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) /

3 of 8

OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: Kevin Durant #35, Draymond Green #23 and Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors all high-five 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) /

Roster talent

Edge: Golden State Warriors

The Rockets have James Harden, the unofficial 2018 MVP. No one is more deserving this year and it’s a safe bet that he will win the award in easy fashion. They also have Chris Paul who can facilitate better than any other guard in the league and can score at will when he is on. Eric Gordon can score in surges and make teams pay from deep.

There is more talent on the roster with the likes of Tevor Ariza and Clint Capela, but they are not in the top echelon of players. Even adding Gordon to this top-tier of players is a bit of stretch, but for the sake of being generous, we can say the Rockets have three.

The Warriors, on the other hand, have four top tier players that no one would reasonably debate otherwise. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, the last two league MVPs, Klay Thompson who dropped 37 points in a quarter a couple of years ago, and Draymond Green, who can put up a triple double on any given night while being the defensive anchor are all-stars. The Warriors have the edge here and have more talent at their disposal when lineups shrink and players increase their minutes per game in the postseason.