Make Picks With GameOn For A Chance To Win Up To $1,000!
Following a rocky start that led many to believe last year’s Western Conference runner-ups were in for a down year, the Houston Rockets rebounded well but have again begun to show signs of weakness. Houston has dropped four straight outings against teams they had no business losing to in clubs such as the Pistons, Cavaliers, and Wizards, and most recently a blowout at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
Though Chris Paul enters tonight’s matchup against San Antonio as questionable, his absence has made it difficult for Houston’s bench unit to find a rhythm with Eric Gordon in the starting 5. They hope to end their 4-game skid with a matchup against their Texas rival San Antonio Spurs Friday night.
The Spurs themselves haven’t been doing much better as of late, dropping seven of their last ten games. San Antonio has been making mistakes uncharacteristic of a Gregg Popovich-led team all season and that has continued in their most recent stretch.
While DeMar DeRozan has been solid filling in as the offensive focal point, their defense has slipped considerably. While the departure of Kawhi Leonard and a season-ending injury to defensive standout Dejounte Murray hasn’t helped, the Spurs will need to curb their defensive woes if they hope to contain a high-powered Houston attack.
Featured Pick #1: Who will score the most first-half points? (James Harden)
Even with the Rockets enduring a rollercoaster start to their campaign, superstar guard and last year’s MVP James Harden has continued to be nothing short of spectacular. His breathtaking scoring prowess remains on full display this season, as his 31.1 points per game paces the entire league in scoring yet again.
Harden did have to battle through a minor injury early on, but he’s been as hot as ever this past week. The Bearded One is fresh off a monster 25 point, 11 rebound, 17 assist triple-double but his numbers in the games prior are even more eye-popping. Harden would tally 54 points with 13 assists in an overtime loss against Washington and preceded that with 40 points and another 13 assists against Cleveland.
Perhaps the best scorer on the planet coming in off a tear such as Harden, chances are his play carries right over into their matchup with the Spurs. Expect Harden to enjoy another dazzling night as he looks to put an end to Houston’s recent losing ways.
Featured Pick #2: How long will it take to score the first three-pointer of the second half? (0-2 minutes)
In today’s NBA where the three-pointer is valued like it never has been before, the Houston Rockets epitomize the modern play-style. The Rockets led the league in three-pointers last season as they let it fly from seemingly anywhere with their plethora of sharpshooters on the wing.
This has remained true this season, as the Rockets are again leading the league in shots beyond the arc, attempting a whopping 42 threes per game. While their shooting clip from three is still lagging behind somewhat, launching from deep is an integral part of Houston’s success and should be emphasized again tonight.
The Spurs are also a formidable threat from deep in their own right. While they may not throw it up as often as Houston, the Spurs have been deadly accurate when they do opt for the long ball. The Spurs currently rank fourth in the NBA in team 3-point percentage behind only the Warriors, Clippers and Kings.
Featured Pick #3: Who will win the game? (Rockets by 7-12 points)
Coming off four losses against inferior teams, the Rockets enter tonight motivated enough to take the win from a quality opponent in San Antonio. The Rockets could be getting their floor general back in Chris Paul and should be able to feast on San Antonio’s porous defense.
Surprisingly, neither team is close to the top when it comes to scoring but each features plenty of players capable of filling it up. Outside of DeRozan, the Spurs are limited when it comes to secondary scorers with the play of LaMarcus Aldridge starting to decline and forward Rudy Gay well past his prime. While that’s a respectable attack on offense, it won’t be nearly enough to keep up with Harden and company.
The matchups also work well for Houston, whether or not Chris Paul is in the lineup. Houston’s explosive backcourt should dominate San Antonio’s weak defensive guard tandem, whether it be Gordon or Paul joining Harden. DeRozan’s length doesn’t factor in on the less glamorous end and Bryn Forbes isn’t much of a force on defense either. Expect another explosive performance out of Harden as he wills his Rockets to a win for the first time in the past week.
