Heavyweight Showdown

We are here, finally. After dispatching their previous two opponents, the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors will clash and play for a chance to advance to the NBA Finals. For the 1st time in the Steve Kerr era, the Warriors will open a playoff series on the road. After having the NBA's best record each of the past 3 seasons, the Warriors finished 6 games back of Houston and will be visitors in H-Town for Games 1 and 2. We were all hoping that this match-up would occur and we have gotten our wish. A series on that on the surface seems to be all about offense, will more than likely come down to which team can play solid defense. With so many weapons on both sides, neither team will be completely shut down (only cold-shooting nights will slow these teams) by the other. I think we you break down this series a couple of things will be key to who wins this series. First, to me the most important thing, who will Houston use to defend Kevin Durant, the 7-foot assassin, who can get to wherever he wants on the floor and can shoot it from anywhere. In the Pelicans series, New Orleans tried to guard Durant with Jrue Holiday, who is 6-4, and KD just raised and shot over him. I don't know if Houston will try the same thing. No matter who guards KD, he will have the height advantage and be able to get to his spots. What also will make it difficult to handle Durant is the play makers around him. If you're Houston, do you let KD work one-on-one and dominate or do you double him and take your chances with giving opportunities to the best shooting back court in NBA history (my opinion), Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. To look at it from Golden State's point of view, they are going to have to make sure they are disciplined with Houston's pick and roll, which has been deadly, whether it's Chris Paul & Clint Capela or James Harden & Capela. There is the scare of either Paul and Harden pulling up for a 3, driving to the rim to score or finding Capela on a roll or a lob pass. Whoever starts for GS at center will have to make sure that make things difficult, because they can't give Paul and Harden easy reads and allow them to dictate to the defense. This series is going to be fantastic and I think the winner of this series will go on to win the NBA championship. Let's get ready to rumble.