It’s no secret the Golden State Warriors have struggled to start the 2019-20 season. Injuries have derailed the roster, with new faces popping into the rotation across the season, but in the Dubs 116-104 win against their rival, the Houston Rockets—the Warriors looked like an image of what set them on their five-year championship run.
The ball moved up-and-down the floor against the Rockets, with all five starters scoring in double-digits, the team added 27 assists. Still, more importantly, they played high caliber defense.
The Warriors had to get creative against Houston’s MVP duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook to seal the biggest upset on Christmas Day in over 30-years.
The Warriors beat the Rockets, 116-104, after closing as 11.5-point underdogs at Caesars Sportsbook.
That is the largest upset on Christmas Day over the last 30 seasons. pic.twitter.com/393Huk6WiV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 26, 2019
The Warriors limited Harden to 24 points, the lowest scoring night in his last 10-games. Steve Kerr’s defense took away one of Harden’s favorite spots— the free-throw line.
Harden only had one attempt from the line, that didn’t come till late in the fourth quarter, and he missed it — ending the night 0-1 from the charity stripe. Harden’s Christmas day performance was only the fifth time in his career, where he finished with zero made free throws.
James Harden played 38 minutes in yesterday's loss to the Warriors, and didn't make a single free throw.
It was the most minutes he's played without a made free throw in any game at the NCAA or NBA level. pic.twitter.com/WNMJqVhDoM
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 26, 2019
Harden’s backcourt mate, Westbrook, led his team with 30-points, but it took many shots to get there. The All-Star went 11-for-32 from the field and 0-for-8 from beyond the arc. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Westbrook’s 21-missed field goals were third-most on Christmas Day.
Russell Westbrook missed 21 FG attempts today, tied for the 3rd-most ever on Christmas Day.
There have been 11 instances in the NBA this season of a player missing 20 FG attempts in a game.
James Harden (4) and Russell Westbrook (3) are responsible for 7 of those 11.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 26, 2019
Draymond Green, who knows a little about defense, said the Warriors success came from the blueprint assistant coach Jaron Collins laid out for the team.
“You have to give him credit,” said Green to reporters after the Warriors Christmas day win. “His gameplan was [expletive] phenomenal.”
Kerr said the Warriors needed to be “innovative” when locking-up Harden. After the game, Kerr tabbed Harden’s matchups against the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors, as teams who attacked him interestingly defensively.
“Toronto did something interesting with him a few weeks ago. Luke Walton ran a box and one the other night against him in Sacramento,” said Kerr. “That’s who James is. He’s so good that you have to try to do your best to keep him off balance.”
Steve Kerr on the Warriors defensive scheme today: “James (Harden) has basically forced the whole league to reconsider how to defend him, in particular, but how to just guard pick-and-roll.” pic.twitter.com/QqLUmToxb1
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 26, 2019
As much of a development year as it is for the Warriors roster, how Kerr and his coaching staff handle a youth filled team full of inexperience, something to follow throughout this season.
Stifling the backcourt duo of Westbrook and Harden goes to the top of the resume for Kerr’s 2019-20 club.