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Andrew Bogut: Why silencing Rockets was so sweet - and the harsh reality for Zion Williamson

Andrew Bogut writes exclusively for Yahoo Sport Australia about shutting down the Houston Rockets, Ben Simmons joining the Boomers, and the Draft Lottery dramas with Zion Williamson.

Winning a championship in 2015 is obviously my favourite victory with the Warriors.

But in terms of an individual game, the Game 6 win over the Rockets is the best win I’ve ever been a part of.

Just because of the circumstances coming into that series – missing DeMarcus Cousins and then Kevin Durant goes down – and we weren’t playing our best basketball in the first couple of games.

For us to go into Houston for Game 6 when no one predicted us to win – I think we were the heaviest underdogs the Warriors have ever been in the playoffs – it was a huge emotional win for us.

On top of that, we’ve heard over the last three or four years how the Houston Rockets have built their team solely to beat the Golden State Warriors, so it felt really good.

James Harden and Chris Paul. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
James Harden and Chris Paul. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

There was a lot of niggle throughout the series and that’s just the way a few of their guys play.

James Harden is obviously one of the best players in the league but he puts a lot of pressure on the officials.

Chris Paul was diving into a couple of our guys to draw fouls, which weren’t really basketball plays, and it just puts a lot of pressure on the officials.

They were complaining just about every other possession.

There was a lot of heat in that series – not just Houston v Golden State but in some of the match-ups – and most of the guys on our team were getting a little fed-up with their guys.

Steph Curry bounced back and stepped up when we needed him.

Steph Curry bounced back. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Steph Curry bounced back. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The criticism is never going to keep him down and he’s never going to have 3-4 bad games in a row.

He essentially blew that series open in eight minutes. All their schemes and the things they were doing to try to stop him, he threw right out the window.

It was sensational.

Looking ahead

Our win in Game 1 over the Trail Blazers was pleasing, but we’re not silly.

We know they’d just come out of a gruelling seven-game series – they finished on Sunday and then got the Bay on Monday and had to play an early game on Tuesday.

We’re giving them the benefit of the doubt because we knew they were going to be banged up and tired.

We know that Game 2 is going to be much more intense and physical.

We still have work to do – we fully respect how tight a group they are so we know we can’t let our guard down.

Harsh side of Draft Lottery

I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Zion Williamson will be taken by New Orleans with the No.1 pick, unless something drastic happens in the form of a trade.

Obviously we know the history with Anthony Davis wanting to get out of there but they’ve got some pieces now and they can make some good moves.

With most young kids these days he probably would have preferred New York or LA.

Zion Williamson. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Zion Williamson. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

But the reality of our league is you go where you’re drafted and I anticipate him being in a Pelicans uniform next year.

There’s going to be a bit of a chess game now with the other picks and there can be some tricky moves made by agents.

If someone doesn’t want to go to a team that could potentially pick them, they sometimes don’t want to work out for said team in a hope they are not drafted by them.

Ben Simmons and the Boomers

Ben Simmons is one of the best Australian players in the world so it was very exciting to hear he’s decided to play for the Boomers at this year’s World Cup.

He’s been involved with the national team since he was a young fella so we welcome him back.

He’s come off a disappointing finish with the 76ers but to take that Philly team as deep as he did was outstanding and we’re excited to have him at the Boomers.

We’ve now got a stacked lineup with NBA players across the board and he adds another element.

He’s an All-Star so adding him has improved us overnight.

Ben Simmons and the 76ers were knocked out in Game 7. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ben Simmons and the 76ers were knocked out in Game 7. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Our team is very, very deep and we know what Ben can bring – it will just be a matter of what position he plays for us.

I assume it’ll be somewhere similar to at Philly – a point forward type role.

But international basketball is a little bit different so we’ll need to find some unique ways to get him involved, especially at the offensive end and the half-court.

A lot of international games slow down, especially at the Olympics and World Championships.

It’s going to be a stretch for Andrej Lemanis (Boomers head coach) to figure out not only where he sits but what the startling line-up looks like.

But it’s a good job to have because it’s going to be one of the most talented teams we’ve ever had on paper in the history of Australian basketball.

Andrew Bogut writes exclusively for Yahoo Sport Australia.
Andrew Bogut writes exclusively for Yahoo Sport Australia.