Editorial by Graydon Fox

PRIZES:

1st Place: $50 Amazon gift card

2nd Place: $20 Amazon gift card

3rd – 5th Place: $10 Amazon gift card

If there are ties, a random drawing will determine the winner.

Top 5 Winners:

1. Paul Coey Jr. (367 points)

2. Mytwingirlscnc (358 points)

3. Todd P Mitchell (350 points)

4. Bernadette Patrick (350 points)

5. Javier Morales (350 points)

Overview:

On Monday, May 14^th, the Golden State Warriors will be on the road to take on the Houston Rockets in game one of the Western Conference Finals.

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Rockets 110.6 – Warriors 109.3 with an over/under of 220.0.

Statistical Breakdown (2017-18 season):

Point differential: Rockets +8.5 (1^st) > Warriors +6.0 (3^rd)

Points per game: Warriors 113.5 (1^st) > Rockets 112.4 (2^nd)

Points allowed per game: Rockets 103.9 (6^th) > Warriors 107.5 (18^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Warriors 50.3% (1^st) > Rockets 46.0% (15^th)

Three Point Percentage: Warriors 39.1% (1^st) > Rockets 36.2% (13^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Warriors 44.7% (3^rd) > Rockets 46.2% (16^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Rockets 13.2 (10^th) > Warriors 15.0 (26^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Rockets 14.0 (9^th) > Warriors 13.5 (19^th)

Rebounds per game: Rockets 43.5 (17^th) = Warriors 43.5 (17^th)

Assists per game: Warriors 29.3 (1^st) > Rockets 21.5 (25^th)

Summary:

The Rockets advance to the Western Conference Finals after defeating the Utah Jazz in five games.  Houston is led by the likely 2018 MVP James Harden who is averaging 28.5 points and 7.4 assists in the playoffs.  Harden’s backcourt mate, Chris Paul, is averaging 21.8 points and 6.4 assists per game.  The Rockets have done a great job taking care of the basketball averaging the fewest turnovers (9.7 TPG) of any team this postseason. Clint Capela has been a force on the interior averaging 14.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.  The Rockets have an astounding (50-5) record when Harden, Paul, and Capela are all healthy.  Eric Gordon (12.9 PPG), PJ Tucker (9.0 PPG), and Trevor Ariza (8.7 PPG) are versatile wings who can both defend at shoot the three at a high rate of efficiency.  Houston has been very strong defensively but their assist totals are low for a team that has two excellent playmakers.  This postseason, the Rockets are averaging 109.5 points per game (3^rd) and allowing 100.1 (2^nd).

The defending champion Golden State Warriors once again find themselves in the Western Conference Finals after knocking off the New Orleans Pelicans in five games.  Golden State is averaging the most points and assists (28.8 APG) of any team in the postseason while having the highest field goal percentage defensively (43.0%).  Kevin Durant is averaging 28.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in the playoffs.  Stephen Curry has only played in four games but the results (24.5 PPG, 3.5 APG) are very encouraging for Warriors fans.  Klay Thompson has asserted himself in Curry’s absence and is having his finest postseason averaging 21.2 PPG.  Draymond Green is nearly averaging a triple-double with 13.1 PPG, 11.5 RPG, and 9.0 APG).  After struggling for much of the regular season, both Andre Iguodala (7.7 PPG and 3.5 APG) and Shaun Livingston (7.3 PPG) have proven to be crucial role players. In the playoffs, the Warriors are averaging 110.3 points per game (1^st) and allowing 101.6 (3^rd).

Bottom Line:

The Warriors have dominated this match-up winning seven of the last ten head to head meetings including a (4-1) series win over Houston last postseason.  The whole key to this series is whether Stephen Curry can continue to prove that he’s 100% healthy.  Golden State, with four legitimate All-Stars, have more offensive firepower than any team in the NBA.  While Paul and Harden are individually great, the Warriors play a better brand of team basketball and have the personnel to be elite defensively when they want to be.  I think Durant will have a monster game one and lead the Warriors to a narrow road victory.

Contest Rules:

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