3* - Houston (+5.5)
This is the first postseason meeting between these Texas rivals since the Mavericks defeated the Rockets in the first round in 1988. In years past Dallas has dominated Houston but this year has been a different story. In their last meeting on March 6th, the Rockets held the Mavs to a season low 69 points in a win that allowed them to split the regular season series for the first time in four years. In the four games played between these two teams this season, both have scored exactly 398 points for an average of 99.5 per game but Houston holds the ATS advantage at 2-1-1.
Dallas is a balanced team with Nowitzki as their top offensive option, but Finley can drop 20 or even 30 points on anybody while Terry is one of the league's most accurate 3 point shooters. The Maverick also posess a deep bench with players like Stackhouse and Van Horn who would both be starters on many teams.
Houston?s game lives and dies by the play of McGrady. If he is on, watch out and if Yao has a good game, McGrady just gets better. This one-two punch could very well be what it takes to carry Houston deep into the playoffs but they will need help from Sura and Wesley. Houston also has a solid bench with James, Barry and Mutombo and this team is playing very well as they hope to extend their seven game winning streak into the post-season. The Rockets are 31-12 since mid January and were 29-19 on the season against teams with records over .500. They also play well on the road where their record is 25-16 this season.
Despite the Mavs? newfound commitment to defense, I love Houston?s chances in this series. The team?s chemistry seems to have really solidified over the last month or so and Van Gundy has turned the offense loose. Look for big games from Yao, James, and of course T-Mac.
This is the first postseason meeting between these Texas rivals since the Mavericks defeated the Rockets in the first round in 1988. In years past Dallas has dominated Houston but this year has been a different story. In their last meeting on March 6th, the Rockets held the Mavs to a season low 69 points in a win that allowed them to split the regular season series for the first time in four years. In the four games played between these two teams this season, both have scored exactly 398 points for an average of 99.5 per game but Houston holds the ATS advantage at 2-1-1.
Dallas is a balanced team with Nowitzki as their top offensive option, but Finley can drop 20 or even 30 points on anybody while Terry is one of the league's most accurate 3 point shooters. The Maverick also posess a deep bench with players like Stackhouse and Van Horn who would both be starters on many teams.
Houston?s game lives and dies by the play of McGrady. If he is on, watch out and if Yao has a good game, McGrady just gets better. This one-two punch could very well be what it takes to carry Houston deep into the playoffs but they will need help from Sura and Wesley. Houston also has a solid bench with James, Barry and Mutombo and this team is playing very well as they hope to extend their seven game winning streak into the post-season. The Rockets are 31-12 since mid January and were 29-19 on the season against teams with records over .500. They also play well on the road where their record is 25-16 this season.
Despite the Mavs? newfound commitment to defense, I love Houston?s chances in this series. The team?s chemistry seems to have really solidified over the last month or so and Van Gundy has turned the offense loose. Look for big games from Yao, James, and of course T-Mac.
