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

[CptCrunch]

Houston is leagues better than the Warriors. All these fools picking the Warriors.

[megarover]

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

You forgot to add

Brooks getting techs for being extra

Green clapping his hands in his face trying to instigate

Looney getting the ball on a short roll after a Steph double getting into the paint..... and doing absolutely nothing with it

Bricks galore from both the Rockets and Warriors as they struggle to hit outside shots.

[whatisacenter]

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.

yes.

Post will get minutes unless he gets played off the floor and Looney will get a few minutes here and there but Draymond has to play at the 5 most of the time for him to be effective.

[Ballings7]

Rockets in 6. I think their size and athleticism will be a bit too much, and Steph' will have multiple off games.

I can see the Warriors getting it done, though - no one in their rotation can be a dud all series. Kuminga not being integrated into the rotation hurts the Warriors decently, especially for a series like this with wings like Thompson, Green, Eason. Kerr should go to him mid-series to try to stay in it, though -- but I bet he won't.

If Butler plays like he did in 2023, and Steph plays nuclear - Golden State should win.

[California Gold]

Houston is leagues better than the Warriors. All these fools picking the Warriors.

As a Rockets fan, no chance.

We're not leagues better than anyone in the playoffs.

[___Rand___]

mispost

[RB34]

Loving the Grizz court and jerseys

Wrong thread

[Onlytimewilltel]

It was a better deal to buy your skateboard at a flea market than..

oh wrong thread

[chrisab123]

Rockets are going to find out all about playoff Jimmy. Warriors in 5 or 6. Probably 6.

[Roger Murdock]

I see why everyone is picking the Warriors, but I think this is the one that common consensus is getting wrong.

The Rockets have a major athleticism and rebounding advantage. Both teams struggle getting good looks and easy buckets. Warriors are also too turnover prone and the rockets excel at generating TOs.

Gimme Rox in 6

[bballcool34]

Rockets lack the half court offense to get this done

[MoreyWins]

Warriors Offensive Rating vs. Houston (last 4): 100.7
Feb 13th w/ Butler: 104.9
April 6th w/ Butler: 99

Warriors Record when Offensive Rating is <=103.5: 1-17 (22% of the season)
w/ Butler: 1-2
Here's that 1 win: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202504110POR.html

[Impuniti]

Warriors Offensive Rating vs. Houston (last 4): 100.7
Feb 13th w/ Butler: 104.9
April 6th w/ Butler: 99

Warriors Record when Offensive Rating is <=103.5: 1-17 (22% of the season)
w/ Butler: 1-2
Here's that 1 win: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202504110POR.html

Yeah, this is going to be an ugly series. Competitive, but ugly. Rockets offense is also terrible against the Warriors, it's worked both ways.

[Impuniti]

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.

What players have the Warriors injured when they lost a playoff series? It must be a pretty long list since it's their way when they lose.

I'm still waiting for that list. I'm sure it's very, very long so it's taking some time to pull all the information. But I hope you're getting to it soon.

[floppymoose]

^ He went into brainlock when he discovered opponents have missed 0 games due to Draymond.

[MoreyWins]

Since Feb. 8th, these were Golden State's opponents and key players who were missing:

Bulls -- 20th in offense
Bucks -- 11th in offense -- w/o Giannis
Mavericks -- 17th in offense -- w/o Luka or AD
Rockets -- 13th in offense -- w/o Fred, Jabari, or Tari
Kings -- 7th in offense
Mavericks -- 17th in offense -- w/o Luka or AD
Hornets -- 29th in offense -- w/o LaMelo
Orlando -- 27th in offense
Sixers -- 22nd in offense -- w/o Embiid
Hornets -- 29th in offense
Knicks -- 5th in offense -- w/o KAT
Nets -- 28th in offense
Pistons -- 16th in offense
Trail Blazers -- 23rd in offense
Kings -- 7th in offense -- w/o Sabonis
Knicks -- 5th in offense -- w/o Brunson
Nuggets -- 4th in offense -- w/o Jokic, Murray, or Braun
Bucks -- 11th in offense
Raptors -- 25th in offense -- w/o RJ
Hawks -- 18th in offense
Heat -- 21st in offense -- w/o Duncan
Pelicans -- 26th in offense -- w/o Zion, CJ, or Trey
Spurs -- 19th in offense -- w/o Fox
Grizzlies -- 6th in offense
Lakers -- 12th in offense
Nuggets -- 4th in offense -- w/o Murray
Rockets -- 13th in offense
Suns -- 10th in offense -- w/o Durant
Spurs -- 19th in offense -- w/o Fox
Trail Blazers -- 23rd in offense -- w/o Simons, Sharpe, Deni, Scoot

[Warriorguy]

Houston is leagues better than the Warriors. All these fools picking the Warriors.

Do you have anything more than opinion. Warriors won series this year. GS. Has championship experience. GS has the HOF level top 15 coach.

GS has bigger playoff proven stars.

[Warriorguy]

Since Feb. 8th, these were Golden State's opponents and key players who were missing:

Bulls -- 20th in offense
Bucks -- 11th in offense -- w/o Giannis
Mavericks -- 17th in offense -- w/o Luka or AD
Rockets -- 13th in offense -- w/o Fred, Jabari, or Tari
Kings -- 7th in offense
Mavericks -- 17th in offense -- w/o Luka or AD
Hornets -- 29th in offense -- w/o LaMelo
Orlando -- 27th in offense
Sixers -- 22nd in offense -- w/o Embiid
Hornets -- 29th in offense
Knicks -- 5th in offense -- w/o KAT
Nets -- 28th in offense
Pistons -- 16th in offense
Trail Blazers -- 23rd in offense
Kings -- 7th in offense -- w/o Sabonis
Knicks -- 5th in offense -- w/o Brunson
Nuggets -- 4th in offense -- w/o Jokic, Murray, or Braun
Bucks -- 11th in offense
Raptors -- 25th in offense -- w/o RJ
Hawks -- 18th in offense
Heat -- 21st in offense -- w/o Duncan
Pelicans -- 26th in offense -- w/o Zion, CJ, or Trey
Spurs -- 19th in offense -- w/o Fox
Grizzlies -- 6th in offense
Lakers -- 12th in offense
Nuggets -- 4th in offense -- w/o Murray
Rockets -- 13th in offense
Suns -- 10th in offense -- w/o Durant
Spurs -- 19th in offense -- w/o Fox
Trail Blazers -- 23rd in offense -- w/o Simons, Sharpe, Deni, Scoot

GS had a top defense b4 Feb 8th

[whatisacenter]

Since Feb. 8th, these were Golden State's opponents and key players who were missing:

Bulls -- 20th in offense
Bucks -- 11th in offense -- w/o Giannis
Mavericks -- 17th in offense -- w/o Luka or AD
Rockets -- 13th in offense -- w/o Fred, Jabari, or Tari
Kings -- 7th in offense
Mavericks -- 17th in offense -- w/o Luka or AD
Hornets -- 29th in offense -- w/o LaMelo
Orlando -- 27th in offense
Sixers -- 22nd in offense -- w/o Embiid
Hornets -- 29th in offense
Knicks -- 5th in offense -- w/o KAT
Nets -- 28th in offense
Pistons -- 16th in offense
Trail Blazers -- 23rd in offense
Kings -- 7th in offense -- w/o Sabonis
Knicks -- 5th in offense -- w/o Brunson
Nuggets -- 4th in offense -- w/o Jokic, Murray, or Braun
Bucks -- 11th in offense
Raptors -- 25th in offense -- w/o RJ
Hawks -- 18th in offense
Heat -- 21st in offense -- w/o Duncan
Pelicans -- 26th in offense -- w/o Zion, CJ, or Trey
Spurs -- 19th in offense -- w/o Fox
Grizzlies -- 6th in offense
Lakers -- 12th in offense
Nuggets -- 4th in offense -- w/o Murray
Rockets -- 13th in offense
Suns -- 10th in offense -- w/o Durant
Spurs -- 19th in offense -- w/o Fox
Trail Blazers -- 23rd in offense -- w/o Simons, Sharpe, Deni, Scoot

And now they get the Rockets without Hakeem Olajuwon

[durden_tyler]

Love that this is the final game of opening day. Perhaps the most drama among the four scheduled.