As Rockets GM Daryl Morey is fond of putting it, Houston was a hamstring away from beating the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 Western Conference Finals. Had Chris Paul not suffered an injury in Game 5, the Rockets might have held their 3-2 lead and advanced to meet LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Warriors forward Andre Iguodala had a different take during the 2018 preseason. Having missed time in that series as well, he asserted that Golden State would have made easy work of the Rockets had he himself not been sidelined.
“It would’ve been short. 4-1. They didn’t win. We won.”
But, as we saw in the Rockets’ Saturday night win over the Warriors, absent James Harden (neck), Paul’s importance to his team may overshadow Iguodala’s. Paul devastated the healthy Warriors to the tune of 23 points and 17 assists. Final score: 118-112, Rockets.
Speaking with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports after the game, Paul delivered a barb to Iguodala.
“What did [Andre Iguodala] say about the series last year? If he would have played, they would have swept us? Then he must be the X-factor,” the 33-year-old Paul told Yahoo Sports in a slight verbal jab at Iguodala, who missed the final four games of last year’s West finals with a leg contusion. “That’s the punchline you needed, right?”
Iguodala finished the contest with eight points and four assists off the Warriors bench.
Although Golden State is experiencing more overall success than Houston this season, the Rockets are now 3-0 against the Warriors. One victory came without Paul and another came without Harden. Iguodala played in all three meetings, averaging six points in 28.5 minutes per game.
