Game-time call
Chris Paul is getting all the hamstring treatment he can.
Rockets star guard Chris Paul’s availability for Game 7 against the Warriors on Monday night remains uncertain with Paul yet to test his injured right hamstring to determine how much progress he had made since leaving Game 5 in the final minute Thursday.
“I don’t think he’s tested it at all,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s just getting treatment and trying to be sure it calms down and everything. The doctors and our trainers are working on it 24 hours a day almost. They will (Monday) morning probably evaluate it again, probably (Monday) afternoon re-evaluate it again. If I get the nod from the trainers, Chris and the doctors, then he’ll be ready to go. If any of those three disagree, probably not going.
“I think it’s a game-time decision, whatever it is, probably doubtful or questionable. They will eventually test it and see if there is any possibility whatsoever.”
The Rockets went 15-9 in games Paul missed this season; 50-8 in games he played. They were blown out in the second half Saturday, losing 115-86 to force a Game 7.
“Obviously, we hope to have our starting point guard back,” forward P.J. Tucker said. “But, if not, we need to be ready. I think we showed in the first half (Saturday) that we can still play. It’s just about remaining and keeping focus. Obviously Chris is a great player.
“We’ve done this all year. We talked about it. We lost James (
Harden), we lost Chris, we lost a bunch of people all year. Whoever is on the floor is going to play and we’re going to stay together and we’re going to play hard together.”
D’Antoni indicated Paul has made progress in his rehab, but before he could test it, it was difficult to characterize his chances to play.
“I think it’s going good,” D’Antoni said. “I think he’s listed as questionable. I’m sure the team doctors will check him out tomorrow morning and see how far he’s gotten and see what the possibilities are.
“I’m not going to make that decision. That will be the doctors. We’re not going to be coy with it. As soon as we know, we’ll say it. But we might not know until afternoon, see how it goes … when he tests it out. We’ll have to play it by ear right now.”
Players dismiss fatigue factor
Although the Rockets have trimmed their rotation to seven players — Luc Mbah a Moute barely got in the mix with
The Rockets are hamstrung, so to speak, when it comes to Chris Paul’s leg injury. Coach Mike D’Antoni can’t plan until the doctors and Paul have their say, which will likely be late in the day.
Chris Paul out — they insist fatigue did not play a part in their Game 6 loss or would it in their chances to win Game 7.
“Fatigue is never a factor in the playoffs,” forward Trevor
Ariza said. “This is what we prepare for. This is what we work hard all summer for. They started playing harder. They started making shots. That’s it.”
Even though the Warriors have played a deeper rotation, even with starting forward
Andre Iguodala out, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry have played more minutes per game than any Rockets player.
P.J. Tucker has played an average of 37.9 minutes per game to lead the Rockets. “You’ve kind of got to look at it,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “You realize that Golden State’s Big Four plays more minutes than our guys. It’s kind of a misconception. We’re only playing seven, but I can divide up the seventh player within three players and it’s, ‘Oh you have a big rotation,’ but the same guys are going to play the same minutes. Trevor is trying to mirror ( Kevin )
Durant, so if Durant plays 41, Trevor is going to play about that.” With Paul out, James Harden and Eric Gordon especially played through longer stretches.
“This is the conference finals,” Tucker said. “If you’re tired, you’re in the wrong profession, period.”
D’Antoni stresses care with ball
As many issues as the Rockets had in a second half in which they were outscored 64-25 on Saturday night, they repeatedly came back to the problems they had throughout the game taking care of the ball.
The Rockets had 21 turnovers, leading to 23 points by GoldenState. With the Warriors making 57.5 percent of their shots and 60 percent of their 3-pointers in the second half, the Rockets repeatedly began their possessions after made baskets, hurting the offense. The Rockets made 29.4 percent of their shots in the second half.
Their nine fourth-quarter points were the fewest in franchise history in a full postseason quarter and fewer than two Rockets players scored individually in the first quarter.
“Little bit of them, little bit of us, little carelessness, little tiredness, whatever,” coach
Mike D’Antoni said. “Bottom line, we can’t turn it over, and we need to do a better job.
“I think the turnovers were the biggest problem. Probably didn’t get in transition as much because they were scoring and (the Rockets were) walking it up every time. First half they were missing … so that’s a big difference. Kind of goes hand in hand between getting good offense and having the stops. We’ve got to get back, get the stops, not turn it over, and take care of business.”
The Rockets have committed an average of 19 turnovers in the losses in the series, 13 in the wins. Their 12.1 turnovers in the postseason are the third fewest in the playoffs after committing the fewest in the first two rounds.
“We’ve just got to make better decisions,” D’Antoni said. “And they’re good. A lot of it is their fault because they’re playing really well. They’re doing their part.
“We just have to make a little bit better decisions, take care of the ball. But that’s a big key, transition. When we turn it over like that and they get out in transition, it’s a double whammy. So if we can take care of the ball, we’ll have a good chance to win.”
Warriors’ Looney is questionable
Golden State center Kevon Looney is listed as questionable for Game 7 on Monday night with a sore left toe.
As the NBA trends toward a position-less brand of basketball, Looney has carved out his niche as a small-ball center. His ability to switch off screens and defend guards has made him an asset against a perimeter-oriented Rockets team.
Numerous times during the series, he has held his own guarding Chris Paul or James
Harden in isolation.
With Andre Iguodala sidelined the past three games by a left lateral leg bruise, Looney has started at center.
On the series, he is averaging 3.7 points and five rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game.
In Saturday’s Game 6 victory, Looney helped hold the Rockets to 47 points over the final three quarters, posting four points, seven rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes.
Iguodala, hobbled by a leg bruise, is listed as questionable for Game 7.
Fresh off his first appearance in nearly two months,
Patrick McCaw (lumbar spine recovery) is probable.