My Pre-Game Predictions For Today’s Games – 2.28.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball and we have 9 games on the schedule today. I will be giving all my pre-game predictions for each game and choose a winner.
LA Clippers vs Milwaukee Bucks
The Clippers are one of the best teams in the league as they have so many weapons on offense. Now their problem might be on defense against Giannis. PG and Kawhi are very good wing defenders but Giannis would just plow threw them. Zubac and Ibaka are sturdy but the Clippers need to build a wall. It will be harder with Jrue Holiday likely returning, but if they can’t stop Giannis this becomes a very tough game. The key for LA is just making 3’s, something that they are good at.
The Bucks might have won their last 4 games but I don’t think they’re all that good. Their schemes to use Giannis are bad and while I don’t think that will affect them much in this game, it will in the postseason. Getting Jrue Holiday back is huge for their play-making and defense, but if they used Holiday more with Giannis in the pick and roll the Bucks would be better. The Bucks just need to hope that LA doesn’t make a lot of 3’s, otherwise they will be in trouble.
Final Verdict: I am taking the Clippers to win this game. The Bucks weakness is 3-PT shooting and the Clippers make 3’s at the best percentage in the league. Getting Jrue Holiday back is good for the Bucks and bad for LA, but obviously we don’t know how good he’ll be after missing all that time. This will be a good game but I am taking the Clippers.
Washington Wizards vs Boston Celtics
The Wizards are one of the hottest teams in the league as they have won 7 of their last 8 games. They have been playing with energy on both ends, and they’ve been winning. Their defense has been a lot better during this stretch mainly due to energy. The Wizards need Beal and Westbrook to score (assuming Westbrook plays on the 2nd night of a back-to-back). If guys like Hachimura or Bertans could also get going that would be big. Boston isn’t necessarily great and Washington could win this game.
The Celtics have been very disappointing this year but they know how to win. They need Kemba to play like he did against Indiana, aggressively finding his spots. Jayson Tatum and Brown haven’t been great lately, especially Tatum who instead of getting to the rim takes tougher shots for no reason. We get you can make them, but taking less of them helps. The Celtics also need their bench featuring Williams, Teague, and Pritchard to be solid. Boston knows how they need to win, it’s just if they can win.
Final Verdict: The Celtics should win this game. Kemba Walker has been playing really well and the bench has been getting better. Brown is questionable in this game, and if he can’t play Tatum has to be better especially considering the fact that Washington doesn’t have a good wing defender. Boston doesn’t want this game to become a shootout, as that plays into Washington’s hands. This will be a good game, but I’m giving the slight edge to the Celtics.
New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons
The Knicks are the 5th seed in the East, tied with the Raptors. How crazy is that? Their defense has been so good this year and their offense has been getting more consistent and that’s really the only thing holding them back. If they can score, something they should be able to do against this Pistons team, they are a tough team to stop.
The Pistons aren’t very good but they are at least playing their young guys like Stewart and Bey which is all that matters. No Delon Wright hinders them on offense a lot but they are overmatched in most games they play anyway so.
Final Verdict: The Knicks should win this game handily. They are a better team overall and they are better on both ends. This should be an easy win for the Knicks.
Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat
The Hawks have been disappointing to say the least this year. I know they’ve dealt with injuries, but they just have bad losses. Their last one to the multi-colored OKC Thunder was bad as they can’t seem to be consistent. Trae Young might not play, and if he doesn’t the Hawks don’t stand a chance. They need Young to be guns blazing for them in order to win and if he’s not there there’s no real competition.
The Heat have been getting better as they have won their last 5 games. Butler and Adebayo have returned as a premier duo as they have been doing it all for an injury riddled Heat team. Getting Dragic back makes the bench more reliable with Herro dealing with injuries. If Trae Young plays the Heat have to contain him and make it tough for him. If he doesn’t play there isn’t an excuse for the Heat not to get a 6th straight win.
Final Verdict: The Heat have been playing well, and I think they will win this game regardless if Young plays or not.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Houston Rockets
The Grizzlies haven’t been as good lately as their defense has been struggling. Their offense isn’t close to explosive on most nights so they need their defense to come through for them. But with Houston coming in losers of their last 10 games, all the Grizzlies have to do is not fall asleep at the wheel.
Christian Wood really was holding this team together as they have been awful without him. They’ve lot their last 10 and completely fallen out of the playoff picture in the West. No Oladipo means it’s basically just John Wall again, and I just don’t think he can do enough to make this poor Rockets team win.
Final Verdict: The Grizzlies should win this game easily because Houston is just a mess right now.
Golden State Warriors vs LA Lakers
The Warriors can be so good or so bad, and they’ve been playing really well. Curry is Curry but the key is the others. Draymond Green gives everybody good looks, and they just have to take advantage of the looks they get from Curry’s spacing and Green’s passing. Oubre has been playing better and Wiggins is solid. The Warriors don’t have to deal with AD down low, which is a relief. If they can get wing scoring and some bench production I doubt Golden State loses this game.
The Lakers were only struggling when AD was out because Schroder was also out. Now that Lebron has some sort of shot-creating sidekick next to him now the Lakers are competent. Their defense in the last game was good but can they contain Curry? They have to be careful of Draymond Green and his playmaking as well. The Warriors defensively are solid so this will be a tough game for LA.
Final Verdict: The Warriors should win this game as they have been playing really well even with Curry being sub-par. Draymond Green does so much for the offense, they just have to make some shots and get some bench production. The Lakers will have a problem with the Warriors offense and I don’t know if they can stop Golden State.
Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota T-Wolves
The Suns have been very good this season, as they are so balanced. They have scoring in the backcourt with CP-3 and Booker, both All-Stars. Ayton is very good down low and they have versatile defenders and a very good bench. This team hardly has a weakness and they should smoke the T-Wolves.
New coach and system. Towns not getting shots. Edwards struggled. No D’Angelo. No Beasley. Things aren’t pretty in Minnesota right now.
Final Verdict: The Suns should win this easily, no real explanation.
Charlotte Hornets vs Sacramento Kings
The Hornets offense has exploded in the last 12 games with Lamelo Ball starting. For the season they average 111.6 points per game. With Ball as a starter they average 116.7, which is exponentially better. Their offensive rating is 5 points better with Ball as a starter. They have been allowing over 118 ppg in that same stretch, but their offense is really good. No Devonte Graham isn’t a bad thing, but maybe not having Cody Zeller is a problem.
The Kings are 1-9 in their last 10 games, as their defense has been awful. In those last 10 games, the Kings are allowing 124.4 points per game. That’s embarrassing. The Kings themselves have only scored 114.6 points per game in that stretch. So defense is the problem. If the Kings can’t stop Charlotte (a likely possibility) they are basically cooked. The only way they can win is if they get back to shooting 3’s as they have not been dropping lately.
Final Verdict: The Hornets should win this game. Their offense has been so good in these last 12 games without Devonte Graham and with Lamelo Ball starting. Their defense is bad but the Kings is far, far worse. They are allowing so many points it’s just embarrassing. The Hornets should win this game.
Game Of The Day
Clippers vs Bucks should be very good. Very good offenses and some of the best two-way players in the league going head-to-head. This should be good.
Lakers vs Warriors should also be good and so will Hornets vs Kings.
What Are Your Predictions For The 9 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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