million dollars was viewed as an overpay by the Cavs. Why would you pay a traditional center $100 million dollars? He’s not WorTh the MoneY!
When you think of the best centers in the NBA, you don’t think of Jarrett Allen. But maybe you should.
16.9 points – 11.4 rebounds (3.5 ORB) – 1.2 blocks – 72% TS – 4.2 BPM
Allen is having a career season. He’s scoring better than ever and doing it more efficiently than most of his peers down low. He’s still a defensive nightmare down low and he’s a major reason the Cavs have the 2nd best defense in the NBA and are currently on a 4-game win streak.
Last night against the Wizards, we got to see some of Allen’s improvements as an offensive player. Granted, it was the Wizards, but my point still stands.
Allen was incredibly effective in the first half in the pick-and-roll. With Garland and Rubio masterfully picking apart the defense, Allen just had to be ready for the pass.
This play right here shows his development. With a dwindling shot clock, Allen has to make something happen. Instead of looking for Garland to set something up for him, he does it himself.
He makes a nice, controlled hook shot over the smaller Neto and scores easily.
Now time for Allen’s real calling card; defense. While I can savor over his offensive game all I want, this is where the good stuff is, kids.
Beal is driving down the lane and is stuck. As the Wizards announcers point out after the play, he couldn’t decide whether to pass or whether to shoot. And that’s the Allen effect, baby!
What Are Your Thoughts From Last Night’s Games? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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