My Pre-Game Predictions For Today’s Games – 2.21.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball, and we have a busy day with 8 games on the schedule. I will be giving all my pre-game predictions for each game, and choose a winner.
Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans
The Celtics have been very and up and down lately, and usually after good wins like the one they just had against the Hawks, they don’t play as well. For whatever reason, they can’t sustain their success. They should be able to score against a very poor Pelicans defense, but their interior defense will be tested against Zion. They have to get productions from their Big 3 and bench, and hope that New Orleans doesn’t make 3’s in order to win.
The Pelicans are so poorly coached and they have personnel problems. They don’t have a lot of shooting, so the spacing is compromised. They have guys who can score, guys like Alexander-Walker, who just don’t play. Their defense is very poor despite having pretty individual defenders. Their offense stalls out a lot, despite having lots of talent. This team is a mess, and they still need some changes.
Final Verdict: The Celtics should win this game. Offense shouldn’t be a problem, but defense might be. They have to close out to shooters, and plug the lane against Zion and Ingram. The Pelicans are a mess, and I expect them to mess up somehow.
OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers
No matter who’s playing, no matter what the numbers say about this team, they fight you hard. They stay with teams, as it’s rare they get blown out despite not having a lot of superstar talent. But the Cavs aren’t very good, so it’s a chance for a win.
This Cavs team went from promising to back to normal very fast. Their defense has fallen steeply and is now bad, and they have the whole Andre Drummond trade fiasco. This team remains dysfunctional without Lebron, as they continue their everlasting rebuild.
Final Verdict: The Thunder should win this game. The Cavs are poor on both ends, and the Thunder are a team that fights you until the end. The Cavs have been spiraling out of control after a good start, as they just can’t seem to sustain anything promising.
Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic
The Pistons have talent and are promising, but that doesn’t mean they will mean a lot. They are better than their record suggests, but they are still rebuilding. At least they understand that now and are playing their younger guys. That’s all I ask, develop them please if you want any chance at a future.
The Magic have been hit hard by injuries, as their offense hasn’t been great. But lately with Fournier back in the lineup, it’s been getting better. The Magic need to shoot well, and they need Ross, Vucevic, and Fournier to score. The Pistons aren’t great defensively, so it’s another chance for a win for the Magic.
Final Verdict: The Magic should win this game. The Pistons are bottom 10 in defense, and the Magic just have to shoot well to win. Having Fournier back helps them a lot offensively, as maybe they can start to right the shop despite all the injuries they’ve dealt with.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors
The 76ers are a juggernaut, because of MVP candidate (likely frontrunner) Joel Embiid. Embiid is so dominant down low, as he’s fun to watch when healthy. The 76ers are likely to get defensive specialist Ben Simmons back, and maybe more importantly Shake Milton returns. Milton can help rejuvenate a very poor 76ers bench. The Raptors are very weak down low, so Embiid should dominate. The 76ers need some shooting from Harris and Curry, aggressiveness from Simmons, and productiveness from their bench.
The Raptors have fought back from a poor start and now sit at 15-15. But this is likely a loss. They don’t have the same interior presence they’ve had, as they are going to get dominated by Embiid. No Kyle Lowry means they need scoring from VanVleet and Powell, both of whom are going to get hounded by Simmons. The Raptors have to score a lot, because I highly doubt they can slow down this 76ers team.
Final Verdict: The 76ers should be back at full strength, and that’s a problem for the Raptors. They can’t handle Embiid, and Ben Simmons were terrorize their backcourt. The 76ers should win this game handily.
Minnesota T-Wolves vs New York Knicks
The T-Wolves have been a bad team this year, despite having good players. They would be better if they gave Towns the ball more, although we still don’t know if he’s 100% after dealing with a lot of Covid. Still no Culver or Russell, as the Wolves struggle on both ends. They have to score if they want any sort of chance in this game.
The Knicks are a decent team when they score, and that’s a big if. The addition of D-Rose makes them more consistent scoring-wise, but they still have meltdowns. They have to give Randle the ball, and play through him, as he has been an All-Star caliber player this season. The Knicks also can’t afford to just chuck 3’s, and instead play things down low.
Final Verdict: The Knicks should win this game. KAT might be a problem without Mitchell Robinson, but the Knicks defense should be able to hold things down. Their offense should be better against the 23rd best defense, and they should win this game easily.
Denver Nuggets vs Atlanta Hawks
The Nuggets got some Bubble Murray action against the Cavs, and they looked scary. If Murray can become as aggressive as he was in the bubble, the Nuggets will be good. Jokic scoring a lot isn’t good for Denver, as he’s much better as a passer. The Nuggets desperately need scoring from Porter Jr. and Murray, as they are missing a lot of depth in this game.
The Hawks have been slipping lately, as they have dealt with injuries, but also losing games they should have won. Trae Young has to get going, attacking the rim and setting up Capela and Collins. But the Hawks role guys like Reddish, Gallinari, and Huerter have to be better. They were very bad against Boston, and they have to be better if this battered Hawks team wants to win.
Final Verdict: The Hawks should win this game, because Denver’s defense is poor. They don’t have a lot of perimeter defense, and not much of an interior either. The Nuggets are missing a lot of key guys, and the Hawks just kind of have to contain Jamal Murray and they will win.
Brooklyn Nets vs LA Clippers
I hate that this team can’t stay healthy, as we are getting robbed of primetime matchups. KD is once again out, but at least Harden and Irving are playing. The Nets have to make some sort of effort on defense, or they will get dominated. The Nets offense is fine, but they need their defense to be ok at best to win.
The Clippers got a very impressive win against the Jazz late time out, as they beat the best team in the West when they were healthy. Kawhi and PG are a matchup nightmare for every team, and Brooklyn also falls into that category. The Clippers are deep, and they have to play physical defense. They also need to move the ball and not just play in heavy isolation, as that’s much easier to guard.
Final Verdict: The Clippers should win this game. They have a lot of weapons, and no KD means Brooklyn loses a wing defender. Patrick Beverley will harass the Brooklyn backcourt, and the Clippers will play physical defense. This should be a Clipper win.
Sacramento Kings vs Milwaukee Bucks
The Kings have been dealing with injuries, and their offense has been struggling. They have lost some weapons, and their offense becomes far less explosive. And that exposes their very bad defense, which is somewhat hidden if their offense has things going. The Kings are short-handed, and their only chance is to hit a lot of 3’s, something that the Bucks allow teams to do.
No matter the talent, Mike Budenholzer will mismanage this team. They will probably win this game, but they are still not true contenders with this idiot as a coach.
Final Verdict: The Bucks will win this game sorely because the Kings are poor defensively. But if the Kings get things going from 3, it could mean trouble for the Bucks.
Game Of The Day
Nuggets vs Hawks should be a good game. Two teams that have superstars, and explosive offenses despite being short-handed.
Clippers vs Nets and Celtics vs Pelicans will also be good games.
What Are Your Predictions For The 8 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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