Before entering a protracted rebuild that required five seasons to complete, the Houston Rockets’ postseason history was inextricably linked to the Golden State Warriors.
During one five-year stretch last decade, the teams squared off four times in the playoffs. The Warriors won each series, including preventing the Rockets from advancing to the NBA Finals in 2015 and 2018 by taking the Western Conference Finals in five and seven games, respectively.
After spending four seasons in standings purgatory, the Rockets emerged this campaign and surprised the NBA by earning the second seed in the West. As a reward, Houston drew its nemesis — No. 7 seed Golden State — as its first-round opponent, with Game 1 of that best-of-seven series set for Sunday.
“This ain’t that team and that ain’t that team,” Rockets guard Fred VanVleet said. “It’s a new year. With the acquisition they made at the deadline (Jimmy Butler), obviously, they’ve been on a heater. They’re one of the best teams in the league over the last few months. We understand that.
“Respect your opponent. You’ve got to go out there and lace them up.”
While the Rockets’ roster has been turned over since the teams last met in the playoffs, the Warriors feature a trio of holdovers from the 2019 Western Conference semifinals that Golden State won in six games over Houston: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.
While the distant past isn’t prologue, the season series between the teams could offer a peek at what might unfold. The Warriors won the series 3-2, including a pair of victories in Houston.
However, the Rockets took the last meeting 106-96 at Golden State on April 6. That marked Houston’s second win in three meetings after the Warriors won 15 in a row.
That win also showcased what made Houston a force this season, its defensive versatility leading the way.
“I think we’ve seen what works for us, what lineups work well, and then it’s obviously game by game,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “There’ll be some chess matches as far as what they’re trying to do, what we’re trying to do and who can impose their will with certain lineups.
“I think our versatility is one of our biggest strengths. We can go small, big, zone, and all the different things like that. It feels like we have a lot in our toolbox now.”
The Rockets limited Curry to three points on 1-for-10 shooting two weeks ago, with defensive standout Amen Thompson spearheading the charge. The Rockets’ physicality was a talking point following the contest, one that featured several chippy exchanges between the teams.
“There’s a reason teams have to be physical against Steph,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s the greatest shooter and mover of all time in this game, and so we would try to guard him the exact same way. Everybody is going to try to put their best athletes on him, be physical with him. That’s all part of the equation. It’s not anything we worry about.”
With Green as the head of their snake, the Warriors know a thing or two about defensive toughness, particularly in the playoffs. The Warriors are unbothered about the Rockets’ defensive strategy against Curry and unperturbed over the potential of a physical series.
Should Houston aim to fight in the mud, the Warriors are well equipped to do the same.
“By the way, we’re a very physical team, too,” Kerr said. “We’ve been very good defensively in the playoffs by playing a physical game, so I welcome all of that. (The) series will unfold, and teams will complain about the officiating. We will, they will. It’s all part of it.”
