Steve Kerr Not Worried About Rockets Having Edge in 2018 WCF: 'We Have Rings'

Kyle Newport @@KyleNewportFeatured ColumnistMay 10, 2018

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shows off his championship ring before their game against the Houston Rockets 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)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Houston Rockets may have perceived advantages over the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, but Steve Kerr is not afraid of a challenge.

Mainly because his team's recent run of success speaks for itself.

Not only does top-seeded Houston hold home-court advantages, but some believe the fact that the Rockets have not won a championship with this group of players makes them the hungrier team. Kerr—whose team has won two titles in three years—likes his team's chances, via The Athletic's Anthony Slater:

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Steve Kerr asked about the Rockets title hunger compared to the Warriors, who have two, so maybe not as much hunger: "I like where we are. Our guys have rings. That's a good position to be in." https://t.co/ggzSS6GZhZ

Kerr has seven championship runs on his resume, both as a player and a coach. He knows what it takes to be the last team standing, so when he says the first title is the hardest, believe him.

Anyone who thinks Golden State isn't still hungry better re-evaluate that position. No matter how many parades the Warriors have, they always want more:

NBA TV @NBATV
Draymond Green keeps it simple. The Warriors don't care who they play. Their eyes are on one thing. #GameTime https://t.co/O4R5lpPHUM

The Rockets won two out of three regular-season meetings, leading Clint Capela to make headlines by claiming, "We are better than them." General manager Daryl Morey revealed earlier in the season that the Rockets are "obsessed" with the Warriors, who eliminated his team in two of the past three seasons.

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Houston earned home-court advantage by posting the best record in the NBA at 65-17, a solid seven games better than Golden State. The Rockets were led by MVP favorite James Harden, while the Warriors dealt with injuries to Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green near the end of the regular season.

Now comes the showdown basketball fans have been waiting for all season. No matter what is said on the outside, Kerr and the defending champs aren't going to be intimidated by anyone—not even the high-powered Rockets.