Second-year swingman Amen Thompson was excellent in helping the Rockets stave off elimination on Wednesday, filling the stat sheet with 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, five steals and three blocks. Houston outscored Golden State by 32 points during Thompson’s 35 minutes. The 22-year-old became the first player since Charles Barkley in 1993 to record 25 points, five steals, and three blocks in a playoff game, per Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com.
In addition to his highly efficient offensive performance — he was 8-of-12 from the field and 8-of-9 from the foul line — Thompson slowed down Stephen Curry, limiting the two-time MVP to 13 points (on 4-of-12 shooting) and seven assists in 25 minutes.
“He took it personal, and that’s what we need from him every single night,” Dillon Brooks said. “As a defender, you have to take the matchup personal. He was reading Steph, reading a lot of the guys, staying in front, being disciplined on the defensive end without reaching.
“We need that Amen every single game because we’re going to go against guys like Steph again. That same mentality, that tenacity that he was playing with gives us a lot of energy, gives us a lot of extra possessions, and it makes their best player timid and think. That’s what we need: their best players to think, think, think the game instead of playing in the flow.”
Here’s more on the Rockets, who are now down 3-2 in their first-round series vs. Golden State:
- Brooks also had a strong performance in Game 5, scoring an efficient 24 points and holding Jimmy Butler to just eight points on 2-of-10 shooting. After the game, he spoke to Kelly Iko of The Athletic about how playing against the Warriors multiple times over the years has helped him learn to maintain his composure. “My energy, my enthusiasm, my passion for the game can override and f–k up a game,” Brooks told The Athletic. “I learned that from years of playing in the playoffs and understanding where things went wrong. To win against these guys, you have to be composed at all times. The way they play is very helter-skelter. They’re going to make you play with passion — with Draymond (Green) and Steph (Curry) on that team. Me learning and playing against these guys a lot in my career, being composed is the way to go.”
- Asked during his post-game press conference, whether he has been targeting Curry’s injured right thumb, Brooks didn’t deny it, Ron Kroichick writes for The Houston Chronicle. “I’m playing the game,” Brooks said. “Shoot, if you’re going to come play the game injured, whatever you’ve got, it’s all about the game. If I had an injured ankle, I would attack that ankle every single time. So whatever they’re saying on the broadcast, they can keep saying it.”
- After struggling with his shot for the first three games of the series, veteran guard Fred VanVleet has caught fire over the past two, including scoring a game-high 26 points on Wednesday, notes Matt Young of The Houston Chronicle. For his part, VanVleet says he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win. “I’m here to share and lead and quarterback and put guys in positions, but I still have to play at a high level if we’re going to be a good team,” said VanVleet. “I’ve been able to get back to that over the last couple of games. There’s so much going on and so much is new to this team and we’re playing so many young guys, this is their first experience. Their heads get to spinning a little bit at times. Just trying to calm them down and get them into good spots. If we play our brand of basketball at a high level, I feel good about us against anybody.”
- Jalen Green bumped knees in the first quarter of Game 5, but he says he “should be good” to go for Friday’s Game 6, according to Reid Laymance of The Houston Chronicle.
“At his post-game press conference, Brooks didn’t deny that he’s been targeting Curry’s injured right thumb”
Absolutely pathetic loser behavior. Dillion Brooks will never win a ring in this league.
“I would attack his ankle” ever tried outplaying them? Absolute scumbag. Brooks is 1000000x worse than anything Draymond has done.
So Brooks is saying if he was facing Brunson with a hurt ankle he would dive under him and mess up the ankle more. SMH Brooks is a dirty player not even Green would attack a player’s injury on purpose.
This is not something new. In any sport. If you’re out there hurt, anyone that knows your hurt is going to attempt to exploit that. I 100% guarantee you Green has attempted to exploit a player playing hurt many times in his career. It’s not illegal. It’s not against any rule. If you’re out there playing, you’re healthy enough to play. Period.
So you are saying its all fair if a player is injured Brooks should go out and injure the player even more so he can win. Wow you are so desperate to win you approve of injuring a player on purpose.
@arc
I don’t believe he is saying it’s “fair” I think he is saying it’s what is going to happen fair or not. It’s why teams are so cagey about injury reports during the season and especially the playoffs.
Also I don’t think it has to do with winning approval it has to do with winning games and series. When we talk about the warriors does anyone ever talk about Zaza sticking his foot under Kawhi’s foot? No we talking them winning rings.
At the end of the day players like Brooks are always going to do this type of stuff, and to be fair it use to be and to some still is applauded to go after players weakness like that.
No that is what he said if a player is hurt go after him intentionally. Not once did he say it would be a shame he gets hurt or I would never injure him. Same guy who broke Paytons arm on a dirty play in a prior playoff game.
I’m talking about your response to Cam. You said “so you are saying it’s all fair if a player is injured Brooks should go out and injure the the player even more so he can win” your structuring of the sentence implies you are saying that is what CamFrost thinks. I was saying I doubt CamFrost is saying he’s in support of that what he is saying is players and teams are going to try to exploit that weakness as a competitive advantage. If a player is on the court and has a sore thumb the other team is going to slap that hand as much as possible to try to exploit that. Nobody in this comment section is condoning purposely injuring other players. Brooks is a dirty player we all know that I doubt anyone is surprised that he is doing dirty things.
@CamFrost It’s not illegal but it’s not what title-winners would ever own up to. Even lying in this case makes more sense.
Every team and player does it.
First off Dra is more dirty than Brooks. As far as dirty play goes. He has the deeper history to prove it. Both are players who cross the line at times.
Brooks said he would attack an injured player. That’s what you are suppose to do. Make that player push that injury. Doesn’t mean you target or hit his injury. It means you make him push his injury. By playing tough D. That’s been going on since beginning. Use to be much worse. Thats why teams have to have enforcers. To keep everyone in chk. We will not tolerate illegal stuff……. Didn’t I tell you Warriors fans cry all the time. Forget Marty, we know he’s a looney. But just look at them.
Curry has been thru everything. He knows whats comming and what to do about it. These posters don’t understand competition. Only crying
AL go and put in Brooks attacking Curry’s thumb on a video site. He swipes down at it every chance he gets even when Curry already shot the ball. That is like jumping under a player with a sprain ankle to twist it more. It happens all game long with Brooks. No other Rocket player is doing that.
This sounds pretty normal to me. You exploit whatever weakness a team has until they adjust for it.
Draymond is 100% the dirtier player. Brooks plays hard but he doesn’t play dirty. The same can’t be said for draymond.
Brooks literally just admitted he was playing dirty! Do you not know how to read, Danny? Draymond plays clean, never dirty. His legs just swing around like that! :)
Brooks injures players to win. Brooks is 100% dirter than any other player.
link to espn.com
Just stop. Or at least make sure Draymond hasnt already done the same crap. Yall are unbelievably hypocritical and have been this entire series.
Brooks plays hard but doesn’t play dirty?
This thread/article is referring to Dillon Brooks, not Marshon.
Brooks plays dirty its the only way he knows how to play.
Wonder if the refs will lose control of the game in G6 and a brawl happens. It’s getting real chippy so I wonder if they’ll clamp down.
Sengun always a drama queen but guess what he also fouled out last night. Refs are doing just fine. Houston not going to win anyway. Flintstone too up and down. Don’t think they have the spirit to play from behind and warriors will be ready. Steph can’t win one game? Give me a break…
Yeah … Rockets are just good offensive player away from really making a deep run. I wonder which players they’ll keep and who they’ll trade away next year.
I do like sengun a lot but wonder if they’d move him for a big return. Numbers last year iirc were better with him out of the lineup and frankly if your ceiling is Sabonis I’d rather package for someone more valuable. Would you take Trae over FVV? They are both streaky and Fred more mature for a young team. But Trae probably has a higher offensive ceiling.
FVV makes no sense for Atlanta given their age profile, and he doesn’t make them better now either.
Ever hear of a 3 team trade, genius?
Personal? No one was critical of Amens defense. Brooks has a chip on his shoulder for no reason.
Rockets only have themselves to blame. For being down 3-2. Green has been shut out for 4 out of 5 gms. Udoka has not helped his player. Imo he’s overrated. I’m not a fan. Warriors don’t want to come back to Houston. Time for the vets to step up..
Brooks may be a dirty player, he may just be ornery and punkish. Either way, though, he said nothing wrong here. I’d have my doubts about his competitive nature if he had answered any differently.
The thread here is (yet) another one that breaks down basketball players vs 2k players. And the 2k’ers lose again. When a player (in any sport) steps into the arena of competition, any particular vulnerability he may have (due to a prior injury or otherwise) is absolutely fair game to be exploited by his opponents. The opponents’ goal isn’t to injure the player, it’s to instill angst in him and/or maybe get him to rethink playing. If the player gets hurt in the process due to the vulnerability, it’s 100% on him for playing with it. There aren’t two views on this (even in Silver’s kinder/gentler NBA).
Always amazes me when 6’10 or taller players are lousy on the boards and or defense. C’mon Post, do something!
Hope the current trend changes. Can’t afford to let Houston stay close tonight.