Do I regret taking the Lakers last night? Nope. A number like that on LAL is rare and if you play the right numbers in the long term you’ll come out way on top. That being said, it sure seems like LAL misses Anthony Davis. Although “the brow” doesn’t have that dog in him that builds a true leader, he might be the most talented all-around athlete in the NBA. He’s 7 feet tall, long, shoots like a point guard, and he’s an elite defender. That’s hard to replace. Onto my Friday Eve picks!
76ers -4.5 (-110), 2.5 units: With Maxi Kleber and Kristaps Porzingis both questionable, the Mavericks will have to rotate big men in and out to try and stop Joel Embiid– not a great prognosis for Dallas tonight. The Sixers play really well at home and Philadelphia is now entirely healthy. Dallas has won two in a row and this feels like a comfortable spot for them to get humbled. Play on Philadelphia with confidence. The difference is class is stark.
Nets -8.5 (-110), 1.5 units: If a bettor tells you he/she has a great angle on Orlando +8.5 tonight, they’re lying. The Nets are on a nasty 7 game winning streak, beating some of the best teams in the association by an average of 9.4 ppg. That run includes victories over the Suns, Lakers, and Clippers. And ALL were on the road. Over this stretch their offense has gained more chemistry and even their defense has improved. Unless Brooklyn has a seriously horrific let-down game tonight, they won’t win by any less than 10 points. Bet on the surging Nets.
Knicks -1.5 (-115), 1 unit: The Kings are a really bad team right now. The Knicks play better at home and just lost an opportunity to beat a Warriors team on a long road trip. New York owns the best defense in the NBA, allowing only 103.8 ppg. Sacramento has the league’s worst defense, rated last in defensive efficiency and allowing 119.9 ppg. The better defense at home in a get-right spot? Psh. Knicks all day.
Clippers -8 (-110), 1 unit: The difference in this game will be from beyond the arc. The Clippers own the best 3 point percentage in the NBA (42.4%). The Grizzlies own the worst 3 point defense in the league, allowing a league high 41.9% from the field. The Grizzlies have been losing their touch on defense and they actually play a little worse at home. I have to take LAC here, even if this number is a little high.
Pelicans/Bucks over 242.5 (-110), 1.5 units: Is Stan Van Gundy the smartest guy in the world? I don’t know. But it’s pretty obvious that if the Pelicans want to win this year, they need to do 2 things: play with a fast pace and FEED ZION. The latter tends to be a real game changer in every contest. Zion in 2021 looks leaner and has been completely unstoppable in the front court this season. The Bucks already push the pace and they’ve been very efficient at home, scoring 128 and 139 points in their last two outings. And the Pelicans might be the worst defense they’ve seen in awhile. I love this over.
