5 Storylines For Warriors-Rockets Western Conference Finals Showdown
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The top-seeded Golden State Warriors find themselves in the NBA Western Conference Finals for the first time in 39 years and are facing a Houston Rockets team that is brimming with confidence. With a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, here are some of the storylines we'll be following as the teams begin the series tonight at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
MVP, Runner-Up Showcase
The race for the NBA's most valuable player turned into a two-man field despite the presence of LeBron James and Russell Westbrook as candidates. It was going to be either Steph Curry or James Harden.
When Curry took the MVP award, Harden told ESPN "I've had a chip on my shoulder all year."
Curry will be serenaded by M-V-P chants in Oakland as he looks to show why he got the award, while James will get the same treatment at Houston.
You know there is nothing Harden and the Rockets would like better than to shut up the Oracle Arena crowd with a performance by the MVP runner-up.
Warriors 4-0 over Rockets
Golden State had Houston's number during the 2014-15 season, sweeping their four matchups – and they weren't close:
Nov. 8, 2014 @ Houston – Warriors 99, Rockets 87
Dec. 10, 2014 @ Oakland – Warriors 105, Rockets 93
Jan. 17, 2015 @Houston – Warriors 131, Rockets 106
Jan. 21, 2015 @Oakland – Warriors 126, Rockets 113
Ahead of their third matchup, Harden tried to fire up his teammates by telling them before the tip-off, "They ain't that good." Unfortunately for Harden, he wasn't that good that night; scoring just 12 points and committing five fouls and three turnovers.
By the fourth win, Harden noted, "They bullied us." The Warriors were the only team to beat the Rockets four times.
This time around, the Rockets have a healthy Dwight Howard who was missing from two regular season matchups, while newcomers Josh Smith and Pablo Prignioni are now established contributors. Will Houston's tweaked lineup matter? It's the playoffs, anything can happen.
Playoff-Tested
Both of these teams are playing with the confidence gained from being battle-tested in their previous playoff series.
Golden State fought back from a 2-1 deficit against the Memphis Grizzlies to smoke them in three straight games for a 4-2 series win when plenty of pundits (and nervous DubNation fans) thought the Warriors were on the ropes.
Houston climbed out of a 3-1 deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers – including an epic comeback in Game 6 after being down 19 points late in the third quarter – becoming only the 9th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit.
Revenge Of Jason Terry?
A 16-year veteran with stints on the Hawks, Mavericks, Celtics, Nets, Kings and now the Rockets, could have been a Warrior.
Golden State had the 10th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft and traded it to Atlanta for Mookie Blaylock. Atlanta grabbed Terry with the pick and he turned into the Hawks best player. Blaylock finished as a reserve for the Warriors.
In the 2007 Western Conference Finals, Terry was playing for the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks against the 8th seeded Warriors, who stunned the Mavs with a 4-2 series victory.
Think Terry has a score to settle with Golden State?
Home Court Advantage
With the best record in the NBA, the Warriors will count on the rabid fans at Oracle Arena to demonstrate again why the raucous 'Roaracle' is the toughest venue for road teams to handle.
Golden State is 43-3 at home, including a loss to Memphis in the conference semifinals. If Houston is going to win this series, they will have to win at least one and, most likely, two games at Oakland. Good luck with that.