Round 1: Warriors vs. Rockets Predictions

[Coxy]

Ima stay out of any predictions. I'm way too supersticious for that.

[vvoland]

We lost both the most important games in RS to them (Cup and the last RS games) and we scored +100pts only once in last 4 games.

We lost the cup game to some bs loose ball foul 90 feet away from the hoop. The last one we were exhausted and had no energy after a 14 day road trip and it being our 3rd game in 4 nights. Before those 2 losses we hadn't lost to Houston in like 4 years.

That's what's giving me confidence going into this matchup. That and the amount of days in between games 1-3.

I do think we'll need JK play some kind of role to replicate the success we had against this team earlier this season. He abused Sengun and was one of the best players in the 4 games he played:

- 23pts in the first win, 2nd behind buddy and dominated in OT - I would say he was the main reason we won that game late
- 33pts in our 2nd win, led both teams in points
- missed our 3rd win due to ankle
- 20/7 in our first loss to Hou - led the warriors in both categories and led in minutes (36)
- 9/7/3 in 19 minutes in the loss the sunday before last. I thought he played pretty well and wish he got more than 19 minutes but, we probably should have sat everyone and given JK and the kids 35 mins in that game considering the circumstances (3rd game in 4 nights, 2 weeks on the road, etc.)

[floppymoose]

Athletic Alchemy is on target here:

Watch on YouTube

Except for the part about Kerr not calling a timeout; that part is wrong. Kerr did call a timeout. Steph just called it a split second earlier and the refs saw Steph first.

[AirP.]

It really feels like Butler is trying to hammer home a point.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

What's the point he's trying to hammer home and why?

I think he's making a statement to Kuminga, if he can be a 2nd option to Curry, then Kuminga shoud be able to do that too. Butler usually does his antics for a reason. He's already shown he's good at being the #2, I don't think Curry needs his ego stroked, so there's gotta be some reason Butler's saying he's Robin to Batman, he's wearing Curry's number. We're talking about a guy that with Bam took a pretty weak roster to the ECF three tiems and the finals twice.

It would be interesting if Butler would invite Kuminga to work out with him overseas this summer. He's done his individual workouts with many younger players through his career just like Luol Deng did for him.

[Onus]

It really feels like Butler is trying to hammer home a point.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

What's the point he's trying to hammer home and why?

I think he's making a statement to Kuminga, if he can be a 2nd option to Curry, then Kuminga shoud be able to do that too. Butler usually does his antics for a reason. He's already shown he's good at being the #2, I don't think Curry needs his ego stroked, so there's gotta be some reason Butler's saying he's Robin to Batman, he's wearing Curry's number. We're talking about a guy that with Bam took a pretty weak roster to the ECF three tiems and the finals twice.

It would be interesting if Butler would invite Kuminga to work out with him overseas this summer. He's done his individual workouts with many younger players through his career just like Luol Deng did for him.

Yea he’s really laying it on thick so interesting to hear theories.

[DAWill1128]

I like how we matchup defensively against the Rockets more than the Lakers.

C Green on Sengun - Our best defender on the opposing teams best player.
PF Butler on Thompson - Thompson is a terrible 3 point shooter so this allows Butler to free roam as the help defender
SF Moody on Green - Moody is longer than Green by about 5 inches on the wingspan, I think he can disrupt his shot and you have Butler and Green helping on blow bys.
SG Podz on FVF - FVF has lost a step since Toronto, Podz has the motor to keep on him and the tenacity to body up a smaller guy who likes to dribble drive.
PG Curry on Brooks - Curry is used to sticking on the guy in the corner.

Even Looney I like getting run on Sengun like the way he defended Sabonis, allowing Green to play Thompson a non-shooter as a help defender.

I don't mind Curry defending a number of matchups whether it be Brooks, FVF, Holiday, Shepard and thats a great thing. The Lakers are a tough matchup for Curry defensively, Hachimura is a strong 6-9 and capable on the block. Reaves is a huge volume foul baiter.

[AirP.]

Just went back to see Curry's shots the last Houston game. Curry just missed shots and maybe his legs were tired on April 6th, April 1st GS beat Memphis in Memphis (Curry 52), April 3rd GS beats the Lakers in LA (Curry 37), April 4th GS beats Denver in GS (Curry 36), a younger Curry probably would be fine but 37 year old Curry playing his 4th game in 6 days just took its toll, in the playoffs the recovery time will be much better.

[AirP.]

Read on Twitter

[Crazy-Canuck]

I like how we matchup defensively against the Rockets more than the Lakers.

C Green on Sengun - Our best defender on the opposing teams best player.
PF Butler on Thompson - Thompson is a terrible 3 point shooter so this allows Butler to free roam as the help defender
SF Moody on Green - Moody is longer than Green by about 5 inches on the wingspan, I think he can disrupt his shot and you have Butler and Green helping on blow bys.
SG Podz on FVF - FVF has lost a step since Toronto, Podz has the motor to keep on him and the tenacity to body up a smaller guy who likes to dribble drive.
PG Curry on Brooks - Curry is used to sticking on the guy in the corner.

Even Looney I like getting run on Sengun like the way he defended Sabonis, allowing Green to play Thompson a non-shooter as a help defender.

I don't mind Curry defending a number of matchups whether it be Brooks, FVF, Holiday, Shepard and thats a great thing. The Lakers are a tough matchup for Curry defensively, Hachimura is a strong 6-9 and capable on the block. Reaves is a huge volume foul baiter.

Yeah, the Memphis, Houston path was easily the most advantageous for us. Roster and style wise, we couldn't have asked for a better match up.

[510TWSS]

Dubz in 6 (cause 7 game predictions suck).

[HiRez]

Dubz in 6 (cause 7 game predictions suck).

Of course you take a series win any way you can get it, but a 7 game series for this aging Dubs team probably means they're done in the next round. Especially in this Rockets series, which is expected to be an intense, grueling, physical slog. They gotta win in 6 or less.

[Sandy333]

Whoever refs favour will win out. GSW is not strong enough to overcome reffing.if Steph hand check and fouling is allowed then we have chance, Rox in 4.

[floppymoose]

Cowherd is not buying the narrative that Warriors are the favorites:

Watch on YouTube

[EvanZ]

We win if we don't turn the ball over. They cannot beat us in half court basketball.

[whatisacenter]

This series will be a rock fight.

My concerns for the Warriors:

They have 3 players in their regular rotation that the opposition runs away from when they have the ball at the three point line in Draymond, GP2 and Butler. Can they hit enough 3's over a series to make the opposing defense step out and respect them?

Can Moody be effective enough on offense to make Houston pay for putting Sengun on him?

Can Curry and Butler score enough against Houston who will be able to throw multiple defenders at them like Tari, Amen, Dillon etc.

If the Warriors are going to win they need to be up 2-1 heading in to game 4 before the games become every other day.

[Jester_]

Cowherd is not buying the narrative that Warriors are the favorites:

Watch on YouTube

Cowherd has been all over the place around us this year

reasonable take here though, but I think if we don't get into a run and gun game they just can't beat us. that team is built to run people off the floor

[AirP.]

Watch on YouTube

[HiRez]

They cannot beat us in half court basketball.

Never thought I'd hear the this said about any Warrior team in my lifetime but here we are.

[AirP.]

Watch on YouTube

[michaelm]

All the talking heads are saying GSW lucked into a HOU matchup. I’d much rather they play LAL. LAL without AD is no longer a bad matchup.

Wouldn't we have most likely gotten LAL, LAC, OKC? Our current route HOU. LAL, OKC seems better.

Yes good to avoid the Clippers. An even vaguely healthy Kawhi is always a threat to any team, and Harden seems to reserve his best for GSW.