2018 NBA Playoffs: Which juggernaut is coming out the West?

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a play against the Houston Rockets with Kevin Durant #35 and Draymond Green during their NBA game at ORACLE Arena on October 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors shouts to his team during their game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Coaching

Edge: Golden State Warriors

Mike D’Antoni is a proven coach with a track record of winning, with a keen eye for running high-powered offenses. He knows how to get the most out of the roster he has at his disposal on the offensive end, often resulting in teams that run and gun, overwhelming their opponent with volume.

The downside to how the Rockets are coached is their inability to stay committed on defense for forty-eight minutes.

Steve Kerr has the edge here. He has figured out how to make a team full of scorers play together with cohesiveness often unseen. During the Warriors’ game five victory over the Spurs, there was a sequence that involved five passes in seven seconds, with the ball never hitting the floor, resulting in an easy lay up by Shaun Livingston.

This is the type of offense that will make opposing teams pay, especially ones that take plays off defensively. While Kerr can deploy enough strategies to match the Rockets’ intensity on offense, he has his team locked in on defense, giving them the edge.