NBA CARD:
NBA Pick #2: 533 Orlando Magic @ 534 San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: Under 214
Price: -108 / 1.92 on Bookmaker
Write Up:
Both teams are playing without their best playmakers… Fournier is out for Orlando and DeRozan is out for the Spurs. That will make a big impact as we are dealing with limited offensive teams. The Magic had a pedestrian 104.0 Off Rtg yesterday vs. MIA and that was against a Heat team without any size on the frontcourt. The Magic got a solid game from Vucevic and grabbed 16 offensive boards and still, they struggled to score. They won’t have such a nice edge down low today against the Spurs…
On the other end, I expect the Spurs to have some problems generating points from their starting lineup. DeRozan was incredible against Dallas w/ 12-19 3pts, 1-1 3pts & 5-8 3pts while Murray and White struggled heavily to score against a soft DAL defense.
NBA Pick #3: 535 Miami Heat @ 536 Chicago Bulls
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: Over 221
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
Write Up:
With Adebayo out, I expect Miami to use the same rotation that they used yesterday vs. ORL: Plenty of small ball lineups with Olynyk as the lone big man. Yesterday, 54% of their shots were 3pts and despite their bad FG% numbers (16-49 3pts), they created plenty of good shots as it’s tough to cover the court against them. They were able to survive defensively against ORL because the Magic really doesn’t attack the paint. They scored “only” 44 points in the paint in such a great spot for them… It’s going to be a different story against the Bulls offense. CHI is a top 10 team in shots vol% @ rim and in L10 games they are averaging 42% vol% shots @ rim. So, I expect the Bulls to have a nice edge close to the basket vs. MIA edge on the perimeter with their shooters.
NBA Pick #4 & #5: 539 Indiana Pacers @ 540 Los Angeles Lakers
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: Over 112 FIRST HALF
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: 539 Indiana Pacers (+4.5)
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
Write Up:
No Davis and no Gasol for the Lakers tonight mean that the Lakers are going to play without their 2 best rim protectors against the #1 ranked rim vol% offense in the league.
I expect the Pacers to attack the paint given the lack of rim protection of the Lakers. Also, the Lakers have been prone to commit TO’s and the Pacers are elite in generating TO’s and convert them into easy transition points. The Pacers defense have been subpar @ perimeter, but the Lakers have not been consistent from long range. Naturally, I expect Lebron James to have a big game due to the lack of size @ wings from the Pacers, so this could be a fun game to watch.
NBA Pick #1: 531 Denver Nuggets @ 532 Memphis Grizzlies
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: Over 228
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
Write Up:
The Grizzlies offense is very unidimensional with their lack of 3pts both in volume% and in effectiveness (ranked #28 & #27), but they can crush any defense if they are able to play in transition and get plenty of shots in the paint. That happened in their last game vs. WAS in which they scored 27 fast break pts & 78 points in the paint! So, I expect them to have a substantial edge in both areas vs. DEN, as the Nuggets do not have a solid rim protection and they are slow to get back in defense. On the other end, DEN offense is clicking right now with their current starting lineup with Porter Jr. playing @PF position.
CBB CARD:
CBB Pick #1: 829 Florida @ 830 Tennessee
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: 830 Tennessee (-4)
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
CBB Pick #2: 867 Oregon State @ 868 Oregon
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: 867 Oregon State (+8.5)
Price: -113 / 1.88 on Pinnacle