Rockets vs Magic | Prediction & Pick

NBA Free Pick – Friday, January  7, 2011

vs.

Houston Rockets (16-19) vs Orlando Magic (23-12)
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm EST on ESPN

Last meeting: Orlando won both contests last year winning by 15 and 18 points.

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Houston overall is a disappointment this season but you have to cut them a bit of a break given injuries to Yao and mighty mite Aaron Brooks.  As a result Kevin Martin has become an even more featured scorer (he dropped 45 in their last game) and Luis Scola continues to quietly become one of the better bigs in the league.  With key players shuttling in and out of the lineup you never know what you are going to get which is why it is not surprising that their ATS record 17-16-2 is better than their straight up record.  This team really struggles on the road, only 6-13, and it will be hard for them to breakthrough against a team that is rolling like the Magic.  Their only chance it to successfully bomb away from outside because it is going to be hard for Scola and Jordan Hill to get anything going against Superman Dwight Howard.

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Orlando GM Otis Smith has to be pretty pleased with himself.  The Magic dropped their first two after making major roster changes but since then are enjoying a 7 game winning streak, reinserting themselves back into the conversation of who is the best team in the Eastern Conference.  The first two of those wins were against San Antonio and Boston, as impressive a combo as you can get, and now they are just pounding the weaker teams.  Adding Hedo Turkoglu to your team is not supposed to make you better but when he is in Orlando it just works.  His passing is opening chances for the Magic’s shooters and everything surrounding Howard is better than it was before.  This is a key home game for Orlando as after this they hit the road for 5 straight.

The current line on this one is -10 for the Magic.  A Magic victory seems definite but I don’t like giving away that many points.  Although they are 6-1 ATS on their current run.

Prediction: Last year Houston has no answer for Howard who was a combined 16 out of 18 over the two games.   I don’t think Jordan Hill is going to have much better success and when Howard is efficient this team is unbeatable.   Houston will scrap it out to the end though which is why I am leery to make the play

Score:  Orlando 99 – Houston 87

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Houston Rockets Betting Trends

• Rockets are 6-1-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a S.U. loss.
• Rockets are 5-1-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
• Rockets are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
• Rockets are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

Orlando Magic Betting Trends

• Magic are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Magic are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. win.
• Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.

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