NBA Pick #1: 521 New Orleans Pelicans @ 522 Memphis Grizzlies
Rating: 2 Units – Regular Play
Pick: 521 New Orleans Pelicans (+1)
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Betonline
Write Up:
Memphis will be forced to play without some players in tonight’s game in a matchup that would never be favored to them anyway. The Grizzlies were a subpar defensive rebounding team last season and without Steven Adams, they only got worse. This will be a problem for them tonight as the Pelicans were #10 in off reb last season and they have Jonas Valanciunas, a physical Center who would have problems against Adams but who will have a favorable matchup tonight with Adams out.
With Morant suspended and with Smart playing only one preseason game, Memphis’ offense will have to rely on Desmond Bane. However, the Pelicans have one of the best perimeter defensive players in the league in Herb Jones, who should be able to limit Bane tonight.
Memphis will be also without Santi Aldama tonight, a stretch PF with good shooting ability who would have caused troubles tonight to a Pelicans team that plays Zion at PF. On the other hand, CJ McCollum isn’t a great defensive player but this is a matchup where he can be hidden on defense by guarding Marcus Smart.
NBA Pick #2: 523 Sacramento Kings @ 524 Utah Jazz
Rating: 2 Units – Regular Play
Pick: 523 Sacramento Kings (-1.5)
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
Write Up:
The version we will see from Utah this season is very different from the one that surprised the league early last season. That Jazz team was a pure spread out offensive team with Markkanen and Olynyk as shooting bigs, with the team also playing constantly with three guards who could shoot: Conley, Clarkson and Beasley.
Now Utah will be playing with three frontcourt players: Collins, Markkanen and Kessler, with only two of them having shooting ability. Their two guards will be Clarkson and Horten-Tucker, who lack a bit of playmaker ability. Utah will have a size edge over Sacramento, but I think they will lack the proper spacing on offense to make a big scoring impact.
On the other hand, I think Utah will have a lot of problems in defending Sacramento. The Kings’ speed and perimeter shooting on offense is going to be a serious issue for a Jazz defense that has size but lacks speed. Utah is going to be one of the best teams at protecting the paint this season, but that is going to be worthless against a Sacramento offense that was #3 in the league in 3pts vol% and #29 in shots at the rim vol% during the preseason.
NBA Pick #3: 511 Houston Rockets @ 512 Orlando Magic
Rating: 2 Units – Regular Play
Pick: Under 220
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker