The Rockets and the Warriors have been on a collision course since about the second month of the season, but both have tough paths to the Western Conference Finals and interesting first-round matchups to boot.
It's easy to project those two teams to face off, but as history has taught us: Nothing is guaranteed in the beast that is the NBA playoffs.
The Western Conference playoffs tip off Saturday when the Warriors face the Spurs at 3 p.m. ET (ABC).
Here's a look at the first round in the Western Conference:
No. 1 Rockets vs. No. 8 Timberwolves
Players to watch: Minnesota's Jimmy Butler called out his team for being soft in a close game against the Grizzlies in the final week of the season. Everyone thought he was calling out Andrew Wiggins. We'll see how he responds in the playoffs to Butler's shot. Clint Capela is a key to the Rockets offense few talk about. At one point this season, when Capela, James Harden and Chris Paul were on the court at the same time, the Rockets were 21-1.
Stat to know: The Rockets are second in the league in points per game (112.4) but 27th in field-goal attempts. The reason: Their 3-point shooting, as Houston takes (42.3) and makes (15.3) more 3-pointers than any team in the league. The Timberwolves, in contrast, are last in 3-pointers made. Probably a sign of why the Rockets were 4-0 against them this season.
Hidden storyline: There was a rumor as the season came to a close that Wiggins was not happy playing third fiddle to Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns. We'll see if that shows on the court.
Odds : Rockets (-7000), Timberwolves (+2000)
Prediction: Rockets in six
No. 2 Warriors vs. No. 7 Spurs
Players to watch: LaMarcus Aldridge reemerged as a viable No. 1 scoring threat this season, and he will mean everything to the Spurs' success or failure in the playoffs. Without Stephen Curry, the Warriors' Kevin Durant will have to be the best player on the court in Round 1.
Stat to know: The Warriors are first in the league in points per game (113.5). The Spurs are first in points allowed (99.8).
Hidden storyline: Golden State was third in the league in technical fouls (68). Draymond Green missed a game in the 2016 NBA Finals because of a technical. Will technical fouls matter in 2018?
Odds: Warriors (-1500), Spurs (+900)
Prediction: Warriors in five
No. 3. Blazers vs. No. 6 Pelicans
Players to watch: The Pelicans' Anthony Davis is the best player on the court, period. The team with the best player typically wins. Damian Lillard may take exception to those assessments, and he has been known to make the ridiculously clutch play in the first round of the playoffs, so don't expect this one to be without drama late in games.
Stat to know: Both teams are third in the NBA in points per game (111.7), but the Pelicans are 29th in points allowed (110.4 per game) while Portland is fifth (103.0)
Hidden storyline: The Trail Blazers are last in the league in assists per game (19.5), and Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is one of the best defenders in the NBA. There's going to be a lot of isolation ball and one-on-one matchups between Portland's guards and Holiday.
Odds: Trail Blazers (-225), Pelicans (+190)
Prediction: Trail Blazers in seven
No. 4 Thunder vs. No. 5 Jazz
Players to watch: You probably haven't seen Donovan Mitchell play since he's in Utah, but make your way to a screen to see this rookie. He's a blast to watch. OKC's Steven Adams is the king of offensive rebounds and second-chance points. How he fares against Rudy Gobert could go a long way in determining this series.
Stat to know: Russell Westbrook led the league in assists (10.3), but the Thunder were 28th in assists per game (21.3). If you don't move the ball against a Quin Snyder defense, then you could be in trouble in a seven-game series.
Hidden storyline: Losing Andre Roberson Jan. 27 mattered. Oklahoma City went from allowing 98.7 points per game to 104.4 without its best defender. The Thunder's defense could have a lot of trouble stopping Mitchell and the Jazz.
Odds: Thunder (-135), Jazz (+115)
Prediction: Thunder in seven
Odds via sportsbook.ag
