While the Golden State Warriors are enjoying their second week off during the postseason after sweeping the Utah Jazz in Round 2, the Spurs and Rockets are mired in a slugfest on the other side of the Western Conference bracket.
The Spurs currently have a 3-2 edge in the series after Wednesday’s overtime win, but it would be hardly shocking if the Rockets and their incredible offensive firepower stole the series by winning the next two games. Though the team’s are evenly matched, the styles are contrasting. Houston likes to play at a rapid pace and fires up more three-pointers than any team in the league. The aging Spurs are far more methodical, and thrive on the perfect execution of simple offensive and defensive principles.
There doesn’t seem to be a consensus as to which would be a more difficult series for Golden State, as most believe the Warriors will dispatch either with ease. Warriors beat writer Anthony Slater believes that as well, but told Tolbert and Lund on Tuesday afternoon that the Rockets are probably the easier matchup.
“I’d probably lean star to star and say Kawhi (Leonard)’s a better playoff player, he’s proven it,” Slater said. “He won Final’s MVP by locking down — I shouldn’t say locking down LeBron — but he outplayed LeBron James in the Finals series a couple years ago and he’s only gotten better since then. So I just think having him vs. Durant will be interesting in a playoff battle, they had one last year that was really interesting. (Gregg) Popovich and the Spurs and the fact that for at least a couple years we wanted to see this Spurs/Warriors series, it looked like it was building up to that last year and it never happened, so I’d say that.”
Slater does think Houston’s pace and space style could make for a more exciting series.
“Houston might be more interesting though because they might have a game like they had in Game 4 against San Antonio where they hit 20-something 3s, but at the same time the Warriors had the number one three-point percentage defense this season and they went into Houston two times where everyone was pumping the Rockets up, and (the Rockets) went 6-of-30 from three and then 7-of-33 from three. Especially as tired as (James) Harden kind of looks and the way the Warriors really D up and with Draymond and the length of that defense, I think it would be an easier series against Houston, but like you said I don’t think either are extending to six games or anything.”
Listen to the full interview below.