Warriors throwback for pivotal game six against the Rockets

The Warriors are returning to their roots ahead of game six against the Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston. Stephen Curry wore his 2015 shoes at the shoot around today as the Dubs prepare to throw it back to the high pick and roll style that won them their first championship then and in 73 games in 2016.

The same style, which the Cleveland Cavaliers also exploited in the later games of the 2016 NBA finals, brought about the signing of Kevin Durant in so many ways. The Warriors “needed something else” other than the high pick and roll to beat switching, physical defenses, according to beat writer Dieter Kurtenbach.

As the Rockets embrace ramped up physicality on their home court, Kurtenbach said Dubs fans should the Warriors to have some trouble if they’re not able to establish a “heavy up and down pace early” if Houston is able to “hold and grab and tackle” through their brand of defense, which could benefit from favorable judgement calls at the Toyota Center.

Without Kevin Durant, the Warriors have to go back to basics as a team that “gets all of their stuff off-ball,” in contrast to the Rockets, who do so on-ball, setting game six up to be a spectacular basketball game, Kurtenbach said.