In the preview for this playoff battle, two key statistics stood out that may have portended how the Golden State Warriors were gearing to defend their first-round opponents.
The Houston Rockets aren’t particularly known for their three-point shooting, both in terms of volume and efficiency. They take the fourth-least number of attempts from beyond the arc in terms of three-point-attempt rate — and shot just 35.3% on those shots during the regular season, 21st in the league.
Many an instance has plagued the Warriors in terms of their defensive choices — e.g., a notorious non-shooter garnering favor from the variance gods and hitting a shot the Warriors were more than comfortable letting them take; even worse, that same player drilling another shot when left open.