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No tips yesterday as we didn’t like any of the two games. Now we’re ready for the freakin’ weekend and we are going to have some bets.
We’ve got a full slate of action here tonight and some really nice match-ups on the slate with FOUR big picks to get to. The NBA is really starting to become more itself as teams are rounding into form. The early start to the season, the shortened preseason led to some weird starts for some teams, but we think things are starting to normalize and we are ready to strike on some winnings plays. Let’s get right into it.
Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Tips:
The Cavaliers have been an absolute mess this season. They’ve lost to the Knicks, the Nets, Pacers and Magic. They are in a four game skid right now and things don’t look to be getting any better. They actually play a good team tonight that really wants to beat them.
Washington has had this game circled on their calendar since the season started. They think they can beat the Cavs in the playoffs and they want home court advantage in the East this season. They are 10th in the NBA in Net Rating and will get a healthy Markieff Morris back for this one.
All signs point to a Wizards win here. The Cavs have a lot of sorting out to do and they won’t do it tonight against a team that is hungry to beat them. Wizards -3.5 is the play.
Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Betting Tips:
The Pacers have to be one of the surprises of the early season as they sit at 5-3 with a Net Rating that ranks 8th in the NBA. They’ve done it with the offense as the 109.3 Offensive rating is third in the NBA. Victor Oladipo and Domatas Sabonis have proven to be quite the pick-n-roll tandem and are showing that they have the talent to play in this league. It’s almost like playing in an offense where one guy takes every shot was bad for them last year. Shocker.
The Sixers have been solid on the year, but they have a losing record and a negative Net Rating. This team that everyone thought was making the leap this year is still showing growing pains. Which makes sense. Simmons, while great, is ostensibly a rookie and Fultz has been hurt. As long as Embiid is on a minutes restriction their upside is limited.
For some reason, the Sixers are a big favorite in this one. The stats just don’t back that up and we think the line is way too high on this one. The Pacers +6 is a great play and there is a chance they win outright.
Chicago Bulls vs. Orlando Magic Betting Tips:
This one is relatively simple. The Magic have been the biggest surprise of the young season as Aaron Gordon learned to hit threes and the offense has just grown in major ways. We truly believe that this is a playoff team, maybe not a top four Net Rating team, but a playoff team nonetheless.
The Bulls on the other hand have been the worst team in the NBA this year. They are on the road and they don’t have a lot of hope this year. They have been on the wrong end of some major blowouts and have just plain sucked in every way. I find it hard to say anything positive about them.
Magic -8 is the play. They are riding high right now and the Bulls are a mess. Magic Fever, catch it.
Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Tips:
After the devastating injury to Gordon Hayward on opening night and the 0-2 start, the Celtics haven’t lost. They’ve won six straight and are looking like a real dangerous team. Kyrie Irving is great, Jaylen Brown has made a major leap and Jayson Tatum is making Danny Ainge look like a genius. This is a tough team and they will be one of the top seeds in the East again this year.
They play Oklahoma City tonight who are adjusting to the new status quo well. Their numbers are skewed a bit after a 32-point win over the Bulls, but suffice to say that the Paul George-Russell Westbrook-Carmelo Anthony experiment is working. They are a tough out every night and one of the best teams in the league right now.
That said, Celtics +6.5 is way too many points for the Thunder to give. These teams are about even statistically in just about every major category and this game should be close. The Celtics and the points is the best play here.
