The Los Angeles Clippers (62-30 SU, 43-48-1 ATS) have never been to the Western Conference Finals in their franchise's history. They can create history for themselves in what is amounting to be a coin flip game against the Houston Rockets (61-29 SU, 52-38 ATS) on Tuesday night in Game 5 of this best-of-seven series.
ROCKETING THE WRONG DIRECTION
The Rockets have had a big problem allowing the big time run in this series. The sizeable runs have come in every one of these games, and they have had a terrible time getting back on track when one of those runs happens.
In Game 1, Houston was up 44-33, only to allow the Clippers to go on an 8-1 run in the second quarter. The Rockets never led by anywhere near double-digits again. In the fourth of that game, they let the Clips go on a 12-0 run to blow things out of proportion.
In Game 2, the Rockets were up 35-25 late in the first quarter. It was 40-39 Clips five minutes later, and Houston didn't lead again until James Harden took over and put on a fantastic individual display late in the third and into the fourth.
Game 3 was a close run thing until late in the third when the Clippers went on a 20-1 run to put Houston away.
A 29-7 run in the third quarter on Sunday night put Game 4 out of reach as well.
The bottom line is that in back-to-back games, Houston has given up runs of 20-1 and 29-7. Sure, this game is back at home, but those types of runs aren't a product of a team ready to challenge for an NBA title.
The Rockets have looked visibly frustrated and annoyed, and we have to wonder if they are mentally out of it. You'll be able to tell in live betting if they are or not, and if that turns out to be the case, don't be stunned if they get blown out again. Hop on LA's back in live betting ASAP if you see Houston's body language being down.
MORE THAN JUST AN INTENTIONAL FOUL FEST
We can sit here and analyze all of the fouls which the Rockets have committed just to get DeAndre Jordan to the free throw line all we want, but we know where that leads to. The Clippers are going to continue to let Jordan go shoot foul shots, even if he is only shooting just beyond 40 percent.
Here's what you really need to know about this series from that standpoint. Jordan might only be shooting 42.4 percent against Houston from the charity stripe, but when he has been on the court, the Rockets have shot just 39.8 percent from the field.
For a team which was one of the most efficient in the NBA this season, that type of shooting percentage just isn't going to cut it.
In addition to this, the Clippers are +76 in the four games with Jordan on the court. When he isn't out there, they are -8.
HARDEN HARDLY GETTING TO THE LINE
Houston's MVP candidate made a living this season out of getting to the foul line. He averaged attempting 10.2 free throws per game, and he routinely was getting to the stripe 12-15 times in close games.
Here in the series against the Clippers, Harden has only been put on the line a total of 36 times in four games. He, like so many of his other teammates, are frustrated by the lack of foul calls.
But hey, we can't blame the refs. For as many times as Jordan has been fouled in this series intentionally, Harden can't complain about not getting to the charity stripe. That won't stop him from doing so though, and that could further take him out of his game.
Still, if the refs revert back to giving Harden a call every time he drives into the lane, this could be a really long day for the Clippers once again. The over could become money, even at such a high total, and the Rockets could be worth backing with their season on the line.
BookMaker had the spread for this Tuesday soiree before any other online sportsbook. The Rockets opened at a pick 'em, while the total came out at a lofty 219. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The showdown between the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets will start at 9:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX. The contest will be broadcast on TNT.
