Green predicts an easy fix for the Warriors

HOUSTON – Draymond Green confidently predicted that the Warriors will win their thrilling NBA playoff series against the Rockets, despite dropping a second consecutive game.

Green, speaking after the Warriors fell 116-112 Monday night at the Toyota Center to level things at 2-2, insisted his team would prevail in the Western Conference semifinals by making a routine change to their mind-set.

“We are going into a fight thinking it is a fair fight,” Green said. “It’s not.

“They’re doing whatever it takes to win.

“We are just going in there like, ‘Oh, OK, we’ll box.’

“And they’re slamming us. Green added, “It starts from me. Our vibe is great because we know that if we just correct the effort thing, we are just fine. Everyone is feeling good. We know the answer to our problem and that is pretty exciting. That’s my department to lead in. If I do, I have no doubt everyone else will follow — and we will win.”

After the Warriors took a 2-0 series advantage with back-to-back wins at Oracle Arena in Oakland, it seemed as if the two-time defending NBA champions were on their way to yet another comfortable series win.

However, Houston adopted a more physical and aggressive approach to dominate the rebounding battle and throw Golden State out of its rhythm. Now, with the series due to head back to Oakland on Wednesday, it is the Rockets who are filled with confidence.

“I don’t know if you believe in momentum,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I don’t even know if there is such a thing, but we feel good about where we are. It will be a heck of a game on Wednesday.”