The Houston Rockets, seeded second in the Western Conference, face an intriguing first-round playoff matchup against the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors. Despite their higher seed, the Rockets are considered underdogs, largely due to the Warriors' midseason acquisition of Jimmy Butler, which bolstered their performance significantly. The Warriors have demonstrated their prowess with a 23-7 record in games featuring Butler, indicating their potential to upset the Rockets.

While the Warriors possess veteran stars like Steph Curry and Draymond Green, the Rockets' roster is marked by youth and inexperience. Emerging stars like Jalen Green, who had a solid season average of 21.0 points, face the challenge of postseason performance. Kenny Smith of TNT predicts that this series will be pivotal for Green's development, likening it to how Ime Udoka cultivated Jaylen Brown's consistency in Boston. The analysts on Inside the NBA are divided, with two of them favoring the Rockets to advance, despite acknowledging the Warriors' recent success.

The Houston Rockets concluded the regular season with a commendable 52-30 record, securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. This season marks a significant turnaround, as they only managed to win 59 games combined in the previous three seasons. Despite a loss to the Denver Nuggets in their final game, the Rockets were already locked into their playoff position. Denver's victory allowed them to clinch the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

Statistically, the Rockets showcased impressive rebounding prowess, finishing with a league-best average of +6.3 rebounds per game, becoming only the third team since 1996-97 to out-rebound opponents by over 500 in a season. Jalen Green not only started all 82 games but also joined an elite list by scoring over 1,700 points, while Alperen Sengun stood out as one of the few players to average at least 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists this season. The Rockets are poised for a strong playoff run as they prepare to face the No. 7 seed in the coming week.

The Houston Rockets have secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, prompting head coach Ime Udoka to make strategic decisions about player rest. In a recent game against the Los Angeles Clippers, key rotation players Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Dillon Brooks were held out for rest or minor injuries. Jalen Green, the team’s leading scorer, played limited minutes as the Rockets aim to maintain their momentum heading into the playoffs.

Despite a successful run with 15 wins in 17 games, Udoka faces the dilemma of balancing rest to prevent injuries with the risk of losing rhythm due to inactivity. He hinted that the Rockets might play their regulars in upcoming games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets to keep the team sharp.

The Golden State Warriors have stumbled as they face pressure from contenders in the West, particularly after losing to the Houston Rockets, who unveiled a successful strategy against the reigning champs. The Rockets' long, athletic defenders effectively neutralized Stephen Curry, limiting him to just 3 points on 1-of-10 shooting. This marked a significant drop in performance for Curry, as the Warriors exhibited uncharacteristic playmaking struggles, resulting in 20 turnovers during the game.

Despite contributions from other players like Jimmy Butler, Brandin Poddziemski, and Buddy Hield, none could compensate for Curry's off-night. The Rockets, on the other hand, showcased a balanced offensive attack with Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun stepping up. This game serves as a blueprint for other teams looking to challenge the Warriors, although it remains to be seen if they can replicate the defensive intensity Houston displayed.