4 Adjustments the Rockets must make to win Game Two

Houston Rockets fans are used to losing to the Warriors. That doesn't mean they like it.

They can't stand it. Some day, this demon needs to be exercised. This is a completely different Rockets squad. The Warriors they're facing resemble their rivals from the past. No matter what happens, Steph Curry is smiling after draining an impossible shot, and Draymond Green is taking every earthly measure to be annoying.

It's a never-ending nightmare.

In Game One, Rockets fans waited to wake up screaming. It didn't happen. The team was able to whittle a 23-point lead down to 3, but in the end, they suffered a 95-85 defeat.

Here are four adjustments they can make to win the next one.

1. Execute the offense

This will be the predominant talking point, and it should be. The Rockets could not find a bucket in Game One unless it came from Alperen Sengun. He had 26 points on 11/18 shooting from the field, but he couldn't carry the Rockets.

Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet were a combined 7/34 from the field. That's not a typo. A particularly grizzly 2/13 mark from VanVleet left the Rockets with no answers in half-court sets.

Let's be honest - 85 points will never be enough to beat the Warriors. The Rockets will continue looking to win a rock fight, but they need to start throwing some boulders. How can they generate more offense?

Amen Thompson started to find a groove down the stretch. More production from him would be helpful, but the answer truly lies with Jalen Green. The Rockets need him to be a dynamic offensive option for the Rockets to win games in this series.

2. Protect the rock

All season long, the Rockets have been winning the possession battle. That's meant dominating the glass and minimizing their turnovers.

They managed the first half of that strategy. Houston enjoyed a 52-36 advantage in rebounding. Unfortunately, the turnover component of the plan was missing.

The Rockets gave up the rock 16 times. Granted, the Warriors had 11 turnovers of their own. That's not good enough. The Rockets can't keep the turnover battle competitive:

They need to win it.

Give Golden State credit. They were hyperactive on defense, and it flustered the Rockets. To win Game Two, they need to maintain their composure.

3. Run more lineups

Much has been said about the Rockets' double big lineups. Their ability to potentially dominate a small Warriors team has been noted.

In Game One, the Alperen Sengun / Steven Adams minutes went fairly well. This is a viable strategy in the playoffs, and the Rockets know that now.

What else might work?

Why not space the Warriors out by running Jabari Smith Jr. at the 5 more? The Rockets could maintain a size (or height, at least) advantage with those lineups and match (or exceed) the Warriors' shooting.

That's the main wrinkle I'd like to see Udoka add to the gameplan lineup-wise. It could also behoove him to see if Aaron Holiday (or even Reed Sheppard) has the hot hand when VanVleet is struggling. The Rockets are a versatile team, and they should lean into that advantage.

4. Contain one star

If Steph Curry or Jimmy Butler goes off, the Rockets have the depth to withstand their barrage. If they both go off, it's time to look ahead to the next game.

Last night, that's what happened. Butler and Curry were a combined 22/38 from the field. The Rockets didn't have an answer for either, and vicariously, they didn't have an answer for the Warriors.

It's not an easy task. The Rockets threw bodies at Curry all night. They did what they could to stifle his superhuman three-point shooting, and the shots fell anyway.

There's no game planning for a locked-in Butler. When Playoff Jimmy comes around, he's one of the best tough shot makers in NBA history. The best strategy is to contain his best teammate and let him try to beat you on his own.

Last night, he had too much help. The Rockets can't let Curry and Butler play so well at the same time in the same game. If they do, they will lose.

To the Warriors, no less.