NBA Playoffs Weekend Predictions & Schedule: Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets Play Game 7 for Chance to Play Golden State Warriors
This NBA postseason hasn't disappointed one bit.
Just five teams remain for the chance to capture the 2015 NBA Championship. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks will play each other in the Eastern Conference Finals, whereas the Golden State Warriors have already advanced to the Western Finals.
The only teams that are still competing that haven't advanced to the third round are the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets. The two teams are deadlocked at three games each, and the winner of Game 7 will play the No. 1 seed Warriors for the chance to compete in the finals.
Let's break down this incredible matchup, and predict who will win.
Houston Rockets
The No. 2 seed Rockets eliminated the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and now they're trying to make their first conference finals appearance since 1997. It really is amazing how different this Rockets team plays when they actually play real basketball. Early in this series, the Rockets constantly "hack-a-Shaq'ed" DeAndre Jordan, and trailed in 3-1. Since then, head coach Kevin McHale has let his team play five on five ball, and the Rockets have won the last two games.
Not only do the Rockets have momentum, but they will have home-court advantage in Game 7. The Rockets were 30-11 this year during the regular season playing in Houston.
There's no doubt Harden is the Rockets best player, but others are starting to step up as well. This isn't Jason Terry's first rodeo. Terry knows how to make clutch perimeter shots down the stretch, and that will help take double teams off Harden.
The Rockets offense has been on point the whole series, but their defense hasn't been sharp. The Rockets have allowed more than 100 points in every game of the series thus far. Looks like we're going to have another high scoring affair.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers blew yet again another great opportunity. After leading this series 3-1, the Clippers have lost the last two games. In Game 6 the Clippers blew a big lead after they got outscored 40-15 in the fourth and final quarter, at home. The Clippers have never made it to the conference finals in their franchise history.
This is it for Chris Paul III and Blake Griffin. Neither of those players have ever made it to the third round of playoffs despite being hailed as some of the best players in their respective positions. Although the game will be in Houston, the Clippers did win Game 1 on the road by scoring 117 points.
All eyes will be on Griffin and Paul, but J.J. Redick (who had a very underrated season this year) has to make his 3-pointers, and Austin Rivers has to hit mid-range shots. Head coach Doc Rivers is a champion, and he will have a good game plan set for Game 7.
Griffin has been developing a jump shot from around the top of the key area, but just like the Rockets, defense has to improve to have a chance.
Schedule, Where to Watch
The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers will play each other on Sunday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. EST. The game will be played at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and will air on ABC.
Prediction
I have a rule for NBA Game 7s. The team with the best player will ultimately win. Griffin and Paul are great, but Harden was the MVP candidate this year. Harden will get to the free throw line at a high rate, and Terry will make a difference from the outside. The Clippers won't go down without a fight though. This one is going down to the wire with home-court advantage making the difference.
Rockets win 110-105
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