[Western Conference - 1st round] (1)Golden State vs. (8)Houston

4:1 Warriors, we slip in one somehow

 

Houston in 4.

But seriously, as good as the Rockets were last year, they lost to GSW 1-4. They are not as good this year, the Warriors are much better.

It's going to be ugly.

 

HOUSTON CHRONICLE Harden, Rockets wallop Kings
Warriors await after another rout lets Rockets slip into postseason

April 13, 2016 Updated: April 14, 2016 1:00am


Bring on the Warriors?

If nothing else, the Rockets decided opening the playoffs against the reigning NBA champions with the best record in NBA history beats the alternative.

Less than a week after their playoff hopes were hanging from a thread stretched to the breaking point, the Rockets on Wednesday finished a run of three blowouts to just barely slip into the postseason with a 116-81 rout of a smattering of the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center.

That, they said, will have to do. It was enough for them to take the mulligan on their season of struggles as a chance to make it right, refusing to believe facing the Warriors was more than they could handle.

"We're playing really well," guard James Harden said. "Other than that Phoenix game when we were at home, we've been doing some really good things. Now it's just about getting wins.

"A lot of people wrote us off, thought we weren't going to make the playoffs. Obviously they're playing well. We are, too."

The Rockets' three wins to close out the season, routs in which they led the Lakers, Timberwolves and Kings by at least 30, were enough to rebuild some confidence. That probably doesn't stack up with the Warriors' romp through most of the season, or Golden State's 11 wins in 12 games against the Rockets in the past two seasons, including the 2015 Western Conference finals. But the Rockets relished a chance to avenge the playoff loss last season and make amends for the struggles this season.

ROCKETS

Los Angeles Lakers' forward Kobe Bryant acknowledges fans after an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center in Los Angeles, on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Kobe Bryant went out with a Hollywood ending to his remarkable career. He scored 60 points in his final NBA game Wednesday night, wrapping up 20 years in the NBA with an unbelievable offensive showcase in the Lakers' 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. (Michael Goulding/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Stars react to Kobe Bryant's big night Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant during the second half of NBA game action at the Toyota Center Sunday, April 10, 2016, in Pearland. ( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle ) NBA: Kobe hits 60 in career finale, lifts Lakers past Jazz As usual, Stephen Curry pointed the way for the Warriors with 46 points while making 10 3-pointers to end the regular season with 402 behind the arc. Warriors win 73rd to set all-time mark OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 25: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks to head coach Steve Kerr during their game against the Dallas Mavericks at ORACLE Arena on March 25, 2016 in Oakland, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) For Rockets, out of the frying pan into the fire Stephen Curry (30) burned James Harden and the Rockets for 34 points in the Warriors' 98-87 victory Nov. 8 at Toyota Center. Rockets-Warriors series to begin Saturday
"There is no other greater moment than knowing this is the team that stopped you from realizing your ultimate goal of winning a championship," Rockets guard Jason Terry said. "For us, the road to a championship goes through the champion."

To get that chance, the Rockets needed to regroup for their final games and get the good fortune of a Jazz collapse in which they lost to the Clippers' backups and to the Mavericks. The Rockets did their part not only with a three-game winning streak, matching their longest since January, but by rolling easily enough to feel better about needing to sneak into the postseason.

"Confidence would have wavered if we struggled, but we took care of business," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "There was no struggle. Earlier in the year, a game like this, we would have let a team hang around, lose some of these games. The mission was clear. The guys were successful in their mission."

They did stop a Curry on Wednesday, even if it was Seth Curry instead of Stephen Curry, the MVP and league's leading scorer they will see this weekend. The younger Curry had to play Wednesday because the Kings were without point guards Rajon Rondo and Darren Collison. But that was just a start. They also did not have DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay, Omri Casspi, Marco Belinelli and Caron Butler because of injuries or because there was no interest in having them give George Karl a sendoff as coach.

The Kings matched the fewest points scored against the Rockets this season. Their 33 percent shooting was the second-worst for a Rockets opponent. The Rockets' greatest challenge quickly became paying attention, but they found at least something to make the game interesting.

With 7:50 left, Harden checked back in, finished a break for a three-point play and left the game with 38 points and an average of 29 points this season. With that, he joined Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only players to average 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a season.

"Those are Hall of Famers, all of those guys," Harden said. "It's a great individual company to be with those guys."

Pat Beverley had career highs in assists (12) and steals (six). Clint Capela had a career-high 17 rebounds. Though none of that will help the Rockets in the postseason, they were happy to leave the other things about the regular season behind, even if it meant another matchup with the Warriors.

"It's big, man," forward Josh Smith said. "A lot of people wrote us off and didn't give us an opportunity, but all that matters is that these guys in this locker room that put forth the hard work and dedication and time to get to this points. It kind of feels … like a new life, a new break.

"I mean, we feel like we can go all the way."

 

I'm going to say Warriors sweep. They have a special vendetta against Harden for the "not that good" comment last season and take out a particular kind of vengeance on him.

 

Jonathan Feigen ‏@Jonathan_Feigen 14h14 hours ago
Harden layup on a break, has 37. He joins Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and LeBron James as only players to ave. 29p, 7r, 6a in a season.

 

Rockets in 7

 

F it, went with my heart instead of my brain, Rockets in 6.

 

We will either get sweep or win it in 7 because something big happened in one of the game to swing the momentum completely to us.

Something like Bev taking out Curry in game 2....or what happened to Rose and the Bull in the playoffs a few years ago.

 

Wow, talk about resetting the expectations. "No one believed we could slip into the playoffs as a #8 seed but we shocked the world!"

 

Rockets in 7, you heard it here.

 

I have a feeling it's going to be a good series and end in 6 maybe even 7.

 

The first blowout: check
Rotation not set: check
Brewer reliance: check
Short leech for other role players: check

 

Come on rockets, it's patrick beverly time!

 

Pretty close on game 1, I'm gonna keep an eye on this

 

Curry has suffered injuries in 2 games in the playoffs vs Rockets and the Warriors still won both games easily.