NBA PLAYOFF PICKS – 12/9/20

*These NBA Playoff picks and research are done the previous game day evening, adjust your selections accordingly should spreads and lineups change.

DP’S PLAYER PROP

SEASON RECORD: 66-41

Expert NBA Player Props Analyst, Daniel Parisi, gives his best daily prop.

A stress-free watch on Serge Ibaka Over 11.5 gifted us another prop win (by half-time), making it 5 from my past 6.

With only 1 game on tomorrow – my cards are dealt and I’m keen to make a play on the the Lakers/Rockets game which could very well be the last of this series.

There is only so much patience you can have with James Harden when taking him on the overs in big time games but here we are again, in a close out game, where Harden is presented with the chance to do exactly what the Nuggets did today against the Clippers.
Shooting it at 44% on the floor this series, Harden has surpassed 31 or more points on 2 of 4 occasions. In the two games he wasn’t able to post a tally, he averaged 11.5 shots, which is just unacceptable.

Whilst he has struggled at times to create his own shot courtesy of an LA double, he has been exceptional in drawing contact around the hoop, averaging 13 FT attempts per game.
I expect the Rockets to show up early, and this’ll be on the back of Harden – there’s no second chance tomorrow, so expect the league’s most prolific scorer to be free-flowing early.

DP’S PICK –  JAMES HARDEN OVER 29.5 POINTS – WIN

PARLAYS

SAME GAME MULTI – PLAY IT SAFE

• HOUSTON VS LA LAKERS – OVER 208.5 TOTAL POINTS (ALTERNATE LINE)
• HOUSTON VS LA LAKERS – JAMES HARDEN 25+ POINTS (ALTERNATE LINE)
• HOUSTON VS LA LAKERS – LA LAKERS WIN

ODDS – $2.40 – WIN

HOUSTON VS LA LAKERS

LA LAKERS LEAD 3-1

PLAYER BETTING TRENDS

• Russell Westbrook has 9+ rebounds in 18 of his last 23 playoff appearances. (7.5)
• Eric Gordon has 19+ points in 6 of the Rockets’ last 7 playoff games as underdogs. (17.5)
• Anthony Davis has 4+ assists in 6 of the Lakers’ last 7 games. (3.5)
• Rajon Rondo has 8+ assists in the Lakers’ last 3 games. (7.5)
• James Harden has 33+ points in 10 of the Rockets’ last 15 games against the Lakers. (30.5)
• Kyle Kuzma has 13+ points in 10 of his 14 previous games against the Rockets. (11.5)

() = BOOKIE LINE

TREND BET

HOUSTON

• Under is 36-14-1 in Rockets last 51 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
• Under is 8-2 in Rockets last 10 games as an underdog.
• Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 overall.

LA LAKERS

• Under is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
• Under is 10-3 in Lakers last 13 games following a straight up win.

MATCHUP

• Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

TREND BET – UNDER 215.5 TOTAL POINTS – WIN

MATCHUP TRENDS

• Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

SEASON SERIES

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/- 

PICKS ATS

The Lakers attempt to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 10 years after a 110-100 Game 5 win on Thursday.

The Lakers went out to a 101-78 lead, but the Rockets answered with a 22-4 surge to close the gap to 105-100 after two free throws by Harden with 58.7 seconds left. A Caruso’s corner three with 35.8 seconds left pushed the margin to 8 and from there the game was over.

Anthony Davis had 29 points and 12 rebounds and James finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists. Caruso added 16 points and Rondo had another solid outing with 11 points, 10 boards and 8 assists off the bench.

Westbrook scored 25 points and James Harden had 21 points but was just 2-of-11 from the floor and 1-for-6 on 3-pointers. Eric Gordon had 19 points and Austin Rivers chipped in 14.

The Lakers outscored Houston 62-24 in the paint and controlled the boards with a 52-26 advantage, including 12-1 on offensive boards. The Lakers also held a 19-2 edge in fast-break points.

It’s all over red rover.

PICK – LA LAKERS -6.5