“That’s obviously their advantage in this series, is the size and athleticism and the offensive rebounding,” Kerr said. “They had 22 of them. We can be better, for sure, but they’re going to get offensive rebounds in this series, they just are…I really think our defense can get the job done in this series. So we can’t be turning it over, we can’t give up a million offensive boards — but they’re going to get some, for sure.” 

Steph Curry dropped a game-high 31 points, fighting through physical, rangy defenders to display incredible shot-making. Jimmy Butler added 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals, powering Golden State with excellent two-way play. Moses Moody also hit a pair of huge shots late in the fourth quarter to put the Rockets away. 

But the Warriors won by only turning the ball over 11 times. That made the Rockets play in the halfcourt, where Golden State knows it can stop them. 

The Rockets ranked in the bottom-third in both 3-pointers taken and made in the regular season. That made them inefficient outside of transition in today’s NBA. Their warts showed in Game 1. 

Guards Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet combined to shoot 7-for-34 from the field (20.5%). Any time the Rockets drove into the lane, they seemed to jump as high as they could and whip the ball at the glass, hoping not to break it. 

Alperen Sengun was Houston’s lone source of consistent offense. He produced a magnificent 26-point, nine-rebound game, but the Rockets didn’t have anything else to go to against a Golden State defense that ranked first in the league after the All-Star break. 

“Our defense was excellent,” Kerr said. “We just held a hell of a team to 85 points on their own floor.” 

The Rockets were struggling so much to score, they leaned into their strength of offensive rebounding by playing Steven Adams and Sengun together — even with Curry on the floor. They pounded the glass, recording a ludicrous offensive rebounding rate of 41%. 

“At times, their best offense is offensive rebounds,” Green said. “They are elite at that. That’s something we expected.” 

At one point, Houston played a lineup of Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Sengun, and Adams. That’s one shooter, three 6-foot-11 centers, and two 6-foot-8 wings. 

Just look at their lack of spacing with that combination.