Warriors 118, Rockets 113

3-pointers from the Rockets'  season-ending loss to the Warriors

SportsMap Staff
May 10, 2019, 10:57 pm
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The Rockets season came to a predictable end on Friday night with a 118-113 loss to the Warriors. Three key points from the loss:

1) Chris Paul heard the criticism

He responded with a terrific game, his best of the playoffs. He scored 27 points, had 11 rebounds and kept the Rockets in the game. The Rockets needed a vintage Paul game and they got it. Unfortunately it was not enough.

2) Splash brothers do it again

Steph Curry was awful in the first half, and the teams were tied. That did not bode well for the Rockets. Curry would finish with 33 points and Klay Thompson 27 and the Warriors guards were too good.

3) Just not good enough

It's hard to fault James Harden, who scored 35. Curry and Thompson matched Harden and Paul, and the Warriors bench dominated, and that was the difference in the game. It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season and the Rockets once again come up short. The reality is they simply aren't good enough to beat the Warriors, with or without Kevin Durant. The off-season begins now, and there are plenty of questions to be answered. Is Paul done? Is Mike D'Antoni the right coach? Can the Rockets ever elevate their game and get past Golden State? They were not good enough. Again. And another season ends in disappointment.

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How the Deshaun Watson trade is still paying dividends for Houston Texans

After another poor performance from former Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns' season is starting to look like an uphill climb. Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb is out for the year, and Cleveland fans aren't too pleased with the way Watson is playing, especially considering the massive contract extension he signed with the team. And we didn't even get to the off the field drama that comes with Watson.

However, Houston fans are invested in the Browns' season outcome as well, with the Texans holding the Browns' first round pick in 2024, and having sent their own first rounder to the Cardinals in the Will Anderson trade.

So each loss for the Browns, means a better draft pick for the Texans!

For Houston, it looks like they have their QB of the future in CJ Stroud. And he'll be on a less expensive rookie contract for the next several years, giving the Texans more cap space to upgrade the roster.

With all of this in mind, is it fair to question if the Texans dodged a bullet when Watson demanded a trade?

DeMeco Ryans vs. Lovie Smith

Plus, we're only two games into the season, but Lovie Smith's defense was much better (with a similar roster) than what DeMeco Ryans' defense has shown thus far, and DeMeco has the benefit of Will Anderson rushing the QB.

Are the struggles on defense more about the roster GM Nick Caserio has put together, or does this slow start fall on DeMeco?

Don't miss the video above as we break it all down!

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And listen to The Bench with John Granato and Lance Zierlein weekday mornings on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.

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