1.Harden need to get in a Rhythm EARLY. 2.FORGET THE REF'S we are not going to get the calls. 3.IF they Get Out on a Early Run Quick Time outs. 4.Hustle on every loose ball 5. Get in the Offense Early Don't Run the Shot Clock down.
Some other things.. 1. The Warriors will NOT be fouling on close-outs tonight. Kerr and their other coaches I guarantee have told their players under no circumstances are to undercut any Rockets players on jump shots. At least for the first quarter or so, since every camera, commentator and fan are going to be watching like a hawk on that. This will give everyone the opportunity to say 'See? The Rockets are just whiners, GS is playing good defense!' 2. With that in mind, the Rockets need to put that crap out of their minds from the opening tip, play their game, and IMPOSE THEIR WILL on the game. That is what they didn't do, especially James, who just seemed tentative to me the whole game. 3. Also because of #1, the Rox are going to be getting a TON of open looks early, and they have GOT to knock those down! This will force GS bacck into tighter defense on the shots, which will open things up for penetration AND get some foul calls for a change. 4. Lastly.. LAY OFF THE REFS. Put them out of your minds. The media and the fans are all on the Rox' side on this, so even if there are bad calls, just pick yourself up and focus on the next play, don't complain and throw your hands up after every play. I hope this is the message D'Antoni has been giving the guys after game 1. And don't worry. We ARE going to win this series.
I don't know why I hadn't thought about this before, but, oh man, I wonder how MDA would react if one of the players called a time out on their own to stop a run from the other team.
Keys to me are: Keep doing what we did last game on the defense end: bodying KD, running/chasing Klay/Steph Be very physical Last but not least, our interior needs to play big, no p***y ball
PJ needs to stay out of foul trouble, we have no one that can guard Durant. Him getting four early fouls and putting CP on him was nuts.