Houston at Golden State

There is one thing to point out in this game, and it really shows how one player can make a huge difference on a team. Stephen Jackson was out last year with an injury, and Golden State could not get out of its own way. He came back and they became an entirely different team. This season he missed the first seven games and Golden State was 1-6. Since his return they have gone 6-1. They have also been 7-1 in the last eight as a home dog with him in the lineup. Houston is playing back-to-back here, and just had a big emotional win in Phoenix last night and this will be their third straight on the road. Houston has not won and covered three straight on the road in the same trip in just about two years - a very tall task in the NBA. Golden State is going to force the tempo and Houston could be out of legs late in this one, so we will ride Golden State at home.