Jan 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) shoots as Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors have earned the right to rest for a few days after putting away the Grizzlies in Game 6 and now they know they will be hosting the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday at Oracle Arena.
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With Memphis eliminated, the Warriors will not face a duo like Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol moving forward. Dwight Howard will be the next challenge and the Warriors will not have one of their back-up big man for Game 1. According to Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area, Marreese Speights will not be available for Game 1:
F @Mospeights16 did not practice today for #Warriors. Coach Steve Kerr says he won’t play Tuesday in Game 1 of WC Finals.
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleCSN) May 17, 2015
Speights suffered a calf injury in the series against the Grizzlies and had not played since. Speights has been a good scoring punch off the bench and in his absence David Lee has been asked to step up. No other information has been released, but it looks like the Warriors are expecting him back at some point.
Speights averaged 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season after struggling in his first season with the Warriors last year. Speights can knock down some open jumpers and spread the floor for the second unit, but will need to get his calf right before he can make an impact in this series.