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Houston Rockets will open against the Golden State Warriors

By Mason Hicks

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers shake hands before the game on December 19, 2015 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers shake hands before the game on December 19, 2015 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The NBA released the opening night and Christmas games for the 2017-2018 season. The Houston Rockets get the luxury of opening the NBA season against the reigning champions.

The league always tries to give the fans something they will enjoy on opening night and they accomplished just that by giving the Warriors an opponent that very well may be their biggest competition in the upcoming season: Houston Rockets.

With Kyrie Irving likely on his way out of Cleveland, the Cavaliers are not going to be as heavily favored as recent years. Paul George joining Russell Westbrook is intriguing but they still don’t have enough firepower to combat the Warriors. The Minnesota Timberwolves are still young and unproven. The San Antonio Spurs are perennial contenders but they too might lack in firepower.

Enter the Houston Rockets. Firepower is the best arsenal Houston contains. Without even considering that Carmelo Anthony might be on the team, the Rockets have enough weapons to threaten the Warriors.

Mike D’Antoni will do just fine with Chris Paul and James Harden surrounded by a full arsenal of snipers from deep. The Rockets may shoot more triples this season and could make even more than last season.

Related Story: Chris Paul ranked as the best offseason addition by ESPN

The signings of Tarik Black, Luc Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker addressed Houston’s defense. There is enough offense to score step-for-step with the Warriors and seemingly a deep enough team with quality defense to combat the Warriors’ strengths.

Battle of the juggernauts.

Opening day is going to give the fans exactly what they want: possibly the two best teams in the league going head-to-head to open the season.

It’s always a discussion of how many games the Warriors will play before their first loss. The Houston Rockets could walk away victorious on October 17 and shock the league. The NBA will have no choice but to respect the team that just took down possibly the greatest team of all time.

Another aspect that will draw the attention of many NBA fans is Chris Paul’s debut in a Rockets uniform. Paul is going to have a tough contest for his first game in Houston as the Warriors are one of the elite defenses in the league.

There is no better pick for a first game of the NBA season. The Rockets could boast the NBA’s best offense in the league and a upper-echelon defense while the Warriors are nearly guaranteed to have both a top three offense and defense.

It won’t only be Rockets and Warriors fans watching the game. If people are not Warriors fans, they likely are striving for them to lose. Many NBA fans will be rooting for Houston to overcome the juggernaut of the NBA.

The league’s best against the new challengers. What an exciting opening night for all NBA fans.

Next: OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets Set to Meet on Christmas Day

For more sports talk, follow me on twitter @masonhicks21

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