Houston Rockets: Five Keys To Winning Game 2 vs Golden State

May 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) goes up for the opening tip against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) in game one of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Dwight Howard?

In Game 1 after Dwight Howard was fallen into by Josh Smith, the explosion was gone. He no longer looked like the Dwight that had been nearly dominating the playoffs thus far — and that impacted the Rockets greatly.

There were even multiple times when he simply couldn’t get to alley-oop attempts that Josh Smith routinely lobs at him. Dwight finished with seven points and 13 rebounds in 26 minutes in Game 1.

He wasn’t the same guy, and if the Rockets hope to even this series at one game apiece, they’re going to need a healthy and highly impactful Dwight. He’s officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game, but word is that the Rockets were practicing yesterday under the assumption that he would miss Game 2.

Not good.

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