The Golden State Warriors are in danger of dropping out of the play-in altogether.
After the Warriors’ loss Sunday to the Timberwolves, Golden State is just one game ahead of Houston for the final play-in spot — a Rockets team that has won eight straight games and is on the rise. While the Warriors hold the tiebreaker between the teams and have an easier schedule the rest of the way, Golden State is heading in the wrong direction, having gone 4-6 in its last 10 games. With 12 games left, the Rockets are in great shape. in play for a playoff spot and the April 4 matchup between these teams looms.
How worried is Draymond Green about the Rockets?
“I don’t care about the Rockets.”
In some context, Green’s point of view is that the Warriors should take care of themselves and their own business, without worrying about another team.
“If you lose the [games] you’re supposed to win, you’re going to have a long year.”
Draymond talks about the Warriors’ bad habits ????️ pic.twitter.com/KCQKzdvmYA
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 25, 2024
“We lose a lot of games that we should win. In this league, you have to win games [that] you’re supposed to win and steal a few that you’re not supposed to win. But if you lose the ones you’re supposed to win, you’re in for a long year…
“When you have to win and you don’t, it sucks. To win, you have to develop good habits. I don’t think we have good habits. As long as you don’t always play with the right habits, you lose.
Green’s point that the Warriors have to worry about getting back on track is a valid one: take care of business and the Rockets are no problem.
But it’s normal to be a little worried about Houston. What’s impressive about the Rockets’ winning streak is that the last six of those wins came after Alperen Sengun, the team’s star center and a hub of their offense, went down with an injury late of the season. Jalen Green has averaged 26.5 points per game during this series, while rookie Amen Thompson has added 16.4 points per game on 64.2% shooting over the last five. The young Rockets are mobilizing for Ime Udoka, the Warriors have not shown this resilience.
