INTERSECTION
Challengers knew at some point they would collide with the champs, and the long-awaited matchup is welcome
Coach Mike D’Antoni slept well at night and perhaps general manager Daryl Morey distracted himself from his obsession with the enormity of the Rockets’ goal to lull himself to sleep with visions of the tiny basketball players in his musical comedy.
But there was never any doubt the Rockets wanted the matchup they got.
The Rockets gladly would have accepted the change in plans had Golden State been knocked off, but they never entertained that hope. To win an NBA championship, the goal they openly had cited since the Warriors celebrated their latest, they would have to knock out the champs.
Whatever else they might have done along the way, winning a franchise-record and an NBA-best 65 regular-season games and taking eight more wins in 10 playoff games since, the Rockets always glanced west, to the doings of the War
riors, believing they were on the collision course that pits them in the Western Conference finals.
“This is definitely what we wanted, no question, to be at this point we’re at right now,” guard Eric Gordon said. “Our mentality is to win a championship. We’re very fortunate and happy we’re in the position we are, playing the Warriors in this series.”
If that is considered lacking in deference to the team with three consecutive Finals appearances and a pair of championships, the Rockets said they wanted to face the Warriors because they assumed there was no other way to escape the Western Conference.
“They’ve been to the (conference) finals four years in a row. Who are you going to target?” D’Antoni said. “You’re not going to get the 30th team, say ‘We’re going to beat those guys.’ Well, no kidding. You’re going to (target) Golden State, whether you say it or not say it. I would think last year there were 29 teams that tried to get better than them or what’s the use? Yeah, we target. That’s a compliment to them because they are the champs.
“Eventually you have to go through them if you’re going to get something, the ultimate prize. You look up and see what the champs are doing and see how good they are. But it’s not an obsession. I didn’t lose any sleep the last three months. I still sleep well, but it’s something, if you want to (get past) them, you’re going to have to beat them.”
The Rockets were rebuilt with the Warriors in mind, but in many ways, the retooling was suited to the changes the Warriors’ success inspired throughout the league. The Rockets not only had to improve defensively, they moved toward a switching defense they hope will be better against the Warriors because the league is launching more 3pointers with less post-up play in the NBA’s game of follow the leader.
The Rockets added the second playmaker and midrange ability of Chris Paul, but it was clear they needed that after their series against Sasn Antonio as much as the previous season’s loss to the Warriors.
Golden opportunity
The reigning champion has not been knocked off by the next champion prior to the NBA Finals since Dallas took out the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011 playoffs. To the Rockets, there has been a sense throughout the season that this is an opportunity, the best chance most have had.
“I was talking to Chris about it, how much you just never know,” forward Luc Mbah a Moute said. “You never know when you’re going to have a team like this. You never know when you’re going to have a chance to get here again. Most people, most careers, you just don’t know when you’ll have a chance to get there, a chance to win. For us, when we look at our team, we feel like we have a chance to win.”
A day after Golden State coach Steve Kerr said the Warriors can counter the Rockets’ hunger for a title with a firsthand appreciation of success on that level brings, the Rockets said the different motivations are like the different strengths and styles. They make each team what it is, but neither will want it more.
Different advantages
“I don’t think it’s a fight, where one counteracts the other,” Mbah a Moute said. “Each team is different, as with the way each team plays and the personnel. They have a team that’s won. We have another team that is hungry to win one. For each of us, it works to our advantage.”
The more relevant difference is the Warriors’ track record. The Rockets believe they are ready to win a title. The Warriors know.
“I don’t think because you’ve won or haven’t won, you have a bigger drive to get it,” D’Antoni said. “These guys are highly motivated, self-motivated guys. … That’s how they got here in the first place. What we have to prove is we can do it in the big moments. They’ve done it in the big moments. You know they’re going to do it. I think we can, but we have to go out and prove it.”
The Rockets have not lacked confidence because of what they have yet to accomplish together. If anything, they have at times taken the task at hand lightly, an issue unlikely against the Warriors.
“It’s going to be a great series,” James Harden said. “You have two high-powered offenses, two extremely talented teams. We expect it to be a great showdown. They have a lot more experience. We’re fine with that. We’ve been having that great mindset all year, just go out there and be the best Houston Rockets team we can be and letting things play out.”