Started off our weekend going 3-0 on yesterday’s NBA picks. Can we make it an undefeated weekend in the association? We’ll see! More picks below–
Jazz win (even), 2 units: The Jazz have been on an absolute TEAR. Winners of 11 straight, Utah has been incredibly productive on offense and incredibly stifling on defense. The Jazz have the best record in the NBA and, not coincidentally, the best point differential at +8.3, a full .6 points ahead of the next best team. Recently they’ve been without star Donovan Mitchell due to concussion protocol and it hasn’t mattered– Ingles, Bogdanovic and Gobert have stepped up with high percentage, consistent offense. Gobert has also been supremely dominant at the rim, averaging over 14 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks per game. The Jazz are listing Mitchell as questionable, which I think means he’ll play, which would only make this a stronger take. The Nuggets have been playing really well, and I knew they were due for positive regression, but Utah matches up really well against their stars. Then again Utah is simply is out-matching everyone these days. Regardless of the spot, which may slightly favor Denver (at home, off a recent loss), I can’t step in front of Utah today. This is one of the most impressive NBA runs in recent memory.
Nets/Wizards over 243 (-110), 1.5 units &
Bradley Beal over 31.5 pts (-114), 2 units: I think it’s fair to say the Nets have found their rhythm. In their last contest, Brooklyn scored 76 points in the first half and 71 in the second (that’s 147 total, if you’re counting), and that was without Kevin Durant. Unsurprisingly, he Nets lead the league in scoring, averaging 121 ppg. It looks like Harden could rest today, they’re listing him as questionable, but I don’t think that’ll matter. If anything, sitting one of Brooklyn’s big three may help make their offense more fluid. Today the Nets face the worst defense in the league in Washington and trust me, that won’t change. Russel Westbrook will be motivated to play against his former teammates, but he’s isn’t a huge difference maker on defense. This total is sky high for a reason, and I still don’t think it’s high enough.
Bradley Beal continues to lead the NBA in scoring and today he puts the Wizards squarely on his shoulders again against the best scoring team in the association. Washington will be playing catch-up all game, and I love a fast tempo, high scoring game to equal a big performance from Beal. I was surprised to see how low this number was. I think he scores over 40, with ease.
