The Golden State Warriors are on high alert as they prepare to face the Houston Rockets in a tense first-round playoff series that promises to be anything but straightforward. Despite winning three of their five matchups this season, the Warriors’ victories came by razor-thin margins, with an overall scoring differential of just eight points. Houston has exposed vulnerabilities in Golden State’s game that could spell trouble as the stakes rise.

The Warriors, once dominant against the Rockets, have seen their rhythm disrupted, particularly when under pressure. In their three wins, they averaged a respectable 110 points, but in their two losses, that number plummeted to just 93. The Rockets have cracked the code, forcing Golden State into contested shots and bad possessions, a trend that could resurface in the playoffs. With Stephen Curry’s performance swinging dramatically, the pressure is on him to find his groove against Houston’s Amen Thompson, who notably held him to just three points in their last encounter.

Defensively, the Warriors must tighten their grip. While they held Houston under 100 points in their wins, the Rockets scored freely in their victories, exploiting Golden State’s lapses. The pivotal matchup will be between Draymond Green and Houston’s Alperen Şengün, a s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed post scorer. Green’s ability to disrupt Şengün’s flow could be the key to choking off Houston’s offensive rhythm.

With Jimmy Butler providing stability and clutch scoring, the Warriors have the pieces to control the series. However, if they falter in execution, allowing Houston to dictate the pace and capitalize on turnovers, the Rockets could turn this first-round matchup into an unexpected showdown. Every possession counts, and the Warriors must harness their experience to navigate this high-stakes battle. The urgency is palpable; one misstep could lead to an early exit. Golden State must rise to the occasion—failure is not an option.