After dropping game six of the Western Conference playoff matchup against the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors are now preparing for a win-or-go-home contest against Ime Udoka’s team. Both teams have fought tooth and nail to earn a spot in the second round. However, on Sunday, May 4, one of the two rosters will see their season come to an abrupt end.
Unlike the Rockets, the Warriors have been in this situation before. They know how to win closeout games, both on the home floor and in front of a hostile crowd. When speaking to the media on Friday, May 2, Draymond Green pinpointed the Warriors’ hustle and effort plays as a potential swing factor.
“They probably had 20 points off of broken plays and getting loose balls and kicking out for 3s,” Green said. “Get loose balls and we’ll defend them way better. To beat this team, you’ve got to make second and third efforts. Last two games we have not done that.”
Udoka has got his team playing hard. They’re committed to winning and are embracing the less glamorous aspects of the game to help give themselves an edge. Golden State must follow suit. If they can control the hustle aspect of the game, they will have more control over how things unfold on both sides of the court.
Green and Jimmy Butler are both masters at finding ways to win. The Warriors know that controlling their destiny means putting their bodies on the line and fighting for victories within the margins. If Golden State can execute at a high level, fight for loose balls and rebounds, and knock down ttheirshots at a high clip, they should have a strong chance at closing out the series and progressing onto the second round of the playoffs.
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