There are numerous comparisons to be made between the present collection of first spherical Golden State Warriors with the Houston Rockets, and their confrontation within the semi-finals of the Western Convention in 2022 in opposition to the Memphis grizzles.
Simply as current in opposition to the Rockets, the Warriors had been the veteran staff in 2022 in search of to eradicate younger higher head and higher head -up grizzlears who sought to tame the lion and make a press release within the playoffs.
Like this Grizzlies collection, Golden State was on the highway Wednesday with a 3-1 lead and an opportunity to shut the collection in 5. Nonetheless, in a useless just like this 2022 collection, the Warriors primarily kicked the sport from the beginning and underwent an embarrassing lack of motion.
The Warriors have by no means given themselves an opportunity in match 5
Head coach Steve Kerr determined to wave the white flag midway within the third quarter, having lagged behind by 16 on the finish of the primary trimester and half-hour at solely 5 minutes. Nothing went properly for the Warriors within the first three quarters, however their bench confirmed a sure combat within the fourth when guests lastly misplaced 131-116.
Golden State’s boring efficiency was embodied by their veterans stars whereas Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced all fought in the course of the 15 -point defeat. Curry collected 11 factors within the second quarter, but when not 13 on 4 photographs out of 12 and three out of 9 past the arc in 23 minutes, whereas Butler collected eight factors on 10 photographs in 25 unusually ineffective minutes.
Inexperienced fired 3 out of 4 from the bottom, though its defensive vitality and its depth had been severely missing whereas the Rockets printed 76 factors in first half on 69% of floor taking pictures and 60% at 3 factors.
The similarities between this collection and the Grizzlies 2022 collection are loopy😭
– Thewarriorshouse (@gswarriorshouse) Could 1, 2025
Actually so loopy, how a lot you appear like grizzly guys / warriors again. Grizzlies misplaced on the finish in match 4 – then destroyed EM in match 5. The Warriors closed in 6. It is like Golden St doing their finest when they need to, however not earlier than.
– Chris Vernon (@chrisvernonshow) Could 1, 2025
The one time within the Curry period, Draymond, Kerr that the Warriors performed a match 5 on the highway 3-1 in a collection, it was the top outcome. A 134-95 Grizzlies victory within the Western semi-final 2022. Warriors then closed the collection on the Chase Middle two nights later. https://t.co/xvfxhxjsy2
– John Dickinson (@jdjohndickinson) April 30, 2025
The one cash lining is that the center of Golden State resumed lots earlier than match 6 on Thursday, but it surely couldn’t be stated for Houston who was pressured to deliver their starters over the past interval.
The Warriors waste programming has elevated anxiousness among the many followers of the home, as a result of they sensally cut back the margin of 27 to 13, earlier than a scooter has enjoyable which led to a pair of strategies for Trayce Jackson-Davis and Alperun Sangun, in addition to an ejection for Pat Spencer.
The Rockets stabilized and eventually gained the victory, however Ime Udoka won’t be happy to need to put his starters in a sport which had been certainly beneath rental and key.
Moses Moody took the chance of the fourth quarter to complete with a summit of 25 factors and 9 rebounds, after having drawn 9 out of 18 from the bottom and three out of seven to three factors. Kevin Knox was the second prime scorer in Golden State with 14, whereas Spencer additionally had 11 factors and 4 rebounds earlier than his ejection.
The Warriors hope that the story will repeat itself, since they had been capable of shut the 2022 Grizzlies collection in match 6, however they’ve now put strain on themselves to realize it and keep away from a match in Do-O-Die in Houston.
