Health has been a defining feature of recent games between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets games dating back to last season.
As Brady Klopfer noted on Twitter, the two teams haven’t face each other at full health since Game 3 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals. Prior to that series, the teams hadn’t faced each other at full health at all during the regular season.
Last 8 Warriors-Rockets games:
— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) April 27, 2019
3/13: No Durant
2/23: No Harden
1/3: No CP3
11/15: No Curry
WCF G7: No CP3 or Iguodala
WCF G6: No CP3 or Iguodala
WCF G5: No Iguodala
WCF G4: No Iguodala
It’s been a while since we’ve seen these teams get to face each other healthy.
Sadly, absences have become routine in this series and today’s Game 1 of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs was shaping up to be no different.
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle tweeted out that Austin Rivers would be out for the Rockets.
Rockets guard Austin Rivers (illness) is out for Game 1 today vs. Warriors.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) April 28, 2019
On the Warriors’ end, things have been a bit murkier.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr announced earlier this morning that Steph Curry would be available to play after suffering a right ankle sprain in the first round.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr says Steph will play and Klay will be determined after warm-ups. Kerr says Klay will be a game-time, but his MRI was clear. “Trending in the right direction,” Kerr says about Klay.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) April 28, 2019
Kerr addressed the rumors around Klay Thompson’s health yesterday and joked that the media has better sources than he does.
Steve Kerr said both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are questionable for Game 1.
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) April 27, 2019
When asked about @ThompsonScribe’s report that Klay’s ankle was ‘pretty bad’ Kerr joked that reporters have better sources than he does. pic.twitter.com/ABDTgihtUD
Shockingly, Kerr does know more than the media — Connor Letourneau tweeted out that not only will Thompson be available and starting, but that Andre Iguodala will start as well.
Klay Thompson has been cleared to play today. Here's the Warriors' starting lineup: Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Durant and Green. Kerr going small against the Rockets.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) April 28, 2019
Anyway, feel free to offer your thoughts on the possible lineup adjustments the Warriors would have to make as a result of the Hamptons 5 starting and share your observations of the game itself in the comments below.