After an eventful 2017 NBA offseason that featured a plethora of franchise-altering acquisitions around the league, many picked the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors to live up to expectations and meet up in the Western Conference Finals.
Indeed, both the Rockets and Warriors were plenty active during the free agency period. Golden State re-signed Kevin Durant and bolstered their bench while Houston added superstar talent in the form of Chris Paul to pair with fellow All-Star James Harden in the backcourt.
The two teams previously squared off in the 2015 Western Conference Finals when roles were reversed.