I definitely believe the Rockets can beat whoever comes out of the Grizzlies/Spurs series. I don't think it will be easy, but honestly, we've played both teams very well this season (I know we lost three to the spurs, but two of those games were ours for the taking), and I would consider us the very slight favorites in 6-7 games. I won't deny I may be biased, but I liked what I've seen of the Rockets against these teams. We will need our shooters (like Anderson) to show up, though. Now if we make it past both OKC and SA/Memphis, the potential matchup with Golden State is obviously the toughest one. Even them, though, I think we have a better chance than most people realize. I'm not gonna call us the favorites. But if we can get hot just four out of seven games... We have the third best record in the NBA. And before some injuries and laziness, we started the season 31-9. I believe we can beat anybody when we're at our best.
I think this year, we have a chance to make another appearance in the WCF. If we close out OKC and meet up with SA, it would be a 7 game slobberknocker. I feel we have the best shot at beating the Warriors due to our ability to match them offensively and our ability to get hot. Still only a puncher's chance though. We bring it back next season, see what we can do with this core over a full season, then try and sign Paul George. Odds are he will be tired of mediocrity in Indiana OR hopefully tired of getting knocked out by LeBron if he got traded to Boston. He, Harden and our assortment of great roleplayers could be enough to push us over the top.
All we need is to allow 100 pts and score the usual 115 ppg. Paul George will make us better but he will let us trade away bench assets. It's going to be a different team. He does not strike me as a very quick player.
