Fansided

5 reasons why the Houston Rockets are unstoppable in the West

By FanSided Staff

Apr 24, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets onward Josh Smith (5) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Rockets beat the Mavs 130-128. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets onward Josh Smith (5) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Rockets beat the Mavs 130-128. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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April 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with center Andrew Bogut (12) during the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 97-87. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with center Andrew Bogut (12) during the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 97-87. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Warriors are an overrated playoff team

Yes, I said it. The team with the best record in the NBA this season is overrated. Not because they lost some bad losses this year to the likes of the Jazz and the Pacers, but more so because the NBA regular season is an awful representation of how you will actually do in the playoffs.

Sustaining success over 82 games is a difficult thing to do. Don’t get me wrong, the Warriors 67-15 record in the regular season is nothing to be overlooked. But winning on the road in back to back games, beating bad teams consistently, and just shooting well all the time is hard to do. Which is why I’m so forgiving to their bad losses earlier this year. However, while winning in the regular season takes all of these things to succeed, winning in the postseason requires a completely different set of criteria.

For one, execution late in games, which Harden does better than anyone in the NBA right now, is instrumental in any success a team has. Additionally, experiecing the playoffs first hand and what it takes to win is something that cannot be taught or learned. It must be lived. Both Harden and Howard have more experience in the post-season than Steph Curry and Klay Thompson do.

It just feels like the Rockets are better equipped to come out of the West than the Warriors. Of course the Warriors will probably take the series to seven games. After all, it is pretty hard to stop the splash brothers. But I wouldn’t be surprised if this series didn’t come down to Curry vs. Harden and who could come through down the stretch more. I hate to say it, but I have to give the edge to Harden. Which makes the Houston Rockets the team to beat in the Western Conference this year.

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