Rockets GM Daryl Morey has theory for why Warriors not as dominant now

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Programming note: Watch the pregame edition of Warriors Outsiders tonight at 5:30, streaming live on the MyTeams app.

The Warriors haven't yet punched their ticket to the Western Conference Semifinals.

Yet most people are operating under the assumption that Golden State will eventually beat the Clippers in either Game 6 or Game 7 and advance in the NBA Playoffs.

Even the Rockets are flying to the Bay Area today, in anticipation of facing the Dubs in Game 1 on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking of the Rockets -- Houston GM Daryl Morey was recently a guest on "The Full 48" podcast with Bleacher Report's Howard Beck and one of the main topics was the expected rematch between Golden State and Houston.

"Sometimes the Warriors don't look as good as last year," Morey said. "But honestly when I look at it, I think it's just they're bored and they can still flip the switch.

"They're gonna be incredibly difficult. Most series come down to your best players -- especially your best five going against their best five. They actually have more of their best five this year than last year because they did have [Andre] Iguodala out last year."

The Warriors can absolutely "flip the switch," but the problem this year is that the switch doesn't stay on for extended stretches.

In fact, the switch can be turned off within a single game, like in Game 2 against the Clippers, when Golden State blew a 31-point second-half lead.

As for Iguodala -- his absence in Games 4 through 7 of last year's Western Conference Finals was huge. Steve Kerr went on the record and said the Warriors would have won in five games if he didn't get hurt.

[RELATEDRockets GM: Facing Warriors in semis could help Houston]

While "The Hamptons 5" lineup of Iguodala, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green is one of the best units ever assembled, it is a combined minus-seven in the plus/minus this series against the Clippers.

If that five-man lineup struggles against the Rockets (assuming the Warriors get past the Clippers), Golden State's season could very well end prematurely.

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