ClutchFans Game Thread: Warriors @ Rockets 4/20/2025 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/st...-nba-playoffs-picking-series-including-finals

Pelton:

Welcome to the heavyweight portion of the West first round. The Rockets' reward for locking up the No. 2 seed with three games left in the regular season is to face perhaps the NBA's hottest team, a Warriors squad that has gone 24-7 with Jimmy Butler III in the lineup, including Tuesday's win over Memphis to secure the No. 7 seed.

Between Butler, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Golden State has a massive advantage in playoff experience. Houston's roster is actually in the middle of the pack in playoff minutes, but the bulk of those come from reserves Steven Adams and Jeff Green. Fred VanVleet, who helped the Toronto Raptors beat the Warriors in the 2019 Finals, and Dillon Brooks are the lone players in the Rockets' top-seven rotation who have ever played in the playoffs.

Historically, playoff experience is a major plus. Higher seeds like Houston with an experience disadvantage of 11,000 minutes or more (Golden State is plus-11,364) have won only 37% of best-of-seven series since 2003. Alternatively, the Rockets have younger, fresher legs. Most starters have played only once since beating the Warriors on April 6 at the Chase Center to clinch their seed, while Golden State played grueling games including an overtime loss to the Clippers in Sunday's regular-season finale and then a down-to-the wire win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday.

And Houston has multiple quality defenders to throw at the Warriors' stars. NBA Defensive Player of the Year contender Amen Thompson was key in holding Curry to 1-of-10 shooting in the teams' previous meeting. The experience factor pushes me toward Golden State but expect a battle.

The pick: Warriors in 6


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/62...fs-2025-preview-predictions-celtics-warriors/

Hollinger:

The Rockets and Warriors played five times this season and the Warriors won three of them, but the last one might be the most indicative of what a playoff game will look like: a Mortal Kombat-style tussle in San Francisco that Houston won 106-96. Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson won their individual battles against Draymond Green and Stephen Curry that night, with Thompson completely erasing Curry.

Historically, No. 2 vs. No. 7 series haven’t gone well for the seventh seed, but this one might be an exception. The Warriors went 24-7 when Jimmy Butler played, and their season scoring margin (plus-3.3) wasn’t all that different from Houston’s (plus-4.5). My numbers, based on the lineups likely to play in this series, give the Warriors a slight advantage.

Either way, we’re going to learn a ton about the Rockets in the next two weeks, and that’s going to impact some crucial decisions around the corner. Is Şengün a go-to option against an elite defense who can produce points even against the likes of Draymond Green? Can Jalen Green be a consistent source of efficient shot creation against good defenses, or is he just the league’s best bad player? Does a Şengün-Steven Adams beast-ball frontcourt work against good teams? Can Thompson function offensively with limited shooting around him? Does Jabari Smith Jr. have a role in all this?

I have a lingering fear that the Rockets’ size, youth and athleticism might result in them ousting Golden State in five games, but they still have to put the ball in the basket against an elite defense, and I question how they can do that consistently. Between that and some Curry magic dust, I give the advantage to Golden State.

Pick: Warriors in 6

 

I wonder what the Warriors have planned to stop Amen from face guarding Steph....

 

Illegal screens and knees to the thigh

 

Ultimately free throws will end the Rockets season. Thinking Warriors in five, but hope our Rockets can hang for a game six. Everyone loves Stone, but I think we should have been the ones to get Butler and now we get to face the playoff and finals legend.

 

Any reason why Hollinger fears the Rockets winning? Is he part of the globalist deep state NBA referee conspiracy? Is it a conspiracy if it is true?

 

Draymond Green screens with brass knuckles while the zebras look the other way

 

Bringing some good MOJO. This will be the 1985-1986 team. #2 Seed that makes the NBA Championship

 

finally some optimism unlike all these traumatized whiners still living in the Frauden era. I never believed in that era.

 

Since February trade deadline

 

I agree. Free throws are a way bigger deal than this team seems to think. Although I think they will get past Golden State, I have no doubt that free throws will be a major factor in how everything eventually goes down.

 

I truly hope we get pre all star Goon and not big head goon.

 

Just my speculation. The Warriors will need Draymond and other Warriors to provide moving screens to free up Steph. They will need the officials' help in not calling moving screens for the Warriors to succeed in this scheme. It will be up to Ime's assistants to stay awake and keep calling the attention of the officials non-stop every time the Warriors do it. The moving screen without being called was the secret weapon of the Warriors to free up Steph and Klay when the duo ruled the league. It will be the same no matter who these Dubs play in the playoffs.

 

I will be at the game on Wednesday! My wife and I are amped! Let's go Rockets!

 

I expect big minutes from Christopher! @Os Trigonum