After squandering what momentum they might have built up after winning games one and two at the Toyota Center in Houston, the Rockets must to find their mo-jo again or chance losing the best of four first-round NBA Playoffs series to the Utah Jazz. Right now it’s Utah with the momentum and a Jazz win tonight would send the series back to Salt Lake City for what could be a deciding game six.
Oddsmakers at most offshore sportsbooks favor the Rockets having them installed with a -6.0 point chalk with a 184 total. Early betting figures show the public action split 50/50 on side bets with 70 per cent taking the Jazz with the +240 juice offered. The total is expected to go UNDER according to early wagering figures of 77 per cent.
In order for Houston to win tonight , they must solve Utah’s scrambling perimeter defense. They are searching for answers coming into Game-Five after two double-digit losses to the Jazz in Salt Lake City. Is this defensive tactic the key the Jazz need to get past the Rockets and advance?
Since the series opener, the Jazz have rotated Derek Fisher, Andrei Kirilenko, Gordan Giricek and, at times, Matt Harpring on Rockets guard Tracy McGrady. Utah has doubled McGrady coming off pick-and-rolls and sent an extra defender whenever the Rockets star tries to post up against a smaller guard.
Since McGrady hasn't had much luck generating offense for his teammates or himself in the series, the Rockets have been out of rhythm. They are shooting 37.7 percent in the series and have knocked down just 27.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Yao Ming has put up good numbers but the center has had trouble finding his shot as the series has gone on, with Mehmet Okur pushing him further away from the basket before an entry pass.
“We’ve got to get more than one guy in gear,” Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “We’ve got to get our team competing at a high level.”
