NBA playoffs: Ranking the challengers to the Golden State Warriors

HOUSTON ROCKETS Season record: 53-29 Season record against the Warriors: 3-1 The Rockets top these rankings despite being the fourth seed in the West. However, it should not be forgotten that a year ago they pushed the Warriors to a seven-game series in the Conference Finals, with an injury to Chris Paul hampering their attempt to end Golden State's reign. This season they have won three of their four meetings with the reigning NBA champions, having turned around a poor start - they were 11-14 December - thanks mainly to James Harden, who made the step-back three-pointer an art form as he took his game to a new level.