Sunday Night NBA

By Divol

Toronto Raptors v Houston Rockets



13th December 17:30 GMT

Raptors lost two in a row and badly and now Calderon is hurt. Houston on the other hand looks good, especially on the road. Still, I'm with Toronto here. Rockets last stretch of 7 - 1 ATS wins on the road only gives the feeling it should come to an end. I don't believe in magic in basketball. No matter how you turn it, they are bunch of solid roll players trying their best to fill in for a superstar.

Who did they win? Cleveland are a team in bad shape and in trouble and they got the best LeBron guarding duo, not a question even. Warriors? Clippers? Sixers? What about the home losses to Spurs, Mavs and etc...?
I feel that Rockets lost to teams better than Toronto (besides Kings) and beat teams worse than Toronto. You can't ignore their paint problems.

In most cases, in games they lost, big guys produced big numbers. 36 points Duncan + Dyce, 46 points Horford + Williams, 34 points Amare + Frye (Collins scored 6 points in 3 from 3 from the field as well), Thompson scored 27 points on them (and Hawes 6), Dirk and Dampier scored 37 points (Dampier 6 from 6 from the field).
They don't guard well big guys that dominate the paint, they don't guard big guys that play a bit away from the paint, and I believe that Bosh and Bargniani should have a great day against them.

Rockets could have and even should have lost the game to the GSW, could have very easily lost the game to Sixers. Unlike the Sixers that suddenly couldn't buy a basket even, Raptors have too many options in their offense.
The only way to beat them is if Brooks and Ariza will go postal again as they did in the 3rd qt against the Sixers...

All they needed is to throw the ball in the way of the basket, no matter how far are they, the ball just found its way in and I doubt they can produce it twice in a row. I trust Raptors that without Calderon, they will produce better effort on defense and scoring shouldn't be a problem for them.



Pick: Raptors +1.5, 1.98 odds – 4 units play - 188bet

Divol