Strength in Numbers used to be a mantra that perfectly fit the Warriors. Despite having stars such as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, Golden State didn't lose a step when turning to the bench.
That doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
"The bench used to be a strength. It's a liability now," Shannon Sharpe said Tuesday morning on FS1's Undisputed. "They've become unplayable."
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With Andre Iguodala inserted into the starting lineup, the Warriors' bench has become even thinner. In their 112-108 Game 4 loss to the Rockets on Monday in their second-round NBA playoff series, five bench players saw a total of 47 minutes. And over that span, they only scored 11 points.
By comparison, the Rockets' bench has been the complete opposite. Led by Austin Rivers' 10 points, Houston had 18 bench points.
But it's about more than just the bench. The Rockets' supporting cast as a whole was great in Game 4 -- Eric Gordon scored 20 points and P.J. Tucker was everywhere with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Golden State Warriors
"I think the main reason the Rockets won, is that their supporting cast is outplaying the Warriors' supporting cast," Sharpe said.
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While Steph Curry and Kevin Durant combined for 64 points, Klay Thompson only had 11 and Andre Iguodala added seven. The Warriors have the stars to win on any given night, but with the series tied going into Wednesday's Game 5, they need more from everyone against these Rockets.