Disclaimer: The Rockets have given the Warriors all they can handle — and then some — through four games of their playoff series. They are talented and driven and have won two games on merit. They should be pleased with themselves.
That said, the Rockets play such aesthetically displeasing basketball that I fear for my corneas should this series go the distance.
That’s not just my opinion. I’m bringing a Hall of Famer in for backup. Surely you remember Rick Barry.
Barry played most of his career with the Warriors and spent his final two seasons with the Rockets. On a recent drop-in on the Greg Papa with Bonta Hill Show on The Game, Barry was asked if he enjoyed watching the Rockets play.
“No,” he said almost before the question was asked. “Not at all. However, I tell people that (James) Harden is an amazing offensive machine. If I were playing with the Rockets and Harden was my teammate what I would do (is) move without the ball. You get yourself open because Harden will give you the ball. But everyone stands around, watches and hopes they get the ball thrown out maybe to pop a 3-point shot. But it’s not fun basketball. I don’t enjoy watching it. I wouldn’t be thrilled about playing that way.”
There’s a name for that kind of wretched basketball. It’s called The ’90s, with its alpha shooters and endless one-on-ones on one side of the court while eight players huddle on the other side of the court.
It is Houston’s wish to turn back the clock, to slow down and ugly up the game. Every game. Run isolation plays. Shoot a zillion free throws. Watch Harden dribble for 20 seconds of our lives that we’ll never get back.
The effect is jarring, especially for those of us who watch the Warriors on a regular basis. We’ve become accustomed to beautiful basketball — games with pace, cutting, passing, fluidity and, yes, 3-pointers.
“But here’s the difference,” Barry said. “They’re just jacking up 3’s. That’s what (Rockets coach Mike) D’Antoni loves. He just loves jacking up those 3’s.”
Don’t even get him started on the the antics of Houston’s Duplicitous Duo.
“I’m proud of the officials for not buying into what (Chris) Paul and Harden are doing, Barry said. “They’re trying to draw cheap fouls, kicking their feet out, throwing their hips into people. That’s B.S. Just play the game.
And Barry said that before a Yahoo Sports report surfaced intimating that the Warriors are “fuming” over Andre Iguodala’s knee injury, sustained in Game 4, that might have been caused by a cheap shot by Paul.
Weird knee injury for Andre Iguodala. Looks like Chris Paul clipped his left knee from behind and from the outside. Guessing it won’t keep him out but obviously it’s not optimal. pic.twitter.com/zquOCNkbEd
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) May 7, 2019
Outplay the other team by playing good, sound basketball,” the Hall of Famer said.
