NBA Wire Roundtable forecasts for Warriors vs. Rockets First Round Series

After the post -season were missed last year, the Golden State Warriors will return to the playoffs on Sunday with a fight against No. 3 Seed Houston Rockets. In 2025, the Warriors will have a new core with a new look, which is powered by the mating by Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. While the Warriors will meet a familiar playoff enemy in the Rockets, Houston will also look different from the last time that they got to know the Warriors in the off -season.

Under Ime Udoka, the young and hard rockets surprised the league and exploded with an impressive 50-32 record for No. 2 seeds in the west. While the veterans are supposed to bring back memories to Fred Vanvleet and Dillon Brook’s memories, the Warriors are commissioned to slow Houston’s young trio by Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.

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With the Warriors and rockets that serve as marquee matchups in the first round, predictions fall in different directions for No. 7 against No. 7 Sowing Series. In order to eliminate the forecast, Warriors Werne Wire The USA Today SMG NBA employee for their thoughts and predictions about the series between Houston and Golden State. Together with the NBA employees of Sixers Wire, Celtics Wire, Rockets Wire, Thunder Wire and more, Warriors Wire called a special guest for an exclusive prediction for the series.

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Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire

The fact that the warriors feel like popular and trendy for the first round and are even the favorite in most of the competition is probably the scaryest thing about this series. However, the Warriors 2024-25 campaign was defined by the takeover of Jimmy Butler at the conclusion of the trade. While Golden State’s Push with Butler was impressive to secure a playoff spot, the playoffs are the reason why they were acted against the veteran striker. A loss in the opening round of the post -season would essentially describe Butler’s first run with the Warriros as a border failure. It will be at him, Draymond Green and Steph Curry will be over the Warriors past the Young Rockets Group. But will that be enough?

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The rockets have many problems for warriors with their sportiness and physicality. Fred Vanvleet and Dillon Brooks have real experience against the warriors, while Alpersen Sengun has had some successes against Golden State in the past. But for the rockets, the real X factor could be the rise of Amen Thompson. If the wing continues its breakout run with a playoff jump in the second year, it could be a real problem for the warriors.

I think all of this ensures a close and exciting series, but the experience of the Warriors should push them over the line.

forecast: Warriors in 6

Twitter: @tommy_iii

Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire

The Rockets are a shabby group and deserve a lot of recognition for the jumps they recorded in the 2024-25 season. Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun are impressive, while Amen Thompson went on leap and the constant veterans Dillon Brooks and Fred Vanvleet play a major role in their overall success, but the Warriors have Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. If there was an excitement in these playoffs, it will be. The combination of curry and Butler alone should be enough to bring golden state past a very talented Houston team.

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forecast: Warriors in 6

Twitter: @Ky_carlin

Justin Quinn, Celtics Wire

I have to agree here that we can see how the rockets go under the Dubs Skin for a game, but I don’t see it in four out of seven competitions. If Houston had a real score in which the efficiency success is required in the post -season, I may be less safe, but the veteran will win the day here – with Houston’s time to the corner.

forecast: Warriors in 7.

Twitter: @Justinquinnn

Ben dubose, rockets wire

What kind of site editor would I be if I didn’t take Houston? Mostly joke. This series should be tight, and earlier head-to-head sessions indicate that it is a defensive slug festival. But the Rockets made themselves more comfortable with the Matchup when the season continued and two of the last three won. Game 7 are often defined by defense, toughness and home advantage, and when the series becomes so deep, I will use the group of ime Udoka to find a way in Houston. Fred Vanvleet only scored 22% of Warriors this season, but he looked healthier late in the season and should be due for an increase. He also has a story in which he takes great pictures against Golden State and goes back from the NBA final 2019 with Toronto.

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forecast: Rockets in 7

Twitter: @Bendubose

Clemente Almanza, Thursday wire

This will be one of the best playoff series of round 1. You get the collision of the young and old. The veteran and the experienced warriors are in the Twilight of the Stephen Curry era. They married him as his last co-star with Jimmy Butler. The surprising rockets defeated the expectations of everyone with the second seed. Your roster embodies your head coach as a hard, evil defensive group, which is led by Amen Thompson. Houston fans could be traumatized by the past success of the Golden State, but Fred Vanvleet said that she was a different group than earlier iterations. Expect that this series in game 7 will go with a close Warriors victory. Houston’s lack of a goal scorer will follow her in the end and could give additional motivation in the low season to make big star hunt.

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Forecast: Warrior in 7

Twitter: @Calmannza1007

Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire:

Apart from my Lakers’ matchup against Minnesota, this series is in the first round that I look forward to, and I think it could be the most fascinating. Trading with Jimmy Butler was the proverbial defibrillator shock for the warriors, which was urgently needed, and her dynasty looks like he had risen from the dead like the mythical phoenix bird. Since then they have been hot and Stephen Curry makes things look like Stephfort again. Houston now seems to be very dependent on his defense in order to achieve simple transitional values. When the game slowed down, I do not trust Houston to generate enough criminal offense to win, especially against a revitalized defense of the Golden State. In the end, Golden State simply has too much star power for the Rockets.

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forecast: Warriors in 7

Twitter: @Lebron_wire

Sharif Phillips-Keaton, network wire

This is an interesting series to think because the NBA community seems to be divided about the trajectory of these teams due to its views. For example, there are those who trust the Warriors to win this series due to the experienced leadership of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler while there are, like me, who believe that the rockets are real. The addition of Butler was everything the warriors had hoped for, and more when Curry had a reliable second goal scorer for the first time since Kevin Durant was in the Golden State. However, the Warriors have to find out how Alpersen defend Sengun and how to deal with Amen Thompson.

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forecast: Rockets in 7

Twitter: @Sharifkeaton

Special guest: Kyle Madson, Niners Wire:

I don’t buy that this series for Golden State will be easier than the Lakers. Houston is well lived and her mixture of veterans with her young, Rangy athletes gives you a unique advantage against the warriors. However, these long series often come up with what the team does better in one or two swing games. I will work on Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler to find out how the physical advantages can overcome the rockets.

Prediction: Warrior in 7

Twitter: @kyleamadson

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: NBA Wire Roundtable forecasts for Warriors vs. Rockets Series