NBA Playoff Picks: Warriors vs. Rockets Preview

Stephen Curry and James Harden finished one and two in the NBA MVP voting. Their teams are seeded one and two in these 2015 NBA playoffs and once again they’ll finish one and two when it comes to finishing out the year from the Western Conference’s side. The question, though, is in what order?

While Curry locked up this year’s MVP award, he has been able to refocus and put away the Memphis Grizzlies. Next up are the Rockets, who Curry and co. demolished (4-0) during the regular season. Houston should come in tired, too, after just wrapping up their seven-game series with the L.A. Clippers. Their crazy comeback from a 3-1 grave could also be seen as a type of grit that is to be feared, or it could be the last gasp from a team that probably should have been eliminated by now.

It’s impossible to know for sure, but on Tuesday night we start to find out who the best team out west truly is. Let’s break down the matchup and see who the safest pick for game one in the Western Conference Finals is:

Houston Rockets (2) @ Golden State Warriors (1) on ESPN at 9:00 pm ET

The Rockets haven’t beaten the Warriors at all this year and they’ve got to be dead tired after winning three straight games to escape the Clippers in round two. That being said, they could simply be hitting their stride, as James Harden and Dwight Howard have both been lights out during this wild ride. More importantly, their bench has been fantastic, as Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer are bringing defensive energy and hitting outside shots.

All of that continuing at Oracle Arena is a lot to ask for a team that played their last game on Sunday, though. The Warriors, meanwhile, took care of a good Memphis team in six games and has looked pretty unstoppable over their last three games, as well. Now they’re back at home with a white hot Curry and Klay Thompson just itching to get going, himself. Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green can hold down the fort down low to help slow Dwight Howard, while the Warriors’ overall team defense is something for the Rockets to fear. And their offense? Well, forget about it.

Houston is going to be a good bet to cover the ridiculous spread (Warriors favored by -10.5), so if you’re going ATS, the Rockets are probably the way to go. They’ll be tired and they probably won’t win, but they’re relentless and this is likely going to be an explosive series from an offensive perspective. Because of that, at least for game one, I’m liking Houston ATS and this is a great series to chase the Total, too.

If we’re going straight up, though, I like the Warriors, all the way. They’ve lost three freaking games at home all year. Enough said.

Pick: Warriors 107, Rockets 101