Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Tuesday, May 9th, the Houston Rockets will be on the road to take on the San Antonio Spurs in game five of their Western Conference playoff series.  The series is tied (2-2).

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Spurs 105.3 – Rockets 104.4 with an over/under of 209.7.

Statistics (2016-17 season):

Point differential: Spurs +7.2 (2^nd) > Rockets +5.7 (3^rd)

Points per game: Rockets 115.3 (2^nd) > Spurs 105.3 (14^th)

Points allowed per game: Spurs 98.1 (2^nd)> Rockets 109.6 (26^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Spurs 46.9% (7^th) > Rockets 46.2% (12^th)

Three Point Percentage: Spurs 39.1% (1^st) > Rockets 35.7% (15^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Spurs 44.3 (tied for 3^rd) > Rockets 46.3% (23^rd)

Turnovers committed per game: Spurs 12.9 (tied for 11^th) > Rockets 14.5 (tied for 23^rd)

Turnovers forced per game: Rockets 14.4 (7^th) > Spurs 13.8 (tied for 12^th)

Rebounds per game: Rockets 44.4 (tied for 7^th) > Spurs 43.9 (tied for 10^th)

Assists per game: Rockets 25.2 (tied for 3^rd) > Spurs 23.8 (tied for 7^th)

Summary:

The series is now tied (2-2) after Houston won game four at home 125-104.  The Spurs were without their starting point guard Tony Parker who is out for the season with a quad injury.  Parker was a key contributor in the playoffs where he was averaging 15.9 points on 52.6% shooting and 3.1 assists per game.  The Rockets held Kawhi Leonard to just 16 points which is well below his post-season average of 28.4.  Houston’s depth was on full display as they had seven players score in double figures.  That depth took a bit of a hit today when it was announced that Nene will be out for the season with a left adductor tear.  James Harden was terrific again with 28 points and 12 assists.  The Spurs need LaMarcus Alridge to step his game up and be the complementary star alongside Kawhi Leonard.  Aldridge is averaging 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in the playoffs but he’s capable of much more.  For the post-season, San Antonio is averaging 105.5 points per game while allowing 101.7.  Houston is averaging 111.4 points per game and have allowed 105.3.  I think the depth and potent scoring of Houston will be too much for the Spurs to overcome especially in Parker’s absence.

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