RADIO
Wednesday hits us with a massive 11-game slate and there are only two teams playing on the second night of a back-to-back. The Sacramento Kings lost to the Lakers last night and host the Atlanta Hawks one game after Trae Young scored 56 points on 26 shots. While Sacramento's rotation looks sustainable for the first time in some time, their lack of offense creates gaps that can't be filled by role players. The other team playing two games in two days are the Indiana Pacers, who are currently being led by rookie Keifer Sykes.
Until more Pacers return, they'll continue to scramble for offense and now that Torrey Craig has entered COVID protocol, their bench defense has fallen off a cliff. The Pacers have no choice but to try and keep up with the Nets scoring and forcing that issue upon James Harden or Kevin Durant usually doesn't go well. If Indiana can keep the game close, the Pacers only chance is if their backcourt keeps up this type of pressure.
MonkeyKnifeFight.com is always ahead of the curve with their canceling of contests amid postponements, so don't worry about wasting money on a player or game that might not play. As always, you can find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter with any questions, especially since lines and players are subject to change throughout the day.
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PHI @ ORL
Joel Embiid (PHI) MORE 28.5 Points - Cole Anthony (ORL) MORE 17.5 Points
This is the first time these two teams are facing off this season and it'll be a great test for Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba's defense. Joel Embiid is dominating every game he plays in and that usually means he's scraping at 30 points at a minimum, so against the Magic, it won't be entirely difficult for him to find a way to produce. Embiid's scored 30 points in six of his last seven contests.
Cole Anthony is the focal point of this offense, but he hasn't been available to play lately and the Magic seem content letting Franz Wagner and Carter Jr. do all the work. He's going to get shots up and being a score-first point guard, 20 points is all that demanding. Orlando's offense doesn't have much consistency coming from their backcourt, so even in a first-game-back scenario, Anthony is going to produce.
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DET @ CHA
LaMelo Ball (CHA) MORE 20.5 Points - Saddiq Bey (DET) MORE 20.5 Points
LaMelo Ball might be one of the more productive players in the league, but his stats aren't generally overwhelming. He's established himself as a premier point guard, but when he has bad nights, he tends to pull from the rest of the teams potential. Being a pass-first option keeps his upside fairly high, but not being able to convert easy shots against a passive defense comes with the territory of being an inconsistent shooter. There's no reason to assume Ball will score 21 points when he has options available and he's barely creating that much offense through points and assists anyway.
Saddiq Bey on the other hand, dove head-first into the Pistons usage-lottery and so far he's the big winner with more big nights on the horizon. The Pistons are desperate for offense, but they don't play with that same desperation feel everyone watching knows they are fighting through. Detroit has shown this type of toughness and grit all season and a lack of available players just means the young Pistons get more minutes without any risk. It's given some of these players confidence and players like Bey don't seem to be looking back any time soon.
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GSW @ DAL
Stephen Curry (GSW) MORE 27.5 Points - Luka Doncic (DAL) MORE 26.5 Points
Stephen Curry is only averaging 18 points over the last week, with his two week average still remaining around 27 points a game. Clearly, it's anchored by his nine points, 10-assist game versus the Heat where the Warriors still won by seven. Betting against the greatest shooter of all time is a strategy and sometimes it probably works out for you, but if there's one player who is likely to hit the over on any given night, it's Curry.
Similarly, Luka Doncic is also averaging 17 points a game over the last week, but this is just his second game back after missing 10 straight. The Warriors defense is better equipped to handle someone like Doncic, not only caue their team defense is solid, but their offense can apply pressure under almost any circumstance. Worst case scenario, the Mavericks keep this game close and Doncic has a well-rounded game rather than just having to shoulder the offense.
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