Warriors’ Fatigue Takes Centre Stage as Rockets Force Game 7
The Golden State Warriors’ struggle to find their rhythm has continued, as they succumbed to a 115-107 defeat at the hands of the Houston Rockets in Game 6, forcing a deciding Game 7. According to an article in The New York Times, fatigue has started to take its toll on the Warriors, with their usual spark and energy noticeably absent.
As reported by The New York Times, this is not just a physical issue, but a mental one as well. The Warriors have been running on fumes for some time now, and it’s beginning to show. "Fatigue does its greatest damage to the will," as noted in the article. "It erodes resolve, discombobulates decisions, summons doubt." The longer this series has gone, the less vitality the Warriors have shown. The team has been unable to muster their trademark surge, with the Rockets instead being the ones to conjure up the energy and strength.
The article from The New York Times suggests that this fatigue is more spiritual, a weariness of the soul, an exhaustion of the mind. The Warriors, as they launched desperation 3-pointers to no avail and devolved into a mess on defense, ran out of fight, as well as answers. They let go of the rope late in Game 6, feebly surrendering the fourth quarter to a Rockets squad teeming with energy, strength and confidence.
As quoted in The New York Times, Warriors star Steph Curry said: "It’s always been hard to win… winning is hard. Sustaining it is hard… There are different challenges of figuring out a team that’s trying to take you out of your rhythm or your patterns or whatnot. You’re playing against a really good team… If you want to win at the highest level, you have to embrace the hard."
The article in The New York Times also highlights that it makes sense for the Warriors to be in the throes of fatigue, given their ageing core. Curry is 37 years old, Jimmy Butler is approaching 36, and Draymond Green has just turned 35. All of them have a track record of battling, years of grinding to — and at — the top, epic moments fueled by legendary resolve.
The New York Times report also notes that the Warriors have been outmaneuvered by a team using pretty much the same eight guys who are playing like they’ve been here before. The Rockets, who’ve experienced Warriors fatigue more than any other franchise, have produced the Warriors fatigue that could spell the end of the era.
Draymond Green, as reported in The New York Times, believes that the key to success lies in the team’s effort. "Get loose balls," he said. "I think they probably had 20 points off of broken plays and getting loose balls and kicking out for 3s… In order to beat this team, you’ve got to make second and third efforts… Last two games, we have not done that."
The article from The New York Times concludes that it’s a simpler answer for the Hustle Award winner. "Hustle harder," as Green put it. However, the question remains as to where the Warriors will find the juice to propel them to victory. The Rockets are quicker, hungrier, and it’s been essentially a three-month build-up for the Warriors since trading for Butler and climbing out of Play-In Tournament position.
As reported by The New York Times, Butler also weighed in on the issue, saying: "I won’t say it’s a lack of effort… It’s just if you want to do it or not. That is the bottom line. If you want to rebound, dive on a loose ball, take a charge. All those little things (are about) if you want to do it. It’s really that simple." However, when fatigue has the will in its clutches, simple feels so daunting.
In a must-win game, the Warriors will have to dig deep to find a solution. With their season on the line, they will need a monumental effort from one of their star players, be it Curry, Butler, or Green, to stave off elimination. As noted in the New York Times report, Curry has averaged 32.6 points in five Game 7s, and will likely need another huge performance to keep the Warriors alive.
