2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #2 Houston Rockets vs #7 Golden State Warriors (Series tied 1-1)

Mk0 · Post #21 » by **Mk0** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:24 am

Rockets in 6

Roscoe Sheed · Post #22 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:24 am

Even though gsw have a distinct advantage in terms of experience, I think Houston’s athleticism and defense will win out in the end

RRR3 · Post #23 » by **RRR3** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:24 am

If Jalen Green was even Donovan Mitchell level I think this is the Rockets series for sure. But Jalen Green is pretty mid.

ArksNetsSince99 · Post #24 » by **ArksNetsSince99** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:26 am

Mr.Baller wrote:
LarsV8 wrote:We probably get crushed due to inexperience, but hey, you never know.

These are the new generation of the Rockets players. With different DNAs, I'm very optimistic that we will win.

You not only gonna win , you smash them so fast they not gonna know what hits them in 5

Udoka gonna prepare the team the right way, I’m sure

giberish · Post #25 » by **giberish** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:27 am

It will come down to possessions. I expect GS to outshoot the Rockets so if they get a similar number of shots they'll win. But if Houston gets significantly more possessions through fewer turnovers and more offensive rebounds they can overcome that (and that's really how Houston has won all year).

Tracymcgoaty · Post #26 » by **Tracymcgoaty** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:28 am

This whole series depends on how Butler gets reffed.

Mk0 · Post #27 » by **Mk0** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:30 am

Tracymcgoaty wrote:This whole series depends on how Butler gets reffed.

And Dray. If he is allowed to nutkick and elbow dudes in the head without flagrants getting called it makes a massive difference.

Tracymcgoaty · Post #28 » by **Tracymcgoaty** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:31 am

Mk0 wrote:
Tracymcgoaty wrote:This whole series depends on how Butler gets reffed.

And Dray. If he is allowed to nutkick and elbow dudes in the head without flagrants getting called it makes a massive difference.

100% that as well. If Dray gets away with blatantly mauling bigs then yeah i have a hard time seeing Rockets winning this series.

nazario · Post #29 » by **nazario** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:33 am

Mk0 wrote:
Tracymcgoaty wrote:This whole series depends on how Butler gets reffed.

And Dray. If he is allowed to nutkick and elbow dudes in the head without flagrants getting called it makes a massive difference.

And Curry. If the refs allow the blatant offball fouling/holding the Rockets for sure are going to do, roleplayers on the Warriors need to take advantage. And they aren't really consistent shooters/scorers. Need someone to get in rhythm.

Wolfgang630 · Post #30 » by **Wolfgang630** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:34 am

Steven Adams aka Draymonds best friend will be there

multo · Post #31 » by **multo** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:37 am

If GS' role players continue to not step up. Steph and Jimmy can't do it by themselves alone. Players like Podz and Hield must play better or even JK, whom I think will have some playing time against the Rockets.

Tracymcgoaty · Post #32 » by **Tracymcgoaty** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:39 am

nazario wrote:
Mk0 wrote:
Tracymcgoaty wrote:This whole series depends on how Butler gets reffed.

And Dray. If he is allowed to nutkick and elbow dudes in the head without flagrants getting called it makes a massive difference.

And Curry. If the refs allow the blatant offball fouling/holding the Rockets for sure are going to do, roleplayers on the Warriors need to take advantage. And they aren't really consistent shooters/scorers. Need someone to get in rhythm.

Im all for that because i know damn well GSW wouldn't have enough players to play the game if we're officiating things fairly :lol:

The amount of maulings bigs get when they face the warriors is ridiculous. Draymond Green would foul out by the 2nd quarter.

RRR3 · Post #33 » by **RRR3** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:43 am

I think in a few years the Rockets will be able to beat a team the caliber of this current Warriors but Amen and Sengun are still so young and nowhere near their best. It's too early for them.

CelticSooner · Post #34 » by **CelticSooner** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:45 am

I feel for Curry because he is going to be get beat up in this series. Regardless of what Butler does who else will step up their scoring for GS? Kerr better bring Kuminga out of his doghouse because they need another big body to put the ball in the basket. I think this may go 7. An ugly rock fight favors Houston does it not?

SpurNani · Post #35 » by **SpurNani** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:48 am

Should be a good grind it out series that i could see going 7. Hou has the athletes and young legs to make Jimmy and Steph work all game long, its their clunky offense that's the problem.
I don't think Jalen Green has had a good game against GS all year long. That will have to change if Hou is to win. Kuminga should definitely get alot of playing time in this series he has played great against them this year.

Dubnation · Post #36 » by **Dubnation** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:53 am

azcatz11 wrote:Didn't Amen shut down Curry last time they played? Held him to like 3 points I want to say.

Wrestled, grabbed, and hugged him. So I guess that means he shut him down. I don't blame him. I'd do that too if I was allowed to.

Edrees · Post #37 » by **Edrees** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:54 am

Warriors in 5. Each game will be close but warriors experience will have them close out the close games.

game 1 - warriors steal a close game
game 2- rockets blowout win
game 3 - warriors blowout
game 4 -warriors win in a close one
game 5 - warriors win in a nailbiter

Dubnation · Post #38 » by **Dubnation** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:54 am

CelticSooner wrote:I feel for Curry because he is going to be get beat up in this series. Regardless of what Butler does who else will step up their scoring for GS? Kerr better bring Kuminga out of his doghouse because they need another big body to put the ball in the basket. I think this may go 7. An ugly rock fight favors Houston does it not?

It's a mystery on why that's allowed. That will make it Rockets in 5. Gentlemans sweep.

cpower · Post #39 » by **cpower** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:55 am

I think people are underrating rockets defense and overrating dubs offense. Dubs will go small, and will give up a lot defense...This will be a close series.

MoreyWins · Post #40 » by **MoreyWins** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:56 am

Stephen Curry: Houston will try to bottle him up as much as possible. They'll have the switchable defenders to make it difficult for Curry to get any breathing room on or off the ball. The Rockets will try to attack him with Jalen in isolation. Curry's hand might be a major factor by the way he was favoring it in the 3rd quarter of the Grizzlies game.

Jonathan Kuminga: 18 points per game and 6 rebounds per game are his averages in his last five games against the Rockets. All of that production is just rotting on the bench for an unknown reason. His length and athleticism bothered the Rockets and to top it all off he was super efficient in those games -- 50% from the field and 40% from three on 4 attempts. If Steve Kerr completely lost him, then that's a major loss for Golden State. I think he's necessary considering how small Golden State can get.

The Big Question: Who does Draymond guard? Does he take the Sengun assignment, handicapping him as a help defender and potentially putting him in foul trouble? Do the Warriors put Jimmy Butler on him and see how much Butler can hold his ground? Do they start a center with Green and Butler? That would leave only one non-Curry shooter on the floor against a team that's excellent in zone. Do you bet on Quinten Post's shooting being real enough to make him a viable stretch five against Sengun? Do the Warriors have a Steven Adams answer besides Kevon Looney?

I'll take the Rockets in 6 hard games. I'll bet there'll be at least 15 technical fouls called between both teams and at least 3 ejections this series.

Who wins?