Western Conference Finals 2018: Rockets vs. Warriors Game 4 thread

Well, here it is. The moment of reckoning for the Houston Rockets. Either they’ll bounce back and win tonight and make this the series we were all hoping for, or they will lose again to go down 3-1 and essentially be out for the count.

Should that happen, the offseason will be full of questions surrounding James Harden and his postseason success (or lack thereof) , Chris Paul’s age (he’s looked particularly worn down and every bit his 33 years of age this series), what to do about Clint Capela, who’s certain to have suitors in free agency, and whether or not the Rockets should pursue Lebron James.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, there’s a game to be played tonight against the Golden State Warriors.

The Dubs will be without Andre Iguodala, so that’s a mark in Houston’s favor, and head coach Mike D’Antoni has vowed his team will play with more force tonight much like they did in Game 2.

But they still have Kevin Durant, who’s been playing out of his mind, to deal with, and a recently resurgent Stephen Curry to keep an eye on, which is obviously no easy task. But what we really need to see from the Rockets tonight is a sense of urgency that was horribly absent in Game 3’s festival of missed layups and defensive breakdowns.

Is this the Rockets team we all figured them to be after winning 65 games this season, or will the same old questions pop up about the team’s ringless superstars and head coach?

The series won’t be over with a loss tonight, but you can bet the Rockets will be facing those questions en masse if they do. This is as close as it gets to a must-win game without it being an elimination contest. Let’s see what kind of stones these Rockets are carrying.

Go Rockets!