NBA: Warrior godfather.

Guys there is already content on patreon, if anyone wants to become a chunin or jonnin.

patreon.com/Chuga320 (More 50 chapters)

—————————————————————————————————————————————

The Warriors had some bad luck running into the on-fire Trevor Ariza.

Liam didn't adjust his game plan just because of Ariza's hot streak. He stuck to the usual rotation, subbing out three starters at the 8-minute mark of the first quarter, leaving Curry to lead the second unit of Wesley Matthews, Anthony Tolliver, Biedrins, and Reggie Williams.

This backup lineup wasn't significantly weaker than the starters when it came to three-point shooting. Liam's directive was straightforward: shoot boldly. If you see an opening, take the shot. If not, make a quick pass and keep the ball moving.

This approach resonated perfectly with the players. In just four minutes, Reggie Williams delivered two dunks and a triple. Matthews attempted four three-pointers, managing to sink just one. Anthony Tolliver, while having fewer opportunities, still contributed with solid defense.

Instead of expressing frustration, Liam clapped energetically from the sidelines and shouted toward the court:

"Well done! Don't hesitate—take the shot!"

Silas, looking a little concerned, tugged on Liam's sleeve and said:

"Liam, aren't we just reverting to last season's style?"

Liam smiled faintly.

"Exactly. I want to bring back some elements of last season's game."

This, as Liam described, was teaching through wealth. With Matthews, Tolliver, and Williams all on minimum contracts, it would be too much to expect them to develop an immediate instinct for ball sharing.

If they could nail three-pointers, show passing vision, and contribute defensively, it wouldn't be long before other teams recognized their value and ensured they wouldn't go unnoticed during free agency.

By the end of the first quarter, the Warriors' run-and-gun offense was in full flow. However, the Rockets managed to keep the score close thanks to Ariza's explosion. The two teams fought to a 28–26 score, with the Warriors holding a slim 2-point lead heading into the second quarter.

Curry and Biedrins took a break after playing the first quarter. Lowry and Big Z entered the game, and the Warriors' offensive firepower intensified even further.

Lowry tried to initiate fast breaks, but his court vision wasn't quite on Curry's level, and his three-point shooting was inconsistent. Instead, he opted to attack the paint, though with limited success.

Liam quickly adjusted tactics, instructing Lowry to play pick-and-roll with Big Z. After setting a screen, Big Z would drift outside, exploiting the Rockets' undersized center, Landry, who at 6'9" couldn't contest Big Z's perimeter shots. This strategy paid off repeatedly.

However, Big Z struggled defensively against Scola and Landry, allowing the Rockets to maintain their offensive rhythm.

Six minutes into the second quarter, when Liam brought the starters back in, the score was 44–38, with the Warriors extending their lead to 6 points.

This wasn't solely because of the Warriors' improved offense but also due to Ariza cooling off.

After his blazing performance in the first quarter, Ariza faltered in the second. When he re-entered the game three minutes into the quarter, he missed two open three-pointers in a row.

Yet, this didn't shake Ariza's confidence. With McGrady sidelined, he saw himself as the new star of the Rockets. He kept firing, sinking one lucky bank shot but missing six other attempts in just six minutes.

The Rockets relied heavily on Scola and Landry's physicality in the paint to keep the game within reach.

Once Liam reintroduced the starters, the Warriors elevated their game on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Biedrins protected the rim while Butler's help defense repeatedly disrupted the Rockets' offense.

On offense, Curry played more of a facilitator role, helping his teammates find scoring opportunities while taking fewer shots himself. Meanwhile, Aaron Brooks caused trouble for the Warriors with his speed, keeping the Rockets competitive.

At halftime, the Warriors led 64–56, holding an 8-point advantage.

In the Warriors' locker room, Liam praised his players:

"Well done! We executed our game plan and built a strong lead. Let's keep up the effort in the second half and stick to the strategy. Even though the Rockets are missing key players, they're a resilient team, so don't take them lightly."

In the Rockets' locker room, Coach Adelman addressed his players:

"Trevor, focus on working with your teammates and take smart shots when you get good looks. Aaron, work the pick-and-roll with Lewis. Look for opportunities to attack the rim, but don't challenge Biedrins directly. If the defense collapses, kick it out to Lewis for an open shot."

The 15-minute halftime break flew by, and as the second half began, Aaron Brooks came out firing. He used the pick-and-roll with Scola effectively, scoring on two consecutive plays.

Liam quickly responded by subbing in Lowry for Azubuike to focus on containing Brooks.

Lowry's physical defense and ability to navigate screens made Brooks uncomfortable, slowing his momentum.

Scola stepped up next. His polished post moves, a cornerstone of his NBA career, were too much for Varejao. Liam substituted Biedrins to match up with Scola, but even that didn't entirely stop the Argentine's craftiness.

With Scola scoring consistently in the post, the Warriors' transition offense was hindered, as they were forced to inbound the ball after every made basket.

As a result, the Rockets chipped away at the lead. Six minutes into the third quarter, the score was 75–70, with the Warriors' lead down to 5 points.

Liam called a timeout and addressed his team with a calm yet firm tone:

"Jimmy, double-team Scola from now on. Don't let the Argentine wreak havoc in our paint. Let Ariza shoot; we'll live with the results. Since the fast break isn't working, switch to half-court sets. Stephen, you have the green light—everyone else will space the floor for you. Your job is to break down their defense and attack the interior."

The timeout ended, and the Warriors had possession. Varejao set a screen for Curry, forcing Scola to switch onto him. Curry isolated Scola, stepped back, and nailed a three-pointer, pushing the score to 78–70.

On the next possession, Scola tried another post-up, but Butler came over to double-team him. Scola passed the ball out to Ariza, who found himself wide open.

Ariza hesitated, then took the three-pointer.

Clang!

The ball bounced off the rim, and Curry grabbed the long rebound. Pushing the ball up the court, he pulled up two steps behind the three-point line and launched a deep triple.

Swish! 

The ball sliced through the net, and the Oracle Center erupted in cheers.

End of this chapter

Note: Hi if you really like NBA novels, you can support me either in this pg with stones, reviews etc, or in patreon since the niche of sports and specially NBA is very small is Webnovel since people prefer to read Naruto, Pokemon, comics etc.