Houston finds itself once again in a must win situation after being completely dismantled Sunday night at Golden State. The Rockets will need to correct several issues before tonight's game if they are to stand any chance against the Warriors. If they play the same way as Game 3, expect the same result. Here are five things that need to happen to pull this series even:

1) Control the ball

In both losses the Rockets have more than doubled the Warriors in turnovers. In their win, the teams were practically even. Turnovers lead to easy fast break points, and the Warriors, not surprisingly, crushed Houston in that category 23-10 as a result. The Rockets look nervous, and seem like they're trying to play outside of the game the have used to win 65 times during the season. You can't score without the ball, and the Rockets need to take much better care of it or they'll be run out of the building again.

2) Dial in on layups

In both losses the Rockets missed wide open layups time and time again. The only way Houston's offense works is if their isolation plays free up someone capable of making the open layup. Otherwise you end up with an easy fast break for the Warriors, who converted theirs as never more clearly indicated by the scoreboard.

3) Hurry up

The Rockets are fully capable of running the court and upping the pace. That's what they did in Game 2, and it yielded great results. Games 1 and 3 were much slower on the offensive end, leading to way too many last second low percentage shots as the shot clock expired. Pick up the pace, continue to isolate Stephen Curry, and we should see a version of the Rockets we've been used to seeing all season.

4) Step up

Chris Paul and James Harden need help and their teammates have been woefully absent in answering the call. It's clear that Luc Mbah A Moute is still affected by his shoulder injury, as his offense has been nonexistent. That leaves Trevor Ariza, PJ Tucker, Gerald Green, and Eric Gordon. With the exception of Game 2, their collective production has been uninspiring. Someone needs to step up if the Rockets are going to have a chance because not only does it stretch the defense for easier layups, it also opens up the potential for lob passes to Capela as a result. The most likely candidate to step up would be Gordon, and he will need to to give the Rockets a shot.

5) Be the MVP

James Harden is playing good basketball, don't get me wrong. But in both Golden State wins, we watched as one of their stars simply willed the team to victory. This is Harden's moment. He has a perceived history of shrinking in the playoffs, but now he has the opportunity with the best team ever assembled around him to erase all of his past playoff woes and show just why he deserves to be the MVP this season. Harden is capable of that extra gear, and we've seen it here and there in these playoffs. The Rockets will need Harden to maintain that MVP level throughout the series in order to remain competitive.

Things don't look great for Houston at the moment, but they're not as bleak as you would think. It is absolutely imperative that the Rockets even up the series in order to regain home court advantage, and we saw in Game 2 what the blueprint was. Game 3 they lost it. Game 4 they'll need to find it again or else the offseason will be here much quicker than Houston fans would prefer.