What can you say about the Warriors' 2015-16 season that hasn’t already been said? They broke the 1995-96 Bulls record for regular season wins despite playing over half the season with interim coach Luke Walton. Stephen Curry led the league in scoring and shattered his own 3-point record with 402 3s for the season. Draymond Green became an All-Star and Klay Thompson backed up last year's breakout season. A year after breaking through as NBA champions, Golden State actually found a way to overachieve during the regular season.
The same can’t be said for the Houston Rockets, the Warriors opponent in last season’s Western Conference Finals. The Rockets traded for Ty Lawson, thinking he might be the missing piece to get them over the hump.
MORE: Full playoff predictions: How many do Warriors drop?
The move was a disaster, and Lawson was waived in March. The Rockets switched coaches, dumping Kevin McHale and making J.B. Bickerstaff the interim coach, but the switch barely helped them get into the playoffs, sliding in to the final spot with a 41-41 record.
Warriors vs. Rockets matchup to watch
Stephen Curry vs. James Harden
It's always a must-watch event when these two superstars go up against each other. While Curry will certainly run away with the MVP award this year, Harden is just as valuable to his Rockets and had a great individual season himself, becoming the fourth player to average 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game.
Warriors vs. Rockets regular-season series
Warriors went 3-0: Warriors 112-92, Warriors 114-110, Warriors 123-110
Warriors vs. Rockets schedule, TV info
Game 1: April 16 — Rockets at Warriors, 3:30 P.M. (ABC)
Game 2: April 18 — Rockets at Warriors, 10:30 P.M. (TNT)
Game 3: April 21 — Warriors at Rockets, 9:30 P.M. (TNT)
Game 4: April 24 — Warriors at Rockets, 3:30 P.M. (ABC)
Game 5: April 27 — Rockets at Warriors (TBD, if necessary)
Game 6: April 29 — Warriors at Rockets (TBD, if necessary)
Game 7: May 1 — Rockets at Warriors (TBD, if necessary)
Warriors vs. Rockets prediction
Both these teams had something to play for on the final night of the regular season. The Warriors were playing for (and achieved) history, while the Rockets were playing not to be history by not making the playoffs. That said, the Warriors have a tendency to relinquish big leads, and with a guy like James Harden on the other side, that’s a dangerous thing.
Warriors in five.