The Golden State Warriors play host to the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals, at Oracle Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Rockets made quick work of their first-round matchup with a 4-1 series win over the Jazz, while the Warriors had a bit more trouble with their matchup, as the Clippers pushed them to six games. After a solid first four games, Kevin Durant blew up with 45 points in Game 5, followed by 50 points in Game 6, to ensure a first-round series win for the Warriors. On the contrary, neither Stephen Curry nor Klay Thompson could come up with the firepower needed to lift the team in those final games. However, both Curry (ankle) and Thompson (ankle) may have been slowed by injury, as they are both questionable for action in Game 1. Unfortunately for Golden State, DeMarcus Cousins (quad) went down in Game 2 of the first round and is not expected back soon.

Meanwhile, the Rockets looked good and consistent in their first-round matchup, as the starters all performed their duties, while a bench rotation of Danuel House Jr., Austin Rivers, Gerald Green and Kenneth Faried supplied enough support to keep the squad rolling. The Jazz did everything possible to slow James Harden, including playing defense behind him to block his patented step-back three, and ultimately managed to keep him well under his season scoring averages, as he averaged 27.8 points per game in the series. The problem is that by any standard other than his own from this season, those are great numbers. The Warriors will certainly need another strategy to overcome this well-balanced Houston team. This series could easily become one where the best defense is a high-powered offense.