Golden State Warriors rout Houston Rockets to force series decider

“It’s an opportunity, though, an opportunity that we all are excited to be a part of”, he added. “It’s been a whirlwind. This is one of the most challenging seasons I have had”.

The advantage seems to be with Harden and the Rockets, whose 65 regular-season wins had earned them home-court edge throughout the National Basketball Association playoffs, including their Game 7 tussle with the Warriors today, an edge they aim to take advantage of.

The Golden State Warriors will once again be without the fifth piece of their Hamptons Five lineup with their season on the line.

Paul, acquired by the Rockets last offseason to provide the backcourt depth required to challenge the reigning champion Golden State Warriors, departed with 22.4 seconds remaining in Houston’s 98-94 win in Game 5 at Toyota Center and sat out Golden State’s 115-86 win in Game 6 at Oracle Arena.

James believes that they can outhustle, outsmart and out coach whoever they face in the final.

The fact that anyone would believe the Celtics could shoot so poorly and still win an important game is a testament to the resiliency they showed all season.

“Our goal going into the series was to make him exert as much energy as humanly possible and try to be as good as we can on everybody else, who are good players”. I haven’t really processed the fact about going back to another Finals yet. It’s ridiculous, and he does it at this level and with the pressure, with the scrutiny. “He’s unbelievable. He’s the best player in the world and I’m glad he’s on my side”. “I think of the four (consecutive) Eastern Conference titles, this one feels special and the best”.

“Just in the moment”, he said.

“Right before the break I kind of reset”.

“So, everybody knows, obviously what we want to happen and we’ll take the Finals first and take it from there”. With the offense not running through Kevin Durant isolations, it just flowed better (the Warriors best lineup of the night was Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, Shaun Livingston, and Nick Young, +13 in just more than eight minutes).

Tatum had a dunk over James with 6:41 left – staring down the Cavaliers star and bumping him with his chest – then followed it with a 3-pointer that gave the Celtics a 72-71 lead. He started slow, shooting 1-of-6, and finished just 6-of-17 with a quiet 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

But in the early going it looked like the Warriors would do just that. He has a plus-minus ratio of positive-10 the last three games. He is a free agent and has been linked to the Lakers, 76ers and Rockets.

James has said in the past he plans to retire a Cavalier but this is his second stint in Cleveland after he left once before for Miami in 2010.

Los Angeles-Who will stand in the way of The King?