The NBA Playoffs continue on Thursday night and we will see the Houston Rockets travel to the Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Clippers in game 6 of their best-of-seven series. Free Pick to follow. The game has a start time of 10:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN. Current Vegas betting odds have the Clippers listed as 7.5 point favorites, while the total is set at 217.5.
Analysis: The Houston Rockets had a rather easy time of it in their first round matchup vs Dallas, but for the most part they have not looked good at all in this matchup vs the Clippers. On Tuesday night the Rockets were facing elimination, but they showed some heart in the 124-103 win to force a game 6. Houston has gone 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win of more than 10 points, but just 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Los Angeles. The Rockets have scored 104.5 ppg on 44.5% shooting overall and 34.2% from long range on the road this year. Defensively they have not been so good away from home, where they have allowed 105.0 ppg on 45.7% shooting overall and 35.5% shooting from long range.
The LA Clippers had a shot at ending the series on Tuesday night in Houston, but they just couldn't get the job done in the 21 point loss. No worries for the Clippers though as they are now back home where they have taken the 2 games played in this series by 25 and 28 points. LA has gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss, but just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Clippers have scored 107.0 ppg on 47.3% shooting overall and 37.6% from long range at home this year. Defensively they have been decent at home, allowing just 98.6 ppg on 45.4% shooting overall and 33.6% shooting from long range.
Pick: Frankly the Rockets have shown nothing on this floor in this series and I don't expect them to here either. The Rockets just don't know how to play defense, especially on the road where they have allowed 105 ppg overall and 126 ppg in teh two games played here in his series. The Clippers have a big edge on defense as they have allowed 98.6 ppg at home for the year and I feel it will be their defense that will win this one easily for them. The Rockets just don't have enough defense to keep this one close. I see another rout here as the Clippers look to close out the series and avoid a game 7.
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Hack-a-Deandre Jordan is a Winning Strategy--Buy/Sell?
The NBA discussion gets heated between pro bettors Steve Fezzik and Teddy Covers as they debate the merits of the Hack-a-Deandre Jordan approach taken by the Houston Rockets and countless teams before them. Teddy defies Fezzik to name one time in 15 years since this tactic first emerged as Hack-a-Shaq where a team won a game employing it, while Fezzik insists something is working if Doc Rivers is benching his star center for the Clippers after whiffing so many free throws.