Ever since Chris Paul was involved in that trade to the Houston Rockets the NBA was looking forward to a postseason clash between them and the Golden State Warriors, who are aiming to win their third championship in the last four years.
After winning 65 regular-season games and clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference Paul and James Harden have led the Rockets to the conference finals and the long-awaited clash with Stephen Curry and the rest of the Warriors.
The seven-game series (a rematch of the 2015 conference finals) starts on May 14 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Series Schedule:
Note: all games will be broadcast on TNT
Game 1 – Warriors at Rockets – Toyota Center – Monday, May 14 – 8 p.m. CT
Game 2 – Warriors at Rockets – Toyota Center – Wednesday, May 16 – 8 p.m. CT
Game 3 – Rockets at Warriors – Oracle Arena – Sunday, May 20 – 7 p.m. CT
Game 4 – Rockets at Warriors – Oracle Arena – Tuesday, May 22 – 8 p.m. CT
Game 5* – Warriors at Rockets – Toyota Center – Thursday, May 24 – 8 p.m. CT
Game 6* – Rockets at Warriors – Oracle Arena – Saturday, May 26 – 8 p.m. CT
Game 7* – Warriors at Rockets – Toyota Center – Monday, May 28 – 8 p.m. CT
*if necessary
Key to the Series:
It may all boil down to who plays better defense. Both of these teams have outstanding offensive weapons so the defense that more efficiently manages to slow down its opponent will probably lead its team to the finals. The Rockets have home-field advantage, but the Warriors are playing the best defense they have played all year and are finally healthy so look out. This is a series where literally anything can happen and go both ways.
Prediction: Warriors in six games.
