How Russell Westbrook testing positive impacts the Dallas Mavericks

How Russell Westbrook’s positive test impacts Dallas Mavericks: Rockets dip in the standing?

The schedule makers did the Rockets no favors for the restart. They face the Mavs in their first game. That is followed by taking on the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the best record in the NBA. Next up, they face the Portland Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard and company are fighting to get into the playoffs and are fully healthy for the first time all season. The Rockets take on the Lakers in their fourth seeding game.

They are going to need Westbrook and Harden healthy and in top form to win those games. If both players are forced to miss all four, the Rockets would be massive underdogs in each game. Going winless would certainly drop them to seventh in the West.

The schedule eases up for their next four games. The Pacers and Sixers to finish it off will not be easy wins, though. Houston needs to have Westbrook and Harden leading the way.

That means Mavs fans should be following this story closely. The team’s chances of passing the Rockets increase significantly every time Harden or Westbrook misses a game. Nobody is cheering for that, but it is something to keep an eye on.

Next: Title odds