Worst first-round opponent for each NBA Western Conference playoff team

Houston Rockets: LA Clippers

We only have a single game of data to assess the newly downsized Houston Rockets’ chances in a playoff battle against the LA Clippers. Nothing about that March 5 game works in Houston’s favor.

The Clippers came into Houston and emerged with a 120-105 victory. They held the Rockets to just 36.1 percent shooting from the field and 7-of-42 shooting on threes. James Harden couldn’t find anything, shooting 4-of-17 while missing each of his eight 3-point attempts.

Perhaps most alarming for Houston was a glaring need for the size they happily sacrificed in the name of floor spacing. Clippers starting center Ivica Zubac made all six of his shots on his way to 17 points and 12 rebounds, a plus-23 in just 20 minutes.

It was one of the rare times we’ve seen the Clippers at full strength and spoke volumes to their ultimate ceiling. That they didn’t feel the need to acquiesce to the Rockets’ style of play and still dominate raises the question of how effective Houston’s strategy can fare against LA.

The Rockets will likely have to find out at one point in the playoffs or another. Given the potential implications of a first-round exit, they’d rather push that moment of truth off as much as possible.