Mike D’Antoni knows that Game 3 is a must-win.
The Houston Rockets are down 0-2 to the Golden State Warriors, dropping their last two games on the road at Oracle Arena,
But if Houston wants to make this a series, and attempt to win the Western Conference Semifinals, they’re going to have to tough it out and win the next two games at home.
D’Antoni told Jonathan Feigen of Houston Chronicle that the Rockets need to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor if they want to win.
“Who imposes their will? Champions come from your heart and your head and your willpower. It doesn’t come from ‘I play prettier than you do,’” D’Antoni said. “You’ve got to get down in the mud. You’ve got to slug it out. That’s where you make champions. Champion is a personality thing. We’ve got to impose our will.”
The Rockets have been able to keep it close in the first two games, but either get themselves into a hole too soon or can’t close it out in clutch times.
Because Kevin Durant and Draymond Green are playing so well, Harden can’t be the only one to carry the burden tonight and going forward: Chris Paul, P.J. Tucker, Clint Capela and Eric Gordon will all need to step up.
A loss in Game 3 would mean the Rockets are on the brink of elimination and winning four of the next five games would be nearly impossible.
