My Pre-Game Predictions For Today’s Games – 2.17.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball, and we have a busy day with 10 games on the schedule. I will be giving all my pre-game predictions for each game, and choose a winner.
New York Knicks vs Orlando Magic
The Knicks have won their last 3 games thanks in large part to their offense catching fire. The addition of Derrick Rose has made them a lot better scoring wise, and to pair that with an already good defense makes the Knicks pretty good. The key for the Knicks is that they have to score, and they have to hit some 3’s. Their defense is usually very good, they just have to score to compliment it.
The Magic are a mess of injuries and a depleted offense. Cole Anthony is out until the All-Star break, and they have a lot of guys questionable. They can’t seem to stay healthy, and their offense has been very poor with their inability to shoot. Their defense is nothing great, which means they have to hit shots, otherwise they are toast.
Final Verdict: The Knicks should win this game. The Magic are banged up and their offense struggles, meaning the Knicks defense should have no problem shutting them down. All the Knicks have to do is hit some shots, and they’ll win.
Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics
The Hawks have been struggling lately, as their defense has been falling apart without De’Andre Hunter on the floor. Trae Young has been struggling to shoot the ball, as they have to make sure he can score in other places that the foul line. They need Reddish and Huerter to shoot well, and hope for some scoring from Gallinari. But they’re defense will have to step up, otherwise they will struggle.
Boston got a much-needed win against the Nuggets yesterday, as maybe this can get them going. They’re wing duo of Tatum and Brown are lethal, two of the best scoring wings in the league. Kemba Walker has slowly been getting better, although he’s nowhere near what he was last year. No Marcus Smart hurts Boston the perimeter in this game, and Daniel Theis is questionable. The Celtics will have a tough time with the Atlanta frontcourt if he can’t play.
Final Verdict: I am going with the Hawks in this game. Trae Young doesn’t have to face Marcus Smart, and the Hawks frontcourt should be able to dominate this game. The Celtics wing duo might be a problem, but the Hawks do have a decisive advantage in this game.
Houston Rockets vs Philadelphia 76ers
The Rockets have lost their last 6 games thanks to plenty of injuries. Their defense has gone from great to mediocre over that span. No Christian Wood is really hurting them, as he was so versatile as a scorer. Oladipo and Gordon likely remain out for this game, leaving Wall by himself against the juggernaut 76ers. Not a recipe for success.
Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons were amazing in Philly’s last game against Utah, despite the loss. Joel Embiid is likely to be back, meaning he will dominate down low. But I still want guys like Simmons and Harris to be aggressive when they get their touches. The 76ers have to hit some 3’s, and hope that Houston doesn’t catch fire as that’s the best way to beat Philly.
Final Verdict: The 76ers should win this game handily. The Rockets are very short-handed once again, and the 76ers get their game-wreaker in Embiid back.
Denver Nuggets vs Washington Wizards
The Nuggets have been really banged up lately, most recently giving Jokic no help in their loss to Boston yesterday. Assume a lot of guys out yesterday will be out again, leaving Denver very short-handed. Assuming that guys like Murray and MPJ are still available, they have to score. Murray and MPJ have to be aggressive, and try to give Jokic some relief from the scoring load. The Wizards have been playing well and are a team that can score a lot so those two have to chip in to help.
The Wizards have found some new life with Mo Wegner in the starting lineup. He brings so much energy on both ends, something that the Wizards have used well. Beal and Westbrook are solid, but they’re role guys have been playing really well lately. The Wizards are going to get dominated by Jokic, so they have to make sure and not let others get going, kind of isolating the scoring and they have a chance.
Final Verdict: I am taking the Wizards in this game. The Nuggets are very short-handed, they haven’t been giving Jokic the scoring help that he needs. The Wizards just have to play alright defense, and they can win.
Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
The Pacers have been struggling as their All-Star duo of Brogdon and Sabonis have been as well. Those two have to be able to get going, otherwise without Warren and Levert the Pacers struggle. Myles Turner isn’t enough to hide this struggling defense, which has been really bad at times. The Pacers will be able to score against the T-Wolves, and they just have to play ok defense.
The T-Wolves have been playing better with Towns back in the lineup, but they still struggle to win. Without D’Angelo Russell for the considerable future, the T-Wolves have to get guys like Edwards and Beasley going alongside Towns. Their defense is poor, but if they can score at a decent rate they can at the very least make the game close.
Final Verdict: The Pacers should win this game easily. The T-Wolves don’t have much of a defense, so the Pacers should find some offensive rhythm again. The T-Wolves can be a dangerous team offensively, but I don’t think that should threaten the Pacers.
Detroit Pistons vs Chicago Bulls
The Pistons have really only been good against good teams this year, and since the Bulls unfortunately don’t fall into that category, this might be a tough game. No Blake Griffin going forward is good so that younger guys can play. Saddiq Bey has been good lately, and I would like for him and Isaiah Stewart to play. The Pistons are decent, but they should focus on developing players more.
The Bulls have been short-handed recently, but getting Wendell Carter Jr. is big for their interior defense. Still no Porter Jr. or Markkanen, so the Bulls need Coby White to score. The Bulls defense has to hold things down against the Pistons, in the chance their offense doesn’t get going. This is a good test game for the Bulls, one that we can see how good they really are.
Final Verdict: This will be a good game, but I am choosing the Pistons. The Pistons have been playing well with a solid bench and offense. The Pistons are still missing a lot of scoring, and I don’t think they can overcome that in this game.
Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans
The Blazers have won 5 straight games, as even without two of their best players, they are staying afloat. Portland should be able to score in this game against a very poor Pelicans defense, as they have to give some shooting and scoring support around Dame. The key is defense, again. The Pelicans are dangerous is they shoot well, so the Blazers have to make sure to closeout to their shooters. The Blazers have bodies for Zion and Ingram, but they have to be careful with those two as they are very lethal scorers.
The Pelicans are really only dangerous offensively when they shoot the ball well. No matter how good Zion or Ingram are, none of it matters if the Pelicans can’t score. If Ball and Bledsoe can stretch the floor, the Pelicans can beat anybody. The Blazers defense is poor like theirs, so this should be a shootout.
Final Verdict: I am going with the Blazers in this game. They should be able to score at will against a poor Pelicans defense, and the Pelicans have to rely on very streaky shooting to win. This will be a good game, a very high-scoring game that Portland will win.
OKC Thunder vs Memphis Grizzlies
The Thunder are very young, but no matter how short-handed they are they manage to fight. So no matter if SGA doesn’t play in this game, they will give you a fight.
The Grizzlies defense has been getting torched lately, and their offense hasn’t been able to keep up. It all starts on defense for the Grizzlies, and they have to be able to defend to win, as their offense isn’t as explosive as most in the league. If the Grizzlies don’t play defense, they will be in for a long game.
Final Verdict: The Thunder are a tough team, but I think that Memphis will win this game. They should be able to score and defend better than they have been doing in recent games, so they should be able to win this game.
Miami Heat vs Golden State Warriors
The Heat have looked like pretenders this season, as they haven’t been the same team since last year in the bubble. They have dealt with injuries, but they’ve left a lot to be desired. Bradley and Dragic remain out, and the Heat have struggled without them. The Warriors are small, so Adebayo will have to dominate his matchup with Draymond Green. The Heat have to defend the 3-PT line, and try and contain Steph Curry.
The Warriors have been playing well, despite the fact that they’ve been playing small. Draymond Green leads everybody, as he has his hands full with Adebayo in this game. Other than Curry, the Warriors have to get Wiggins and Oubre going. Curry will get his points, but if they can relief some of the scoring load it becomes harder to guard the Warriors.
Final Verdict: I am going with the Warriors in this game. Steph Curry looks like his MVP form, and if a couple of other Warriors play well it’s tough to stop them. The Heat have been struggling, and I think those struggles will continue.
Utah Jazz vs LA Clippers
The Jazz have won 95% of their last 20 games, as they have been unbeatable. They are one of the most explosive offenses in the league, as they can shoot everybody out of the gym. Even without Mike Conley, the Jazz have been cooking people. George and Batum are out for LA, and Kawhi is questionable so the Jazz should win this game.
The Clippers beat the Heat while being short-handed, but I doubt the same thing will occur against this Jazz team which has been playing absurdly well this season. The Clippers only have a chance if Kawhi plays, but even then it’s an uphill battle.
Final Verdict: The Jazz should win this game. They are shooting so well, and nobody can stop them. The Clippers are banged up, and they will be missing some guys, and the Jazz should be able to take advantage and win.
Game Of The Day
There are some good games today, but I think that Pelicans vs Blazers will be very good because it features two of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Other good games might be Miami vs Golden State or Hawks vs Celtics.
What Are Your Predictions For The 10 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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