ASA top play 10* on: Under 220.5 LA Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, 7PM ET

The Under continues to cash at a remarkable rate in the NBA Playoffs as teams have stepped up their defensive intensity and slowed their pace of play. That couldn’t be more true in this series between the Lakers and Rockets. Houston has flipped a switch and suddenly started playing defense in the restart. In the regular season the Rockets were 14th in defensive efficiency ratings allowing 1.103 points per possession. In the eight Bubble games the Rockets lowered that number to 1.095PPP and in the Playoffs they are giving up just 1.057PPP. In the regular season the Rockets were the 2nd fastest paced team in the NBA at 103.7 possessions per game. In the Playoffs the Rockets are averaging just 98.7 possessions per game which is 10th slowest of the 16 teams. But it’s not all about defense as the Rockets offensive efficiency numbers have dropped in the Playoffs too. The Lakers had the 3rd best defensive efficiency numbers in the regular season and have been nearly as good in the postseason allowing just 1.075PPP. The Lakers are also averaging under 100 possessions per game in the Playoffs. The Lakers shot well above their season average in Games 2 & 3 over 55% from the field in both and still only managed 117 and 112-points. Let’s not forget, the average number of field goal attempts per game in the NBA this season is 177 and these two teams have not combined for more than 164 FGA’s in any of the three games. The Under is the way to go here.