The Houston Rockets’ return to the NBA playoffs after a three-year hiatus culminated in a sobering 95-85 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of their first-round series. While the Rockets’ regular-season resurgence—fueled by defensive grit and improved three-point shooting—earned them the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed, their postseason opener exposed critical vulnerabilities. A combination of youthful jitters, uncharacteristic shooting struggles, and strategic mismatches against the battle-tested Warriors underscored the challenges facing this reconfigured roster. With Alperen Şengün’s 26-point effort overshadowed by a collective 6-of-29 three-point performance and a 23-point third-quarter deficit, Houston’s playoff inexperience loomed large. This defeat raises urgent questions about the team’s ability to adapt its regular-season identity to the heightened demands of playoff basketball.
The Weight of Playoff Inexperience
Debut Jitters for Houston’s Young Core
The Rockets entered Game 1 with two starters—Jalen Green and Jabari Smith—making their playoff debuts, alongside key reserves Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. This lack of postseason exposure manifested in early offensive disarray, as Houston shot 32.9% from the field and 20.7% from three-point range. Fred VanVleet, the team’s veteran leader, epitomized these struggles, missing 11 of 13 three-point attempts and scoring just nine points despite playing 39 minutes2. Green, meanwhile, converted only 5 of 21 field goals, with several misses coming on contested drives into Golden State’s disciplined help defense.
Coach Ime Udoka acknowledged the learning curve, stating, “Our defense was adequate, but we won’t overreact to this game. For many of these players, it was their first playoff experience, and we had opportunities”2. The Rockets’ 22-6 advantage in offensive rebounds highlighted their effort, but their inability to convert second-chance points (just 15 off 22 rebounds) revealed a lack of composure under pressure.
Late-Game Execution and the Missing Closer
Houston’s late rally, which cut a 23-point deficit to four with 2:34 remaining, showcased fleeting resilience. However, the absence of a proven closer became apparent when VanVleet missed consecutive three-pointers that could have tied the game. This mirrored concerns raised before the series about Houston’s reliance on “whoever was hottest” rather than a designated crunch-time scorer6. While Şengün’s 14 fourth-quarter points demonstrated his evolving offensive repertoire, the Warriors targeted him defensively in pick-and-roll actions, limiting his impact during critical possessions.
This contrasted sharply with Golden State’s execution, where Stephen Curry (28 points) and Draymond Green (15 points, 12 rebounds) leveraged their championship pedigree to stabilize the offense during Houston’s comeback bid. The Rockets’ young core, which excelled in the regular season’s egalitarian system, now faces the challenge of developing playoff-specific roles and hierarchies.
The Three-Point Paradox: Regular Season Progress vs. Playoff Regression
A Season of Incremental Improvement
Houston’s three-point shooting trajectory added irony to their Game 1 struggles. After ranking 29th in three-point percentage (32%) through December 2024, the Rockets climbed to 36% post-January 2025—a marked improvement driven by Dillon Brooks (40.6% since January) and Jalen Green (39.8%)4. This resurgence, coupled with their top-five defense, transformed Houston from a plucky rebuild to a 52-win contender. The team’s 114.9 offensive rating (12th) and 110.3 defensive rating (5th) suggested balanced competency1.
However, the playoffs demand shot-making under duress—a test Houston failed spectacularly. Their 6-of-29 three-point performance (20.7%) represented the worst playoff shooting night in franchise history, surpassing even the 2018 Western Conference Finals collapse against Golden State3. VanVleet’s 2-of-13 showing from deep epitomized this meltdown, with several misses coming on open looks generated by Şengün’s interior passing.
Strategic Pressures and the Warriors’ Defensive Adjustments
Golden State’s game plan exploited Houston’s shooting inconsistencies through targeted defensive schemes. By switching screens and crowding the paint, the Warriors dared Houston’s non-shooters (Thompson, Whitmore) to beat them from the perimeter. This strategy neutralized the Rockets’ size advantage, as starting centers Şengün and Steven Adams combined for just 14 rebounds despite their collective 7-foot-3 frame.
The Warriors further compounded Houston’s spacing issues by deploying small-ball lineups featuring Jonathan Kuminga at center. These units, though vulnerable on the glass, forced the Rockets to defend in space and disrupted their preferred half-court tempo. As noted in pre-series analysis, Houston’s “great size and poor spacing” clashed with Golden State’s “great spacing and poor size,” creating a philosophical tug-of-war1. In Game 1, spacing triumphed.
Tactical Crossroads: Adjustments for Game 2
Leveraging Size Without Sacrificing Flow
Houston’s 52.4% shooting on two-point attempts (30-of-57) indicates their interior offense remains viable. Şengün’s array of post moves and short-roll passing (five assists) provided glimpses of how the Rockets can puncture Golden State’s defense. However, the Warriors’ willingness to double-team Şengün—forcing him into 4 turnovers—demands better perimeter counterpunches.
Potential adjustments include:
- High-Low Actions: Utilizing Adams as a screener to free Şengün for deeper post position.
- Corner Spacing: Stationing Brooks and VanVleet in the corners to punish help defenders.
- Transition Pushes: Capitalizing on Houston’s league-best offensive rebounding rate (32.1%) to generate early offense before Golden State’s defense sets.
Restoring Three-Point Confidence
Houston must reconcile their regular-season shooting progress with playoff realities. Film sessions should emphasize the quality of looks generated in Game 1: 18 of their 29 three-point attempts were classified as “open” or “wide open” by NBA tracking data2. Re-establishing rhythm through early catch-and-shoot opportunities for Brooks and Green could alleviate pressure on VanVleet to carry the backcourt scoring load.
Additionally, integrating rookie Reed Sheppard (45.7% from three since March 1) into the rotation might provide a spark. While Coach Udoka has preferred defensive lineups, Sheppard’s shooting gravity could force Golden State to respect the arc, creating driving lanes for Green and Thompson.
Historical Context and Path Forward
The Rockets’ predicament echoes their 2018 Western Conference Finals collapse, when a 3-2 series lead evaporated amid a historic 27 consecutive missed three-pointers3. While this iteration lacks the James Harden-Chris Paul heliocentric offense, it shares that team’s fatal flaw: over-reliance on variable perimeter shooting.
Houston’s path to competitiveness hinges on balancing their defensive identity with offensive adaptability. As the series progresses, watch for:
- Jalen Green’s Response: Can the 22-year-old refine his shot selection after a 5-of-21 debut?
- Curry Containment: Will Houston’s top-ranked perimeter defense (10.3 opponent three-point percentage) rediscover its regular-season form?
- Bench Production: With Golden State’s reserves outscoring Houston’s 33-15, rotational adjustments loom large.
In a league where three-point proficiency often dictates playoff success, the Rockets face a stark ultimatum: rediscover their shooting touch or risk becoming another footnote in Golden State’s dynastic narrative.
