This is the fourth straight Western Conference finals that will include the Warriors, but the first repeat series. The Warriors faced the Rockets, Thunder and Spurs in the first three, in that order. But those last two are a lot easier to recall than the first.



The Spurs series was boring, but recent, and the 2016 Thunder series was legendary because of its impact, remembered for all that occurred during it and all that happened because of it.



But the 2015 West finals against the Rockets? Pretty forgettable. The Warriors were massive favorites and played like it. It went five games. Their final two wins were by 25 and 14 points. It was a shock Houston even made it that far.



But now, as these two franchises square up again on the same stage three years later, the Rockets are much different and much more dangerous. They have homecourt advantage, a matured James Harden, a roster that perfectly fits around him — instead of the clunky, unsuccessful Dwight...