NBA PLAYOFFS: Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets ($25 Prize!)
UPDATE: THE WINNER OF THE $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD IS taylor*******@gmail.com CONGRATULATIONS!
Nov 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) passes against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the third quarter at Toyota Center. Rocket won 110 to 105. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Prizing:
1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card
2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card
Overview:
On Sunday, April 16th, the (47-35) Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the (55-27) Houston Rockets in game one of their Western Conference playoff series.
The Crowd:
“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Rockets 107.1 – Thunder 104.4 with an over/under of 211.6.
Statistics (2016-17 season):
Point differential: Rockets +5.7 (3rd) > Thunder +0.8 (11th)
Points per game: Rockets 115.3 (2nd) > Thunder 106.6 (11th)
Points allowed per game: Thunder 105.8 (16th) > Rockets 109.6 (26th)
Field Goal Percentage Offense: Rockets 46.2% (12th) > Thunder 45.2% (17th)
Three Point Percentage: Rockets 35.7% (15th) > Thunder 32.7% (30th)
Field Goal Percentage Defense: Thunder 45.9% (19th) > Rockets 46.3% (23rd)
Turnovers committed per game: Rockets 14.5 (tied for 23rd) > Thunder 14.6 (26th)
Turnovers forced per game: Rockets 14.4 (7th) > Thunder 13.2 (18th)
Rebounds per game: Thunder 46.6 (1st) > Rockets 44.4 (tied for 7th)
Assists per game: Rockets 25.2 (tied for 3rd) > Thunder 21.0 (25th)
Summary:
Oklahoma City finished the season (6-4) in their last ten games while Houston was (5-5). Houston ranks 2nd in the league in scoring (115.3 PPG) and average nearly ten points per game more than the Thunder. James Harden is having an MVP caliber season averaging 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game. The Rockets have an absurd amount of depth with ten players averaging at least 9 points per game. Houston is one of the best teams in the league at forcing turnovers and Oklahoma City doesn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball. Houston is (7-3) in their last ten head to head games with Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are led by Russell Westbrook (31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG) who averaged a triple double for the first time since the legendary Oscar Robertson. Westbrook has to carry a huge burden scoring and facilitating for a team with only four double digit scorers. Oklahoma City’s main advantage is their size where they lead the league in rebounding. Stephen Adams and Enes Kanter will have to dominate on the interior for the Thunder to win because they don’t shoot well from the perimeter. I think Houston will force the ball out of Westbrook’s hands and make someone else beat them. I think the Rockets are too potent offensively and should win this game with relative ease.
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