My Pre-Game Predictions For Today’s Games – 2.23.21
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 and choose a winner for each game.
Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
If the Hawks lose this game, it will be very embarrassing.
The Cavs have lost 10 straight. I think explains their situation pretty well.
Final Verdict: The Hawks better not lose.
Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic
The Pistons not having Delon Wright really hurts them on offense, and they still have a lot of young guys to develop. But they are still learning, and playing them just makes them better with each passing game.
The Magic offense has been finding itself recently, and they’ve won their last 3 games. Nikola Vucevic has been great all year, but now he’s getting help. Evan Fournier has been really good recently, as he has been that reliable 2nd scoring option when healthy. Terrence Ross is a wildcard, but he’s been playing well. The Magic should be able to score in this game, but their defense will have to be somewhat decent to win.
Final Verdict: The Magic should win this game. Their offense has been getting better, and the Pistons are missing Delon Wright which is a huge hit to their offense. The trio of Vucevic, Ross, and Fournier should dominate and win this game for the Magic.
Sacramento Kings vs Brooklyn Nets
The Kings offense has been slowing down, and now they have lost their last 7 games. The only reason they were 12-11 at one point is because their offense was rolling. But now because of injuries and poor shooting, their defense is getting exposed as clearly the worst in the league. The Kings hope to get Harrison Barnes back, as he is the glue guy for this team. But the Kings have to get things together offensively or they are toast.
The Nets are good at the whole offense thing, but they have been rolling even without KD on the floor. KD is out again, but just Harden and Irving is enough. These two will dominate the Kings and their poor defense. The Nets have proved they can play decent defense at times if they try, and if they do that enough they should win.
Final Verdict: The Nets should win this game. After a very good road-trip, the Nets return home with the worst defense on their doorstep. Harden and Irving will score at will, and the Nets will win this game.
Golden State Warriors vs New York Knicks
The Warriors last game with the Hornets featured an illness, double-tech and a game-winner. Quite the eventful game to say the least. Curry is questionable, but the Warriors are hopeful that he plays. Wiseman is close to coming back, so Golden State is getting healthier. But if they don’t have Curry they don’t have much of a chance.
If the Knicks can score, they are good. Their defense remains amongst the best in the league, but it’s all for not if they can’t score. They need Randle and Barrett to get going, and guys like Burks, Rose, and Quickley off the bench have to score as well. The Knicks have some weapons and shooting, they just have to create some offense to win.
Final Verdict: If Curry isn’t on the floor, the Warriors have next to no chance because of all that he does for that team on offense. If Curry plays, the Warriors always have a chance.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors
The 76ers lost to the Raptors, because their 3-PT margins are so poor and Joel Embiid shot 30% from the field. The latter likely won’t happen again, as I doubt the smaller Raptors can contain Embiid again. But the 76ers 3-PT shooting is a problem. They don’t make a lot of 3’s, and sometimes they give up a lot of 3’s. Philly is 28th in the league in 3PM, and average in 3P%. And in their losses they usually get torched from 3. They have to either make some 3’s, or prevent other teams from doing so. Also their bench is kind of bad, got to fix that too.
The Raptors with Siakam at center locked down MVP candidate Joel Embiid. How weird does that sound? The Raptors defense swarmed Embiid, and they hit their 3’s, a recipe that has worked in trying to beat Philly. Lowry is again questionable, but the Raptors are very good when he doesn’t play. They are 6-0 in fact when he doesn’t play. The key for the Raptors is being able to score enough against Philly, and trying to stop Embiid down low.
Final Verdict: The 76ers should win this game. Embiid is a giant down low, and hopefully he has a bounce back game against the much smaller Raptors. The 76ers are the much bigger team, but they have to hit some of their 3’s. And if they can’t, at the very least don’t allow the Raptors to get hot from deep, otherwise you are in trouble.
Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks
The Celtics have been so disappointing this season. As of right now the Tristan Thompson move has been a bust, as now Robert Williams has been playing better than him. Could have used a guy like Jeff Green off the bench right about now. The Celtics have struggled defensively without Marcus Smart, and they shut down on offense even with their weapons. Kemba Walker has looked like he’s lost something, as he has been terrible this season. Boston has to play a lot better to be contenders again.
The Mavs have been figuring things out, thumping Memphis yesterday. The Mavs have to give Doncic some scoring relief, or it’s nearly impossible for them to win. Richardson, Hardaway, Brunson, and Porzingis (if he plays), have to score alongside Luka. No Marcus Smart is a big positive for Dallas as Luka doesn’t have to deal with a great perimeter defense like smart, forcing Tatum or Brown to guard him.
Final Verdict: The Celtics should win this game. The Mavs don’t have much on an inside presence, even if Kristaps Porzingis plays. The Mavs aren’t great defensively, and the Celtics have to contain Luka and make him play in a crowd.
Minnesota T-Wolves vs Milwaukee Bucks
Well, at least you have a new coach now.
I wish you guys had a new coach.
Final Verdict: Well good luck to Chris Finch, trying to stop Giannis in your first game is no easy task. Well Mike Budenholzer is trying to sabotage the Bucks from the inside, but nobody knows it yet.
Washington Wizards vs LA Clippers
The Wizards have won their last 5 straight, and came back down 17 against the world champs yesterday. The Wizards have been playing with more heart and hustle, and the results have been showing. Beal and Westbrook have to be aggressive and set the tone if they want to match Kawhi and PG on the other side. The Wizards have to play with energy and play some sort of defense in order to win this game.
The Clippers pulled out their idiot cards at the end of the Nets game as they made some poor decisions, including benching a red-hot PG because of a minutes restriction. The Clippers bench has to be better, as they have too much talent for Ivica Zubac to be the best role player against the Nets. The Clippers defense has to try and contain the Wizards backcourt otherwise they’ll be in for a long night.
Final Verdict: The Clippers should win this game. I don’t anticipate their role players being that bad again, and they should give much better help to PG and Kawhi. The Wizards have guys who can contain the Wizards backcourt like Patrick Beverley, and if they contain Beal and Westbrook the Clippers should win this game handily.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets
Portland’s short handiness might be catching up to them. They don’t have a backup center with Giles out, and of course CJ sand Nurkic are out. Portland needs to score, otherwise they toast. Lucky for them Denver is also injured and they too aren’t very good defensively. The Blazers have to make Jokic a scorer, and take Jamal Murray out of the game. If they do that, they can win this game.
The Nuggets got destroyed by Trae Young and the Hawks last time out, and now they are as injured as ever. No Dozier or Harris to try and contain Dame, and Millsap and Green remain out. That means Denver needs Bubble Murray and Bubble Porter to return, otherwise they will lose. Jokic will dominate, but just him alone isn’t enough. He needs help.
Final Verdict: It’s unfortunate both teams are hurt, because this would have been a very good game. But I am going with Portland. The Nuggets don’t have any of their best perimeter defenders, and the Nuggets are relying to streaky scorers to win.
Game Of The Day
There are some good games today, but I am going with Mavs vs Celtics. Two teams that have been disappointing so far this season, trying to get a win to climb back into the standings.
Other good games might be Blazers vs Nuggets and 76ers vs Raptors.
What Are Your Predictions For The 9 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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