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OAKLAND – Two hours before the 104-100 win of the first game against Houston, Warrior assistant Chris DeMarco rallied all Golden State players within earshot and issued a simplified directive: hold The Beard on hold .
Harden raises the same riddle for almost every NBA team: a stalwart superstar goaltender who can apparently get to the free throw line at any time. In the first game, he did exactly that, finishing with 14 attempts on the line, keeping the Rockets away for much of the afternoon.
Golden State is well aware of Harden's tactics, which has played him three of the last four postseason. As the series progresses, the Warriors will try to defend Harden and his friends without endangering them.
For most of the night, the Warriors controlled the Houston attack, holding only 41.9% of the Rockets on the field and 29.8% at 3 points. Harden, who finished with 29 points, only managed nine out of 28 shots as he faced a myriad of Golden State defenders and was making his usual run up to the line of play. arrival.
Thirty-six hours earlier, the Warriors dispatched the Clippers, led by Lou Williams, who has the talent of Harden to have caused trouble to his opponent. In the six-game series, Williams finished with 41 free-throw attempts. After Sunday's win, after the Harden cashed half of the team's free-throw attempts, the general consensus among Warriors players was that glaring difference between the two players. Williams tries to score, Harden seeks contact.
With only 2:28 left in the third quarter, Harden went to Kevon Looney's basket and apparently grabbed his arm to propel the Warriors to a call – much to his regret of Warriors.
"I mean I did not think it was a fault," Looney said. "I was a little late on the cover, I should have been higher, but I know that when you reach a goal, it's a fault." I learned that the the most difficult situation last year and the rules are still in effect, so I will not do it. "
The warrior coach Steve Kerr had some tips to give to his players.
"You have to be very disciplined," Kerr added. "He's so smart, creating faults, making contacts, and you have to be able to play without putting your hand in the cookie jar."
Looney watched the recording of his defensive missions against Harden after the finals of the Western Conference last year. As the clips played, Looney began to notice Harden's tendency to jump into the defender as he headed for the goal. Since he's been watching the band, Looney has started to jump to Harden's side when challenging his jumpers. Like Looney, players have developed a strategy to protect the title MVP. Kevin Durant prefers to use his 7-foot-5 wingspan, holding a high arm over Harden's head to deter his vision from the edge.
The approach of Klay Thompson to keep Harden left the Rockets and the guard curious. In three separate cases, Thompson appeared to reduce Harden 's landing area. After the match, Harden was looking for a certain amount of retribution while the Warriors claimed that Harden was able to get rid of his old tricks to kick him.
"What can I do about it?" Harden asked. "I mean, I just want a chance, dude." Call the game as he's supposed to call it and that's all, and I'll live with the results. "
Warriors forward Draymond Green did not want to hear him.
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"Huh?" Green added, seeming disturbed. "I've already been messed up by James on a 3 pointer James.No, I'm not going with that one.I'm straight."
As the series progresses, the Warriors will continue to aim for the goal that DeMarco has set just before the show, even though it's easier to say that To do.
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