I’ll be away from home tomorrow morning so sending out some plays now. Might be more to come around lunch time tomorrow, may not be.
These lines might not be out at most books yet but they will be soon.
Celtics/Hawks under 232.5 (-110), to win 1.5 units
This checks out as a game that’ll have a playoff-like feel. Both teams are top 10 in defensive efficiency over their last 5 games and both teams are playing some damn good basketball. I also like how they match up with each other defensively, length against length and physical players on both rosters. No team shoots and makes more 3 pointers than the Boston Celtics but the Hawks are 2nd in the NBA at defending the 3, allowing only 32% from beyond the arc. The Hawks much prefer to shoot from the mid-range or in closer proximity to the basket– they’re a 2-point shooting team that wants to go to the foul line– and Boston is easily one of the best paint defenses in the NBA. It’s strength vs. strength and both teams are humming so this should be very contentious. Give me the under.
Nuggets 1Q -2.5 or less (-110), to win 1 unit
Nuggets 1H -4.5 or less (-110), to win 1 unit
BRUTAL spot for the Knicks off a back to back and Denver will be off a solid 3 days of rest. It’s a pretty unfair scheduling spot but we need to take advantage. The Nuggets are playing at a high level and they score a lot of points early. They also shoot the 3 ball better than 28 other teams in the NBA. They could quickly gain margin on a tired Knicks team at home, especially with their newly found faster pace and top 5 marks in offensive efficiency and assists. I love Denver early.
Raptors +1.5 (-110), to win 2 units
I think Gary Trent Jr. and Freddie Van Fleet will be back tomorrow. Both are questionable, so I’m counting at least one being in. That’ll make a big difference against Miami. The Heat have been on one hell of a run at home but going to Toronto is a different story. According to reports, Bam Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon are questionable for Miami, and Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo, and Omer Yurtseven have all been ruled out. At home, Toronto is a top 5 offense, a top 10 net rating team, a top 5 rebounding and assist team, and they don’t turn the ball over. Nick Nurse is among the best coaches in the NFL and Miami is due for regression or maybe even a full sitting of their bench. Take the Raptors when this comes out.
