Kevin Durant: ?The Big Difference? in Warriors? Game 1 win
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 15 May 2018
?Devastating!?
Thus was how Houston Rockets coach Mike D?Antoni could only describe his team?s 13-point 106-119 setback to the NBA tile-defending Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of their Western Conference finals date Monday (Tuesday in Manila) at the Red Nation?a home turf Toyota Center.
D?Antoni attributed the Rockets? loss to ?mental mistakes? ? turnovers, poor defensive switches, imprudent offensive judgment ? and to Warrior Kevin Durant?s phenomenal performance.
?KD, he?s tough. Obviously, tonight,? D?Antoni told journalists during the traditional post-game media conference. ?You can live with that. (But) you can?t live with that and make mental mistakes.?
It?s only Game 1 of the best-of-seven series, but one can?t escape seeing that devastation on the faces and in the body language of the Rockets with still 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and down by 10 points.
By that time, it was obvious the Rockets had no interest in making a late push. They conceded the game to the Warriors as they confined themselves, that early, to thinking what to do in Game 2 two days from then.
It wasn?t even the Warriors? best game, matter of factly.
The Warriors had Durant, who provided the big difference in their Game 1 win that, likewise, negated the Rockets? home court advantage for securing the top seeding after the regular season. That simple.
The Rockets might have a couple of top guns in and future Hall of Famers Chris Paul and James Harden, but they don?t have anyone who can defend against Durant one-on-one. The Warriors exploited that glaring mismatch time and time again.
D?Antoni?s defenders couldn?t double-team Durant ? lest he pass the ball to a wide-open and nearly-as-lethal teammates. No Rocket can prevent a 7-footer with the ball handling skills of a point guard, the jumper of an elite shooting guard, and the height of a center from scoring 18 of his 37 points on mid-range jump shots.
All Houston could do was try to withstand the barrage and try to outscore an offense centered around an unstoppable offensive force.
Harden scored 41 points and the Rockets jumped out to an early lead in front of a raucous home crowd, but they faded late. And the Warriors? Well, they simply never stopped scoring.
And with Klay Thompson always ready to help, Stephen Curry fast recovering and Draymond Green at his best in defense and court generalship, it?s hard to imagine the outcome of the next six games being much different than Game 1.
The Warriors knew this coming even before the series started. The Rockets only found it out first hand Monday that there?s simply no adjustment or scheme change that an opposing team can implement to stop Durant ? save, as one scribe wrote, ?perhaps for a collective prayer that he misses shots in bunches.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 202676ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 01 Feb 2026