Lot of superstars here with James Harden, Dwight Howard and Stephen Curry. So offense is the first thing to come to mind.




However, these two teams rank first and second, respectively, in defensive efficiency. Golden State also is No. 1 in defensive field goal percentage while the Rockets rank second in defensive 3-point percentage.




Yet we have a very high total here. Why? Besides the star power there is the Warriors' 131-106 road win against the Rockets this past Saturday. That's a combined 237 points.




But in the two previous games this season the Rockets and Warriors combined for 185 points and 198 points.




The Rockets are going to play defense with a great deal of intensity after giving up their highest point total in 120 games following that humiliating 25-point home loss to the Warriors. This is what Rockets coach Kevin McHale was quoted as saying after the loss to the Warriors, "We have to be a lot better. We didn't put up any kind of fight. We didn't have the effort against them."




So I'm expecting a big defensive effort from the Rockets, while the Warriors have surrendered an average of only 91 points per game during their last five home games with three of those matchups coming against respectable offenses Denver, Cleveland and Oklahoma City.