Over the course of 82 games and the first two rounds of this year's playoffs, the entire basketball world anticipated a collision course between the sport's two most dominant forces: the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.
After the Warriors and Rockets dispatched the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz Tuesday night, respectively, the time for that showdown has finally arrived.
The defending champion Warriors, who cruised to 58 wins this season without breaking a sweat, have made three straight NBA Finals appearances, winning twice. With four of the best 15 or so players in the league, not to mention a roster full of experienced postseason performers, the Warriors spent the first 82 games acting like they knew they could turn it on — and then did precisely that in five-game series wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Pelicans.