With a second straight loss in Golden State on Monday, the Rockets fell behind 3-1 in their series vs. the Warriors and will head back home facing their first elimination game of the postseason on Wednesday.
Asked after Monday’s defeat whether he’ll roll with the same starting lineup he has used in the first four games of the series, head coach Ime Udoka told reporters, including Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link), that he intends to “take a look at everything” for Game 5, adding that the starters’ poor start to the third quarter stood out in Game 4.
Houston’s starting five of Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun had been a +12 in 44 minutes of action through the first three games of the series, but was outscored by 13 points in 12 minutes on Monday. That included a 10-0 run by the Warriors at the start of the second half, which turned a seven-point Houston lead into a three-point deficit.
If Udoka does decide to make a change, it could involve Green, who was subbed out for Tari Eason just three minutes into the third quarter and has been ineffective against the Warriors’ defense for much of the series. Green went off for 38 points in Houston’s Game 2 win, but has made just 10-of-34 shots from the floor (29.4%) in the three losses and hasn’t reached double-digit points in any of those games. He attempted eight shots in a series-low 25 minutes on Monday.
Meanwhile, even though Sengun led the Rockets with 31 points, he missed 16 field goal attempts and three free throws as his shooting struggles from Game 3 carried over to Game 4. Converting at the foul line was an issue for the Rockets as a whole — they went to the line 31 times on the night, compared to 22 times for the Warriors, but made fewer free throws (19) than Golden State (20).
The Rockets’ 12 missed free throws represented the most in a single game by a team in this year’s playoffs, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN, which is likely one reason why Udoka spoke during his post-game media session about the need for “consistency.” Houston also committed 27 turnovers in the last two games, compared to 18 for the Warriors.
“Guys are down, but they understand that the game we played well — the one game out of four (Game 2) – we had a blowout win and other games, it’s been a one-possession game, or we’ve had a fourth quarter lead and not played well,” Udoka said. “Consistency wins in this series, and we’ve talked about that from Day 1. We have to be more consistent across the board.”
The Rockets’ players echoed their head coach’s message after the game, with Sengun expressing a need to be more “disciplined” and VanVleet noting that the Rockets have to keep their composure and execute in crunch time.
“These (last two) games suck,” VanVleet said, per Wright. “We had two (games) that could have went our way. This is the playoffs. The margin of error is so slim they can go either way. And you learn that it comes down to possessions. Possessions are so important.”
The Rockets continue their dirty play BS. The refs calling a technical on Steph for taunting after Brooks knocked him to the floor after the whistle was one of the worst calls ever in a playoff game.
If Ime is smart, he’ll bench Brooks.
Curry mentioned it’s the second brother who gets caught doing the same thing the first brother did earlier and got away with it lol.
You seem like a nice dude, but Draymond is on your team.
Glass houses-stones.
You know.
@Ghost
The refs screwed Draymond as well in that game.
It’s ridiculous that the team that constantly fouls “somehow” ends up shooting 9 more free throws ON THE ROAD.
In the series, Rockets are +26 free throws and -9 personal fouls (and -1 in technical fouls).
The Rockets are also more in the paint. The more you focus on getting to the basket, the more FTs you’re bound to get. GS shot double the 3’s.
Draymond has one technical, he kicks a guy in the head, pulls him down by his jersey, and doesn’t get ejected. Jimmy Butler again received two different phantom calls while blatantly flopping, one sending Sengun to the bench early in the 1st half.
Warriors fans coming here to complain about unfair refereeing is ridiculous.
@Dru
The Rockets’ entire game is constantly fouling “since the ref’s won’t call it”, as Udoka said.
It’s greatness that GSW has been able to win anyway.
It’s near impossible task to like Dillon Brooks, but the justifications of Draymond and the obtuse demeanor of the fan base have achieved exactly that.
Steph should be on the LeBron arc, people rooting for him because he is so special and impressive and one of a kind. It’s very sad that the gravity of Draymond’s inability to control himself and the lack of accountability he’s received from the NBA, media and GSW fans really detracts from what should be a universal appreciation and momentum for Steph to grab another championship.
You’re right that HOU fouls all time, and it isn’t exactly fun to watch. It’s says volumes that despite them playing that ugly style, being the higher seed, and rostering unlikable Brooks that most fans don’t want see GSW advance.
Brooks tries to hurt people on purpose, Draymond doesnt… Nuff said
The first T Green did not deserve because he did nothing but break up Curry and Dillion. There was no phantom calls on Butler. Curry been held by Brooks and VV all the time and no calls.
Arc, 2:33 first quarter Butler throws himself to the ground without being touched. Foul on Sengun.
Draymond doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, his intentions should always be interpreted as hostile. You don’t get to cry about the refs when you have literally punched and kicked people multiple times in your career.
Your complaints and convoluted explanations are exactly what I’m talking about. Draymond kicked Smith in the head and tried to kick him in the leg but missed. It’s a nationally televised game on TNT. Stop trying to pretend these things didn’t happen.
So you are saying that Green should get a T because of reputation not because he deserved a T. The kick to the head was not intential. When you have Brooks on your team that twice in last game tried to injure Curry by swiping at his bad thumb without the ball in Curry’s hand don’t complain about Green
Get out of your feelings and watch the game with some self awareness.
Crying about a technical on Draymond during a physical altercation because “this time” he didn’t do anything “that bad” is a crazy tiny hill to plant your flag in.
Claiming Butler is getting phantom calls when he did get fouls is you just sharing your frustration of your team not making the plays. There was a lot of no calls on the warriors too.
Draymond argues with refs constantly for techs, but he hasnt been a “dirty” player in years. The only “dirty” thing he has done since 20 was choke Gobert, and that was more about personal beef than anything else. He will ham it up like he is a WWE heel if he gets tossed on the road, but he hasnt kicked anyones nuts in like a decade, he doesnt take swings at people, and isnt constantly getting into dust ups with players. Like name me the last time Dray injured another player the way Brooks has multiple times since 20?
Draymond has a rough relationship with the refs not the players…
@Druu Who has he punched or kicked since 2018? He got into it with Gobert during a team wide scrum because he personally hates Gobert same as the rest of the league. Even that thing with Nurk was BS where he gets spun around by Nurk fouling him and flail hits him with an open hand.
Name me one player Dray has injured in the last decade. Does he take guys out in the air like Brooks? nope. Does he argue with refs all the time? Yes. Just because he screams at refs doesnt mean s***. He plays with physicality as an undersized center, but his dirtyness is based mostly on reputation after a couple high profile playoff plays in 14-17. Also if you walk over me a dick punch is fair game while you straddle me with it…
Come on DRU use some objectivity. He didnt intentionally kick him anywhere. Eason got up ready to fight and is leaning over trying to grapple with him while hes on the ground. Should he have grabbed his jersey with one tech already? Of course not, but he kept his cool mostly while HOU tried to start s***. Nobody but Draymond after getting the one tech so they couldnt tech him again gets a flagrant because guys going down together get tangled. All he deserved was one tech in the game for grabbing Easons jersey, and one for Eason offsetting it for popping up and leaning down to fight Draymond while seated.
Its partially because Kerr has been doing hacka kiwi. Adams isnt a good FT shooter and they are intentionally giving them to him.
Brooks was taunting Curry when he got the first foul by putting up the 1 finger. The T that shouldn’t have been called is the 1 on Green. He was just breaking then up.
I’ll have to agree with you here, arc. Green didn’t deserve a tech there.
I honestly thought Curry did the 2 because Amen fouled him and a whistle was blown and then Brooks hip checks him like an @sshole after the whistle. I thought he was saying really your going to foul me 2 times at a time now. Brooks should have gotten a hostile act for knocking him to the floor after the whistle and a tech for grabbing at him and the ball none other.
I honestly understand Draymonds persecution complex with the refs, because they are often giving the Warriors a BS whistle.
@ ChapV
I agree. Any other team besides GSW gets a foul on Brooks for a hard foul after the whistle, but instead this group of biased clowns gives the Rockets a free throw for Steph allegedly “taunting”.
For holding up a 2. Im embarrassed for the refs they have been s***ting the bed all post season. Tim Hardaway says hello. I cant wait for the robots because like 70% of the NBAs refs are hot garbage…
Like Curry said himself the Refs didn’t see the 1 Brooks put up earlier but saw his 2. Like when a brother reacts but mom missed the first one. Green T should be rescinded by the NBA
Greymond’s stop of Alpie to close the game was epic but my question is why did they not foul a guy for two FT when they were up 3?
Fred had a pretty nice look and that could’ve been a crucial mistake allowing overtime?
I thought the same thing foul whoever got the ball because there was not enough time to get the ball a second time
Seems to be standard procedure in that situation. I was not able to catch Kerr press conference, but I wonder if anyone asked him that?
Kerr never does that, its one of his many flaws as HC: he never makes moves during the last 60 seconds of play, he lets the game play out. It’s why there’s so many buzzer beaters vs GSW. Sure we also get “Curry from way downtown BANG” of our own, but it’s plain and simple low percentage coaching.
A lot of what Kerr does as HC really hinders the team. Soon you will all start noticing. I pray that everyone does. Especially in the last 3 years, Kerr has been a net negative and very washed up as a HC. All he knows is “go small and rely on Steph”.
Think Jalen has sealed his fate as a Rocket for next season. Your “best” scorer can’t be as inconsistent as him. Podz has outscored him 3 out of 4 games. If green could give anything else it would be one thing. But he can no longer hold this team back. He’s supposed to be their bucket getter. He’ll be packaged in a trade for an upgrade this offseason.
Jalen Green is not the go to player for the Rockets. He has a good shot but he needs to be wide open to score. Reminds me of Moody where if somebody is in his face his shot doesn’t go in. Rockets need that super star offensive player for them to take the next step. Fortunately they have the assets to go a out and get that player. their GM will need to give up one or 2 young players and take a chance. If Julius Randle is availble in the off season they better go after him who fits the team toughness and can be a offensive force.
I’m not on of the fans that think KD isn’t a fit. We really don’t have the right to be picky. KD can give 2-3 more great-elite seasons imo. He is really what they need. Someone that can get you a high % bucket when you NEED it. Sengun is a star. Such a good player. But if your go to is expecting him to go head to head with the game on the line with an all time defender, that tells you all you need need to know if you’re the Rockets. I have no problem with letting sengun be the closer. But that’s putting a lot of pressure on him to have to work hard for that shot. Randle has some traits the Rockets value, but they need a shooter.
If the Rockets do lose in five, I have a strong feeling that the GM of the Rockets will be looking at his present roster, seeing the need for a strong scorer like KD, he will call Phoenix offer 2 first and a player or two and say do we have a deal. A scorer like a KD is really lacking on this up-and-coming team. But buyer beware don’t expect KD to play a strong defensive game, we have seen him in Phoenix games take the night off from playing defense this season. Hell, the Suns will throw in Beal to if you want the Suns to sweeten the deal.
I was going by who will be available in the off season. Most teams do not want to trade their best offensive players. Could they go all in and try to get Booker instead of Durant or if Heat decide to rebuild go after Tyler Hero? i think it more comes down to will Udoka be OK with trading some defense for offense?
Being a Suns fans for many years they have already said that Booker is going nowhere, but the other players on this Suns roster is available along with the front office staff. Personally, though I would consider trading Booker if the package was right in return. You have to give up something to get something as they say.
It would be best for the Suns to trade Booke now while he is at a high value than let him play for s rebuilding team and lose value. They could get 3 1st rounders and some good player for him and do like OKC and rebuild a strong team.
The one problem with KD is that lately he is a 50 game per season player mostly.
Are there any teams that want Jalen Green at 3/106? Like if your star hunting is he an asset or some bad money you have to add more for a team to take?
Green is simply too young. Series like these will fortify him and he likely will be better and learn from it in future years.
Moving on from a high ceiling guy at age 22 is a big no.
Jalen Green really is MJ or JR Smith. And there is very little in-between.
He’s also 22. I would relax on him for now.
Benching Sengun? Even if missing shots, he was unstoppable in the 2nd half, he scored like 22 points, the Warriors didn’t have an answer for him like until the last stop from Draymond (great defense, clutch).
The Rockets were hard attacking the rim in the 4th, with Sengun, Thompson scoring and Adams battling for rebounds. The game was becoming difficult for GSW at the middle of the 4th.
The hack a Adams strategy there was a greatly smart move, as he was closing the paint and battling in the offensive glass. The threat of him shooting free throws at a low percentage obliged Udoka to sub him out, and then Butler took over, and freed space for.Hield.and Podziemski, along with Curry and Draymond.playmaking.
Playoff Jimmy looked again like Jordan’s son.
Gsw just knows how to close games with the right pieces.
Podziemski was exceptional.
Benching Sengun wouldnt be the solution at all.
Guy played a tremendous second half
The Warriors didn’t have an answer because of Draymond having to sit.
Game 5, the entire Rockets’ focus will be to get Green ejected.
I expect to see a lot of Adams and Segun on the floor at the same time. Udoka should play their better offensive player when those 2 are on the floor not needing so much defense. Expect them to play a zone defense too. They been focusing on Green to get ejected every game. Brooks will do something dirty.
Thats partially because they refuse to double him. Senguns game is very physicall if he has to be the only scorer, and they are saying Sengun can try to beat us but were staying home defensively and if he cant win a whole game 1 on 1 then he cant win.
They are a young teen with a lot of talent but they do not have a leader to keep things in order especially doing playoff time. It looks like this series is over so this off season they should try to bring you in a seasoned FA while keeping their starters .
Only Warriors fans complain about refs. Have any of you ever actually played a full court game???? 2Kclones …. Only losers cry about the refs. Players take it out of their hands. I’ve never seen a team be up 3-1. And the main focus is complaining about the officiating……. Get your Warriors Pacifiers.
and STFU …… my ten year old got more pride.
every team fans complain about the Refs. Only complaint I have is there should never been given the first T on Green he did nothing wrong in that situation.
Rockets lack of a true PG a gm manager. Is what is showing up this series. Thats what experience does. It exposed young teams. This is on Udoka. He’s done nothing to help his young team. It’s ridiculous to have your center. Initiating offense from the three point line. Over and over again. You know the easiest way a big can initiate offense. Go down low.!Turn around and the ball is there. You are closer to rim. You waste less energy. And it’s a higher % shot. Warriors team defense is what’s winning this series. And Udoka has yet to adjust ????
I guess he thinks he’ll have plenty of time over the summer to do it…..