This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
This headline is misleading, but it's important because many NBA fans claim the season does not begin until Christmas Day, while others claim the season does not begin until the Playoffs, while the remainder only watch the Finals. Fortunately, handicapping the NBA makes every week as enjoyable end-to-end.
Last Week: 1-2 (13-11-1 on the season)
What I regret from last week: Everything, save for what James Harden has done for my bank account. That man is SINGLE HANDEDLY saving Christmas (or the holiday, or whatever the accepted term is nowadays). Santa has a beard. James Harden has a beard. Have you ever seen them at the same place at the same time?
No you have not. Food for thought.
On to this week:
Rockets at Suns (+5.5)
The Rockets continue to be one of the best teams against the spread this season, which week after week has pointed to lines that are not adjusted to their actual play on the court. The reasoning for the small home underdog spread in this case is that the Rockets are playing the second game of a back-to-back after a tough 102-100 loss to the Spurs on Tuesday. The reality is that the Suns got back from a late game in which they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and won't have a major rest advantage, save for the home court benefit. Nene and Montrezl Harrell will take some time to adjust to their minutes increase with Clint Capella out, but the Rockets managed to hold a lead against one of the four best teams in the league late into the fourth quarter.
In this case, 5.5 points does not seem like enough, especially given James Harden's unending offensive outbursts.
The Pick: Rockets -5.5
Thunder at Pelicans (+2)
The current spread consensus says that 92 percent of the money is on the Thunder to cover the lowly two points the Pelicans are getting. Rarely I agree with any spread being above 80 percent, given the contrarian pick tends to work out in the bettors favor, but I have no choice but to lay the points here. Russell Westbrook almost beat the Atlanta Hawks one-on-five after dropping 46 points in another jaw-dropping, NBA 2K-esque performance. With Victor Oladipo (wrist) out again with an injury, it just gives Westbrook even more of a reason to do everything himself.
On a very quick sidenote, I wonder if it's possible that the Thunder are more fun to watch this year compared to any of the years Kevin Durant and Westbrook were together. Westbrook is the most entertaining player in basketball by what seems like a country mile.
The only thing I know for sure is to take the over on Westbrook turnovers.
The pick: Thunder -2
