So much for the new look, defensive-minded Warriors. Golden State just put up points, and more points, and more points…and gave up points, and more points, and more points. The Warriors shot 50% from the field and a perfect 13 for 13 at the line, but the Rockets responded with 57% shooting and 17 free throw makes.
Monta Ellis was completely unstoppable against Kevin Martin and Courtney Lee, shooting 10-13 from the field and a perfect 6-6 from the line. Unfortunately, the balance of the Rockets cancelled out his monumental first half. Luis Scola put up 19 points on 7 of 12 shooting and 5-6 from the line. Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks combined for 20 total points. The usually offensively-limited Chuck Hayes got ten points, mostly from layups. Thanks to plenty of backdoor cuts by Brooks and Hayes, and the inside post moves of Scola, the Rockets compiled up 36 first half points in the paint and edged the Warriors by one point.
New coach, same story for the Warriors one half into 2010.