Warriors Analysis: Shock Factor: The Worn, Aging Roster
Golden State of Mind: The Timeless Saga of the Warriors and Rockets
In this life, there are three given realities - death, taxes, and the Golden State Warriors' dominance over the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. That much has been proven time and again over the years.
Even when the road seemed rocky, these Dubs never faltered. After winning the first three games of the 2025 playoffs, they lost two in a row, only to resurrect their season in Game 7, clinching victory by a resounding 103-89. The end result? Just as predictable as the rising of the sun.
In Houston, the Warriors were but a step away from elimination for a mere 12 seconds. Beating the Rockets in these do-or-die clashes has long been their forte, an deeply ingrained habit that persists decade after grueling decade.
"Tonight was as good as it gets in terms of focus and the players executing the game plan and showing resolve for 48 minutes," Warriors coach Steve Kerr mused. "Game 7 on the road - if you don't bring it, you're going home, and our guys brought it."
No matter if it's new blood or old, the outcome has always been the same - the Warriors just can't help but loathe the shade of red.
The first playoff meeting between these titans was in 2015, a series marked by the peak of basketball and the birth of a genuine rivalry. The Dubs, led by James Harden then, left the Rockets trailing in their wake, winning the series in 2015, 2016, 2018, and again in 2019. That era was a testament to their unparalleled strength, a jagged thorn in Houston's side.
Faced with the high walls built by the Warriors, the Rockets were forced to dismantle their team and rebuild. In a desperate attempt to find the key to victory, they opted to postpone their triumph for a few years, waiting for the day when Stephen Curry and Draymond Green had passed their prime.
"Surprise!" Green roared triumphantly as the Warriors left the court, six years after their last post-game celebration in Houston.
That victory in 2019 was a prove-it game for both organizations, and the Warriors once again emerged victorious. The memory of that jubilant scene lingers to this day, as the Rockets' owner Tilman Fertitta swore that eventually they would revenge themselves upon the Dubs.
More than 2,186 days have passed since then, and the Warriors are still waiting on their reckoning.
While Harden, the quintessential Game 7 choker, is now history, the Rockets' replacements have not exactly covered themselves in glory. In Game 7, it wasn't Curry who taught them a lesson; instead, it was Buddy Hield who secured their season's end, delivering a brilliant two-way performance.
This was a prototype of the fiery Klay Thompson, nine three-pointers dropped into the net, and shutting down Houston's formidable Fred VanVleet. Yet, Hield was not the only warrior worthy of praise. Draymond Green's vintage two-way performance, the first of the series, sealed the Dubs' control over the game, their powerful glare striking fear into the hearts of the Rockets.
Curry, despite a quiet start, came alive in the final frame, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter and leaving the Rockets in pensive contemplation. This was not the year for Houston. As for those obituaries, it would seem the Warriors will continue to defy the writing on their tombstones.
"One thing about this league," Green concluded, "you're never done proving who you are until you're done completely."
These Warriors have not yet reached the end, and the league had better prepare for their next onslaught.
The Warriors, even faced with a potential elimination, exhibited their proficiency, executing the game plan with focus and resolution, a trait deeply etched in their playoff history. Their rivalry with the Rockets, birthed in 2015, has been a showcase of their vitality, with the Dubs securing victory in four playoff meetings, most recently in 2019.
In the 2025 playoffs, Buddy Hield stepped up for the Warriors, delivering a stellar two-way performance, proving that the team's strength lies not just in the legendary duo of Curry and Thompson, but in the vitality and resilience of its entire roster.
The Rockets, attempting to avenge their past defeats, have yet to find a successful formula. As the Warriors continue to dominate the basketball court, the question remains: are the Rockets' current replacements for Harden equipped to challenge the unwavering warriors of the NBA?
Green's assertion rings true: the league had better prepare for the next onslaught from these timeless warriors of the Golden State.
