Published on: Feb 18, 2022 3:34 am IST|Updated on: Feb 18, 2022 3:34 am IST
LAC vs HOU Dream11: This is the finale of the contest before we dive into the All-Star Break. The Break will bring us a bunch of festivities where we will see the three-point contest, Slam Dunk tournament, and All-Star game, among all the other major festivities. And as we propel towards the All-Star Break, some teams will make a desperate bid to seal the Play-in tournament spots. And one of the teams in the Los Angeles Clippers will be also making a push to seal the spot. And as they meet the Houston Rockets, they will fancy a major winning run with a lax schedule ahead.
The Clippers have done well considering how much they have been plagued by the injury bug. First, they lose Kawhi Leonard potentially for the season, their two-way stalwart. Then they lose another two-way stalwart in Paul George and now newly acquired Norman Powell is out for a long time. The Clippers have garnered decent momentum and once George returns, they will be in a brilliant position I feel.
On the other hand, the Houston Rockets have been on a six-game losing streak and this has been the case for the Rockets for all season long. The team has some potential for the next season but as of now, they are heading towards the lottery. So, that is why when a team that is even hovering below the 50% win mark, the squad has a solid chance.
Host: LA Clippers Visitors: Houston Rockets Match Timing: 18 February, @ 09:00 AM Venue: Crypto.com Arena
Clippers: They are going hard at it! The Clippers have been doing well this season as I said with the multitude of injuries. They have beaten elite squads Mavericks and Warriors just recently and they will play a relatively lax schedule in the window post the All-Star Break. Two of those games will be against the struggling Rockets, they play the Lakers twice, and Knicks once. And well, this is a great opportunity to at least grab four or five wins. This is one of the most relaxed windows. Let us see if they can capitalize upon that and there is a chance that the Clippers will at least get a game or two above the 50% win mark.
Reggie Jackson has done well as the primary playmaker and can be effective in the paint and can also shoot from the perimeter. On the other hand, Marcus Morris provides more than decent scoring at the wing position while Batum has picked up offensively every now and then. Terance Mann and Ivica Zubac are going to be huge for the Clippers down the line and these two will have to step up big time. Amir Coffey, Robert Covington, Luke Kennard, and Isaiah Hartenstein have big roles as the bench players.
Rockets: Painful rebuild Since James Harden has departed from the squad, the Rockets have lost more than 75% of their games and they lack both experience and depth. While Christian Wood has been a threatening scorer, rebounder, and defender but that hasn’t been enough on most nights as he hasn’t received ample support from others. Jae’Sean Tate has been doing well at the wing position with his ability to slash and play decent defense. Meanwhile, Eric Gordon is a great veteran presence with his ability to create shots and provide stable offense. On the other hand, Garrison Mathews has been a brilliant find too with his perimeter shooting.
However, the team’s backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green deserves focus as a young Guard tandem. Kevin has been doing well offensively these days while Green can become a high-yielding knockdown shooter. Alperen Sengun seems like an enticing prospect with his ability to score and rebound and if anything, he can pick up the Center position in the future. On the other hand, the bench of Josh Christopher, Kenyon Martin, the aforementioned Mathews has some potential. Dennis Schroeder was acquired recently but despite his talent, is he going to be with the team next season? Let us see. The next draft is huge for the team.
LA Clippers | Houston Rockets Games: 60| 57 Wins: 29| 15 Defeats: 31 | 42
Los Angeles Clippers Team News:
Clippers Expected Starting Five Forward: PF: Nicolas Batum Wing SF: Marcus Morris Sr. Middle: C: Ivica Zubac Guards: SG: Terance Mann | PG: Reggie Jackson
BENCH: Amir Coffey, Robert Covington, Luke Kennard, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jay Scrubb, Moses Wright, Brandon Boston Jr.
Houston Rockets Team News
Rockets Expected Starting Five
Wing: PF: Jae’Sean Tate Middle: C: Christian Wood Guards: PG: Dennis Schroeder| SG: Jalen Green | PG: Kevin Porter Jr.(QUESTIONABLE)
BENCH: Kenyon Martin Jr., Garrison Mathews, Dawid Nwaba, Alperen Sengun, Armoni Brooks, Josh Christopher, Daishen Nix.
Reggie Jackson(LAC) Points: 14 Rebounds: 02 Assists: 08 Blocks: 02 Reggie has been having a strong season and despite his shooting troubles every now and then, he is crucial as a playmaker and scorer. Jackson has been in the 16-23 points and 4-8 assists range usually. Reggie can be selected as a Star/Pro Player in the Dream 11 NBA Fantasy scenario. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 29-39
Christian Wood (HOU) missed the last game and the Center has been the leading scorer and rebounder for the Rockets. Wood has been in the 16-20 points and 8-12 rebounds range. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 29-40
Marcus Morris Sr.(LAC) Points: 23 Rebounds: 04 Assists: 01 Steals: 01 Blocks: 01 Marcus has provided much-needed scoring sport from the wing position and his lovely mid-range turnarounds are especially a pleasure to watch. The Forward has been dipping in 20 or more regularly. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 24-34
Kevin Porter Jr.(HOU) missed the last game and he is QUESTIONABLE for the game. Porter Jr. has been scoring 15+ and dishing 5-8 assists on a regular basis. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 28-37
Ivica Zubac(LAC) Points: 12 Rebounds: 13 Assists: 05 Blocks: 01 Ivica is a strong scorer and rebounder and if he becomes more consistent, the Clippers can go a long way. The Center has usually been in the 7-11 points and 6-9 rebounds range. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 20-36
Jae’Sean Tate(HOU) Points: 22 Rebounds: 10 Assists: 01 Jae’Sean has been a decent wing for the Rockets and he has been able to remain available for most parts. The wing has been in the 10-15 points and 3-6 rebounds range. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 20-30
(If Porter Jr. plays) PG: D Schroeder, R Jackson(PP) SG: K Porter SF: T Mann PF: M Morris, K Martin C: I Zubac, C Wood(SP)
(If Porter Jr. doesn’t play) PG: D Schroeder, R Jackson(PP), J Green SG: L Kennard SF: T Mann PF: M Morris C: I Zubac, C Wood(SP) If you like our Dream11 Prediction Tips, please share this article with your friends, who are also interested in playing Dream11 Fantasy Leagues. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Telegram, and YouTube for the best Dream11 Fantasy Tips.
Surely not a piece of great news for Indian NBA fans who’d want to catch the gutsy Clippers and young Green dipping in shots! This game is unavailable on TV outlets MTV and VH1. Meanwhile, streaming services JIO TV and Voot are not going to display this game for viewers in India. Therefore, the best method to access it is by getting a hold of the NBA League Pass. And if you purchase the annual subscription, you can catch all live games and you also can have access to the full game replay if you can’t catch the live game. For the scores, stats, and news, go to the official website of the NBA.