For most of the year, the Houston Rockets were seen as a fun upstart with the best chance to upset the Golden State Warriors. False “they don’t play defense” or “James Harden and Chris Paul can’t play together” narratives aside, that’s still true. Houston right now looks like the team with the best chance to beat the Warriors four times in seven games, even if the Dubs would still be favored.
On the whole, that’s made Houston a bit of a people’s champion. Sure, everyone is going to root for their team first. But the next logical step for most fanbases after their team is eliminated has become “anyone but the Warriors.