NBA Playoffs: Rockets 'Itching' For Another Shot At Warriors, Klay Thompson Says

Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are on course to rekindle its NBA Playoffs rivalry in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals – but this year it will most likely be in the conference semifinals. Both the franchises are currently leading 3-1 in their respective first round series against Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz.

The Warriors and Rockets are expected to progress and give the fans yet another intriguing Western Conference semifinals, similar to last year when the latter lost the finals 101-92 in Game 7. It is a rivalry dating back to the 2015 playoffs.

The two teams have met three times in the playoffs since 2015 and the Warriors have come out on top on every occasion and Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson believes the Rockets are “itching” for an opportunity to have another go at the reigning back-to-back NBA champions.

Thompson has won three titles with the Warriors and the Bay Area franchise is favored to make it three in a row. But the shooting guard praised the Rockets and is certain that they will be in for a tough fight especially with regular season MVP candidate James Harden and Chris Paul leading the way for Mike D’Antoni’s team.

“They’re a great team. They got two hall of fame guards in the back court and everyone else has carved out a nice role. We’ve had a ton of history with them the last five years in the playoffs. I know they’re just itching to get another shot at us. When two teams meet like that on a stage that high, it makes for the best basketball in the world,” Thompson said ahead of Warriors’ Game 5 against the Clippers, via The Mercury’s Mark Medina.

The Rockets lost the 2015 and 2016 playoff encounters in five games, but took the Warriors the distance in 2018 but were unable to close it out. They did, however, have a disadvantage as they lost point guard Chris Paul to an injury in Game 5 with them leading 3-2 in the series.

The Warriors then went on to win the next two games and book a place in the NBA Finals where they made light work of LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers to claim its second straight championship. The Rockets will again have a chance to upset the odds, but the team has to first overcome Jazz, who won its first game of the seven-game series in Game 4 on Monday night.

Additionally, the Rockets have a better record against the Warriors in the regular season during the 2018-19 campaign. They have won three of the four encounters this season with the only loss coming in the last one when they went down 106-104.