The Lakers are currently the favorite for the Western Conference crown, though they’re by no means unbeatable as we approach the season’s penultimate month. Who could challenge Los Angeles? The options are dicey. Both Denver and Utah have questions regarding their late-game scorers, while the Clippers battle bouts of inconsistency. Perhaps the Rockets are worth a closer look.
Houston has won seven of its last nine entering a matchup with the Knicks on Monday, and its small-ball experiment has worked wonders since jettisoning Clint Capela for Robert Covington. The former Timberwolves forward is wreaking havoc in passing lanes on a nightly basis.