Seasoned Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, who has seemingly been getting better in each successive playoff game against Golden State, is confident that his young teammates will be prepared for Game 7, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
VanVleet scored 29 points and handed out eight assists while leading Houston to a 115-107 Game 6 victory to knot the series at 3-3.
“We got so much talent just as long as they don’t get sidetracked,” VanVleet said. “Game 1 it was like, ‘Oh my God.’ And then Game 3 on the road was a little shaky. But other than that, they are so good. Just go out there and play your game. I just try to keep them calm and keep them focused on just playing the game. Don’t get worried about all the other stuff.”
The Rockets fell to a 3-1 hole against the lower-seeded, more experienced Warriors, but their youth, size, and athleticism has helped propel the team to consecutive victories. Now, the action shifts to Houston for a decisive Game 7.
There’s more out of Houston:
- Longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who retained his president title while stepping down as coach this week, gave his former assistant, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, some advice that helped him extend the Golden State series, per Sam Amick of The Athletic. Udoka had also played for Popovich on the Spurs, from 2007-09 and then again in 2010-11. While Udoka wasn’t willing to share the details, he said Popovich “gave me some pointers.” Houston is facing off against another Popovich disciple, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who played for him in San Antonio and was a Team USA assistant during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
- The Rockets’ intimidating zone defense is a big reason why they’ve managed to extend this Warriors series, writes Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscriber link). “It’s a weird zone,” reserve center Steven Adams said. “Yeah, I don’t know. It’s just like a bizarre one, but it works.” Per Lerner, Houston is employing a 2-3 zone attack. Two guards are positioned at the top of the floor, with frontcourt players handling the back line. VanVleet previously discussed the efficacy of the zone approach.
- In case you missed it, Hoops Rumors’ Luke Adams recently ran a poll regarding the outcome of Game 7.
Rockets got a good core but it’s not title worthy. The GM could easily ruin things by trying to make the right trades to truly contend in the future. This is what separates high-win-total regular season teams like those fraud Hawks squads or dynasties like the Warriors and Celtics
The GM has managed this rebuild beautifully. He’s always said that he wants to build through the draft and develop players because that’s how you sustain winning. The media loves to throw Durant or Giannis in a rockets jersey, but everything this front office has done points to them staying the course. They have a young talented team, another top 10 pick this year and a ton of good future draft capital. No reason to think that their approach will all of a sudden change because it’s been working
I don’t like this roster, but veterans FVV, Adams and Brooks together are pretty much kryptonite for the way this Warriors team is built, if the Warriors get locked by a zone defense led by Amen. If they can break free and control the tempo, they will win today. If they pass too much and dribble too much, its over.
Putting ancient washed up GP2 out there and mids Buddy instead of Kuminga and Moody really turned this 4 game sweep into a 7 gamer. Classic Kerr move.
Game 7 is going to come down to who can out coach the other guy. Rockets have the advantage being at home and momentum. Kerr last 2 games was poor coaching and not adjusting. Maybe he was over confident. Now he most shake things up and out adjust Udoka. Please do not do the hack Adams game again that is one thing that cost them in game 6.
GaryRedSoxxWarriors ——
Now explain to me why Kuminga is behind in player development. Compared to his lottery class. Imo none of these players have peaked yet. Where is Kuminga to you. And you have already stated you won’t give any blame to Warriors. Which to me means. You’d rather someone else. A do over …
First Round
1. Pistons draft Cade Cunningham
2. Rockets draft Jalen Green
3. Cavaliers draft Evan Mobley
4. Raptors draft Scottie Barnes
5. Magic draft Jalen Suggs
6. Thunder draft Josh Giddey
7. Warriors draft Jonathan Kuminga
8. Magic draft Franz Wagner
9. Kings draft Davion Mitchell
10. Pelicans draft Ziaire Williams (officially traded to Grizzlies)
11. Hornets draft James Bouknight
12. Spurs draft Joshua Primo
13. Pacers draft Chris Duarte
14. Warriors draft Moses Moody
15. Wizards draft Corey Kispert
16. Thunder draft Alperen Sengun (officially traded to Rockets)
17. Grizzlies draft Trey Murphy (officially traded to Pelicans)
18. Thunder draft Tre Mann
19. Knicks draft Kai Jones (officially traded to Hornets)
20. Hawks draft Jalen Johnson
21. Knicks draft Keon Johnson (officially traded to Clippers)
22. Lakers draft Isaiah Jackson (officially traded to Pacers via Wizards)
23. Rockets draft Usman Garuba
24. Rockets draft Josh Christopher
25. Clippers draft Quentin Grimes (officially traded to Knicks)
26. Nuggets draft Nah’Shon Hyland
27. Nets draft Cameron Thomas
28. 76ers draft Jaden Springer
29. Suns draft Day’Ron Sharpe (officially traded to Nets)
30. Jazz draft Santi Aldama (officially traded to Grizzlies)
Everyone else is saying Kuminga is behind in player development. I’m saying he’s not a good player.
He’s a consolation prize for falling out of the top six. Of course Franz Wagner is very good but after the top six Jonathan Kuminga is a big drop off with the rest of the 1st round.
But to answer your question, it’s not the Warriors fault. It’s not a player development issue.
It’s because Jonathan Kuminga is not a good player.
People are mesmerized by his incredible athletic ability. The man can jump and match eyeballs with the rim. That doesn’t make him a great player or even a good player.
Again, you talk about player development, but “IF” the guy is no good, you could spend a decade developing him and it’s not going to happen.
Look at Bouknight in your list here at 11, look at some of the failed draft picks of the Hornets and the kings and the Warriors the last 15 years. If a guy can’t play, he can’t play.
I think Jonathan Kuminga is that guy. He simply is not good enough.
It’s not about development with him as so many say, and blaming the Warriors for his lack of ability. That’s wrong.
It’s poor drafting is what it is. Not player development.
While looking at this list again, and thank you for providing it Al, I could ring Bob Myers’s neck. He could’ve had Franz Wagner instead of Kuminga and he could’ve had Alpie Sangun instead of Moses Moody? My goodness, take a look across the pond sometimes.
The Wiseman factor hurt them. If they did not have Wiseman that means they draft a center instead of drafting Kuminga. Warriors were actually looking to draft Giddey but he was taken right before Kuminga.
Rockets nailed that draft. Kuminga and moody instead of Wagner and sengun seems like malpractice. Imagine them with one of those guys. Awful draft. Set them way way back. Hindsight is 20/20.
Meyers screwed up a couple of drafts. Those second round picks they purchased with Joe Lacob’s money? Wasted.
Allen Smailagić, Jordan Bell, then Jacob Evans at 30, now Kuminga and Moody. Yikes. And that’s without looking it up to see the other names.
Year after year. Malpractice. Sengun is forgivable. Kuminga is such a disappointment. Maybe Davey’s right about Kerr developing talent? I’d rather think the front office botched the picks.