Thursday's NBA Betting Picks!

Hoop Hopes – Ricky Rothstein makes his picks for tonight’s NBA action!

The New York Knicks have troubles. Firstly, they’re the new New York Knicks and, even though they haven’t won a Championship in forty years, the rabid New York fans expect rings every year. Those expectations aren’t always realistic and the city that never sleeps may have to wait at least one more year until success returns to the Garden.

Right now, the Knicks’ biggest problem is at center. Tyson Chandler broke his leg against the Bobcats nine days ago and it’ll be at least a month until he’s back. In that time, the Knicks miss both his presence in the paint and his general leadership on the court.

Presence in the paint and on-court leadership are two things the Knicks will badly need tonight, when they’re a +1.5 point underdog against the Houston Rockets. Houston has been struggling so far this season, and for a variety of reasons. The arrival of Dwight Howard means that the team has to play in a different way, James Harden has been hampered by a foot injury and all these things take getting used to.

That said, Houston is a real contender to win it all. Howard is playing much better as a Rocket than he did as a Laker (although his free-throw shooting is appalling) and Houston will be nobody’s victim. The Knicks are back home after a morale-boosting come-from-behind win at Atlanta last night, while Houston’s last outing was a shock loss at the Sixers in overtime last night. That, combined with the doubts about Harden starting, suggests that it’ll be the Knicks’ night in Madison Square Garden.

Hoop Hope 1 | Houston at New York: New York +1.5

It’s a classic matchup between power and finesse when Oklahoma City visits Golden State tonight. The Thunder lost at the Clippers last night in a heated game and will be eager to right the ship. Golden State is dominant at home, 2-0-1 against the spread – something’s got to give.

Both teams are powered by two of the premier point guards in the League. The Warriors have Stephen Curry, a sublime shooter from downtown, while the Thunder have Russell Westbrook, a man who likes to attack the basket at every opportunity. Westbrook’s knee injury cost the Thunder badly in last year’s playoffs, but he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery – unlike, say, the Bulls’ Derrick Rose, who’s struggling to find his game since his return from injury. The total is set at 206.5 and, which so many shooters in the building, over is the pick.

Hoop Hopes 2 | Oklahoma City at Golden State: Over 206.5

Follow Ricky Rothstein’s Hoop Hopes every night – he’s 3-6 for the season so far!