Cleveland at Houston – Do the Rockets have a Problem?

When the news came down the pipeline that Tracy McGrady was done for the season, that the team was trading away Rafer Alston to the Magic and not getting Vince Carter, everyone assumed that the Rockets would implode like it was the first round of the NBA playoffs. Well look who’s still alive and kickin’!

Including their streak before the All-Star break, the Rockets are a stiff 5-0 SU in their last 5 games. And the crazy part is that Ron Artest is leading the way. Artest has averaged 20.2 points since replacing McGrady in the starting lineup. Can Artest be the leader that Houston needs when King James comes to court?

The Cavaliers have some unanswered questions too. Can they be as dominant on the road as they have been at home? Can they overcome a historically bad set of trends when visiting Houston? Can Daniel “Boobie” Gibson overcome his recent failings to replace Delonte West, who has been battling a sore wrist? These questions and too many more haunt the Cavs as they try to prove their mettle against a surly Rockets team.

NBA Betting Trends

-Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games

-Cleveland is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games on the road

-Cleveland is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games against Houston

-Houston is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home

-Houston is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games at home

-Houston is 8-3 SU when playing Cleveland

-Houston is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against Cleveland at home

-the total has gone UNDER in 5-of-6 when Cleveland plays at Houston

The funny thing about the Rockets is that when you think about them losing Tracy McGrady, you think that the teams is finished. Also, when you think about LeBron embarrassing Yao Ming on YouTube by blocking him over and over and over again, it’s hard to bet on Houston.

But look at the matchups by position. Nearly everyone on the starting lineup for Houston averages double-digits in points to start, except for Shane Battier who does so much defensively and intangibly that you can’t measure him by the numbers. Everyone’s beaten this to death, but with the Rockets moving to a defensively focused mantra, and Artest and Battier standing charge, with Luis Scola pestering the living hell out of the NBA betting community, aren’t the Rockets a bit saltier than they are at first glance?

Cleveland Cavaliers (44-11) vs. Houston Rockets (36-21)

Thursday, February 26th — Toyota Center, Houston — 8:00pm EST

NBA Betting Line: Cleveland -3.5 (186)

And this is where I’m torn. Without Delonte West, who will likely not play thanks to a partially fractured wrist, I don’t know if the combo of Mo Williams and LeBron can break open enough to man handle the Rockets. Usually the Cavs get a matchup break because the underrated Zydrunas Iglauskas can break teams open. But tonight he’s got to deal with Yao Ming.

One other thing troubles me about Cleveland. LeBron has either been humbly quiet in the past two games, posting just 35 points combined against Memphis and Detroit. Is he saving some in the tank? I think so. LeBron knows this is a statement game and while Houston is quietly a strong and dangerous team. But I worry about their ability to put points on the board if and when Mo Williams and/or LeBron explodes. Sorry Aaron Brooks, but you’re just not ready for Mo.

NBA Betting Line: Cleveland -3.5 (UNDER)