My Pre-Game Picks For Today’s Games
It’s another day of NBA action, and we have a very busy day with 11 games on the schedule. I’m going to be giving my pre-game picks for each game, and predicting who will be winning each matchup.
Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets
The Bulls have looked promising this season with all of their young talent, but they still have the problems that most young teams do. They turn the ball over 18 times a game, one of the worst teams in the league at taking care of the ball. Their defense is bottom 5, as they struggle to win their games, mainly because of their own doing. They are without Wendell Carter Jr. down low, so they’ll some more rebounding and scoring from guys like Patrick Williams and Lauri Markkanen. The Bulls are talented, and if they don’t hurt themselves, they can be good.
The Hornets have been pretty good this season, but they have lost games because of their offense, which has struggled at times, and their defense, which also has struggled at times. They have Bismack Biyombo down low, which isn’t exactly great. But they get Cody Zeller back after 4 weeks, as he is a considerable upgrade from Biyombo. I am still petitioning for Lamelo Ball to start, as he has shown real promise thus far. They need Gordon Hayward to be productive offensively, and then I can give them a fighters chance.
Final Verdict: Both of these teams are wildly inconsistent, and they really haven’t been able to find a rhythm. I have liked the Bulls more this season, but they turn the ball over a lot, and just hurt themselves. This game will be close, but I’m giving the edge to the Hornets.
Orlando Magic vs Indiana Pacers
The Magic snapped a 6-game losing streak with a Cole Anthony buzzer-beater, but I still think that this team isn’t very good. The Magic are the 3rd worst offense in the league, ranking last in 3-PT% and 28th in points. They have good players like Gordon, Vucevic, and Fournier, but they just haven’t been able to figure things out. Their defense isn’t anything special, so they need their offense to produce games.
The Pacers have lost their last two games because Myles Turner hasn’t been playing. He’s the best shot-blocker in the league right now, and would be my pick for DPOY as of right now. Turner has a fracture in his hand, but it doesn’t require surgery and isn’t very serious. Turner had been averaging 4.2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game, as he anchored the Pacers defense. Domantas Sabonis isn’t very good on defense, and he’s been getting exposed down low these past couple of games. The Pacers offense is fine, they just need Turner back.
Final Verdict: If Turner plays this game, I gave the decisive edge to the Pacers. But we don’t know for sure yet, so I don’t really know who to pick. If Turner doesn’t play, the Magic will be able to score a lot easier, and their offense will be able to get going a lot easier. So depending on the availability of Turner, I would be picking either team here.
Houston Rockets vs Detroit Pistons
The Rockets have lost their last 3 games, as they have been embracing their rebuild. We know they have some solid players, but they lack depth and defense. With the draft haul they got from the Brooklyn Nets, I really expect them to build around Christian Wood. Wood and Wall are out, leaving the Rockets very short-handed. But they are playing the worst team in the league, so there’s still a chance they win.
The Pistons are in a very weird place. They have talented guys like Jerami Grant, (a washed) Blake Griffin, and Derrick Rose. They are all decent. But they have some great young guys like Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, and Sekou Doumbouya. And yet the Pistons aren’t playing them. They are playing a washed Blake Griffin 30 minutes per game, while their young talent wastes away on the bench. It makes to sense. The Pistons are rebuilding, and everybody knows it. Except, maybe the Pistons.
Final Verdict: This game is interesting, but the Pistons have the better roster, weather they decide to use it or not. They need to play their young guys for the future, instead of 32 minutes to Blake Griffin. The Rockets are short-handed, but the Pistons will likely mess something up and lose. But I still think that the Pistons will win.
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
The Celtics fought hard with the 76ers last time out, however they just couldn’t stop Joel Embiid down low. Their interior defense is very poor, and it’s not unlikely that what happened on Wednesday happens again. Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker need to score a lot, and the Celtics defense has to be better. But they still don’t have Jayson Tatum, making this an uphill battle against one of the best teams in the East.
The 76ers have been very good this season, even though they were plagued by injuries and Covid. But now they get the final piece back in Seth Curry. Curry was amazing to start this season, averaging 17 points on 60% shooting from the field and from 3. He was incredible, and worked really well alongside Joel Embiid. The 76ers are back at full strength, and they have a lot of weapons. They have the advantage in this game, and I expect them to take advantage of it.
Final Verdict: The Celtics are still missing their All-Star down low, and haven’t shown an ability to stop guys like Joel Embiid down low. It will take a lot of things going the Celtics way for them to win, and I don’t see that happening, especially with Seth Curry returning to the lineup.
Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers
The Nets offense is fine, we all know that. Kyrie Irving can do what he wants off the court, but he was very good in his return. KD is looking like an MVP, not slowing down after the achilles injury. James Harden is one of the most gifted scorers. But their defense is so bad, and they can fix that to an extent. Play Bruce Brown more, as he is a good defender on the perimeter, and maybe he can stop the GOAT, I mean Collin Sexton. Joe Harris was struggling to shoot, and yet Landry Shamet didn’t play, and he wasn’t injured. When stuff isn’t working, go to your bench. Shamet and Bruce Brown are very talented, and it doesn’t hurt to try something new.
The Cavs somehow beat this team, but I doubt they can do it again. The Cavs do have one of the worst offenses in the league, and I really doubt the Nets lose two straight games to this team. The Cavs have been playing well even though they have been plagued by injuries. Their defense has been very good, and newly added Jarrett Allen only makes them better down low. Darius Garland has missed a lot of time with a shoulder injury, and I don’t know if he’s playing, but it would be a big boost if he was playing. But, the Cavs do have the GOAT, so their odds aren’t that bad.
Final Verdict: The Nets have so much offensive fire-power, but they have guys like Shamet and Bruce Brown that can play and help if things aren’t going well. If Collin Sexton starts to get going, get the ball out of his hands. It’s that simple. I doubt that the title-contending Nets lose two games to this Cavs team.
Miami Heat vs Toronto Raptors
Although the Heat have been absolutely decimated by Covid protocols and injuries, they remain around 0.500. They pulled away in the 2nd half against the Raptors last time out, and look for a similar result in this game. Butler, Herro, and Avery Bradley remain out, so they need some scoring from Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic. If they can hit some shots and play solid defense, the Heat can win this game.
The Raptors played horribly in the 2nd half of their last game against the Heat, as their offense couldn’t get going. Their defense hasn’t been good, so they need their guys to get going. Siakam, VanVleet, and Kyle Lowry have to set the tone, and Chris Boucher and Norman Powell have to score off the bench. This will be a tough game for the Raptors even against the short-handed Raptors.
Final Verdict: This will likely be another good game, but I’m giving the edge of the Raptors. They have more offensive weapons on this game, and I expect them to get back on track. But Miami will always make things difficult, and this should be a good game between two good Eastern Conference foes.
Atlanta Hawks vs Minnesota Timberwolves
The Hawks have been up and down this season on offense, but they’ve won their last two games, as they look to get back on track. Trae Young has been going through a tough stretch shooting, as they need him to be aggressive and get to the free throw line. He gives a lot of guys like Capela and Collins down low a lot of easy offense. Now Reddish and Hunter are both questionable for this game, but the Hawks better hope at least one of them plays. The Hawks are taking on a bottom 5 defense in the league, so their offense should have no problem scoring.
The Timberwolves have been a mess this season, mainly due to Karl Anthony Towns missing so much time. This team lacks depth, as they really only have D’Angelo Russell and the streaky Malik Beasley to rely upon for scoring. They don’t have a lot of depth, and Anthony Edwards really hasn’t stepped up, as he has been shooting horribly from the field. The T-Wolves are a mess in both ends, as their endless rebuild continues.
Final Verdict: The Hawks offense should have no problem against this poor Minnesota defense, as I’m expecting Trae Young to pick apart this team and control things for the Hawks. The T-Wolves have nothing to really build on without Towns, as they struggle on both ends. This should be a win of the T-Wolves.
Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs
Even though they have been very short-handed, the Mavericks have been a good team, as they dismantled the Pacers last time out. But they continue to be short-handed, without two starters and two key bench guys. Luka can do all that he can, but it’s easier to control him without all his weapons. That’s why Dallas has to rely on Porzingis, Burke, Hardaway, and Jalen Brunson more. The Mavs defense will have to be good, even though they are missing some key pieces. The Mavs have a tough a matchup with the Spurs.
The Spurs shot 12% from 3 against the Warriors, as their offense was terrible. They need to space the floor, and it gives room for everybody else. Patty Mills needs to be scoring off the bench, and the Spurs just need to hit some 3’s. If they do, it opens things up for DeRozan, Aldridge, and their attacking young guards. The Spurs are solid on both ends, but the key for them is outside shooting
Final Verdict: The Mavs are very short-handed, but they’ve proven they can win with the limited amount of offensive firepower that they have. They have Luka Doncic, and that’s enough to win you some games. The Spurs are the much more healthy team, and if they hit their outside shots they are very tough to beat. I do think that the Spurs will win this game.
New York Knicks vs Sacramento Kings
The Knicks defense has been very good, and their offense has been up and down, although it has been making a resurgence. Julius Randle has been playing at an unbelievable level, and RJ Barrett seemed to have gotten his confidence back after that shooting slump. They got Alec Burks back, and along with Austin Rivers off the bench, the Knicks do have some offense. They just need to get going on offense, and they face the worst defense in the league, a good chance for them to get going.
The Kings make it almost impossible for themselves to win. Their defense is so bad, by far the worst defensive team in the league. And it negates all the talent they have on offense. De’Aaron Fox has been playing really well, and the Kings rarely struggle to score. But their defense is so bad, it doesn’t really matter what they do on offense.
Final Verdict: The Knicks have a very good defense, and it’ll be hard for the Kings to score. The Kings obviously will allow the Knicks to score a lot more than usual, as their defense is the worst in the league. This should be another win for the Knicks.
OKC Thunder vs LA Clippers
The Thunder have been surprisingly good this season, as they currently sit a 6-7 this season. They have a lot of good pieces, but even in a rebuild they manage to win games. SGA and Lu Dort have been very good in the back-court this season, and OKC has been surprising lots of people with their level of play thus far. But they struggle against good teams, and now they face the LA Clippers.
The LA Clippers have won their last 5 games, as they have been shooting the ball very well. LA leads the league in 3-PT%, and you just can’t leave them open. PG and Kawhi have been very good this year, much more efficient than normal and they’ve been passing the ball a lot more. Marcus Morris and Lou Williams coming off the bench is such a luxury, and the Clippers offense is just very hard to stop.
Final Verdict: The Clippers have been rolling all over people as of late with their shooting, and they should beat the Thunder. The Thunder don’t have a lot of good defenders, and the Clippers just have too many weapons. Should by win #6 in a row for LA.
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns
The Nuggets have been off to a slow start this season, mainly due to their defense, which hasn’t been very good. Their offense has been good led by Nikola Jokic, but Jamal Murray hasn’t been the same. Some of that might have to do with an elbow problem he’s been dealing with, but we still haven’t seen that bubble Jamal Murray mentality for Murray yet. MPJ is expected to make his return very soon, and maybe even in this game. Whenever he comes back, it will be a big boost for the Denver offense. They just need to play some defense.
The Suns have been up and down since their return to playing, and they got a good win against the Rockets. The Suns have been playing a lot slower than they were last season, so they still have to get adjusted to this new style. Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton haven’t been as good, and Ayton hasn’t been getting the ball as much. If the Suns get their big 3 in involved, it’s tough to stop them as they are solid on both ends.
Final Verdict: If Denver can get Jamal Murray going, and if MPJ is playing, I like their chances. But they are facing a very good Suns team, who is very good on both ends. Denver’s defense hasn’t been great this season, so I don’t know if they’re going to be able to stop Chris Paul from picking them apart. This game will be good and close, but I’m giving the edge to the Suns.
Game Of The Day Prediction
I think that the Suns vs Nuggets game will be very good. There are a lot of good players in this game, and these teams are pretty evenly matched. This will definitely be a game to watch today.
What Are Your Predictions For The 11 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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