HOUSTON (AP) — May lakas ang Golden State Warriors. Ngunit, masusubok ito sa paglarga ng Game 1 ng Western Conference Finals kung saan host ang Rockets Lunes ng gabi (Martes sa Manila). 

Ito ang unang pagkakaton na ang No. 2 Warriors ay hindi nakakuha ng home-court advantage sa playoff mula noong 2014 kung saan natalo sila ng Los Angeles Clippers, 4-3.

Para sa koponan na pumatas sa Chicago Bulls’ NBA record na 15 sunod na home playoff victory, walang problema sa kaganapan.

“It’s different,” sambit ni coach Steve Kerr.

“I think our guys, they are taking the challenge and they’re embracing it. They feel like, ‘OK, we don’t have home court for the first time,’ but we seem to be at our best when we are threatened. That’s been kind of the M.O. of this team. We’re definitely threatened. We’re on the road for Game 1, we’ve never felt that.”

“It’s better to have it than not ... it’s important but they’ve shown they can win away from home, we can win away from home,” pahayag ni coach Mike D’Antoni.

“This might be a series where you lose one or two and then win four in a row — either side. Because they’re capable of it.” aniya.