2 weeks Ago By Rockets Wire
HOUSTON -- With an opponent now set after Tuesday's play-in tournament game, the Rockets held their initial postseason practice on Wednesday as they begin gearing up for Sunday's Game 1 of a first-round playoff series versus the Golden State Warriors.The Rockets (52-30) are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoff field, while the Warriors (48-34) are the No.
7 seed. Golden State won three of five head-to-head meetings against Houston in the 2024-25 regular season, though the Rockets won two of the final three."I think what we do well favors us in the playoffs," said head coach Ime Udoka, whose Rockets have one of the NBA's best defenses.
"Being physical, being aggressive, we don't have to flip a switch and become who we haven't been all year. That's what we've done."In those five meetings, Houston held Golden State to an average offensive rating of 104.
2, which would rank last among overall NBA offensive ratings this season.Since the Rockets had a superior regular-season record, the first two games will be played at Houston's Toyota Center. Then, under the NBA's 2-2-1-1-1 format for best-of-seven series, the next two will be at Golden State.
Should further games be necessary in order for one side to ultimately reach four wins and advance, a hypothetical Game 5 and Game 7 would be in Houston, while a Game 6 would be at Golden State.The Rockets-Warriors winner will then face the winner of the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and No.
6 Minnesota Timberwolves in a second-round playoff series."We're not just happy to be here," veteran guard Fred VanVleet said of Houston's playoff appearance, which is the first for the franchise since 2020. "We're coming to stay.
"Here is a look at interviews and footage from Wednesday's activities. Practices are being held at the Houston's new training center, which opened last offseason.Ime Udoka InterviewIme Udoka, asked if the Rockets will utilize their "double big" lineup of Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams versus a Golden State team that often plays smaller:What we want to do is obviously impose our will on the glass (rebounding) with our big lineup.
Which we have done, and it’s no different with them.Ime Udoka on Houston's approach:You've got to bring the physicality from the start. Just be who we are.
Fred VanVleet InterviewVanVleet, asked if he shared the trauma of Houston fans after series losses to the Warriors in the 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 NBA playoffs:No. This ain’t that team and that ain’t that team.VanVleet on Ime Udoka:He should definitely be Coach of the Year.
I don't know how many people are talking about that, but to take this group from where we were two years ago to where we are today, one thousand percent, he should be Coach of the Year.Jabari Smith Jr. InterviewSmith on whether it can be difficult to stay calm and composed when lining up against veteran Warriors forward (and notorious agitator) Draymond Green:Nah.
We go against Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams in practice, so it's not hard to keep your cool. It's all antics. It's just who he is.
You've got to focus on the game.Smith on potentially playing at center in smaller lineups, should the Rockets need to downsize to match up with the Warriors:I am looking forward to it, a lot. I really take a lot of pride in doing that.
Practice FootageDetails. Execution. Focus.
Eyes set on Sunday 👏 pic.twitter.com/O0vCFWMAnU— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 16, 2025More: 2025 NBA playoffs: Rockets learn first-round opponent, schedule versus WarriorsThis article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: With opponent set, Rockets prep for playoff series with Warriors.
