Dub Hub: Draymond Green says Warriors can still play ‘a lot better’ than they did in Game 1

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Tuesday, April 22nd.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Despite winning Game 1 of their First Round series against the Rockets, Draymond Green says the Warriors can still play “a lot better.”
• Warriors will officially send the 20th pick to the Heat in the upcoming NBA Draft.
• Kawhi Leonard scores 39 points to even series with the Nuggets at 1-1.

The Golden State Warriors took care of business in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, grinding out a 95-85 road win on Sunday night. While this victory gives the more experienced Warriors team an early 1-0 series lead, they know the job is far from finished.

Despite leading by as much as 23 points in Game 1, they allowed the Rockets to claw their way back into the game, exposing some areas of improvement. Veteran forward Draymond Green didn’t sugarcoat it postgame, saying the Warriors can play “a lot better” than they did in the series opener.

Among the areas for immediate improvement, the most glaring was the Warriors’ rebounding.

Golden State was thoroughly outworked on the glass, losing the rebounding battle 52-36—including a staggering 22-6 margin on the offensive boards. Houston, the league’s top rebounding team during the regular season, made their presence felt with second-chance opportunities that kept them within striking distance.

Golden State could look to counter by inserting rebounding specialist Kevon Looney or giving rookie big man Quinten Post additional minutes. But with their undersized rotation, the Warriors will ultimately need to rely more on energy, positioning, and team rebounding to keep Houston off the boards during Game 2 on Wednesday.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 22nd:

Warriors News:

The Rockets’ dismal Game 1 performance against the Warriors raises alarm bells | The Athletic

But the biggest worry for a largely inexperienced group is that nothing that the Warriors presented defensively on Sunday was out of the norm. According to Synergy tracking data, Golden State is among the league leaders in loading up in the paint, and Houston faces zone more than most teams — particularly because of their abundance of size and lack of shooting.

In other words, the Rockets already knew what was coming.

Over 82 games, Houston’s offense faced a zone defense on 300 possessions, fifth-most in the league. They scored just .900 points per possession, which ranks 27th in the NBA.

Jimmy Butler gives Buddy Hield a hard time about over-dribbling the ball

What Stackhouse told Draymond in tense Warriors sideline exchange | NBC Sports Bay Area

During a timeout in the second quarter, assistant Jerry Stackhouse had to calm down a visibly irritated Green following a 6-0 Rockets run.

After the game, Green explained what Stackhouse — a former 18-year NBA veteran — said to help the Warriors’ defensive leader get his mind right.

“Stackhouse, he just told me to keep doing what I was doing,” Green told reporters.

“He said, ‘You’re doing a great job. We’re not worried about what’s going on out there, so don’t get so caught up in your emotions during that time — stay locked in.’ So he was great for me.”

Steph Curry hilariously corrects Charles Barkley’s Jimmy Butler description | NBC Sports Bay Area

“Obviously, he’s a heck of a player,” Barkley said. “He’s giving you the ability to rest more. He’s not as great as you but he’s a really nice second closer to have on the team, correct?”

“Jimmy’s nice. Don’t get that twisted,” Curry retorted. “He’s carried teams to the Finals. The idea of what he brings to us is another guy who is just comfortable with the ball in his hands to create for himself and others, no matter what the situation is. You saw plenty times, he kind of made something out of nothing. He is a legitimate ballhandler, where we can give it to him in space, on the post, at the elbow, wherever and teams have to respect him. So if I can space and give him room and keep the defense honest, that helps. And we’ve had a really good chemistry since he’s been here.”

Warriors will officially send the 20th pick to the Heat for the Jimmy Butler deal

NBA News:

Kawhi Leonard scores 39 points as Clippers tie series with Nuggets | ESPN

“I’m just happy that I’m able to move,” Leonard said after scoring 39 points on an efficient 15-for-19 from the field. “That’s what I’m taking pride in is just being healthy. I sat and watched these playoff games and series the past two years. So being able to be frontline out there, it just feels good for me no matter which way the game goes.”

Detroit Pistons end NBA-record, 15-game postseason losing streak | NBA

Cunningham had 33 points and 12 rebounds, Dennis Schröder made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 55 seconds left, and the Pistons snapped their NBA-record, 15-game postseason losing streak by beating the New York Knicks 100-94 on Monday night in Game 2 of their playoff series.

“It’s a great feeling. It feels good to represent the city like we did tonight,” Cunningham said. “It’s something that the city been waiting on for a long time, so we feel good about it and we’re ready to get back to the crib and perform in front of them.”

Mavericks GM Nico Harrison at his end-of-season presser: “I did know Luka was important to the fanbase. I didn’t quite know to what level.”

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors give young Rockets a taste of playoff basketball as they draw first blood

Even so, the Warriors defense operated like they were unmoved by the Rockets’ passing as much as they were unmoved by their shooting. The regular-season Rockets possess the designation of having the fewest passes made per game (262.3), having the fewest assists tallied per 100 possessions (23.6), and having the lowest assist rate in the league (54.9%). Those numbers are indicative of a team that lacks both the initiation and the connective passing to budge opponents in a conventional half-court setting — which, in a way, makes them vulnerable to specific defensive game plans.

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