Denver still has the best player in the world in Nikola Jokić. With a exception of a down postseason from his running mate in 2024, Jokić and Jamal Murray are among the league's bigger playoff risers. And the Nuggets ending the season 3-0 under their interim coach could be more than the typical "new coach bump."

The Warriors won four fewer games than the Rockets and lost two of the final three head-to-head meetings, but they’re still series favorites.

In, the Warriors are favored to defeat the Rockets in Round 1. Should they be? See the odds, as well as Ric Bucher's take.