At 9:30 pm the conference semifinals: Rockets favored also because the Jazz lost Ricky Rubio due to injury. Donovan Mitchell, however, promises to amaze again Houston-Utah is first and foremost an unexpected series. Because if the Rockets were a contender declared since the beginning of the NBA season, the Jazz were imagined mainly as a lottery team, then. So they face a confirmation, along with the Warriors Houston is the favorite for the ring, and a (welcome, given the wonderful basketball played) surprise. We can talk about a great attack against super defense. The Texans have the second best attack of the regular season (behind GS) for points scored, 112.4 per game, the Mormon favorites show the best defense for points granted (on par with San Antonio), 99.98 per game. Hermetic defense without data "watered down" by a slow trend to reduce opponents' possessions: the "rhythm" of play in the Jazz playoffs was faster than that of the Rockets, in the playoffs.
The isolations for Harden have deeply affected D'Antoni's game, compared to "7 seconds or less", as a recipe for the Phoenix attack. The offensive efficiency has remained resounding, but the modalities have changed in the era of MoreyBall, the system of attack from advanced statistics sublimate wanted by the GM of Houston. Harden and Paul against Mitchell, Gobert against Capela. A parquet like a chessboard, and D'Antoni and Snyder as illuminated strategists. HOUSTON WINS IF ... - If the many arrows in the quiver reveal too many even for the defense of the Jazz. It's hard to imagine that for 4 times Harden, Paul and D'Antoni's 3-point shooters make "cilecca" at the same time. If the talent of the individual and for the length of rotation ends up prevailing. If the Beard and CP3 do not reappear the (disturbing) spectra of the past playoffs.Take a look at some of the best soccer oddstake of the day.
UTAH WINS IF ... - If Coach Snyder has yet another joker to play (Burks?). If the team defense enters the heads of the opposing soloists as an unsolvable Rubik's cube. If Mitchell acts as a freshman of the year, from new Wade. If Rubio, injured to the left biceps femoris (skip surely race-1), manages to return grasping at least this series for the tail, trying at least to lengthen it.
D'Antoni is the current coach of the year. And this version Rockets did even better than that of 12 months ago, accumulating 65 victories in regular season, franchise record. Paul and Harden coexisted like bread and Nutella. Yet, if they do not win the title, they will talk about disappointment. Expectations and pressure are the main opponents: Mike is the right man, with his common sense, to try to "lower" an objective obstacle, given its history and that of its two All Star in post-season. Snyder has nothing to lose. David against Goliath. If he wants the happy ending, in addition to the usual chorus, he needs Mitchell and Gobert to act as tenors. And that the bench plays beyond its limits.