2018 NBA Playoffs: 5 Matchups that will dictate the Warriors vs Rockets Western Conference Finals

#2 Chris Paul vs Stephen Curry

CP3 was MONEY in the last 2 games of the Semifinals series against the Utah Jazz. He scored 68 points in total on 55.6% shooting from the field and 53% from the 3-point line. Moreover, nearly all of his points came from pull-up situations, where he generated space off the dribble and went up for the shot.

Curry was the steals leader in the 2015-16 season, but he's not the best of players in terms of on-ball defence. Guarding the Point God will be the ultimate test for him, as the Warriors will not be able to spare Klay (who'll be guarding Harden) and give Curry an easier assignment on defence. Curry was mercilessly picked apart by various Rockets in the closing stretches of their January 20th showdown in the regular season, and you can expect much of the same in this series.

CP3 is one of the best on-ball defenders at the point guard position to ever play the game, but then Stephen Curry also happens to be the greatest shooter of all time. The best that Paul can do in this scenario is not bite on Steph's dribbling manoeuvres and force him into contested shots, but Steph averages north of 40% on contested 3-pointers for his career as well, so that's not something the Rockets can live with.

Expect Chris Paul to reduce Curry's efficiency through the course of the series, but don't let it fool you into thinking that Steph won't get his own share of the Warriors' points.