Early jump: Rockets traveling Friday to Bay Area

The Houston Rockets will travel to the Bay Area on Friday in an attempt to be as prepared as possible for a potential Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

The Rockets intend no disrespect to the LA Clippers -- who will host the Warriors in Game 6 of their first-round series on Friday -- but the quick turnaround between series put Houston in the awkward position of making travel plans based on probabilities.

The Rockets, who plan to practice at Oracle Arena on Saturday afternoon, want to make sure their players can adjust to Pacific Time in case they open the second round on Sunday afternoon. Game 1 would be scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PT if the Warriors can close out the Clippers.

If the Clippers extend the series by winning Friday, the Warriors will host Game 7 on Sunday afternoon.

In that case, the Rockets will remain in San Francisco and practice there Sunday. They would stay in San Francisco until the conference semifinals started if the Warriors advanced.

If the Clippers shock the Warriors -- and world -- the Rockets would head back to Houston to host the first two games of the West semifinals.