Why frustrated James Harden, Rockets just don't have enough against Warriors

OAKLAND — James Harden was spent. Physically. Emotionally. Strategically.

As the Houston Rockets star stay slumped down on the Oracle Arena floor on Thursday night, his worst moment having come last on this night that was easily one of his best, there was a reason that the bruising, balling, old-man body of his lay still until Trevor Ariza came by to pick him up as the yellow confetti fell.

Yet again, he had given the game everything he had, finishing with 38 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Golden State Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals with the 99-98 win. Yet again, it just wasn't enough, as Harden lost his way with a turnover in those final seconds that sent the locals into hysterics and Harden to the floor with his hands draped over his head. And yet again, the Rockets showed how close they might be to making this whole title-contention thing a regular occurrence.

One more potent piece on this roster, and maybe the Warriors don't have the audacity to double-team Harden with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in that final sequence. One more superstar option beyond Harden and the gutsy Dwight Howard, and perhaps these Warriors aren't heading back to Houston for Game 3 with the kind of edge that typically spells doom for the trailing team.

As has been the case all season long, this cook-off – as the MVP-based battle between Harden and Curry has been deemed – simply isn't fair. These two top chefs are working with a different set of ingredients.

"It's tough," Harden said. "You know, just how hard we fought both these games. Still, we're giving up small things, too many easy lay‑ups, too many easy threes that we're having to climb back. This is a really good team that we're playing, and so when you give them those buckets and you're trying to fight back and you put yourself in a situation to win, you look back at those plays early in the game, and you kind of want them back."

Harden, who admitted to kicking a few chairs afterward, is well aware of what this means. Teams that fall behind 2-0 in a best-of-seven series have lost 252 of 268 times (94%).

"It's frustrating to give the game away like that for myself, but my teammates and coaches were behind me," he said. "Just saying that, we're going home to secure home now, go out there Game 3 (on Saturday). ..It hurts, but they did what they had to do. They won two games at home. We're going back home to get two games."

It's just not that simple, though, not only because of the aforementioned history but because this Warriors team is simply deeper and more dynamic than the undermanned Rockets. Curry, who continued his MVP-worthy play with a 33-point, six-assist outing of his own, knows he's fortunate in that regard. He has the luxury of having teammates like Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, David Lee, and – heck – even oldie-but-goodie Leandro Barbosa, one that means the Warriors are primed to win it all this year like they may never be again.

For all the talk about how this is the beginning of their decade-long dominance, the inherent nature of pro sports means that uncertainties abound with every passing season. It's presumptuous to assume that all the cards will fall their way like they have in this magical season of health and seemingly-endless prosperity. The Warriors' urgency to seize this chance that's in front of them is there in the here and the now, and you could hear it in Curry's voice the day before Game 2 tipped off.

After he spent nearly 15 minutes with the media masses, we chatted about the fact that he was nearing Reggie Miller's record for three-pointers made in a single postseason run (58). Curry, who has played in 10 fewer games than Miller to this point yet is just one shy of his mark after hitting five of 11 threes in Game 2, gave an unassuming nod and admitted that he was unaware. Then, he grinned.

"You know what mark I want?" he said just before walking away. "Danny Green's."

That would be San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green, of course, who broke Ray Allen's record for most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals (27) two years ago while the Warriors watched from home. So yes, in other words, Curry and the Warriors can taste this championship chance like it's a slice of that sourdough bread they're so famous for around here.

"I think we grew up pretty quickly (in the playoffs)," said Curry, whose urgency was so apparent when he teamed with Thompson to trap Harden in that final sequence. "Game 2 and Game 3 (losses) against Memphis (in the second round) was good for us to kind of bounce back and show some resiliency and some maturity. And I think this series is just about who wants it and getting a win. It's fun."

Fun for Curry and the Warriors so far, anyways.