Free NBA Pick: Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz Odds: November 2nd 2009

Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz
Free NBA Pick: Over 205 points -110 odds
Visit Touthouse.com for more NBA basketball picks from Ted Sevransky

The Rockets are playing up-tempo basketball with their undersized lineup, a sharp contrast to what we’ve seen from Houston in recent years. As with any major season-to-season adjustment in playing styles, we can expect the betting marketplace to be lagging behind. That is clearly evidenced by the Rockets win and cover over Portland on Saturday, a game that went Over the total by 30 points.

Houston has very little low post offense these days. That means Rick Adelman’s squad must rely heavily on their speed and quickness; while playing pressure defense on the perimeter, looking to force easy fast break buckets. Slashers Aaron Brooks and Trevor Ariza create fouls as well, leading to points in bunches from the free throw line. Facing a Jazz team that has struggled on the defensive end in both previous games this year, look for the Rockets to approach or exceed the century mark once again tonight.

Utah’s offense matches up very well with the Rockets. Houston is undersized down low; Utah pounds the ball into the paint with Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap. The Jazz hit the offensive glass hard, creating easy second chance looks. And the Jazz are no strangers to uptempo basketball, flying Over the total in each of their two previous games. Expect another relatively high scoring affair from these two squads tonight. Take the Over.