Sport: NBAPick Selection: Houston Rockets -14 -110
Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets 8:30 PM ET
Houston Rockets -14 -110
**NBA TOP PLAY** NBA Game of the Week I talked about motivation yesterday with the Clippers and the Hornets and it was pretty obvious who the motivated team was last night. I?m going against the Clippers yet again tonight as they once again are just not in a good spot. Teams that completely out of the playoff races can either show up and play hard or just roll over and tonight I see the latter coming from the Clippers once again. They have dropped six straight by an average of 18.7 ppg and just want this nightmare season to conclude.
The Clippers lost last night by 22 points at New Orleans and if they were outscored by five points in each quarter, I likely would not be going against them here. It was the way they lost last night that makes me believe that they don?t show up at all tonight. Los Angeles actually led at halftime and was completely annihilated in the second half. The Clippers have now dumped six in a row and 25 of their last 29 games. Included is a loss to the Rockets by 24 points.
One of the important keys to this game is the actual time of it. This is the first game of the three that are being played between the four teams that are currently scurrying for the best playoff positions. The Rockets will have no idea how the other teams finished until after their game is completed so there is no chance of anyone getting pulled meaning a hard effort for the entire night is on tap. With New Orleans winning last night, Houston is in really good shape for home court advantage still.
It is complicated but here goes. From the Houston Chronicle: If the Rockets, Jazz and Suns win Wednesday, there would be a four-way tie with the Jazz, Rockets, Spurs and Suns. In that case, the Jazz emerge from the group as a division winner and move up to the third seed. The Spurs fall to sixth with the worst record in games among the remaining group. The Rockets have the conference record tie-breaker against the Suns, and become the fourth seed, opening the playoffs at home against the Suns. Easy right?
Houston easily won both meetings this season and the Clippers are 2-11 ATS revenging a blowout loss against opponent of 20 points or more over the last two seasons. The Rockets have been dominating at home, going 15-4-1 ATS in their last 20 home games. Proving the Clippers are not trying, they are no long aggressive on defense and the Rockets will take advantage as they are 20-3 ATS in their last 23 against teams forcing 14 or fewer turnovers per game. Play Houston Rockets 2.5 Units
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