Published on: Feb 16, 2022 10:15 pm IST|Updated on: Feb 16, 2022 10:15 pm IST
PHX vs HOU Dream11: NBA keeps on fielding games at a regular rate and this has been another riveting season. With the way things have gone, the race for the last few Play-in spots will only heat up. For some teams, the season has brought on harsh realities and they have already lost the terrain to traverse when it comes to the Play-in tournament, however, there is an intense race in the West for the 7-10 spots. The Houston Rockets are a team that is pretty much out of the tournament race as they head to the lottery and they meet the Phoenix Suns, a team that keeps rolling over oppositions.
The Suns have been winning due to their incredible core and they have been well on their way to the Finals. They are a team that did go to the Finals last season and it will not be a surprise if they reach there again, however, the road is still long and hard. They have won six in a row and have lost just one game in more than a month.
On the other hand, the Rockets have been doing a poor job of garnering wins, currently on a five-game losing streak. They are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and they have the third-worst record in the league overall. As the Rockets rebuild, the current timeline keeps on churning losses for them.
Host: Phoenix Suns Visitors: Houston Rockets Match Timing: 17 February, @ 07:30 AM Venue: FootPrint Center
Match-ups: Clippers can be overwhelmed Before we talk about this game, let us set the context. The Suns played a gritty Clippers squad last night and they had to pull off some special possessions late in the game to come through. Here, they will play a second game on the second night. During the last two instances, when they have played a back-to-back game, they have won the game and that too away from home, so yes, they are a gem of a team in this situation.
The highlight here seems to be the Center match-up between Deandre Ayton and Christian Wood. Ayton had a tough time versus Zubac and the Clippers. Ayton has been superb in terms of inside scoring, rebounding, and defense. Wood has been an all-around scorer and has a smooth game and in terms of averages, he is almost on par with Ayton. However, he doesn’t have the luxury of playing with a loaded team like Ayton.
On the other hand, the Guard matchup has usually been the area where the Suns keep on racking advantages. Chris Paul and Devin Booker form a strong duo where Paul can act as a high-yielding playmaker while hitting crucial shots, and Booker can simply score points in bunches and trigger big-time runs. While Porter Jr. and Green both have had some offensive production, Green has been having troubles with efficiency while Porter Jr. has surely lifted his offense and playmaking. However, they can be outmatched here.
The wing position and the Forward depth is where the Suns can secure a big-time advantage. Mikal Bridges has hammering hard in the paint while Jae’Sean Tate is not that high-yielding when compared to him. Crowder gives multi-dimensional production and the Rockets play three-guard so yes, there is no one who can match up to these Forwards. Off the bench, Craig and Johnson are terrific options at the wing and while Kenyon Martin Jr. has been doing a great job, the bench of the Suns looks deeper with JaVale McGee at the Center. Alperen Sengun, Josh Christopher, and Dennis Schroeder form the rest of the unit but Dennis may take some time figuring out his role with Houston.
Phoenix Suns | Houston Rockets Games: 57| 56 Wins: 47| 15 Defeats: 10| 41
Phoenix Suns Team News
Suns Expected Starting Five Wings: PF: Jae Crowder | SF: Mikal Bridges Middle: C: Deandre Ayton Guards: SG: Devin Booker | PG: Chris Paul
BENCH: Elfrid Payton, Bismack Biyombo, Torrey Craig Cameron Johnson, Javale McGee, Ismail Wainright.
Houston Rockets Team News
Rockets Expected Starting Five
Wing: PF: Jae’Sean Tate Middle: C: Christian Wood Guards: SG: Eric Gordon| SG: Jalen Green | PG: Kevin Porter Jr.
BENCH: Kenyon Martin Jr., Dennis Schroeder, Garrison Mathews, Dawid Nwaba, Alperen Sengun, Armoni Brooks, Josh Christopher, Daishen Nix.
Chris Paul(PHX) Points: 17 Rebounds: 05 Assists: 14 Steals: 01 Paul has been one of the best clutch players in the league and well, his dime-dropping skills need no mention. Chris has scored 14 or more while dishing 12+ assists regularly. CP-3 can be selected as a Star/Pro Player in the Dream 11 NBA Fantasy scenario. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 38-50
Kevin Porter Jr.(HOU) Points: 08 Rebounds: 04 Assists: 08 Steals: 01 Porter Jr. has increased his scoring output and has been the leading playmaker for the struggling Rockets. He has been scoring 15+ and dishing 5 or more assists on a regular basis. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 29-40
Devin Booker(PHX) Points: 26 Rebounds: 03 Assists: 04 Steals: 03 Blocks: 01 Devin has been scoring at a high clip and has been doing a great job of carrying the major load on the offensive end. He has scored 26 or more on a regular basis while grabbing and dishing 3+ rebounds and assists respectively. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 38-52
Christian Wood(HOU) Points: 12 Rebounds: 09 Assists: 04 Blocks: 01 Wood has been doing a great job as the leading rebounder and scorer for the team while providing serviceable defense. He has been scoring in the 16-23 points and clasping 8-13 rebounds range. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 34-44
Deandre Ayton(PHX) Points: 12 Rebounds: 12 Assists: 01 Blocks: 01 Steals: 01 Ayton has been a force in the middle with his near-the-rim scoring, excellent rebounding, and high-quality defense. He has scored 12 or more while clasping 9 or more rebounds regularly. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 27-40
Jae’Sean Tate(HOU) Points: 14 Rebounds: 03 Assists: 01 Tate is a wing who has been a regular contributor on both ends of the floor for the flailing Rockets. He has usually been in the 10-15 points and 3-5 rebounds range this season. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 17-28
PG: C Paul(SP), J Green SG: D Booker SF: M Bridges PF: T Craig, K Martin C: J McGee, C Wood(PP)
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Not a piece of great news for the Indian fans who want to delve into Ayton, Booker, Wood, Gordon, Porter Jr, and Green go at it! This contest is not available on TV channels MTV and VH1. On the other hand, streaming platforms JIO TV and Voot are not going to showcase this game for viewers in India. And that is why the best mode to access it is by getting a hold of the NBA League Pass. If you buy the annual subscription, you can witness all live games and you also can have access to the full game replay if you miss the live action. To know scores, stats, and news, visit the official website of the NBA.