NBA Playoffs: Six X-factors for the Houston Rockets and OKC Thunder
By Corey Rausch
![LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 04: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts to a call during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 04: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts to a call during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8b6a5629a282de66dcefa56552984540be93d3f367ed9593eba755f616039fbc.jpg)
In the NBA playoffs, it is easy to focus solely on the top players for each team. For the OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets, let’s focus on the X-factors instead.
One of the most exciting series in the NBA playoffs comes in the first round will come in the meeting between the OKC Thunder and the Houston Rockets. The idea of seeing Christ Paul go against James Harden is a dream scenario. Assuming Russell Westbrook comes back during the series, watching him play games with real stakes against the team he played with for 11 seasons will be incredible. The Rockets may give up 50 rebounds in a game but they have a plan on how to mitigate that issue.
This will boil down to the players on the Thunder who try to take away that advantage and the players on the Rockets looking to exploit it. The players on the fringes will help to decide this series as much as Chris Paul, James Harden and Russell Westbrook (if and when he returns) will.
As star-studded as these teams are, they are very dependent on their style of play and forcing their will on their opponents. The Houston Rockets are famous for their super-small style that gives up rebounds but forces plenty of turnovers, takes an exorbitant number of threes and enjoy some Westbrook highlights. The Thunder are more methodical and punish mistakes. It will be a tug of war from the jump, even without Westbrook.
The Rockets famously floundered against the Golden State Warriors years ago when they missed 27 straight 3-pointers. Houston is not built to do that again.