Analysis: The Warriors seventh game against the Rockets is unpredictable, and three key issues are in front of you

Houston - Everything is about to settle.

In Houston on Sunday night, the Warriors will decide their own destiny. Win, head to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lose the game and go home. After going all out to get Jimmy Butler before the NBA trade deadline, the Warriors were eliminated in the first round, and the following offseason was full of questions.

The Warriors should no longer score 50 points in Game 7, like Stephen Curry did two years ago before advancing to the second round. Curry played in the seventh game five times in his career, averaging 32.6 points per game, shooting 46.7% from the field and 42.4% from three-point shooting. Draymond Green has also played five such games like Curry, and has been fully focused on shooting training and listened carefully to coach Steve Cole's long talk. Butler last played his seventh game in the NBA Finals two seasons ago, when he scored 28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, leading the eighth-ranked Miami Heat to beat the Boston Celtics and advance to the Finals.

There are not many concerns about how these three players will perform in a desperate battle. All the problems are focused on the people around them.

With that being said, here are three quick questions before the Warriors and Rockets’ Game 7.

Who will start?

Cole has used four different starting lineups in the first six games, and the Rockets send out the same starting player each time. Buddy Hilder scored 17 points and sent three steals in Game 3, and it was reasonable to give him a reward. Hilder then scored 15 points and completed two steals early in the game, setting the tone for the Warriors' victory in Game 4. But in the past two games, Hilder has only scored 4 points, made 2 of 10 shots, and lost 6 three-pointers, not scoring a single point in the Warriors' sixth game.

Gary Payton II replaced Brandin Podzimsky on Friday night, but Payton lost 12 points in 20 minutes. He fouled Fred VanVleet at the opening of the fourth quarter, resulting in the latter being 4 points, but he lacked enough influence on both ends of the offense and defense. Payton was also listed on the injury list due to illness on Sunday morning and did not participate in shooting training.

"I think it makes things complicated, but it requires everyone else to come forward, like other injuries," Podzimsky said in shooting practice when asked what would happen if Payton couldn't play. "This is the seventh game, either win or go home. Whoever we have or lack, we will play side by side with them and do our best."

The starting lineup consists of Curry, Podzimsky, Hild, Butler and Green is the Warriors' longest playing time in the five-man series (34 minutes) and has created the highest goal difference (20.4). Moses Moody usually takes over to start in the first place in Hilde, but this group of players has a net difference of -6.4 in 26 minutes of playing time, an offensive efficiency of 105.9 and a defensive efficiency of 112.2 in three games in the series.

Despite this, they teamed up to achieve a record of 16 wins and 3 losses in the regular season. Perhaps it is better to believe that the Warriors can get to where they are today.

Have they figured out regional joint defense?

So far, the Rockets' regional joint defense has made the Warriors miserable. The Warriors repeatedly stressed this in the video replay, knowing that if they want to win at the Rockets' home court, they must break this defense. Under the dual role of the Rockets' strong wingspan and athleticism, the Warriors look like a lost team trying to break through the Rockets' regional defense.

But maybe it's all their own ideas.

"We just complicate things," Podzimsky said. "From the video, a lot of times they don't even know what they are doing. They're just trying to follow Stephen around, trying to match up in space. We just need to simplify the tactics, we've done it. I think we'll be ready tonight."

Podzimsky also admitted that the Warriors did have some hesitation because they're trying to figure out what the Rockets do, digest those effects while still maintaining their own basketball style. The Warriors believe that they have figured out the Rockets' regional defense tactics, and the key now lies in making corresponding adjustments after identifying the defensive players. Open shots will also help.

The Warriors have lost in the last two games. The open field shooting percentage (within 4 to 6 feet of the team) is 33.9%, and the large open field shooting percentage (within 6 feet of the team) is 38.8%. In these two losses, their open three-point shooting percentage was only 27.8%, while their large open three-point shooting percentage was only 34.8%.

Is everything really possible?

This is what Cole said after his sixth loss on Friday night. That's right, that includes enabling Jonathan Kumingga.

On Saturday night, Cole went through Zoom to explore in-depth about the role Kumingga might play in Game 7.

"I think he started well in Game 3, especially on the defensive end," Cole said. "He did a great job of defending Jaylen Green. I think he can help us in that. Ball defense. The key is what combinations are like around him? We know they do a zone defense often. Can we find the right combination with JK? We need shots, space and passes to break through to the zone defense? These are the questions we are thinking about."

" As I clearly pointed out before, Jimmy's arrival made these combinations more difficult for JK. So that's the obstacle in his way. I have to feel the game. I really want him to play because I think he can help us and get on the field as early as possible, and I think it's good for him and us as well as us.. ”

Kumingga has played two games, but he started when Butler suffered a terrible fall in the second game when he started when Butler was away due to injury in the third game. In these two games, when Kumingga defended Green, Green made 3 of 8 shots, scored only 7 points, and made only 1 goal with five three-pointers. However, what the Warriors need most is a player who can contribute to their scores, and Kumingga, a wild card, may be able to accomplish this task.

Given that Pat Spencer has such a wonderful playing time, the most likely playing time The added substitute is veteran center Kevin Rooney. Rooney snatched 21 rebounds in the last game of Game 7, including 10 offensive rebounds. Rockets center Steven Adams had a plus-minus plus-53 in the series, and his partner Alperen Senting was a nightmare for the Warriors’ rebound.

In their decade of working together, Cole showed great trust in Rooney. Don’t be surprised if Cole lets Rooney play a key performance in Game 7.

"I'm always ready," Rooney said. “Rebounding is my strength. I'm excited about this game and try to be influential. It's always fun to be able to play like this and fight Adams, Mori Kyo and all those rebounding masters, and I'll try to make my mark. ”

"I am full of expectations for this. No matter what happens, I will be ready. ”