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

[scrabbarista]

My instinct is Rockets in 5.

My instinct was also Rockets in 5.

I've said this before about you: great minds think alike.

[ReggiesKnicks]

The Warriors issue lies in their lack of spacing, which is highlighted against great defensive teams like Houston. I expect Curry/Butler to have some exceptional games (like last night) but not having anyone else reliable offensively is going to curtail the Warriors chances.

Rockets in 6.

[Upperclass]

Warriors will barely beat the Rockets in 7

[Upperclass]

Maybe a hot take, but I think Houston is going to destroy Golden State. This is an awful matchup for the Warriors.

They have a long list of defensive options to throw at Curry and Butler. Amen will hound Curry while Dillon Brooks bangs with Butler. FVV is not a fun target for either. Eason can come in and play big minutes whenever. They'll attack Jalen Green as much as possible but that's really it for options. There's going to be stretches of games where Houston really shut down Golden State's stars, and they're very reliant on their stars in tough games. Curry and Butler are extremely good, and will find ways to shake loose and score, but that won't be good enough. The offense needs Curry and Butler to do a LOT of scoring playmaking, so matching up with a team that can make that tough is going to be a nightmare.

Many of us watched last night what a problem Zach Edey gave them on the offensive boards... well... Houston recently loves to trot out Steven Adams for the pure purpose of bludgeoning weak rebounding teams to death. This isn't like... Adams generating a few offensive possessions. THis is a guy averaging 10 o-boards per 100 possessions (7.5 per 36). They'll put him and Sengun out there and it's practically an advantage when Houston misses a shot. That's too much pressure to put on Kevon Looney.

My instinct is Rockets in 5.

Warriors will lose game 1 and everyone will overreact.

[azcatz11]

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

Yes that’s why we’re seeing Steph average 30 this series


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Can you break that down for me? How much tape of Amen have you seen?

[gmoney411]

I'm not sure who to go with in this series. Experience makes me want to pick the Warriors but the Rockets are a much bigger, faster, and stronger team. Looking at the matchups I'm not sure where GS really has an advantage.

[Beethoven]

Can't wait for Lakers to destroy the Rockets.

[bisme37]

[TheGOATWill]

The athletes in Houston are going to be a headache. The coaching matchup isn’t as lopsided as the resumes suggest. But counting Steven Adams who probably won’t play, the Rockets have 140 games of playoff experience. Draymond Green has 157. Dubs in 7.

[gmoney411]

The athletes in Houston are going to be a headache. The coaching matchup isn’t as lopsided as the resumes suggest. But counting Steven Adams who probably won’t play, the Rockets have 140 games of playoff experience. Draymond Green has 157. Dubs in 7.

Steven Adams is 100% going to play. The double big lineup has been great for Houston.

[Iwasawitness]

I cant name a single super star or even all-star on the Rockets. If you're smart with money, you pick Golden State everytime.

That’s a pretty poor reason to pick against Houston…

[MoreyWins]

The athletes in Houston are going to be a headache. The coaching matchup isn’t as lopsided as the resumes suggest. But counting Steven Adams who probably won’t play, the Rockets have 140 games of playoff experience. Draymond Green has 157. Dubs in 7.

What are you watching from the Rockets or Warriors that would tell you Steven Adams isn't playing?

[Jadoogar]

The athletes in Houston are going to be a headache. The coaching matchup isn’t as lopsided as the resumes suggest. But counting Steven Adams who probably won’t play, the Rockets have 140 games of playoff experience. Draymond Green has 157. Dubs in 7.

Steven Adams has played 58 games this year, Rockets have used the double big lineup quite a bit recently

[facothomas22]

The Rockets are simply too young and lack a 1st or 2nd option to contend for a Championship. They have a lot of good 3rd option level guys like Sengun/Jalen Green/Amen Thompson.The Warriors have Stephen Curry, while declined, still is 1b level guy and Jimmy Butler whos seems to perform better in the playoffs than the regular season. The Warriors also have a good supporting cast. That match up screams the Warriors will easily win this series. Maybe that will be the case. However I would not go there.The Rockets have the wings and point of attack defense to significantly contain Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Amen Thomson will have moments where he basically suffocating Stephen Curry with his defense. The Rockets also have the personal to contain Jimmy Butler. They cam simply put Eason/Brooks on him and even Amen Thompson when Curry is not on the court. Sengren matches up well with Draymond Green. Green is going to need to lockdown Sengun and make him a inefficent scorer.The Rockets bench have a deep bench, but so does the Warriors. The key for the Rockets bench is make life for the Warriors difficult scoring wise. If the Rockets bench can make the Warriors bench look mediocre, this will a long way towards even out the series, even when Curry has his games where he goes off. With that said I have the Warriors winning in 6 or 7 games. The Rockets will be able make the series competitive with their defense, but the lack of a 1st or 2nd option is going to prove to be costly for this team because Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry will a blow up game where one or both put 35-40+ points on good efficiency and that's all they would need to swing this series in their direction.

[ShotCreator]

The Rockets are simply too young and lack a 1st or 2nd option to contend for a Championship. They have a lot of good 3rd option level guys like Sengun/Jalen Green/Amen Thompson.The Warriors have Stephen Curry, while declined, still is 1b level guy and Jimmy Butler whos seems to perform better in the playoffs than the regular season. The Warriors also have a good supporting cast. That match up screams the Warriors will easily win this series. Maybe that will be the case. However I would not go there.The Rockets have the wings and point of attack defense to significantly contain Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Amen Thomson will have moments where he basically suffocating Stephen Curry with his defense. The Rockets also have the personal to contain Jimmy Butler. They cam simply put Eason/Brooks on him and even Amen Thompson when Curry is not on the court. Sengren matches up well with Draymond Green. Green is going to need to lockdown Sengun and make him a inefficent scorer.The Rockets bench have a deep bench, but so does the Warriors. The key for the Rockets bench is make life for the Warriors difficult scoring wise. If the Rockets bench can make the Warriors bench look mediocre, this will a long way towards even out the series, even when Curry has his games where he goes off. With that said I have the Warriors winning in 6 or 7 games. The Rockets will be able make the series competitive with their defense, but the lack of a 1st or 2nd option is going to prove to be costly for this team because Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry will a blow up game where one or both put 35-40+ points on good efficiency and that's all they would need to swing this series in their direction.

JImmy is dominant in the playoffs because he's got such a unique body for his skill set.

Brooks is a good defender but Butler is much stronger than him. The only player to slow down a healthiy Playoff Jimmy since 2020 has been Anthony Davis. LeBron couldn't even do it.

Amen Thompson would be the freakiest of freaks if he could slow him down.

I think FVV and Green will get matchup hunted a lot in a Curry/Butler pick and roll. FVV and Green have the foot speed for Steph but none of the strength or length for Butler. It's the only sensible thing.

[Cubbies2120]

Can't wait for Lakers to destroy the Rockets.

You're getting the Warriors and YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT.

[Ice Man]

It's kinda strange to see so many calls of Houston winning in 5 when Houston was only 4 games better than the Warriors during the entire regular season, and had a worse record since Jimmy Butler joined the Warriors.

[HiRez]

If somehow the Warriors can't outplay the Rockets even with the refs carrying them, they'll just injure a key Rockets player instead. It's the Warriors' way.

Oh, you mean like how Dillon Brooks fractured Gary Payton's elbow on a flagrant 2 and knocked him out of the series early?

[TheGOATWill]

The athletes in Houston are going to be a headache. The coaching matchup isn’t as lopsided as the resumes suggest. But counting Steven Adams who probably won’t play, the Rockets have 140 games of playoff experience. Draymond Green has 157. Dubs in 7.

What are you watching from the Rockets or Warriors that would tell you Steven Adams isn't playing?

Several things...

History. Rotations shrink this time of year. Down to about 8 regulars. I'm thinking the 5 starters plus Smith, Eason and Holiday. I wouldn't be surprised if Tate plays ahead of Adams.
The opponent. They're going to shrink their rotation too. That means 40 minutes of Curry. If you're Udoka, who do you want switching onto Curry 35 feet from the basket? Or chasing him off ball? I know who the Warriors would love to see.
The Warriors/Rockets game 2 weeks ago. When Adams was in, Draymond Green mucked up the paint. When the Rockets were 5 out, they gave the Warriors fits.

For the record, I think Adams is in the 8 man rotation vs all the other playoff teams. This is just the worst possible matchup someone whose strengths are size and rebounding. For Houston to have a shot, they have to run GS to exhaustion. I'll split the difference with you. Barring foul trouble, I expect Adams to be limited to 6-8 Sengun rest or other situational minutes.

[HiRez]

Can't wait for Lakers to destroy the Rockets.

You're getting the Warriors and YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT.

The league wants that matchup too because it would easily be the highest-rated series of the whole playoffs.