The Houston Rockets should be greedy. The team's remarkable trajectory went from 22 wins in 2022-23 to 41 last year, followed by 51 and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. The learning experience through the first-round series by the Jimmy Butler-fueled Golden State Warriors has been invaluable (regardless of outcome),

The Rockets saw their season come to an end in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but can add to a young roster over the summer.

The Golden State Warriors escaped the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of their first-round matchup, setting a date in the Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who cruised past the star-studded, albeit shallow, Los Angeles Lakers.

The postgame scene was a mixture of pride, disappointment and looking ahead after the Rockets' first playoff appearance since 2020 ended in a Game 7 loss.