A good overall week above .500 and we’re 56-40 overall on NBA bets in February. I want my record officially over 60% to end this month strong, so let’s attack these picks with ferocity today and get, that, MONEY!
Clippers win (-110), 1.5 units: I love betting against Milwaukee in spots like this. The Bucks are, once again, starting to feel fat and sassy as they’ve been dominating weaker opponents at home. That’s what the Bucks do and it really doesn’t impress me. The Clippers have quietly won 7 of their last 10 games and Paul George should officially be less limited today and at full strength. Jrue Holiday returns for Milwaukee, which could be a good thing, or it may throw off the flow of their offense since he’s been out for so long. Like I’ve said many times before, Milwaukee struggles in games against well-balanced, elite teams like LAC, LAL, Toronto, and Philadelphia. The Clippers are good on both ends of the court. The Bucks need to overwhelm LAC with a fast tempo and high percentage shots from Giannis. I don’t see it. A buttoned up, strengthening Clippers team gets the win Sunday.
Wizards +6.5 (-110), 1.5 units: Boston is off the schneid and now, rut row, they turn around and see a buzzing Washington team heading their way. Getting 6.5 points with the surging Wizards against an up and down Celtics team is what I love to see and take advantage of. Boston comes off a win against Indiana 2 nights ago and while I slow clap and applaud their efforts, the Pacers are a team they should beat. It’s nothing to exalt. The Celtics have tough games around the corner this week: LAC, Toronto, and Brooklyn. They could definitely be looking ahead on Sunday. Washington is playing some inspired basketball right now. Winners of 7 of their last 8, and against quite a few top 10 teams, the Wizards are playing great team ball and facilitating their star Bradley Beal, who continues to lead the NBA in scoring by nearly 3 points (which is a ridiculous margin, by the way). I’m all over the Wiz-kids again.
Warriors/Lakers over 221 (-105), 1.5 units: The Warriors play at the 2nd fastest pace and score the 8th most in the NBA at 114.7 ppg. The Lakers, still without Anthony Davis, got back the little beast that is Dennis Schroder on Friday night and we saw the difference he can make. Schroder is unafraid to drive to the basket or take on the most elite scorer. He’s a pest in every way. Now he’ll go up against Steph Curry, arguably the most elite perimeter scorer in NBA history. I think Schroder will bother Curry but he’ll lose more often that he wins. What Portland didn’t have 2 nights ago was a ton of offensive support outside of Damian Lillard. The Warriors are seeing game-by-game improvements from Looney, Wiseman, Wiggins, and especially from Kelly Oubre Jr. Draymond Green has served as one hell of a facilitator as well. I think Golden State can make LAL uncomfortable often enough to drive this total over. This feels more like a 119-115 type of game.
Knicks -1 (-105), 2 units: Derrick Rose in a comeback game against his former team? Julius Randle against a shallow Detroit front court? The Knicks– who play stifling defense– against an offense that can’t score against inferior defenses? I won’t over-analyze this game. I love the Knicks in this spot and would be shocked if they lost. If they do, it’s because someone gets hurt, a key NY player is on “rest,” or the Pistons have the game of their life. The Knicks should win this easily.
