3 adjustments Warriors can make for Game 2 vs. Rockets

1. Use different lineups

The Warriors managed to beat the Rockets in Game 1 despite subpar games from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but hopefully, the Splash Brothers will pick up their performances going forward. The Warriors need the duo to win this series and ultimately the NBA Championship, but Curry’s struggles potentially unlocked a new wrinkle that Steve Kerr could explore.

When Curry was forced to sit due to foul trouble, Kerr went with lineups that featured more versatile defenders that were better equipped to handle the Rockets’ offense. These lineups only played in short spurts, but the results were promising.

The Warriors miss Curry’s scoring when he was out of the game, but the Rockets were no longer able to exploit him on mismatches. That was a big reason why James Harden struggled from the field in Game 1. He often saw long, athletic defenders in front of him.

Now, the Warriors shouldn’t fall in love with the Curry-less lineups, but it is good to know that if Curry is forced to sit, the Warriors can still cause problems for the Rockets.