4th Choice – Houston Rockets
The Rockets have looked a shell of themselves, from the team that came back from 3-1 down against the Clippers in last season’s Conference Semi Finals. For the most part, though, they are the same unit except for the recent trade of Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to the Detroit Pistons.
The team still has plenty of firepower in James Harden, Dwight Howard and Trevor Ariza to cause problems, and if Josh Smith can recapture the form that hurt the Clippers from the perimeter last year then it stands to reason this wouldn’t necessarily be a favourable matchup.
This is also not a favourable matchup from an entertainment standpoint. Nobody wants to see hack-a-Jordan vs. hack-a-Howard in the playoffs, or in any game.
As it stands this season: 2-1 in favor of the Rockets (Clippers win in OT).
(Rockets lead series 2-0 in playoffs vs. Clippers).
Next: Portland Trail Blazers