Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets
The battle out in the West look to be as formidable and interesting as the one happening in the East. The two squads, arguably the best in the NBA, are duking it out, giving fans and neutrals a lot of reasons to pay good money and watch. This battle has also attracted many punters to visit their favourite betting sites and make a bet on either ball club.
The eyes of fans and basketball betting pundits are now on Houston. The Rockets managed to turn the series back on even footing by stealing a game against the Dubs on their home turf. They will now be heading to Houston with the chance to get a game up.
Of course, the Dubs will do everything they can to not end up in a ditch. However, Game 4 was a clear must-win for the Dubs, and they failed to deliver. If they don’t manage to contain James Harden and Chris Paul here, they will find their return to the Finals a lot more difficult than it should be.
Talking Points
The elephant in the room is the Golden State comeback in Game 4 that came up short. The Dubs were their usual selves, exploding for 34 points in the third frame of the game. Their scoring run, led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, helped the Dubs wrestle the lead back in their favour.
However, James Harden and Chris Paul led the Rockets well; they buckled up to stop things from getting worse. The Beard, who finished the game with 30 points on 42% shooting, did well enough to just keep the game out of reach for the Warriors and return to Houston with a very comfortable 2-2 lead. CP3 was also brilliant throughout the game, scoring eight of his 27 in the fourth to help seal the W.
This loss brought about light doubts as to whether the Dubs can close off games when Harden and Paul come alive on the offensive end. They seemed lost in the second quarter as the Rockets powered their way into a lead as large as ten points. They will definitely need their veterans in Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston to step up when the stars take a quick respite.
Speaking of which, the Dubs badly missed the presence of Iguodala. Iggy, alongside Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson, are both marked questionable for Game 5 due to knocks on their knees. The Dubs looked lost without Iguodala on the floor, and they now may lose a sure source of 20 points if Thompson does not make it back in time. The biggest priority for Kerr and the Warriors medical staff is to get the Hamptons 5 back together and get these two out of the injury list.
History
Houston snaps the #Warriors‘ 16-game home playoff win-streak as Houston ties the series at 2-2. #NBAPlayoffs #Rockets
Paul: 27pts 4asts
Harden 30pts 4rebs 4asts#DubNation
Curry: 28pts 6 👌’s
Durant: 27pts 12rebs pic.twitter.com/RDzLeRlrqv— SBOBET (@SBOBET) May 23, 2018
Harden and Paul have never failed to impress Rockets GM Daryl Morley after wowing the crowd in Game 3. They will likely be looked upon to bring the team back up in Houston when the Dubs look to take control of the series again. The two have been unstoppable in the postseason, and their individual talent will surely help the Rockets come closer to the NBA Finals.
The Beard will especially be looked upon to carry the team when the Warriors impose their will at the Toyota Center. He has the second-highest player efficiency rating, the fourth-most steal average, and the fourth-highest points-per-game numbers in the playoffs.
However, they need to make sure that the Warriors don’t find their shooting stroke. While the Dubs are uncharacteristically struggling from deep, they have the highest shooting percentage out of the four remaining teams in the tournament. It’s been proven at Game 1 that they can suffer a huge defeat at their own floor.
Curry and Durant and obvious defensive priorities for Mike D’Antoni’s squad, but they should also game plan for all-around forward Draymond Green. The very expressive forward is having a monster playoff run, finding himself at the Top Ten lists for rebounds per game, assists per game, and steals per game. Sure, the Dubs will certainly struggle without Iggy and Klay, but Draymond is a very loud glue that can will the Dubs to a series-altering win.
What are the odds?
Like the most recent Cavaliers-Celtics game, betting odds on online bookmakers are tight. These two teams are evenly matched, and even the slightest of circumstances can greatly affect the result of the game.
Punters confident that the Rockets will win a big one at home will be thrilled to see Houston with a -1.50 Asian Handicap for 1.99 odds. Meanwhile, the Warriors have 1.91 for a boost of the same amount.
Given the fact that the Warriors will want to win away, it’s very plausible for Curry and Company to go on a big scoring run at the half. Golden State +0.50 @ 1.96 is a possibility. Houston have 1.92 odds for a negative handicap of the same value.
Finally, both teams seem to have hunkered down on defence. While we may see another high-scoring classic, it’s also likely for the game to be as low-scoring as Game 4. Under 219.00 offers a tempting 1.97, while over 219.00 rewards punters with 1.91.
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