The Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers battled in one of the best rivalries in NBA history, playing in five straight NBA Finals. But before their first matchup in 2015, the Cavaliers preferred Golden State Warriors over the Houston Rockets, thinking the Rockets would be tougher matchup, according to former Cavs big man Kendrick Perkins.
"When we was watching the Western Conference finals, I was like, 'Man, I want to play the Rockets,' " Perkins told the Runnin' Plays Podcast. " 'I think we'll sweep the Rockets. I really don't want to play Golden State.'
"But everyone in the Cavs organization kept saying, 'No, we want Golden State.