Houston-4
Yes, while the Rockets have covered two straight, they're not altogether as a unit right now with Tracy McGrady once again sidelined by a back injury. But they did win at Oklahoma City two games back and should've won Sunday at home before LeBron and the Cavs rallied for the OT victory (but the Rockets did cover).
Until three games ago, Houston had done a decent job in the turnover department. But they've gotten sloppy here of late and Coach Jeff Van Gundy has stressed that that area needs to be improved upon starting tonight. While the Rockets have struggled to win straight-up at home rcently, they have won and covered five consecutive overall in this series.
That includes the last two at Toyota Center, where the Rockets whipped the Sonics by 23 points early last month. Obviously Houston focuses more on defense (visitors shooting just 42.8 percent this year) than do the Sonics (opponents make 49.4 percent of their shots when Seattle travels). Defense will key Houston's spread-covering win tonight.
Seattle is off back-to-back upset wins. The Sonics tripped up the visiting Spurs Sunday and stunned the Grizzlies on a buzzer-beater last night in Memphis. But that victory was costly for the Sonics (3-8 SU/ATS as a road pup of 3 a/2 to 6 points this year) as Rashard Lewis left the game with 3:12 remaining with a badly sprained ankle.
Without a healthy Lewis (or probably no Lewis at all), this team does not have the toughness to win three straight games, especially with the last two coming on back-to-back nights on the road. Seattle, which hasn't won three consecutive since a Nov. 30-Dec. 4 run at home, plays up-tempo hoops and I don't see them being fresh after last night's game at Memphis.
Houston is rested having been off since Sunday. They're the better defensive team and Yao Ming and the Rockets will cover this small number tonight.
Yes, while the Rockets have covered two straight, they're not altogether as a unit right now with Tracy McGrady once again sidelined by a back injury. But they did win at Oklahoma City two games back and should've won Sunday at home before LeBron and the Cavs rallied for the OT victory (but the Rockets did cover).
Until three games ago, Houston had done a decent job in the turnover department. But they've gotten sloppy here of late and Coach Jeff Van Gundy has stressed that that area needs to be improved upon starting tonight. While the Rockets have struggled to win straight-up at home rcently, they have won and covered five consecutive overall in this series.
That includes the last two at Toyota Center, where the Rockets whipped the Sonics by 23 points early last month. Obviously Houston focuses more on defense (visitors shooting just 42.8 percent this year) than do the Sonics (opponents make 49.4 percent of their shots when Seattle travels). Defense will key Houston's spread-covering win tonight.
Seattle is off back-to-back upset wins. The Sonics tripped up the visiting Spurs Sunday and stunned the Grizzlies on a buzzer-beater last night in Memphis. But that victory was costly for the Sonics (3-8 SU/ATS as a road pup of 3 a/2 to 6 points this year) as Rashard Lewis left the game with 3:12 remaining with a badly sprained ankle.
Without a healthy Lewis (or probably no Lewis at all), this team does not have the toughness to win three straight games, especially with the last two coming on back-to-back nights on the road. Seattle, which hasn't won three consecutive since a Nov. 30-Dec. 4 run at home, plays up-tempo hoops and I don't see them being fresh after last night's game at Memphis.
Houston is rested having been off since Sunday. They're the better defensive team and Yao Ming and the Rockets will cover this small number tonight.
