Another nice day– 5-2 overall with NBA and CBB, so at least that combo is starting to work! We’re actually 18-6 overall the last few days, not too shabby!
Onto more! CBB Picks will be out later today, if I have time, and I’m starting to look at the Australian Open, too. Not that I have any time (lol), but we won a lot last summer.
NBA:
Hawks ML (+114), to win 1.14 units
Hawks/Mavs under 232.5 (-110), to win 1 unit
The Hawks are playing good basketball right now, believe it or not. When they need to win by defense, they can win by defense. When they need to outshoot their opponent, they’ve been able to do that, too. John Collins warmed up and back in his normal rotation certainly helps, and D. Murray has been fantastic the last 5 games. Trae Young has found his range too, and seems to have turned a corner in his mentality. Dallas will get Dorian Finney Smith and Jeff Green tonight, but both are coming off missing 20+ games. They’ll be cold, and probably won’t have the wind to hang with a Hawks’ team that’s been aggressive and confident. The Mavs go at a slow pace and their defense has been horrendous recently– I think they tick it up tonight, while the Hawks have been formidable on that side of the court. Like the under, like the Hawks.
Hornets/Rockets over 237 (-110), to win 1.5 units
Yea it’s just hard to not play an over here. These are two of the worst defenses in the NBA and they’re just not improving. The Hornets have allowed 122 points over their last 10 games, while the Rockets have allowed a staggering 123.7 ppg. When two bad teams face each other, it’s usually a showcase of offense since neither team has much to play for this season. The Rockets have been a good offensive rebounding team, while the talent of LaMelo Ball means the Hornets utilize ball movement and assists more than most teams. The staple of a bad defense is when they don’t defend the rim, and neither of these teams are doing this in an adequate fashion. Neither is defending the 3-ball, either. High pace, over.
Cavs +7.5 (-110), to win 1 unit
Too many points for the Grizzlies here. This is an unfamiliar matchup for both teams but what the Grizzlies do best, attack the rim, is what the Cavs defend best. Even without D. Mitchell today, the interior defense of Cleveland should fend off the explosive offense of Memphis for much of this game. And seven points is just too much for a team that’s deeper than most outfits in the NBA.
