My Pre-Game Predictions For Today’s Games – 3.3.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball and we have an action-packed day with 10 games on the schedule today. I will be giving all my pre-game predictions and choose a winner for each game.
Indiana Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers
The Pacers started this season of so well, being very good on both ends. But after starting the year 11-7 the Pacers are 4-11 and struggling. They miss Levert and Warren as scoring has been hard to come by with just Sabonis and Brogdon. The defense has been suspect as things have been falling apart for Indiana recently.
After losing 10 straight games the Cavs have rebounded and are back to playing well. Winners of their last 4 games the Cavs have been playing well again. In order for the Cavs to win they have to contain Sabonis with Jarrett Allen and get Sexton and Garland going scoring wise. The Cavs will have to play well in order to win this game.
Final Verdict: The Pacers have been struggling and the Cavs are the perfect team to get a win on. Not great at one thing and they don’t have that much talent, on par or a little less than the current Indiana team. I think that the Pacers should be getting a win here.
Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers
The Jazz have been slowing down ever so slightly here in the past few games. Ok that’s an overreaction they’ve lost 2 of 3 games, something that hasn’t happened since the start of the year. The Jazz are good, we all know this. They beat Philly without Embiid, but now he’s back. It will be a tough test for Rudy Gobert, however the Jazz have a big advantage. The 76ers don’t make a lot of 3’s and Utah does, and the Jazz have a better bench. Those are two things that the Jazz can take advantage off to win this game.
The 76ers have been good, but considering it’s the East it’s surprising they’re not better. They have talent with Embiid and Simmons, but they have flaws. Their 3-pt shooting is usually poor and so is their bench. And for them to contend with the Jazz both of those things will have to be good. If the 76ers can get Tobias Harris back that would be huge, but even if he does play the 76ers will have to play well to win.
Final Verdict: I think Utah will win this game. The 76ers flaws are two things that the Jazz are good at, and Tobias Harris might not play so it’ll be tough for Philly. Philly can win if their 3’s fall and bench scores as well as Joel Embiid dominating Gobert, and all 3 of those things are possible. However I still think the Jazz will win this game.
Detroit Pistons vs Toronto Raptors
Rebuild is still on for Detroit and they’re doing a good job not messing things up…yet.
The Raptors are dealing with a lot of Covid right. No Siakam, VanVleet or Anunoby in this game. This game might actually be close, believe it or not.
Final Verdict: I still think Toronto will win because they still have guys who can score like Powell and Lowry, however this might be close because they are missing some key guys.
Brooklyn Nets vs Houston Rockets
James Harden makes his return to Houston with the Nets as Brooklyn looks for another win. No KD still but just Irving and Harden should be enough, especially against the reeling Rockets.
The Rockets have lost 12 straight without Christian Wood as they have been terrible. Maybe they will be a little motivated with James Harden returning, although this team is still terrible.
Final Verdict: The Nets should get a win here against the reeling Rockets.
Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic
The Hawks got their first win with Nate McMillan yesterday, and they have a chance to get a 2nd win in a row. The Hawks offense wasn’t great in Miami because the Heat took the ball out of Trae Young’s hands. However he should be able to score against a depleted Magic team. The Hawks got Bogdan Bogdanovic back even in limited minutes as they are starting to get healthier.
The Magic are a mess. Injuries have derailed a promising year as it looks like another mediocre season for the Magic.
Final Verdict: The Hawks should win this game easily unless their defense is very, very bad. The Magic can’t compete with them on offense and getting Bogdan Bogdanovic back gives them more shooting.
Charlotte Hornets vs Minnesota T-Wolves
The Hornets have turned into an all-offense no-defense type of team with Lamelo Ball. Their offense has so many weapons with Ball, Rozier, and Monk all being very good scorers. Zeller and Hayward are both questionable, as getting them back would be big. But the Hornets can still be dangerous even with those two not on the floor.
The T-Wolves are in turmoil. New coach, most consistent scorer suspended, and a team lacking talent. Wasting a generational talent in Karl-Anthony Towns and you’re giving him less shots than an inconsistent rookie in Anthony Edwards. My god does this team suck.
Final Verdict: The Hornets better not lose this game because the T-Wolves are just so bad.
Chicago Bulls vs New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans don’t have a scoring center, which is a good thing for the Bulls. The Pelicans do have this guy called Zion though, and he might be a problem for the Bulls down low. The Bulls have struggled with interior struggles and Zion might be the same way. The Bulls have struggled against decent teams, as their offense without Markkanen isn’t great. To win they need good games from Coby White and the bench and hope for some defense.
The Pelicans shot just 11 3’s and beat the Jazz. Take that analytics. I like that the Pelicans aren’t forcing 30 3’s, because they just aren’t good enough to shoot that many to win. The duo of Zion and Ingram have been so good, as not many teams can stop both their talents. Lonzo Ball has been great and Eric Bledsoe has been ok. The Pelicans can’t let the Bulls make a lot of 3’s and they also need to get the ball out of Zach Lavine’s hands and make others make shots.
Final Verdict: This will be a good game but I am taking the Pelicans. They have their dynamic wing duo and Lonzo Ball has been playing great. The Pels know how they need to play and if they contain Zach Lavine I find it hard to believe that the Bulls can win.
OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks
How are the Thunder only 3.5 games behind the Mavs? It amazes me how this team remains decent despite not having overwhelming talent. They have talented youngsters like SGA, Dort, and Bazley but it shouldn’t be just a handful of games behind a Luka Doncic led team.
The Mavs have won 4 of their last 5 games as their offense has been finding itself. Luka Doncic has been on fire from 3 as he shot 44% from 3 in the month of February. Along with Doncic guys like Jalen Brunson, Tim Hardaway, and Josh Richardson have been a lot better. The Thunder are smaller so it’s another game where Porzingis can post up. If the Mavs offense continues to play like they have been, good luck in trying to stop them.
Final Verdict: The Mavs offense has been back to form this season and Luka Doncic has been hitting his 3’s, a dangerous recipe for the rest of the league. The Thunder are always putting up a fight, but I don’t know if there is going to be one against one of the hottest teams in the league.
Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trail Blazers
The Warriors got destroyed by the Lakers last time out, as they did not look prepared. They now have a chance to bounce-back against the Blazers. The Warriors aren’t incredibly deep and rely on Curry to play well, which he has against Portland this season. The Warriors need scoring from Kelly Oubre who averaged 20 points in February as well as scoring from Wiggins. Draymond Green has to contain his emotions and the bench needs some production.
The Blazers offense dominated the Hornets as they set the record for most 3’s in a game in franchise history. Portland has a lot of offensive weapons and with guys like Robert Covington and Carmelo Anthony playing well, Portland is dangerous. Defense is a problem. The Blazers insist on playing drop coverage, something that Steph Curry will feed on. They need to stick on Curry and make other guys beat them. They need bench scoring and they can win this game.
Final Verdict: This will be a good game but I am going with the Blazers. Their offense remains very good while the Warriors are ok offensively and rely on inconsistent guys to score. Portland has to take the ball out of Curry’s hands and they can win this game. If they don’t do that Curry might get to his season average of 44 points per game against Portland.
LA Lakers vs Sacramento Kings
The Lakers were very short-handed against the Suns and it hurt them. I don’t know if LA will play their guys in this game with the All-Star break closing in, but assuming the rotation stays the same the Lakers shooting problems should go away. The Kings defense is the equivalent of swiss cheese and LA should have no problem scoring. That is if they don’t rest everybody.
The Kings need to fire Luke Walton. There is no way this much talent is 13th in the West. All-Star caliber Fox, sharp-shooter Hield. Athletic Bagley and Holmes down low. Glue guys in Barnes and Haliburton. There’s no way this is this bad. The defense is beyond bad, and without Haliburton they lose their bench. And Hield maybe out. This team is a mess as usual.
Final Verdict: The Lakers should be getting a win here if they don’t rest everybody and if they rest guys the game should be close knowing the Kings.
Game Of The Day
There are some good games today but Warriors vs Blazers should be good. Two playoff contenders and some of the best shooters in the league going at it. Should be good.
Jazz vs 76ers, Nets vs Rockets, and Bulls vs Pelicans are other good games.
What Are Your Predictions For Todays Games? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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