The Houston Rockets, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, face their historical rivals, the Golden State Warriors, in the first round. Unlike previous matchups from 2015-2019, where the Rockets were consistently defeated, this iteration boasts a new roster devoid of players from those past encounters. Under new head coach Ime Udoka, Houston's rebuilt team, led by veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks alongside young talents like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, and Amen Thompson, seeks to make a significant playoff impact, dismissing the burden of past playoff struggles.
"We're not just happy to be here," Udoka said. "We wanna obviously make some noise as well."
"This ain't that team," Houston's Fred VanVleet said, emphasizing the Rockets' fresh start compared to past playoff failures against Golden State.
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