It's disrespectful to label Rockets underdogs against Warriors

The Warriors are 15-18 when outrebounded this season. Steve Kerr's undersized unit has been outrebounded in five of its last seven games. 

The Rockets rank first in overall rebounds (48.5), first in offensive rebounds (14.6) and first in rebounding percentage (53.3).

You don't have to be a math major to combine two and two and determine why the Rockets pose serious issues for the Warriors in their first-round playoff series, which gets underway Sunday. 

Yet, the Warriors open the series as -175 favorites, per ESPN BET, making them only the second seventh seed in the last 30 years to be favored in a first-round matchup against the second seed. 

On the surface, it's perfectly reasonable to favor Golden State. Houston's three best players — Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Amen Thompson — have never played a playoff game. The only Rockets with playoff experience — Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams — are role players, not real difference-makers.

The Warriors' Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green have played a combined 276 postseason games — more than any trio in the playoffs. If experience were a factor, Golden State is golden.

Fearless Rockets have nothing to lose

However, it's still disrespectful to label the Rockets "underdogs" in light of their terrific season. Houston went 31-21 against teams in the conference and 23-19 against teams .500 and above. The latter record proves the Rockets don't shrink against quality opponents and don't fear the moment. Ime Udoka's young squad has nothing to lose and everything to gain by sending Curry and Co. packing.

Ex-Rockets players Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons agree that the second-seeded Rockets are being slept on. Parsons believes it's "crazy" for oddsmakers to favor the seventh-seeded Warriors. 

"We gotta start putting some respect on Houston," Williams told FanDuel TV's "Run it Back" podcast. "They started the season in second place and finished in second place. They had ups and downs, but how did they recover? They got right back to the position they were in after dealing with some adversity.... With Golden State being the favorite, that's interesting. If you're a betting man, that makes Houston a lot more attractive to you."

Williams then explained why the Rockets, who have a battery of athletes, can wear out the aging Warriors within the first few games of the series. Golden State's lack of size was a huge issue in its final two games. In the season finale against the Clippers, it was outrebounded 42-25 en route to a 124-119 loss. In the play-in against the Grizzlies, it was outrebounded 50-39, with Memphis rookie Zach Edey collecting 17 boards.

Game 1 will tip off Sunday in Houston at 9:30 p.m. ET.