Rivalries are fun. Even if they’re one sided. In their last 23 games against the Houston Rockets—regular and post season—the Golden State Warriors are 19 and 4. And they are 12-1 over the past three seasons against Chris Paul’s former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. Both the Rockets and the Clippers have been perineal playoff teams in the West, but they have never gotten any traction against the Warriors since the latter began its ascent to the championship level three seasons ago. Both teams dislike the Warriors, and both were dismissive of them early in the rivalry. James Harden’s “They ain’t that good” comment in the 2015 post season captured the Rockets’ haughty sentiment, which gave way to quiet desperation over the course of the next three years of futility.
Discernment: Warriors 124, Rockets 114
