Opinion: How much bad blood is there between Warriors and Rockets?
HOUSTON -- It has all the makings of a rivalry for the ages, whether the outcome of the series between the Warriors and the Rockets backs it up or not.
It has some spicy modern history, requiring no more than a glance back less than 12 months ago to the epic, seven-game, Western Conference Finals showdown that Golden State won en route to its second consecutive NBA title.
There are big characters, elite players, juicy story lines and the reality that the victor will immediately be installed as the overwhelming favorite to win this year's championship.
And there is acrimony over everything from fouling to flopping, making it seem like the red stuff seeping from James Harden’s eyes is not the only type of bad blood coursing through this slugfest.
Or maybe not? While the Warriors and Rockets do a pretty darn good job of making it seem like they can’t stand each other one minute, at other times relations are remarkably and confusingly cordial.
Just as you get Steve Kerr dramatically flopping into a group of reporters to poke fun at Harden and his penchant for exaggerating contact, there was Kevin Durant, in a stunning turn of events this week, defending the primary scorer for the Rockets and effusing respect.
“I don’t think that he’s been cheating the game at all,” Durant said. “Everybody, once they get into the lane, they use little tricks to try to get their shot off. I don’t think he’s any different.”
Game 2 Tuesday, which seems like an eternity ago now thanks to the NBA’s oddball scheduling system, was supposed to be the most heated there has been between the teams, ignited by refereeing furor from Game 1 and heightened by the presence of controversial ref Scott Foster.
Yet when Draymond Green accidentally raked Harden’s eyes, the Golden State big man and Durant went over to inquire about Harden’s welfare as he left the court.
“Just to check on him,” Green said afterwards. “It’s not about hurting anybody out there. So many times, people forget that when a guy is injured, you live with that every day, every second of every day. It’s not just about this game.”
All nice and friendly. Right? Maybe.
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Harden wasn’t in much mood to talk about it but many wondered if the apology was being taken as genuine. Harden's eyes were still visibly very red Thursday.
There are mixed messages all over the place. Houston was infuriated by Golden State’s defensive tactics in the series opener but 48 hours later Clint Capela was extolling the virtues of the Warriors' outstanding defense. Meanwhile, Andre Iguodala praised Houston’s resiliency.
If there is some discord, it is at least partially offset by respect. The Warriors know that no one plays them harder, nor is better equipped to give them a challenge. If not for an injury to Chris Paul in Game 6 in 2018, the Rockets might be the reigning NBA champions. Golden State would counter that Iguodala’s injury in the same series depleted its defensive resources.
Either way, they know what the other brings and as a result, the Warriors are taking nothing for granted even after establishing a significant advantage with a 2-0 series lead heading into Saturday night's Game 3.
“That is a heck of a team over there,” Klay Thompson said. “They do a lot of things well and we have to bring it, all of the time.”
Paul has been chippy, getting ejected from Game 1, and acting sarcastic, mock celebrating when the officials gave Harden a three-point foul in Game 2. Yet he has been fulsome in his praise of Stephen Curry, who responded in kind, sharing a nostalgic story of when he trained with Paul in North Carolina early in his career.
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Certainly it is mightily rare that Golden State goes into any game as an underdog, especially a sizable one. That’s how it is for Game 3 at Toyota Center though, with the Las Vegas line favoring the home side by as many as 3.5 points. A lot of it has to do with home court advantage, although Houston won exactly half of its four home games during the Conference Finals last year and split the two home games during this regular season.
It is an oddity that having opened what most people see as a series-winning ga , Golden State goes in as a bigger underdog than it has been all year.
Who knows what the rivalry holds, especially if Durant’s seemingly imminent departure shakes things up for the two-time defending champions.
All we know is that it is well worth watching now. It is the most powerful and star-studded showdown the league has got, a matchup that could comfortably serve as the Finals and sometimes feels that way.
It has our full attention because that’s what happens with great soap operas, regardless of whether the two groups of players eventually figure out whether they like each other or not.
Follow Paste BN Sports columnist Martin Rogers on Twitter @RogersJourno