My Pre-Game Picks For Today’s Games – 2.5.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball, and we have a busy day with 9 games on the schedule today. I will be giving all my predictions for each game, and choose a winner.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Indiana Pacers
When the Pelicans shoot well, they are very good, and they looked very good against Phoenix when they shot well. Zion and Brandon Ingram have been excellent this season, but New Orleans can only be a great team when they shoot well. They can’t afford to compound their poor spacing with poor shooting as well. If they can shoot well, New Orleans is a tough team to beat.
The Pacers were shot out of the gym by the Bucks, as one of their weaknesses is shooting 3’s. They have their duo of Brogdon and Sabonis down low, but their defense is terrible when Myles Turner isn’t on the floor. They have to be able to find scoring from guys not named Brogdon and Sabonis, and be able to contain the New Orleans forwards.
Final Verdict: I’m taking Indiana just because New Orleans shooting well isn’t a given. They haven’t been consistently shooting the ball well, and Indiana does have some weaknesses, but they are a very solid team. They just have to try and score from the outside, and hope that when Myles Turner isn’t on the floor that they don’t get torched.
Chicago Bulls vs Orlando Magic
The Bulls lost a tough game to the Knicks, as their offense was held in check for most of the night. I think that it’s safe to say the Coby White PG experiment hasn’t been working. White is more of a scorer than a facilitator, and I think that the Bulls still need a play-making PG (like a Rubio), to be very good. In the meantime, it might be better to have White come off the bench to just score, similar to a Lou Williams role.
The Magic have been hit hard by injuries, and because of that they have one of the worst offenses in the league. They just can’t score, and while the Bulls don’t have a great defense and they turn the ball over, Orlando is also a bottom-10 defense.
Final Verdict: I think that if the Bulls put White on the bench, I would like them a lot more. Even if White starts, I’ll take the Bulls. The Magic can’t really score and they have a poor defense, and if the Bulls don’t turn the ball over too much, they can win.
Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets
The Raptors have slowly been climbing out of their slow start, as they have been looking more and more like the Raptors of old. Fred VanVleet exploded against Orlando for a 54-point game, but I don’t think Toronto can rely on this happening again. They haven’t had a game where their entire Big 3 plays well. It’s always one guys turn to take a night off essentially, which can’t happen, especially against a team like the Nets. No OG Anunoby will be huge for this game, as the Raptors will have to try and match the Nets rapid scoring rate.
The Nets have been getting more consistent on defense, as they looked solid at times against the Clippers. We all know the offense is fine. KD has been playing like and MVP, Kyrie is a problem for anybody and James Harden does a bit of everything. If they can also unlock Joe Harris shooting wise, it creates another weapon. The key for the Nets once again is defense. If they make an effort to play defense, it’s not as bad as what it was against the Wizards, when it was awful.
Final Verdict: If the Nets play decent defense, they are basically unstoppable. No OG Anunoby will be a problem for Toronto as they don’t have the interior defense to deal with the Nets. This should be a win for the Nets.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks have gotten back on track with their last two wins, but I am still not sold. Just make 3’s and you can win against this team. Giannis might put up great numbers in the regular season, but they are using him wrong come playoff time, as they will likely struggle again. So Milwaukee can win all they want against the Cavs, but I am not sold on them even winning the East much less winning a title.
The Cavs have been decent this season, but they likely stand no chance against the Bucks. The Bucks sometimes struggle against teams with very good offenses, however the Cavs have the opposite of a very good offense. They have a great defense with two of the best defensive centers in the league. No Larry Nance does hurt and Collin Sexton is questionable, meaning the Cavs might lose their best scorer.
Final Verdict: This game is pretty lopsided, and the Bucks should win easily. Really doesn’t matter how many wins they get now, they just can’t win with their joke of a coach.
Utah Jazz vs Charlotte Hornets
The Jazz have been one of the hottest teams in the league, as their shooting as been the main reason for their success. I keep expecting them to go cold for a game, but it hasn’t happened. And with Bojan Bogdanovic playing a lot better as of late, this Jazz team is scary. If you can’t slow them from the outside, good luck trying to beat them.
With Lamelo Ball starting, the Hornets have been solid. I like Lamelo starting as he’s more of a pass first-guy, a good compliment for Devonte Graham. But with Rozier back, the Hornets will likely be sending their star rookie back to the bench. The Hornets have talent, but Lamelo seems to make them run better, in my opinion. No PJ Washington again, which means they are a little weak down low, as Rudy Gobert will be a problem.
Final Verdict: Graham and Rozier in the back-court hasn’t worked as well as when Lamelo is on the floor. I want him to start, but that won’t happen. The Hornets have offensive talent, they just need to be able to hit open shots. If they can contest the Jazz on the outside and force them to take tough shots, they can win. However I have been trusting the Jazz shooters more and more, and I think Utah will win this game.
Washington Wizards vs Miami Heat
The Wizards stunned the Heat on Wednesday, as their defense came up big late. And they were able to win that game without Russell Westbrook, who is back in action for this game. If the Wizards can play defense like they did in the 2nd half of their last meeting with Miami, they can win with the offensive talent that they posses.
The Heat have been disappointing in general this season, and especially in that loss to the Wizards, who looked like one of the best defenses in the league on Wednesday. The Heat haven’t looked the same, as maybe the Bubble run was a fluke. Avery Bradley will be out another month as he injured his calf after just coming back. The Heat will have to prove to me that they are a contending team in the East, and it starts by playing Miami basketball.
Final Verdict: I am going to go with the Heat in this game, but I’m running out of excuses for this team. They have talent, and they are pretty healthy. They are the better team in this game, so why don’t they just win. Pretty simple for the defending Eastern Conference Champs.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs OKC Thunder
The T-Wolves blew a big 4th quarter lead against the Spurs, as they had a win in their hand. The T-Wolves aren’t great on either end, as they struggle with depth. D’Angelo Russell hasn’t been great this season, as Malik Beasley has looked better. Anthony Edwards has been getting better, but Minnesota just can’t win right now, especially without their star center Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor.
Even without a point guard against the Rockets, OKC dominated. I don’t know if that will be the same case in this game. They are again without SGA, without a doubt their best player. They are without one of their best defenders in Lu Dort, and George Hill remains out. If OKC wins this game, well….
Final Verdict: Minnesota should win this game, right? Why do I get the feeling that they’re going to somehow lose? I don’t know, but you’d better win against this OKC team, when they’re without their 3 best backcourt members
Detroit Pistons vs Phoenix Suns
Please for the love of god play the young guys.
The Suns got absolutely torched by the Pelicans in the 2nd half of Wednesday’s game, as they didn’t look right on defense. I have a few problems with the Suns. I know they have Chris Paul, but I feel they would be better if they pushed the pace a little bit. Devin Booker reminds me of Jayson Tatum. Just takes unnecessarily tough shots, when they have the talent to get whatever shot they want. Just take the right shot, not the tough shot. Deandre Ayton needs more touches, not just off of offensive rebounds. You can give him some post-ups, run some plays for him, as you’ve kind of just left him in the dust.
Final Verdict: I’m not sold on the Suns and think they can be a lot better, but it’s the Pistons so they should win.
Boston Celtics vs LA Clippers
The Celtics have been losing a lot of close games lately, most recently against the Kings when they couldn’t stop Haliburton or Fox. The Celtics are very good led by their Big 3, however Jaylen Brown is questionable. If he can’t play, they desperately need Kemba Walker to score. The Celtics have to find other guys who can score other than their All-Stars, and with Brown and Smart out, that becomes increasingly crucial.
Without their names in the spot-light, LA has been one of the best teams in the league. They are one of the best shooting teams and offensive teams, led by Kawhi and PG, Kawhi quite possibly having the best year of his career. No Patrick Beverley leaves Kemba Walker prime for a good game, but the Celtics don’t have a great interior, a place where LA can attack.
Final Verdict: This will be a good game, but I’m picking LA. Marcus Smart remains out and Jaylen Brown might be out. LA has been excellent this season, and they have one of the best offenses in the league. They can pick apart Boston down low, and they should be able to win this game.
Game Of The Day
There are some good games today, but I will be picking Celtics vs Clippers. Some of the best wing scorers in the league going against each other, should be good.
Another good game could be Raptors vs Nets or Jazz vs Hornets
What Are Your Predictions For The 9 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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