Paulo Alves

I know it was night two of a back-to-back on the road, but they just drilled the Rockets, and I also think they're the most talented team overall between Jokic, Jamal Murray, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon.

There's just so much high-end talent on that roster overall.

For me, I think it's Lakers at one, Minnesota at two, and Denver at three.

I would prefer home court advantage.

So if it's close, like if I could have home court advantage against Minnesota and I would not have home court advantage against the Lakers, that might tilt me a little bit towards Minnesota, pending what happens with Jaden McDaniels and his health.

I'm assuming he'll play, but the question is how effective he will be.

But just generally speaking, I would say that's my order.

I think regardless, with this limited version of the Rockets, what we've seen since the All-Star break, there's no silver bullet.

There's something that's going to dramatically change their outlook.

I just think they're outmanned from a talent perspective against Denver.

I would prefer the Lakers or the Timberwolves and probably the Lakers because even with everything going wrong, the Rockets were still right there those two games that were played a couple of weeks ago.

And then on Christmas, when things were going right for the Rockets, obviously they drilled the Lakers in L.A.

So that's sort of my outlook.

How well, what's your perspective as far as the optimal draw and how important is home court advantage, given that, you know, they're 25 and 10 at home, but 20 and 19 on the road?

I think home court revenge is critical.

The stats speak for themselves.

It's not necessarily that I think Houston has a massive home court advantage like Denver has, for example, because of the altitude or some other teams have because of the crowd.

Although in the playoffs, the center is typically a step up.

But the stats tell you they seem to be a lot better at home than they are on the road.

That has to have a reason.