The Warriors opened Game 5 with a purposeful first possession. Two nights before, the physical Rockets found success overplaying Kevin Durant, knocking him off his spot and making sure every catch was difficult.



So here was the Play 1 script: Plant Durant in the far right corner, bring Draymond Green up to the right wing, clear the three other starters to the other side of the floor. Then, once everyone’s in place, have Durant fake like he’s jogging up for a dribble handoff from Green before slicing back door — the traditional counter to the Rockets’ muscly style.



It nearly worked but didn’t. Durant and Green duped Ariza, but Ariza was able to stick his right foot out in time to kick the pass, resetting the possession and saving a sure dunk.



But that’s irrelevant. What mattered, within this conversation, is what the strategy symbolized. In the micro, it’s a team trying to loosen the handsy defense slowing one of its...