The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, the two best teams in the entire NBA during the regular season, are set to meet in the Western Conference Finals in a series we have been anticipating all season long. Will the Rockets end Golden State's reign atop the West? Here's everything to expect in this series:
Game 1 Info
When: 9:00 p.m. EST
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
TV: TNT
Spread: Rockets (-1.5)
O/U: 224.5
Projected Starting Lineups (with playoff stats)
Houston Rockets
G Chris Paul – 21.8 ppg, 6.4 apg, 5.0 rpg
G James Harden – 28.5 ppg, 7.4 apg, 5.0 rpg
F Trevor Ariza – 8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F P.J. Tucker – 9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg
C Clint Capela – 14.4 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.8 bpg
Golden State Warriors
G Stephen Curry – 24.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.5 apg
G Klay Thompson – 21.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg
F Andre Iguodala – 7.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg
F Kevin Durant – 28.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.0 apg
F Draymond Green – 13.1 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 9.0 apg
What they're saying about the Houston Rockets:
'This is the year:' Rockets believe time to dethrone Warriors is now (Houston Chronicle)
Houston Rockets: Klay Thompson could be James Harden’s kryptonite (Houses of Houston)
Rockets fans' hilariously bad opinions after the Chris Paul trade (Houston Chronicle)
What they're saying about the Golden State Warriors:
A look at Warriors’ to-do list for conference finals vs. Rockets (SFGate)
Kurtenbach: The Rockets don’t fear the Warriors and that makes this could-be-epic series even better (San Jose Mercury News)
The Warriors And Rockets Have Reinvented Modern NBA Defense. Yes, Defense. (ESPN)
Game 1 prediction
Houston being favored to win Game 1 certainly doesn't sit well with the Warriors, who are looking to re-assert themselves as the best team in the league. The Rockets won the regular season series between the two sides, but Golden State routinely said it was just the regular season and it didn't matter. I'd look for the Warriors to come out looking to make a major statement in Game 1. Warriors win 129-115.
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Series Schedule
Game 2
When: Wednesday, May 16
Where: Houston, TX
Tip: 9:00 pm ET
TV: TNT
Game 3
When: Sunday, May 20
Where: Oakland, CA
Tip: 8:00 pm ET
TV: TNT
Game 4
When: Tuesday, May 22
Where: Oakland, CA
Tip: 9:00 pm ET
TV: TNT
Game 5 (if necessary)
When: Thursday, May 24
Where: Houston, TX
Tip: 9:00 pm ET
TV: TNT
Game 6 (if necessary)
When: Saturday, May 26
Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tip: 9:00 pm ET
TV: TNT
Game 7 (if necessary)
When: Monday, May 28
Where: Houston, TX
Tip: 9:00 pm ET
TV: TNT
Series Prediction
All of the games in this series will be extremely entertaining as both teams love to play at a fast pace, and most of them will be close. However, I don't see Golden State losing at home given how well they play in front of their fans and will take home-court advantage away from the Rockets in a statement Game 1 victory that will set the tone for the rest of the series. Warriors in 6.
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