The Houston Rockets‘ surprise run towards a play-in tournament berth ended abruptly after a 133-110 throttling by the Golden State Warriors.
The loss leaves the Rockets with almost no chance of qualifying for the postseason. Here is an in-depth analysis of how the Warriors dashed the Rockets‘ playoff dreams.
Where the Rockets Went Wrong
Many factors contributed to the Rockets‘ blowout loss against the Warriors, quashing their postseason aspirations:
- Inexperience – The young Rockets core lacks playoff experience compared to seasoned Warriors stars like Curry, Thompson and Green.
- Overmatched – The Warriors executed their trademark crisp ball movement and shooting while the Rockets struggled to keep pace.
- Home Loss – Blowing a must-win home game before their raucous fans was demoralizing.
- Defense – The Rockets gave up a dreadful 133 points, allowing the Warriors to shoot over 50% from the field.
While the Rockets showed tremendous improvement this season under coach Ime Udoka, they were simply overmatched against the battle-tested Warriors.
Where Do the Rockets Go From Here
Despite the heartbreaking end to their playoff push, the future remains bright for the ascending Rockets.
Their core of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and others gained valuable experience facing elite teams like the Warriors. And with another high draft pick coming this summer, the Rockets are well-positioned to take another step forward next season.
Key steps for the Rockets this offseason include:
- Continue player development – Build on the growth of Green, Sengun and others while grooming the new rookies.
- More talent infusion – Use their high draft pick and free agency to add more talent.
- Install more veterans – Sign some seasoned vets to provide leadership and playoff experience.
While falling short this season stings, Rockets fans should feel very encouraged about this team’s trajectory and future.
Playoff Implications in the Western Conference
While the Rockets‘ loss ended their playoff dreams, there remains intense drama over the final Western Conference seeds. Here is a breakdown of the key playoff races:
Battle For 6th-8th Seeds
The Suns, Pelicans and Lakers are separated by just 2 games battling for the final non-play in seeds. The Suns currently hold 6th place but face a tough schedule.
The Pelicans beat the Lakers last week and own the tiebreaker. And with Anthony Davis returning from injury, the Lakers still have enough talent to make a run.
Play-In Tournament Contenders
The Warriors, Kings and Lakers are all separated by just 3 games competing for the final play-in spots.
The Warriors and Kings match up on the season’s final day in a game that could decide who gets the 8th seed and home court for the first play-in game.
Sources:
hoopswire.com/rockets-fall-badly-to-warriors-nba-news/
www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/39877978/warriors-thompson-takes-issue-rockets-eason-key-win
