Hoops Habit
Fansided

Golden State Warriors: Western Conference Finals Preview

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives to the basket during the third quarter as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives to the basket during the third quarter as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 7
Next
Golden State Warriors
Jan 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12), guard Klay Thompson (11), and forward Draymond Green (23) celebrate after the Warriors’ score against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 126-113. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Prediction: Warriors in 5

If it seemed like I was building up to a more competitive result, my apologies. But even when you factor in Houston’s newfound depth, Harden rising to the occasion in Game 7 and the Rockets being a tougher team inside than the Dubs saw in the regular season, it’s hard to avoid picking any final result but this.

For one thing, the Rockets have to go into Oracle Arena and steal a game to win this series. Although the Grizzlies showed us that feat is not impossible, I don’t see the Rockets being a team that’s capable of accomplishing that same task. Harden wasn’t assertive enough at times in the last round and if that trend continues against the league’s best defense, Houston is in trouble.

Furthermore, the Rockets have no one capable of sticking with Curry. They could throw everything they have at him like the Grizzlies did and force Golden State’s other players to beat them, but as Memphis learned, even THAT doesn’t work because the MVP is still capable of heating up and turning a bad night into a game-changing run.

Green and Bogut have as good a chance as anyone of stopping the Smith-Jones-Howard trio inside, and after watching the tape, Steve Kerr probably won’t let J-Smoove knock himself out from the three-point line like the Clippers did.

The Rockets are coming off a feel-good, come-from-behind series victory. But the Warriors are the team that brings other teams back down to earth and reminds them that as great as they may be, there’s nobody on Golden State’s level. If the Warriors protect their home court, all they have to do is win one of two games on the road to finish this series off in five games.

Next: 2015 Eastern Conference Finals Preview

More from Hoops Habit

Home/Golden State Warriors