Philadelphia at Houston

Time: 7 PM CST (ESPN)

Spread: HOU -4.5

Odds c/o 5dimes

HOU

The Houston Rockets have won six of its last nine to arrive at 23-11 and the No. 4 spot in the West thus far.

Superstar guard James Harden is averaging a silly 38.2 points per game on the season with 7.5 assists to his credit as well. He is connecting on 38 percent of his threes and 46 percent of his field goals while turning it over an “almost excusable” 4.7 times per game. It is excusable simply because Harden produces so much that it is a mere corollary of the ball being in his hands most of the time.

Westbrook has fared well as a Rocket, though. He is shooting 43 percent from the floor while posting per-game averages of 24.2 points, 8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.9 blocks/steals in 35 minutes a night. The Rockets thus far appear to have great chemistry, which was something that was both developed quickly and unexpected by many naysayers and pundits who mostly felt that Harden and Westbrook would be unable to share the ball well together. Due to the fact that both rely on having the ball in their hands to create offense, it remains to be seen how long and how well this pairing of Westbrook and Harden works.

The pair once was together in OKC, but neither is used to the role they respectively played during that time. Westbrook has averaged eight assists per game over the last two, and his minutes seem to be locked in at 33 to 35 per game, which should take some of the load off of it, in the name of the ever-present “load management.”

The Rockets have also got more offense out of center Clint Capela this season. He is averaging 13.9 points, 14.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks/steals per game. PJ Tucker has seen his role offensively increase, and he is taking advantage, averaging 8.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Eric Gordon has seen his role change with Westbrook aboard, and he is not doing as much as he had in the past two seasons, either.

But then again, this is a Houston team that averages 119.4 points per game, so perhaps asking for more offense from any player at this point resembles nothing but greed.

PHI

The 76ers are 14-3 SU on the road where it encounters the Houston Rockets tonight.  Philadelphia trails Boston by 2.5 games for the lead of the Atlantic Division. The Sixers have won just six of its last 10 overall, and it sports the No.5 point differential in the East (+4.2).

Philadelphia averages 109.6 points per game, ranking No. 17 in the Association in scoring. It allows 105.4 per, and the Sixers have a win-differential of +4.2 points. Joel Embiid is the team leader. He averages 23.7 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals/blocks in just 30 minutes per game. The signing of Al Horford has helped the Sixers manage the load of Embiid much better.

Horford is averaging the same 30 minutes per game, and he averages 12.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals/blocks per game. The Sixers have Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson starting on the wings, and both are producing, combining to average 34.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Ben Simmons is certainly a unique point guard, but he has not been without his issues. The 6’9” point-forward is averaging 14.5 points, seven rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game, but the mantra that he “cannot shoot” is not dying any sort of quick death. While Simmons shoots a very fine 56 percent from the floor, he is still passing on most jump shots and he rarely (0.2 per game) shoots the triple.

It does affect matters. Teams do not respect Simmons’ shooting ability and that makes it easier to double team Embiid and Harris. Until Simmons gains a respectable mid-range jumper and potentially even a three, it is tough to imagine the Sixers making that final step towards true contention. Philadelphia is a good team, but in some senses, it is an easy team to prepare for. While Embiid is extra-worldly, Simmons’ upside is quite mitigated by his errant shooting.