NBA Southwest Division
Houston Rockets
The Rockets are streaking to an 8-2 record over their last ten games, and don't seem to be slowing down any at all. The Rockets lone loss last week was a 115-113 squeaker to New Orleans on the road, and that snapped a four game winning streak. The Rockets enter the week second in scoring offense at 114 points per game, and the Rockets are 19-1 when James Harden, Chris Paul, and Clint Capela are in the starting lineup together. The Rockets open the week at home against Orlando on Tuesday, and then they go on the road to close the week with games at San Antonio (Thursday) and Cleveland (Saturday).
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have won three of four heading into the week, and are doing so as a beat up unit still. They sit just four games back of Houston, and with the Rockets having a meat grinder schedule coming up this week, they have an opportunity to shave that lead further still, as they match up head to head Thursday. The Spurs open the week with Denver at home (Tuesday), the Rockets at home (Thursday) and will close out the week with a home game against Utah (Saturday). Opportunities are ever present.
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans suffered a major blow when DeMarcus Cousins was lost for the season last week. That will be a major void to fill for a team that was still very much in the hunt in the division and playoff races. Now, this team is a relative unknown moving into the stretch run of the season. The Pelican simply do not have much depth in the front court, especially at the power positions, so look for a possible trade approach in the next two weeks heading into the deadline. The Pelicans lost to the Clippers to end the week. They open the week with Sacramento coming to town on Tuesday, and then have a brutal two game road trip to Oklahoma City (Friday) and Minnesota (Saturday).
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis finally admitted what we have known all along. Mike Conley would not be playing for the rest of the season They have shut him down, and he will not be back until next October. Memphis enters the week completely out of any playoff chase, and they have lost three of four. They play at home against Phoenix tonight, and then hit the road to take on Indiana (Wednesday), Detroit (Thursday), and Toronto (Sunday).
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs have lost six of seven entering the week, and are one of the four worst teams in the league. Dallas ranks 25th in scoring offense, 27th in rebounds, and 19th in assists. This is all bleak news for a team trying to rebuild around Dennis Smith, Jr. Dallas starts the week tonight by hosting Miami, and then hits the road to Phoenix (Wednesday) and Sacramento (Saturday).
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