The memory is still vivid. In a do-or-die Game 6 last postseason, the Houston Rockets unlocked a winning formula against the Golden State Warriors: overwhelming size. Now, as the two teams meet for the first time since that epic series in a pivotal NBA Cup game, the Rockets find themselves in a familiar position, hoping to once again turn their height advantage into a victory.
The key to Houston’s Game 6 victory was the devastating double-big lineup of Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams. Şengün dazzled with a stat line of 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists, but it was Adams’ physical presence off the bench that truly broke the Warriors’ spirit. Golden State, with no answer for his interior dominance, resorted to fouling him, a testament to the strategy’s success.
Apr 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) talks with center Alperen Sengun (28) after a play during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
While the Rockets ultimately fell short in Game 7, the blueprint for beating Golden State was clearly drawn: punish them in the paint.
Tonight, however, the script has a new twist. The Rockets are severely shorthanded, missing Adams, Kevin Durant, and Fred VanVleet, among others. But within this challenge lies an opportunity. Clint Capela, now in his second stint with Houston, is poised to step into the void left by Adams. Though his minutes have been limited this season, his per-36-minute rebounding numbers are strong, and his elite rim-running and paint protection perfectly mirror the skills that made the Şengün-Adams duo so effective.
The Warriors, meanwhile, remain chronically undersized. Even with Draymond Green (probable), their reluctance to play true center Quentin Post consistently leaves them vulnerable against dominant big men. If Stephen Curry or Jimmy Butler III has an off-night, Golden State lacks a reliable Plan B to counter a team that controls the glass.
The stage is set for a tactical battle. The Rockets may be missing their stars, but they possess the one weapon that has proven to destabilize the Warriors: a commanding presence in the paint. By reviving the successful two-big strategy with Şengün and Capela, Coach Ime Udoka can exploit Golden State’s most persistent weakness. In this NBA Cup clash, history could repeat itself, and the Rockets’ path to victory might just run directly through the shaded lane.