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

[MoreyWins]

Draymond Green and Kevon Looney played 102 minutes together this season - in 2024 they played double that amount (216 minutes) - in 2023 they played a whopping 1042 minutes together

Their NetRtg together this season is -18.77 with a staggering 120.72 DefRtg - in 2024 their NetRtg was +0.16 with a 114 DefRtg - in 2023 it was +13.5 with a DefRtg of 109.5

That duo gives up an opponent shooting percentage of 56% from field and 43% from three - in 2024 those percentages were are 52% and 38% - in 2023 opponents shot 50% from the field and 35% from three

Kevon Looney was a force against Domantas Sabonis and the Kings when they met in the playoffs. He was probably the Warriors' second most impactful player that series. Saying all that, the Warriors probably won't have the luxury of playing him 30 minutes per game like they did against the Kings. Can Draymond handle all the responsibilities Looney was tasked with while also being the help defender he's known to be? Are we looking at playoff Quinten Post? The Warriors need a big body, but also are teetering on the edge of not having enough shooting when two of Butler, Draymond, and GP2 are on the floor.

[TheGOATWill]

This series is going to produce one or more written apologies, I can feel it.

[xfactor99]

Draymond Green and Kevon Looney played 102 minutes together this season - in 2024 they played double that amount (216 minutes) - in 2023 they played a whopping 1042 minutes together

Their NetRtg together this season is -18.77 with a staggering 120.72 DefRtg - in 2024 their NetRtg was +0.16 with a 114 DefRtg - in 2023 was +13.5 with a DefRtg of 109.5

The Warriors give up an opponent shooting percentage of 56% from field and 43% from three - in 2024 those percentages were are 52% and 38% - in 2023 opponents shot 50% from the field and 35% from three

Kevon Looney was a force against Domantas Sabonis and the Kings when they met in the playoffs. He was probably the Warriors' second most impactful player that series. Saying all that, the Warriors probably won't have the luxury of playing him 30 minutes per game like they did against the Kings. Can Draymond handle all the responsibilities Looney was tasked with while also being the help defender he's known to be? Are we looking at playoff Quinten Post? The Warriors need a big body, but also are teetering on the edge of not having enough shooting when two of Butler, Draymond, and GP2 are on the floor.

I'd be shocked if Green and Looney saw more than a few minutes together in this series. They simply cannot play together in 2025, as those NetRtg stats you showed quoted. Looney and Post will split the 10-18 minutes at center each game that Green is off the court, with Post possibly playing more with Green in some lineups if he can stay on the court. Draymond guarding Sengun in the post will be one of the key matchups of the series (though not on the other end - I believe Sengun often guards someone else on the Warriors?)

[MoreyWins]

https://youtu.be/Oegne2tQCeU?t=255 This clip of Post getting bodied by Matas is enough for me to say confidently that you don't want him defending Sengun or Adams. He's not strong enough to bang.

[DaPessimist]

I'm going with Warriors in 6.

That said, if we play like we've played over the last 5 games, we will lose this series.

[guynumber45]

Talking heads are saying this was the best playoff path for GSW. But i would much rather they play LAL instead.

Much better to play the Lakers in round 2 when Lebron and Luka may potentially be limping rather than round 1 where they are fresh off a week of rest.

Are Lakers even making it round 2? Are Warriors?

Warriors I am certain. Houston does not have the offensive capability to win 4 games.

Lakers I think are a slightly bigger wildcard. I actually think the Wolves are more talented on paper. But they have a tendency to play like a bunch of headless chickens. So I have to favour the collective iq of Lebron/Luka/Reaves to win this. Plus, I think the Silver will do everything in his power to make Warriors/Lakers happen.

[Black Jack]

Here's hoping the honorable Senator Rafael "Ted" Cruz makes sure to attend Houston Rockets home games versus the Golden State Warriors!

Houston fans are begging Sen. Ted Cruz to stay as far away from the arena as possible.

The “Cruz Curse” is an ongoing social media sensation in the Texas sports world, as the Republican senator seems to love attending games where the Texas team he is rooting for ends up losing.

...

The curse first kicked into high gear back in 2018, when Cruz sat courtside for Game 7 of the Warriors-Rockets showdown in the West finals. While Cruz was also in the building for the Rockets’ win in Game 5 of that series, Houston blew a lead in Game 7 with its infamous 0-for-27 stretch from 3-point range and lost to the Warriors, who went on to win their third NBA title in four years.

“As a Rockets fan, I felt like I must have woken up in a nightmare,” Suayan recalled about that night.

https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/rockets-fans-beg-ted-cruz-skip-warriors-games-20281781.php

[perempe20]

I really liked the Curry-Payton Jr. pick & roll plays of the play-in.

[Big_Aristotle]

Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Dillon Brooks playing each other in a playoff series. Entertainment guaranteed.

I voted Rockets in 6. I think they are the better team, but not with a wide margin. These Western Conference series are really interesting.

[Wolfgang630]

This is gonna be a great and lively series

[shi-woo]

I don't trust a team that's main 2 scorers are inefficient shooters, and can't consistently hit the 3. In close games, final 5 minutes, no one on this board is expecting Green or FVV to do anything. That isn't the case for the Warriors duo.

I also don't understand the people in this thread speaking on the dbl bigs from HOU, as if Warrior fans haven't been hearing that since 2015...The big man has always been the supposed kryptonite of the Warriors, but we've yet to see them actually get dominated, let alone by guys on the level of Sengun and Adams...These guys have just as much a chance as getting benched from Warriors spreading out then they do of taking over the game with their size...

I think if Warriors play smart, and Podz and Moody remain under control they got this. I like Green in this series too, just his presence and skill set alone will be a challenge for the Rockets. His IQ will show this series imo, and he will feast on both ends of the floor similar to how he did against BOS, breaking the defense and calling out plays on the other end.

Warriors in 6. Rockets take 2 at home as Warriors young guns have poor shooting, but the experience and star power is too much, and Warriors win the first road game and leverage being up 2-1 to take the series.

[Sealab2024]

Houston doesn't have a closer and GS does. That's what the playoffs are about. Making tough shots at the end of games.

Warriors in 6

[gmoney411]

Houston doesn't have a closer and GS does. That's what the playoffs are about. Making tough shots at the end of games.

Warriors in 6

The Rockets don't have a consistent closer but Green and Sengun have closed out lots of close games in their careers. Green closed out the last game they played against Warriors. I'm far from a believer in Green's ability to consistently close out games but he has stretches where his shot is falling and he's almost unguardable. If Jalen is on one of his 2-4 week heaters the Rockets are going to be really hard to beat.

[Sealab2024]

Houston doesn't have a closer and GS does. That's what the playoffs are about. Making tough shots at the end of games.

Warriors in 6

The Rockets don't have a consistent closer but Green and Sengun have closed out lots of close games in their careers. Green closed out the last game they played against Warriors. I'm far from a believer in Green's ability to consistently close out games but he has stretches where his shot is falling and he's almost unguardable. If Jalen is on one of his 2-4 week heaters the Rockets are going to be really hard to beat.

I can agree with that but that's what it'll take. Green on one for the entire series cause if his shot isn't falling they're gonna double and triple team Sengun in the final minutes and that's not a recipe for success.

[Exp0sed]

I don't trust a team that's main 2 scorers are inefficient shooters, and can't consistently hit the 3. In close games, final 5 minutes, no one on this board is expecting Green or FVV to do anything. That isn't the case for the Warriors duo.

I also don't understand the people in this thread speaking on the dbl bigs from HOU, as if Warrior fans haven't been hearing that since 2015...The big man has always been the supposed kryptonite of the Warriors, but we've yet to see them actually get dominated, let alone by guys on the level of Sengun and Adams...These guys have just as much a chance as getting benched from Warriors spreading out then they do of taking over the game with their size...

I think if Warriors play smart, and Podz and Moody remain under control they got this. I like Green in this series too, just his presence and skill set alone will be a challenge for the Rockets. His IQ will show this series imo, and he will feast on both ends of the floor similar to how he did against BOS, breaking the defense and calling out plays on the other end.

Warriors in 6. Rockets take 2 at home as Warriors young guns have poor shooting, but the experience and star power is too much, and Warriors win the first road game and leverage being up 2-1 to take the series.

"Inefficient shooting" matters alot less when u grab historic rates of offensive rebounds and often get 2 attempts on every other possesion and sometimes more

Rockets got this

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[zshawn10]

Let me guess:

Draymond will get a huge leash with the refs like usual

Illegal screens galore

Jimmy getting tons of FTs

FVV chucking over and over again for no reason

The league salivating at a Lakers-Warriors second round. Yea I know which way this is going. Warriors in 6

Seriously, this is also a big test for Jalen Green; if he's not any good this series, you can see more pressure from the Rockets FO to get Booker or Durant with those PHX picks

[zshawn10]

Series odds at -200 for Warriors to win. Perhaps no one betting on the Rockets and it hasn't moved yet-- not bad value for a #2 seed, assuming you believe they are a real #2 seed quality.

It's weird this year in particular where you got all the west teams jumbled up; the difference in games between the 2nd and 7th seed was only 4 games

[zshawn10]

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

I wouldn't say he's mid; he's for sure improved in every season he's played. I am sure Silas coaching him his first couple of years screwed him over. He's not in the upper echelon of guards yet but he's fairly young still

[MoreyWins]

Are the Warriors going to stick with a starting frontcourt of 6'5" Moody, 6'7" Butler, and 6'6" Draymond? That doesn't seem sustainable against a team that does majority of their damage in the paint and on the boards.

[floppymoose]

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

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