NBA Playoffs 2018 - Series Handicap / Houston Rockets - Golden State Warriors (-1,5)

Hello everyone. Necessary was the break that existed in the NBA calendar between semifinals and finals as we had 2 on bad days and the mind needed some rest to get more concentrated in the final straight of the season.

Last night, the 1 of the East ended with the Celtics heading up to the Cavaliers, defending Lebron defensively. For this pair, of course, we will have the opportunity to tell them in detail the next few days with the choices that will be made, but now we are going to have a little talk about the finals of the West, Rockets-Warriors and analysis of my long-term choice from this, which is the Qualifying for Champions-handicapped-1,5 game in performance 2,05 in stoiximan.

The key question that dominates before the battles of the two top teams in the West Region is one: Can the Rockets make it over this year and throw out the Golden State? Personally responding, I do not think so. Not yet at least.

Although the Texians have finished the regular season having the best record in the entire league, yes they have the home advantage, yes they have shown against Timberwolves and Utah that this year they are not joking and they are absolutely serious in the playoffs, they say openly how they want the championship and of course do not forget that this year there is more than Harden and Chris Paul to get on the back of the team when the ball 'burns' in combination with an excellent roster, but are all enough to exclude the basketball monster called Warriors? 

The reasons for answering this question are not enough. First of all, as I have emphasized on many occasions, the warriors have basically decided to go back during the regular season and have cleared that at first. Attention, I'm not saying they did not want the first in the regular season, just not "spoiled" with the second place in their plan to go this year more relaxed and to load in the post-season. It is also characteristic that even when the Rockets showed that this year they are really exceptional and they hit the Straight Warriors for the top of the West or the answer was that '' we will not have trouble winning Houston in the playoffs '' and I'm sure that the view in the champions' camp is not a product of arrogance. 

All of the above proved to be clearer with the start of the post-season. 4-1 without Curry against Spurs and 4-1 against Pelicans, who had previously wiped the Blazers, with Curry not at 100%. Now Golden State's driving lever is expected to be totally ready, as Durant dominates in every possible way against anyone entering the road to the second consecutive ring of his career. KD records terrible numbers so far achieving 28 points by downloading 8 rebounds and sharing 5 assists per game with Draymond Green being shocking by winning each of his personal opponents with his hardcore on the parquet with a more recent example of how he managed to curb Top Leader, Anthony Davis. Finally, we should not forget Klay Thompson who, in turn, performs great appearances by adding to the Golden State a little more than 21 points per match by shaking 38% out of 7,25 while playing his well-known effective defense against rival guard .

I also think that experience will play a catalytic role in the outcome of this couple. On the one hand, 3 has reached the end of the year, winning 2 championships and having proven "know how" in difficult situations and critical games, and on the other hand a team that married them last year when it went again the step above and with both of the superstars have not shown anything so far in their careers with regard to such games since Harden when he had to fight against San Antonio with all the conditions in favor of taking the turn was not done and Paul in turn arrives for the first time in his wealthy career so far in the playoffs as most Houston roster players.

In summary, my view is that racing Golden State is one step above Houston and this fact combined with the lack of experience of rockets will tilt the scales towards the Californians. I do not even believe that the Rockets will be able to bring the series to game 7 and that is why I chose this particular bet. Somewhere between 4-1 and 4-2 I see it ending, with the latter most likely in my eyes. The first two games at the Toyota Center will be crucial, as with a possible break and then two games to follow in Oakland it is unlikely that there will be a return to Houston.