The drawback to being the best in the NBA is that every team is now gunning for the Golden State Warriors. And nobody wanted to come into Oracle Arena and break the consecutive win streak more than the Houston Rockets who had already lost to the Warriors three times. No chance, not in the sold-out house of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes, and the rest of the team, because this was a group 126-113 victory. It truly is a thing of beauty to see the way the players have bonded and accepted the challenge by first year coach Steve Kerr to focus on defense, moving and taking care of the ball. And the fans are taking notice. Tonight's win sets a new franchise best 17 straight home winning streak. The Rockets did their best to disrupt the home team especially its leader, Curry using ugly basketball, pushing and shoving. After Curry fought back, he earned a technical, and that's when the heart of the team flourished. Pushed again by a much larger Trevor Ariza, Curry started to lunge at the aggressor, but Green stepped in to calm his teammate.
Green who is referred to as the "heartbeat" of the team wanted to protect Curry. It's what makes this team so special. and unique. The unselfish way the play and how they are there for each other in better or worse.
"I wanted to make sure he stayed in the game," explained Green.
The referee rightfully gave Ariza the technical and Curry responded with brilliant play that had the Warriors leading by 30 going into the fourth quarter.
"I didn't see it, so it's tough to comment on it," said Kerr not wanting to make the Ariza incident a big deal. "We were rolling at the time and that's what happens. If you're really playing well. the other team will get more physical and we have to play through that. We had a good response with a fantastic effort for three quarters."
In the fourth quarter, the reserves gave up the comfortable lead for the first time this season and Kerr quickly put his starters back in to preserve the win but also to return to the discipline that has this team leading the league at 34-6.
In the end it was sweet revenge, and although he led all scorers with 33 points, Houston's All-Star James Harden must rethink his declaration that the Warriors "ain't that good," They just swept the Rockets for the first time in 40 years. The final scores speaking louder than any words.
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