NBA Basketball
2013-05-03 - Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball Play Offs
Friday 3 May 2013 - Tip Off 9:30pm
2:30am (British Time)
Preview
As soon as it was confirmed that Oklahoma City Thunder were going to be missing Russell Westbrook for the rest of the season, there was definitely a change of feeling in this series. At that time, the Thunder were leading the Houston Rockets 2-0 and it was only the luckiest of bounces that helped them move 3-0 ahead.
While most would have felt that Houston were done in the series, as no NBA team has ever won a series from 3-0 down in a best of seven, there was still some thought that the Rockets were far from done in the series. After a successful foray into Oklahoma City, Houston return home with a chance to level the series and there has to be some pressure being felt by the Thunder.
The problem is that there is no one to handle the ball for Oklahoma City in the way that Russell Westbrook can. A lot of people would criticise Point Guard for perhaps taking too many shots and not using Kevin Durant, but it is clear that his presence made it easier for Durant to get open and have shots to take.
It was stunning that Durant didn't take score in the fourth quarter in a game that was a close as it was in Game 5, but Houston are double teaming and triple teaming him and that means the other Thunder players have to find a way to get things done.
Oklahoma City even resorted to hacking Asik deliberately down the stretch in a bid to close the gap but the Center was a decent 8/12 from the free throw line to help the Rockets secure the win.
One real concern for the Thunder has to be the three point shooting of the Rockets which has improved in each passing game. Houston are not feeling the pressure, or so they say, as the eight seed in this First Round series. On the other hand, the Thunder are comfortable they can get the job done if they players step up and hit the open shots they are receiving.
Head to Head
Oklahoma City are now up 5-3 in the season series against the Houston Rockets.
They have split the four games played in Houston 2-2.
Prediction
Both of these teams have each reach triple digits in points scored in the last four games in the series and while the total points is 1-4 in favour of the under, this could be a different result.
That is because the layers have now dropped the total to 206 points, a number that has been surpassed in 4 of the 5 games so far in this series so I'll take a chance on the over coming in in this one.
The Pick :
Houston Rockets 105-104 Oklahoma City Thunder
