Rockets vs Trailblazers odds – Expect a barnburner

Rockets vs Trailblazers odds will have most handicappers debating the merits of momentum, as no team is going into the playoffs hotter than No. 4 Portland, which has home-court advantage against No. 5 Houston. Houston has had the Blazers’ number lately, but Portland has one of the best closers in the game. This will be a tight one on sports betting lines, so homecourt could be the difference maker.

Rockets vs Trailblazers odds: Brandon Roy’s “leap year” will continue

• WHO: Rockets vs Trailblazers odds
• WHAT: Best-of-Seven series
• WHEN: Game 1 is on Saturday, April 18, 10:30 p.m. ET
• WHERE: The Rose Garden in Portland, OR
• KEY STATS: Houston was 2-1 against Portland this year
• PICK: Portland in seven

The Rockets lost Tracy McGrady just before the All-Star break and proceeded to go 22-8 without him. Houston also traded Rafer Alston at the trade deadline and never missed a beat. Yao Ming leads the team in scoring, while Ron Artest and Luis Scola are capable of filling the net, but the trio of Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry and Von Wafer has injected some speed and athleticism into the team.

Houston is also a dedicated defensive squad, led by Artest and Shane Battier on the perimeter and Yao in the post, finishing seventh in points allowed.

The Trailblazers have won nine of their last 10, including six straight, and they’ll be making their first trip to the postseason in six years. Brandon Roy made the jump to the next level this year and he became especially lethal at the end of games. LaMarcus Aldridge has blossomed into one of the top power forwards in the game, while Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw give the Trailblazers energy off the pine.

However, will Greg Oden make an impact? The former No. 1 pick has been injury-prone and only plays about 20 minutes a game, and he’ll be counted on with Joel Przybilla to contain Yao.

NBA odds will be close for this series, but the Rockets have the upper hand on Portland, winning two of their three regular-season meetings with the Trailblazers. However, Portland has home-court, and they were fourth in the NBA with a 34-7 record at home. The Trailblazers need to protect this because the Rockets weren’t far behind with a 33-8 record at home.

CRAIG’S PICK: The duo of Roy and Alridge carried the Trailblazers in previous games against Houston, and they’ll need their bench to step up. Homecourt will be the difference, so bet on Portland in this series.

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Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.