2015 NBA Playoffs Preview: Western Conference Finals

Warriors vs. Rockets

You can pretty much judge who will win this series by how well Steph Curry will shoot. I

mean the kid is unbelievable. In games 2 and 3 Curry went 2-22 from 3 and the team lost

both of those games. From that point he shot 18-35 and basically put the series to rest

right there as Golden State finished it with 3 straight blowouts. Curry is shooting over

40% from behind the arc while making 4.6 3s per game in the playoffs. His threes change

momentum, the crowd’s participation and the pace of the game. Nothing is more

devastating than having your pocket picked, getting back on defense and still watching a

3 splash in your face. This is the reason he is the league MVP.

The runner up in MVP voting, James Harden will get his say as he goes up against Curry

and his squad for a trip to the finals. I am a huge Harden fan and thought his season was

incredible, but nothing I have seen from his playoffs makes me think he can put a team

on his back. In fact, besides an unreal series in 2012 against the Spurs his post-season

presence has hardly been felt. Then you add in the fact Currys’ right hand man is one of

the best defensive two guards in the NBA, Klay Thompson. Harden had his team just a

quarter away from quietly bowing out of the playoffs without as much of a roar before his

team hit some threes and the Clippers choked away a shot at the Warriors.

The efforts of Corey Brewer, Trevor Ariza, Jason Terry, and Josh Smith should not be

forgotten but if you want these guys to win multiple playoff series’ in the West I have to

be skeptical. They provide good depth, but the depth of Golden State has been absolutely

terrific this season, these playoffs and really in general. Their bench unit of Shaun

Livingston, Leandro Barbosa, Andre Iguadala, David Lee, and Festus Ezeli could be a

starting unit that would compete in the East.

With a combo punch of Andrew Bogut in Ezeli holding down Dwight Howard and the up

and down nature of the Warriors I could see plenty of high scoring, high shooting games,

which just playing into Golden States hands. The Warriors top ranked defense can keep

them in games and that top ranked offense is what puts teams to sleep and I see them

putting a sometimes-sleepy Houston team to bed early. The Clippers had 3 chances to put

away the Rockets and let all of them go, but I just see the Warriors as far too much to let

them hang around in the way that LA did. I could see the Warriors using home court to

get up on the Rockets early and then put the clamps down by splitting in Houston. Up 3-1

and at home I cannot see anyway but the series ending in 5 games. It could even end in 4

if Houston isn’t careful. Las Vegas has basically called the Warriors a lock at a -850

price, which leaves little to no value. I would take Warriors as it is basically free money

but would look at them to win in either 4 or 5 as there should be value there.

Parkers Picks

WARRIORS -900

WARRIORS IN 5 -110

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