My Pre-Game Predictions For Today’s Games – 2.15.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball, and we have 7 games on the schedule today. I will be giving all my pre-game predictions, and choose a winner for each game.
Chicago Bulls vs Indiana Pacers
The Bulls have been short-handed recently, and it’s caused their offense to struggle. Without Carter Jr. down low the paint is open for opposing teams. No Markkanen and Porter leave Chicago short-handed on offense. They have to get guys like Coby White going alongside Lavine if they want any chance to win. They have to push the pace and hit 3’s as well. But the Pacers have a nightmare frontcourt duo, one that will likely impose their will on the short-handed Bulls.
The Pacers have won their last two games after lots of losing, as they’ve gotten back on track. Malcolm Brogdon hasn’t been great lately, but the duo of him and Sabonis has been great all-year. Myles Turner is a defensive nightmare for teams. The Pacers also have solid supporting pieces that have to get going and hit shots. However they are playing the Bulls, so this shouldn’t be anything more than a tune-up game.
Final Verdict: I think the Pacers will win this easily. Their frontcourt will dominate the Bulls down low, and Chicago is missing so much scoring that it’ll be took hard for them to overcome and win.
Houston Rockets vs Washington Wizards
The Rockets have been hit hard with injuries, causing them to go into a tail-spin with 5 straight losses. No Christian Wood has hit their offense hard, as they lose their most versatile scorer. No Oladipo again means that Wall will have to carry the scoring load and hopefully get help from guys like Eric Gordon. But the Rockets are missing a lot of scoring and their defense hasn’t been great recently, which could be a problem against Washington.
When the Wizards play with energy, they are a great team. They have their All-Star backcourt in Beal and Westbrook, and they have a nice supporting cast. But sometimes they start slow and have no energy. That’s why I think Mo Wegner starting helps them a lot, as he brings so much energy. If the Wizards bring energy on both ends, they are a solid team. If not, different story.
Final Verdict: I think that the Wizards will win this game, even if Russell Westbrook doesn’t play on the 2nd night of a back-to-back. The Rockets are very short-handed, and if Washington plays like they did yesterday against the Celtics they are well set up for another win.
Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks
The Hawks have been struggling with closing out games, and defense lately. Closing out games is youth, and the defense has struggled in the absence of De’Andre Hunter who was probably their best defender, or at least perimeter defender. The Hawks have to get Trae Young going, as he does so much for their offense. But the Knicks will likely try to get the ball out of Young’s hands, so other guys like Huerter, Gallinari, and Reddish will have to add scoring. The Knicks are a little weak on the interior without Mitchell Robinson, so it should be a big night for Collins and Capela down low.
The Knicks offense looked good against the Rockets, as adding Derrick Rose to the mix helps them a lot. I think that the Knicks should try and pound the ball down low a lot, but the Hawks have a good frontcourt so they might have to hit some 3’s. They need to try and contain Trae Young, as he makes the Hawks offense lethal. Without him, they aren’t the same team. If the Knicks shut down Trae Young, they are likely going to win.
Final Verdict: I am going with the Hawks in this game. They have the better frontcourt as the Knicks don’t have Mitchell Robinson down low. The Hawks have to spring Trae Young, or hope that others can make shots. The Hawks also hope they don’t allow the Knicks to get going offensively, as they become a very good team if they can score.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Utah Jazz
The 76ers have been slowing down recently, partly because they’re not feeding off of the weak Eastern Conference. The 76ers are good, but they have flaws. They don’t make a lot of 3’s, and if teams like the Jazz shoot a lot of them, they can’t keep up. Their bench has been very poor lately because they can’ score, and with Shake Milton out again they will struggle again to score. The 76ers have to try and limit the Jazz 3-PT shooters while also hitting some of their own. They need their bench to score, otherwise this game might not be close.
The Jazz have been so good this season, and are playing the best basketball in the league. They have been shooting so well, but they are also great defensively. Still no Mike Conley, but they have so many shooters, and with Bojan Bogdanovic catching fire, they are scary. Gobert did a great job on Bam Adebayo against Miami, now he has to try and control MVP candidate Joel Embiid (who is questionable). If he does play, Gobert will have his hands full. If the Jazz hit 3’s and their bench led by Jordan Clarkson can get going, they will win this game.
Final Verdict: I am choosing the Jazz to win this game. They shoot and make a lot of 3’s, and the 76ers inability to do so hurts them. Joel Embiid is questionable in this game, as if he doesn’t play the 76ers are done for as he is their entire offense. The 76ers bench is far inferior to that the Jazz, so Utah should win this game.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors
Offense is the Cavs main problem, as they just can’t seem to score and that’s why they are 1-9 in their last 10 games. They have to be able to score, but they simply don’t have the weapons to do so.
The Warriors got destroyed by the Nets, as they just weren’t hitting their open 3’s. But they get a much easier game against the Cavs. Steph Curry has been so good this year, but his efforts are for not if Golden State doesn’t help him. Draymond Green is questionable with that knee injury, although he played in the 2nd half of the Nets, so it would surprise me if he’s out. If he is out, the Warriors still should win. They just have to get guys like Oubre and Wiggins going and play defense.
Final Verdict: The Warriors should win this game handily, it might be closer if Draymond doesn’t play.
Miami Heat vs LA Clippers
The Heat got dominated by the Jazz, as their offense was at a new level of bad. Even though they have been getting better, the Heat don’t feel like the same team from last year. Yes they have dealt with injuries and have some on-court chemistry problems still to be worked out, but something is just off. They are still without Dragic and Herro, as they just have lost that factor of swagger and toughness from the bubble. I’m starting to believe that the bubble was a fluke, and a win against a Clippers team likely without Kawhi or PG doesn’t really change my opinion on them.
The Clippers beat the Cavs without PG or Kawhi, but if both those guys are out I doubt a similar outcome occurs. Maybe Kawhi plays, although I doubt it. PG has this weird injury, that has been reported to be either very serious or not that serious. Whatever the case maybe, the Clippers are short-handed and this doesn’t change my opinion on them.
Final Verdict: The Heat can win this game, but they are going to have to like they did in the bubble to prove to me they are contenders.
Brooklyn Nets vs Sacramento Kings
I hate how this gets injured in someway and the Big 3 can’t play together. The trade was just over a month ago and we still haven’t seen this team play much. KD is out for the next couple of games with a hamstring injury, hopefully returning for the heavyweight fight against the Lakers this weekend. But I hate when this team isn’t healthy, as they are so intriguing to watch.
The Kings defense has been struggling lately, as with their offense slowing down their start of year defense has reared it’s ugly head once again. De’Aaron Fox returned to play yesterday, although I have my doubts he’ll play in this game as it’s the second night of a back-to-back. The Nets don’t have a great defense, so the Kings should be able to score. But the same could be said about the Nets, who even without KD don’t need an invitation to score. The Kings have to play fast and somewhat ok defense to win.
Final Verdict: I think that the Kings will win this game. If De’Aaron Fox is able to play they can score at will against the Nets who struggle when KD isn’t on the floor. If he [Fox] doesn’t play, this game could be close, more of a toss-up.
Game Of The Day
I think that Hawks vs Knicks will be good. Both teams are evenly matched, featuring a very good defense and a very explosive offense. Should be a good one.
What Are Your Predictions For The 7 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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