My Pre-Game Picks For Today’s Game – 1.28.21
It’s another exciting day of NBA basketball and we have 4 games on the schedule today. I will be giving my predictions for each game, picking a winner in the process.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets
The Blazers lost a game to the OKC Thunder, a game where their defense was once again at fault. The Blazers were short-handed in that game, but Rodney Hood returns and Derrick Jones Jr. is playing after dealing with a quad injury. They need guys outside of Damian Lillard to score, and they of course need Dame to score. The Blazers defense has to be ok, because they just can’t afford to let teams score at will on them, especially with the state of their roster and all it’s injuries.
The Rockets have won their last 3 games, all without Christian Wood, as they have been finding ways to win with their new roster. Newly acquired Victor Oladipo has been good alongside guys like Eric Gordon and John Wall. DeMarcus Cousins has had a resurgence as of late, as he has been playing much better lately. Christian Wood returns to the lineup, as he will be a problem for Enes Kanter and Portland down low. The Rockets have talent, they just need their offense to be consistent.
Final Verdict: The Rockets aren’t incredibly deep, but because Portland is short-handed, it’s a pretty even matchup. The Blazers get Rodney Hood back which is huge for their scoring attack, as they have to score because their defense is poor. Christian Wood will be a problem, as they have to take him out of the game. This game will be close, but I think that Portland will win.
LA Lakers vs Detroit Pistons
The Lakers lost a tough game to the 76ers yesterday, in a game where their inability to hit 3’s hurt them, as their late run wasn’t enough. I expect this game to go one of the two ways. LA is mad and they absolutely demolish the Pistons. Or they are fatigued on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, and they coast to a win. Both of these are likely, but we all know who’s winning this game, and no, it’s not the Pistons.
The Pistons are bad, yeah we all know. The only thing I look for in Detroit is they play their young guys. I love it when Blake Griffin isn’t playing, because they get minutes. I don’t know why the Pistons continue to play Blake Griffin, he’s not the same player he used to be. Just play your young guys Detroit, you’re rebuilding.
Final Verdict: LA>Detroit
LA Clippers vs Miami Heat
The Clippers missed their All-NBA wing duo of George and Leonard during the most recent loss to the Hawks, and they will without them again. Patrick Beverley remains out, so other guys have to score and step up. Kennard, Morris, Williams, and Reggie Jackson have to score, and their defense will have to be good. The Clippers are still decent without their wing duo, and this is another chance for them to show us what they’ve got.
The Heat have been plagued by injuries for so long, and it’s just been hard for them to compete. Jimmy Butler has cleared Covid protocols and is working himself back. He might be back for this game, but he’ll be back very soon which is a great thing for the Heat. The Heat will likely be short-handed in this game however.
Final Verdict: Both these teams are short-handed, but the Clippers have more talent. The Clippers have guys that can shut down Adebayo down low, and they have some real scorers. If the Heat can get Jimmy Butler back I give them more of a chance, but since that’s most likely not going to happen, I think that LA will win this game.
Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns
The Warriors swept their two-game series against the T-Wolves, as their supporting cast around Steph has been coming together nicely. Wiggins has been that reliable #2 scorer this season, but Kelly Oubre has been a lot more aggressive. Wiseman and Paschall off the bench has been working, as Wiseman can be more of a natural scorer. Draymond Green orchestrates everything, as the Warriors have been playing their best basketball of the year as of late.
The Suns have lost their last 3 games, as blowing leads has been the theme as of late. Devin Booker missed their last game against OKC, and we don’t know if he’s playing in this game or not. Assuming he’s not, CP-3 and Deandre Ayton have to be a dominant duo, as the Suns can’t win without their two best players. They need role guys like Bridges, Crowder, and Johnson to offer some scoring, as without Booker the Suns have struggled to score.
Final Verdict: The Warriors have been trending up lately, and the Suns have been trending down. The Warriors have been getting less and less Steph reliant, as they’ve been getting much more contributions from the team. The Suns have been blowing leads, as they desperately need Devin Booker back. If he’s not available, they need to find scoring from other guys, something that hasn’t happened without Booker. I think that the Warriors will win this game.
Game Of The Day
There are some good games today, but I think that Blazers vs Rockets will be very good. Portland is short-handed, but they still have a very good offense. Their defense is poor, which opens the door for the Rockets who get Christian Wood back in the lineup. This will be a good game.
What Are Your Predictions For The 4 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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