Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — As the Houston Rockets reviewed video of Sunday night’s loss, they probably found hope in sequences such as this one late in the third quarter, amid their spirited but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to erase a 23-point deficit.
Dillon Brooks missed a driving layup. Steven Adams grabbed the offensive rebound.
Then Brooks missed a 3-point shot. Adams grabbed another offensive rebound.
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Eight seconds later, on his team’s third chance, Fred VanVleet scored.
The Golden State Warriors allowed similar sequences to unfold several times in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Rockets. The Warriors won 95-85, but they also witnessed the most realistic formula for Houston to bounce back Wednesday night in Game 2.
The Rockets enjoyed a 52-36 rebounding advantage Sunday, including 22-6 on the offensive glass. Houston led the NBA this season in rebounding, then showed exactly why during its playoff opener.
“At times, their best offense is offensive rebounding,” Warriors center/forward Draymond Green said. “They are elite at it. It’s something we expected. I thought we did a decent job in the first half, held them to seven.
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“But then in the second half it was way out of control. We have to do a better job there.”
The disparity was striking. Adams corralled 12 rebounds in 19-plus minutes off the bench. Three other Rockets players had at least eight boards. Only one Warriors player, guard Brandin Podziemski, collected eight.
Some context: The Rockets topped the league this season in total rebounding (48.5 per game), offensive rebounding (14.6) and rebounding margin (plus-6.3). The Warriors, despite thriving with a starting lineup featuring no player taller than 6-foot-7, tied for fifth in rebounding (averaging 45.4) and were 10th in rebounding margin (plus-1.3).
This is no secret. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr repeatedly talked about the challenge before the series, only to see Houston dominate the boards in the opener.
The Warriors won anyway, but they also know this is a recipe for trouble.
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“That’s obviously their advantage in the series — the size and athleticism and offensive rebounding,” Kerr said. “We can be better, for sure. But they’re going to get offensive rebounds in this series, they just are.
“I thought there were several loose balls we didn’t grab with two hands, with force. It was similar to the Clippers’ game (April 13), where the ball is bouncing around and we’re trying to bounce it one time. Or maybe we get a rebound and we’re so anxious to get in transition we throw the ball away. We can’t have those.”
Golden State’s struggles to contain the Rockets on the glass fit within a wider theme. Kerr and Warriors clearly believe they can beat Houston, given the dynamic duo of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler on offense and their sturdy, Green-anchored defense.
But there’s a caveat. The Warriors also must avoid self-inflicted problems, which surfaced at various times in Game 1 — careless turnovers, sloppy ballhandling, misguided decisions.
Each time that happened Sunday night — such as when Buddy Hield tried to throw a lob pass on a fast break, instead of making a safer/smarter bounce pass — Kerr all but erupted on the sideline. He hates turnovers in any setting. In the playoffs, he hates them with a white-hot passion.
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“If it’s a halfcourt game, I really think our defense can get the job done in this series,” Kerr said. “So we can’t be turning it over and we can’t give up a million offensive boards. … Our defense is big-time, and we’re going to count on that.
“But we’ve got to recognize we don’t need to take chances in this series. We don’t need to dribble through traffic or throw lob passes to try to get a dunk. We’ve got to be rock solid. If we’re smart and tough, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
