Houston Rockets: Three Keys To Winning Game 4

The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors will tip off Game 4 of their playoff series tonight in San Francisco. The Warriors hold a 2-1 series lead over Houston, with a chance to put a potential dagger in this series if they go up 3-1. The Warriors breezed by the Rockets on Saturday night, winning 104-93.

The Warriors were without Jimmy Butler, and the fact that Golden State handled the Rockets like they did without one of their best players has to be a concern for the Rockets. Let’s talk about some keys to the game for the Rockets that can help them regain their mojo from Game 2.

1. Jalen Green Has To Get Going

If the Rockets want to have any hope of winning tonight, Jalen Green is going to have to be a big part of it. The 23-year-old shot just 4-of-11 from the field in Game 3, and 1-of-5 from three-point range. Shockingly, these stats were better than his Game 1 stats, a game Houston still lost.

As a young player, inconsistency is going to happen. But Green has been extremely inconsistent in this series, scoring a combined 16 points in Game 1 and 3, while in Game 2 he doubled that total by going off for 38 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. We know what he can do. He will need to be the driving force for this Rockets team if they want to go far.

2. The Rockets Have To Stop Stephen Curry

Even in the post-Warriors dynasty era, Stephen Curry is still the same game-breaking talent he was all those years ago. Even if Curry has an off night, he is still going to be a guy that can change the game. It is hard to ask, but the Rockets must dig deep and stop Curry or at least minimize his effect on the game.

3. Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson Need To Be Better

The Warriors came prepared to contain Green, and that’s exactly what they did. They had a game plan defensively where they put Draymond Green in Jalen Green’s face, and it worked. Since Green was shut down, it was a perfect opportunity for Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson to get prime scoring chances. Neither player came through, which could be pointed to as the biggest reason Houston lost. 

The Rockets were unable to get anything going on offense since Jalen Green was shut down. In this series so far, Green has been the engine that has been making the Rockets go. That is a huge issue. Thompson and Alperen Sengun are considered drivers of this team with Green. They will need to take over Game 4.

Last Thoughts

Despite all that went wrong for Houston in Game 3, they were still in the game late in the fourth. Cleaning up a few things and minimizing Curry and Green will be key. Monday night feels like a must-win for Houston, and it’s sounding like Golden State will get Butler back for Game 4.

Stop Curry, open the floor to get the ball to Sengun, and have Thompson step up and stop Curry. It sounds easier said than done, but that’s what Houston must do if they want to get back in this series.