The Rockets are playing better. But don't put much stock in their 130-81 burial of the Grizzlies this past Monday in their last game. The Grizzlies are just a shell of themselves with multiple key injuries. The Rockets' history is to fall back once they start looking good.

This has become a bitter rivalry series after the Rockets eliminated the Clippers in an epic playoff series last season coming from 3-1 down to pull it off.

The Clippers are 1-3 and were blown out in their last two games. But those three losses were against the Thunder on the road and the blowout defeats came to the Cavaliers and Spurs in San Antonio where they are undefeated. The Clippers don't play again until Saturday when they face the crippled Grizzlies. I expect an all-out effort from the Clippers, who certainly have the talent to beat Houston straight-up.