With Kevin Durant sidelined for Game 6 and potentially longer, the time has come for the pre-KD Golden State Warriors to take center stage.
The tables have turned between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets compared to just a year ago. Last postseason, it was the Houston Rockets up 3-2, with a chance to advance albeit without one of their key players. After losing Chris Paul with an injured hamstring, Houston failed to get that coveted fourth win.
Now it’s the Warriors, who are up 3-2 traveling on the road without the ultimate luxury in Kevin Durant, who will try to accomplish what the Rockets couldn’t last year. To do this, they need to channel the pre-KD days of this dynasty.
After letting a 20 point lead slip in Game 5 and watching Durant limp off the court, it was up to the original core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala to avoid a potential last game at Oracle.
Green, playing with a dangerous five fouls to his name, took a key charge from Chris Paul and played solid defense, despite eventually fouling out. Iguodala, while not filling up the stat sheet, still shot an efficient 5-9 from the floor. But the real key for the Warriors victory? Flashbacks of the original Splash Brothers.
After struggling for much of the series and making uncharacteristic plays, Thompson rebounded with a team-high 27 points, shooting 50% from three. With just five points in the first half, Curry had his “breakthrough” with 20 second-half points, converting five of his six shots right after Durant’s departure.
It was a group effort reminiscent of the Warriors’ system that pre-dated the arrival of Durant, and as the ball seemed to be flowing more consistently it was apparent that it was the result of the original core being front and center. They need this same effect on Friday night for Game 6, but by no means will it be easy.
The Rockets have elimination staring them point blank in the face, but they’ll have home court and a raucous crowd behind them. Without Durant, the Golden State Warriors are 7.5 underdogs for Game 6, the largest they’ve been as underdogs in the Steve Kerr era. Golden State cannot afford to let a close game turn into a double-digit lead within a matter of minutes as we witnessed in Games 3 and 4.
But this group has experience on their side. They’ve proven to endure the absence of Kevin Durant, even on the road. Against arguably their greatest threat in the West, they’ll have their hands full in Game 6 but have the talent to match Houston’s toughest punch. Even with a Game 7 at home in their back pocket, Golden State must end it here and now in Houston.