My Pre-Game Predictions For Today’s Games – 2.24.21
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.
Golden State Warriors vs Indiana Pacers
The Warriors finally got healthy yesterday, and they won. And they desperately needed their bigs back for this game. They need Looney and Wiseman in this game to try and contain All-Star snub Domantas Sabonis. The Pacers haven’t been great lately, but they have weapons. If the Warriors can play some defense and give Curry some scoring relief, they can beat anybody.
The Pacers have slowed down recently, but they still possess a lot of talent. Domantas Sabonis was one of the bigger All-Star snubs in the NBA, but he has been really good this season. He and Malcolm Brogdon are a great duo, but the Pacers need some bench scoring and defense to win this game. The Warriors will be a problem, and the Pacers have to play well in order to win this game.
Final Verdict: The Warriors should win this game. Now that they are healthy, they are a very good team. Their key is trying to contain Sabonis down low and they also giving Curry some scoring relief. This will be a good game, but I do have the Warriors winning this game.
Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks
The Celtics have lost a couple of heart-breaking games lately, as they continue to slide. They have talent but they just haven’t been able to win. The Celtics are pretty top-heavy this season, as they don’t have anything resembling a strong bench. They rely so heavily on Tatum and Brown and it just makes it hard for them to win. Boston needs the old Kemba back on offense and hope that they get some bench production.
The Hawks have been disappointing this season and a lot of that is due to injuries, but sometimes they just don’t play well. Trae Young has been up and down, something having great and horrible games. The Hawks supporting cast is pretty thin right now and with John Collins dealing with a concussion, they will be even shorter. Yeah, things aren’t going so well for the Hawks right now.
Final Verdict: The Celtics should win this game. The Hawks are very short-handed and their defense isn’t great. I would hope that the Celtics are motivated in this game after these last few losses and come out ready for a win.
Houston Rockets vs Cleveland Cavaliers
The Rockets have lost their last 8 games, as without Christian Wood they have been a mess on both ends. The Rockets are likely getting PJ Tucker back in this game, but guys like Gordan and Oladipo are still questionable. I don’t trust this team unless they are healthy.
The Cavs finally won after losing their prior 10 games, getting a game-winner against the Hawks. The Cavs don’t have a lot of talent and they’ve gotten progressively worse over the course of the year. So yeah, nothing much has changed in Cleveland.
Final Verdict: This game is a battle of two sliding teams, but I am going with the Cavs. I am only going with them because Houston is probably going to be short-handed. But if Houston gets Gordon and Oladipo back, I’ll take them to win this game.
Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat
The Raptors have been getting better but they still aren’t great. They’ve been able to outplay flaws for most of the season, but sometimes it catches up to them. They are good defensively, but they are incredibly weak down low. They shut down Embiid, but now they play Bam Adebayo who is physical and small. Interesting matchup. The Raptors need to hit 3’s and get Siakam and VanVleet going to win. Lowry again might not be playing, but Toronto is 6-1 without him so I really don’t think Toronto cares whether he plays or not.
The Heat have looked a lot worse than they did last year in the Bubble, as their production on both ends has gone down a lot. Herro and Dragic are questionable, as it would be great to have their scoring. The Heat’s shooting has been far worse this season, as they have to hit some 3’s. But at all costs the Heat have to play solid defense otherwise they are dead in the water.
Final Verdict: Both these teams are solid, but I am taking the Heat. They have been playing better and they’ve won their last 3 games. They return home and they just have to shoot well and they can win. But this should be a very good game, a good test for both teams.
Minnesota T-Wolves vs Chicago Bulls
The T-Wolves got a new coach, but they are still rebuilding. I hope that Chris Finch uses their talent better as while they aren’t good they sure aren’t the worst team in the West.
The Bulls have won 4 of their last 5 games, as they are currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Getting Wendell Carter Jr. was huge for their defense and along with All-Star Zach Lavine the Bulls have been playing well. They need Coby White to shoot well and get production from their bench which has been happening more consistently. The Bulls defense and turnovers might be a problem, but I don’t view Minnesota as a threat.
Final Verdict: The T-Wolves are still adapting to a new system, so there isn’t much help for them to get better immediately. The Bulls have been playing better despite being banged up, and they should be getting another win here.
Detroit Pistons vs New Orleans Pelicans
The Pistons have some talent, but the key for them is just trusting the process and continue to play the young guys. The results now might not be pretty but it’ll pay off in the future.
The Pelicans pulled off a historic comeback against Boston, as they showed up what they can be when they play defense. Ingram and Zion are so good on the wings, but it’s the supporting cast that matters the most. Steven Adams is likely back and that does compromise their spacing. That means they need shooting from Bledsoe and Ball and some bench scoring. Also some defense would help, as you don’t want a repeat of what happened between these two teams last time again.
Final Verdict: The Pelicans should win this game if they don’t get in their own way. If they give Ingram and Zion some shooting and if New Orleans play defense there is now way they lose this game.
San Antonio Spurs vs OKC Thunder
The Spurs haven’t played in a week due to Covid, so we’ll see how they return to action. But this game likely won’t be a win. No DeRozan. Keldon Johnson, Rudy Gay, Derrick White, and Devin Vassell. So it might be a while before we see the real Spurs.
The Thunder have been very good this season despite low expectations. You look at this roster and it isn’t that good, but they aren’t completely out of the playoff race. And they should be getting a win against a very short-handed Spurs team.
Final Verdict: If the Spurs somehow win this, I will be shocked. Also I want the Spurs to lose so Portland can move in front of them in the standings. A little biased.
Charlotte Hornets vs Phoenix Suns
The Hornets offense has been really good with Lamelo Ball in the starting lineup, but their defense hasn’t been good at all. Still no Devonte Graham which might be a good thing, and Gordon Hayward might be out. So the Hornets will need to get Rozier going and score. They don’t have much of a defense so trying to outscore the Suns might be their only hope.
The Suns are one of the most balanced teams in the league, and they’ve been playing great. CP-3 and Devin Booker have been masters of the mid-range and excellent this season. The Suns have a very good supporting cast led by Deandre Ayton. They have shooting, defense, the whole package for a team poised to make a deep postseason run.
Final Verdict: The Suns should win this game easily. The Hornets might be missing Hayward who is their most consistent scorer and the Suns outclass the Hornets, especially on defense. The Suns should be getting their 4th straight win in this game.
LA Lakers vs Utah Jazz
The Lakers have been hit hard with injuries and they’ve lost 4 of their last 5 games. Not having AD hurts them a lot down low where they are very vulnerable. Still no Schroder although he is expected to be back on Friday. The Lakers have to hit some 3’s, or they will never keep up with Utah who are the best shooting team in the league. They also need to score when Lebron isn’t on the floor or they are toast.
The Jazz haven’t managed to slow down at all. Their 3-pt shooting has been nothing short of incredible as they can just torch teams. The Lakers are good at defending the 3, but then again they haven’t played the Jazz. The Jazz have Rudy Gobert down low to bother Lebron, and they just have to play their game and they should win.
Final Verdict: The Jazz should win this game. The Lakers are short-handed, and they don’t have the firepower to keep up with Utah. The Lakers are good at defending the 3 but the Jazz are lethal and I doubt they will hit much of a roadblock there. Utah should win this game, but it will be a very good one.
Game Of The Day
Jazz vs Lakers should be good. Two of the best teams in the league battling it out.
Heat vs Raptors and Celtics vs Hawks should also be good.
What Are Your Predictions For Today’s Games? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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