IN THE PAINT: ROCKETS-BLAZERS BATTLE

The Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers battle tonight in what could be the biggest game of the regular season for both clubs. Both teams are in a battle for 3rd place in the tough Western Conference. The Rockets (43-20) currently have a one game lead over Portland (41-20). However the teams are tied in the most important category, the loss column, at 20.

The season series is also tied at 1-1, so the winner tonight gets the tiebreaker if both teams end up with the same record. A Rockets win would give them a virtual 3 game lead over Portland (2 games + tiebreaker) with 18 games to go.  A Blazers victory would place the teams in a virtual tie, give Portland the advantage in the loss column (20-21), plus the tiebreaker.

This game tonight is huge because the 3rd position could be crucial to the Rockets long term success in the Western Conference playoffs. If the 3rd seed survives the first round of the playoffs, they will likely play the 2nd seed in round two, currently Memphis. The Rockets split the season series with the Grizzlies this year 2-2.

Most importantly they would avoid the likely 1-8 matchup winner of Golden St vs Oklahoma City. Houston is winless (0-4) against Golden St this season. They are 2-0 against OKC, but an OKC team in the playoffs will look much different than the team Houston has faced in the regular season. Its basically trying to find the path of less resistance to the Western Conference Finals.

Portland will be playing just their 2nd game since losing starting guard Wesley Matthews to a ruptured achilles tendon. He is gone for the season. Recently acquired Aaron Afflalo will start in his place. Afflalo was acquired from Denver at the trade deadline to bolster the Blazers bench. But now with him in the starting lineup, Portland's bench becomes weaker once again.

The Rockets of course are still without center Dwight Howard (knee), who by the way says "he's feeling more explosive" these days. But MVP candidate James Harden has torched the Blazers this year. In the 2 games against Portland at Toyota Center, Harden has averaged 44.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists.

Both teams will be well rested. Neither has played since Saturday. Portland has the 3rd best home record in the NBA at 26-6.  The Rockets are 19-11 on the road, and are playing the 2nd game of a 4 game roadtrip. They won in Denver on Saturday night while Portland was losing to the worst team in the west, Minnesota.

Last year the teams tied for the 4th playoff spot, but the Rockets won the tiebreaker and earned home court advantage in the playoffs. It didn't matter because the Blazers won the first 2 games at Toyota Center and ended up winning the series 4-2 on Damion Lillard's dramatic game-winner in Game 6 in Portand.


twitter:  @kmooresports
website: www.fanhoops.net

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WILD WEDNESDAY IN FANTASY LAND

Another epic night of fantasy numbers went in the books Wednesday night. Some were scored, while others missed out while being benched.

Russell Westbrook (Da Mask) and Anthony Davis (Da Brow) led the way, each just missing out on the century mark. 16 players cracked the 50 mark, and another 22 hit the 40 slam rating.  Here's a look at the top performers:

Rank	Value	Name	Team	Pos	g	m/g
1	99.50	Russell Westbrook	OKC	PG	1	42.4
2	96.25	Anthony Davis	NOR	PF/C	1	41.8
3	70.25	Draymond Green	GSW	SF/PF	1	40.4
4	62.00	LeBron James	CLE	SF	1	37.5
6	61.75	Hassan Whiteside	MIA	C	1	32.6
5	61.75	Andre Drummond	DET	C	1	34.5
7	61.50	Chris Paul	LAC	PG	1	42.0
8	56.25	Nicolas Batum	POR	SF	1	40.5
9	54.25	James Harden	HOU	SG	1	41.4
10	53.25	Dwyane Wade	MIA	SG	1	31.0
11	51.50	Zach Randolph	MEM	PF	1	33.0
12	50.75	Isaiah Canaan	PHI	PG	1	41.6
Rank	Value	Name	Team	Pos	g	m/g
13	50.75	Luc Mbah a Moute	PHI	SF/PF	1	39.7
14	50.75	Rudy Gobert	UTA	C	1	35.7
15	50.50	Jonas Valanciunas	TOR	C	1	30.8
16	50.00	Kenneth Faried	DEN	SF/PF	1	32.9

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WHAT IF BOSH OR MELO WERE ROCKETS?

Seven months ago most Rockets fans, employees and supporters were mad at the world when Houston struck out on landing two of the biggest free agents from last summer's talented pool, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. Fast forward 210 days or so and its probably the best signings that "didn't happen" in the history of the franchise.

Chris Bosh has been diagnosed with a blood clot on his lung that has ended his season, and possibly put his career in jeopardy. Carmelo Anthony just underwent knee surgery on Thursday that ended his season, and it will be 4-6 months before he can resume basketball activity. Both guys signed 5-year max contracts in excess of $118 million dollars guaranteed! And they will see every single penny of it even if they never dribble a basketball again.

Bosh has clearly the most serious of the issues. His condition is especially scary considering longtime NBA veteran Jerome Kersey passed away this week from a blood clot on his lung. Kersey, who spent the majority of his NBA career with the Portand Trail Blazers was only 52 years old. Bosh is 30. Basketball is the last thing he and his doctors are concerning themselves with at this point. Just making sure he can survive the blood clot with no long term effects is all everyone wants for Bosh right now.

Anthony, also 30, finally decided to end his season and have surgery on his ailing knee at the urging of Knicks management. Anthony was still putting up productive numbers despite the injury (22nd overall Slam rating of 40.16). But with the woeful Knicks having no shot at the playoffs, it was in the organization's best interest to shut him down and hopefully have him ready for the start of training camp next season.

One would think if Anthony was in the middle of a championship run with the Rockets he would probably continue to play through the injury and have surgery in the offseason. Therefore he would probably miss the beginning of the 2015-16 season.

But considering the Rockets are already without Dwight Howard for at least the next month with a knee injury, the season could have turned into a complete disaster if Bosh or Anthony were here. They would still have Chandler Parsons at an overpaid price of about $14 million per year. But there wouldn't be a Josh Smith, Corey Brewer or Trevor Ariza, and maybe no Jason Terry. The Rockets would be in salary cap hell with no way out. It could be Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady all over again.

But luckily its not. And despite recent struggles on the court and the inability to solve their point guard problems, the Rockets are still in relatively good shape compared to the rest of the NBA contenders. They have the 5th best record in the NBA. They still maintain some cap flexibility going forward. And if they can get Howard back healthy for the playoffs,  the Rockets maybe able to win a couple of playoff series and make things interesting around here in May.

Best wishes to Bosh and Anthony on full and speedy recoveries. But the Rockets have to be somewhat thankful both guys decided to stay home.


twitter:      @kmooresports
website:     www.fanhoops.net

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ROCKETS-BLAZERS PREVIEW

A huge matchup at Toyota Center this evening as the Houston Rockets (35-15) take on the Portland Trail Blazers (34-17).  Houston is currently 3rd in the Western Conference standings and have won 6 of 7 games. Portland is right behind them in 4th place, but has lost 7 straight on the road. 

This will be the Blazers first time seeing the Rockets with Josh Smith. Expect Smith to have the task of slowing down LaMarcus Aldridge who torched Houston in the playoffs last year.  Portand won that series 4-2. Smith had a huge game on Friday night against Milwaukee, just missing a triple double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.

A win by the Rockets tonight would give them a 3-game lead over Portland, and give them the tiebreaker advantage over the Blazers. A Portland victory would put them only one game behind the Rockets with the final regular season meeting between the teams on March 11 in Portland.  So this one is huge tonight.

Notes: 
Damian Lillard was named as an All-Star replacement today for Blake Griffin (injury).

The Rockets won the first meeting this season on 110-95 back on Dec. 22. James Harden had 44 points in that contest.


twitter:  @kmooresports
website: www.fanhoops.net

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FRIDAY FANTASY BONANZA

I'm not sure if anyone will hit the $380 million Powerball Saturday night.  But alot of NBA players hit the fantasy powerball on Friday night.

34 players scored 40+.

16 players hit 50+.  

6 players broke the 60+ mark. 

48 pts, 11 ast, 9 reb vs Pelicans

Russell Westbrook was the "King of the Hill" with a 91.50 for the night and a 77.75 for the week for A-Team.   Here's a look at Friday nights crazy fantasy numbers!

Rank	Value	Name	Team	Pos	g	m/g
1	91.50	Russell Westbrook	OKC	PG	1	39.7
2	64.50	Greg Monroe	DET	PF/C	1	36.1
3	63.75	DeMar DeRozan	TOR	SG/SF	1	31.8
4	63.50	Tyreke Evans	NOR	SG/SF	1	42.2
5	62.25	Anthony Davis	NOR	PF/C	1	44.4
6	61.25	Nikola Vucevic	ORL	C	1	40.7
7	59.75	Blake Griffin	LAC	PF	1	35.7
8	58.75	Stephen Curry	GSW	PG	1	36.2
9	57.75	Jared Sullinger	BOS	PF	1	30.4
10	57.50	Draymond Green	GSW	SF/PF	1	35.4
11	56.25	Giannis Antetokounmpo	MIL	SG/SF	1	34.7
12	55.50	David West	IND	PF	1	28.5
Rank	Value	Name	Team	Pos	g	m/g
13	55.00	Marcus Morris	PHO	SF/PF	1	32.7
14	53.00	Jeff Teague	ATL	PG	1	32.3
15	51.25	Brook Lopez	BKN	C	1	32.9
16	50.75	Tobias Harris	ORL	SF/PF	1	45.4
17	49.75	Chris Paul	LAC	PG	1	39.8
18	48.00	Brandon Knight	MIL	PG	1	36.0
19	47.75	Kevin Durant	OKC	SF	1	42.8
21	47.25	Trevor Ariza	HOU	SF	1	39.0
20	47.25	Klay Thompson	GSW	SG	1	36.3
22	47.00	Rudy Gobert	UTA	C	1	27.0
23	46.00	Kawhi Leonard	SAS	SF	1	33.4
24	44.50	Ryan Kelly	LAL	SF/PF	1	33.5
Rank	Value	Name	Team	Pos	g	m/g
25	44.25	Kyrie Irving	CLE	PG	1	39.3
27	44.00	Al Horford	ATL	PF/C	1	27.9
26	44.00	Eric Bledsoe	PHO	PG/SG	1	31.1
29	43.50	James Harden	HOU	SG	1	40.2
28	43.50	Josh Smith	HOU	SF/PF	1	32.8
30	42.75	CJ Miles	IND	SG/SF	1	32.1
31	41.75	Andre Drummond	DET	C	1	32.4
33	40.75	Jose Calderon	NYK	PG	1	33.5
32	40.75	Paul Millsap	ATL	SF/PF	1	34.3
34	40.25	Langston Galloway	NYK	PG	1	36.0

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SuperBowl Day Fanhoops Trade

Glass put instant sensation, big man (C) Hassan Whiteside up for sale this week to the highest bidder. Apparently there weren't many buyers as Glass sold Whitside for pennies on the dollar to Bucks for (SG) Wesley Matthews.

Over the past 8 games Whiteside has a Slam rating of 40.  Matthew's has a Slam of 29 over the past 8 games. The move may help Glass slightly at the SG position with Wade injured. However, he may have netted more for Whiteside by holding on to him a bit longer.

For Bucks its an instant upgrade at the center position if Whiteside's numbers hold.

twitter:  @kmooresports
website:  www.fanhoops.net

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Super Bowl: What to Watch For

This Super Bowl will come down to one thing, and one thing only. The championship will be decided on the health of the Legion of Boom.  Seattle's star studded secondary is not healthy.  Safety Earl Thomas has a bad shoulder.  Corner Richard Sherman has a bad arm. Strong Safety Kam Chancellor has a minor knee injury.  If these guys are not up to par it could be a long day.
 
Look for Tom Brady to attack the Seahawks with an up tempo offense today to keep them off balance.  The Patriots will also try to use the power of RB LeGarrett Blount and TE Rob Gronkowski to test the tackling ability of Seattle secondary. The Patriots will also not be as conservative as Green Bay was in the NFC title game. If they have a chance to score touchdowns from inside the 5 yard line on 4th down they will go for it.

Of course for Seattle they will have to be in BeastMode with the running game. Baltimore had alot of success against the Patriots on the ground in the AFC divisional playoff matchup.

Bottom line, if the Seattle secondary can stay healthy and effective they will win.  If one or more of them has to leave the game with injury, Brady will exploit the backups and walk off with title number 4.

twitter:  @kmooresports

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