Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets: Western Conference finals preview and prediction

(Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters/Kyle Terada)

Both teams made it to the conference finals with a minimum of fuss, dropping one game in each of their respective two series wins. The top-seeded Rockets cruised by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round then slammed the door on the Utah Jazz in the next round by winning the final three games.

Golden State's bid to become the fifth team in NBA history to reach four consecutive finals has faced little resistance as they pushed aside the San Antonio Spurs in five games without All-Star guard Stephen Curry before doing the same to the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round as Curry played in the last four contests.

In a series chock full of All-Stars, this space looks at the five biggest questions this series poses to both teams that many people are considering as a de facto final because the winners will be favored to win the NBA Finals against either the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers.