Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets: Expert Predictions For 2015 NBA Western Conference Finals

Stephen Curry Kerr Warriors — Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left) smiles with guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at Oracle Arena. Reuters/Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets are hoping to defeat the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, but doing so would be considered a major upset. Virtually none of the experts are picking Houston to get by the No.1 seed in the West and reach the 2015 NBA Finals.

The majority of expert predictions have Golden State beating Houston in five or six games. Few see the series going the distance, and some believe the Rockets won’t even get one game.

The Warriors were the best team in the NBA this regular season, winning 67 games. The Rockets finished right behind them in the Western Conference standings, but Houston won 11 fewer games. In four head-to-head matchups this year, the Warriors are undefeated, winning every game by double-digits.

It’s not just the experts that believe the Warriors will continue their dominance in the conference finals. The odds makers have made Golden State an overwhelming favorite, and gamblers must wager $800 just to win $100 on a series win for the Warriors. Houston has +600 odds, meaning a successful $100 bet on the Rockets would net a gambler $600.

Golden State hasn’t had much trouble in the postseason, sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans and getting by the Memphis Grizzlies in six games. They beat the Grizzlies by at least 13 points in each contest. Houston needed five games to get past the Dallas Mavericks, and they barely made it out of the second round. The Rockets trailed the Los Angeles Clippers 3-1 in their series, winning the final three games to advance.

The Warriors would likely be the favorite among experts against either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Atlanta Hawks, who are set to meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. Golden State is the odds-on favorite to win the championship.

Below are expert predictions for Golden State vs. Houston.

ESPN

J.A. Adande: Warriors in 6

Chad Ford: Warriors in 5

Tom Haberstroh: Warriors in 5

Marc Stein: Warriors in 5

FOX Sports

Rick Barry: Warriors

Dale Ellis: Warriors

Eric Musselman: Warriors in 6

Bill Reiter: Warriors in 5

CBS Sports