Our regular season journey has come to an end. What a trip. Did we finish the regular season with a positive record (37-32) while being down units (-0.43)?
Yet, the playoffs are a chance for us to start anew as we continue on this journey — and don’t forget that the real bets are the friends that we make along the way.
Categories:
Layups: 2-Unit Plays
Two-Pointers: 1-Unit Plays
Three-Pointers: 0.75-Unit Plays
Half-Court Shot: 0.5-Unit Plays
Two-Pointers
Kyle Anderson Over 0.5 Three-Pointers (-113): We just need one, folks! Anderson has been shooting a decent stream of threes over the past several games, hitting one from deep in seven of his last ten (he’s shooting 41% this season). More importantly, he’s been getting 30+ minutes in most games.
Tonight, he’ll face a Thunder team that has given up the ninth-most three-pointers per game in the NBA over the last ten games (13.1). This game also features the two teams ranked 12th and 13th in possessions a game. There will be plenty of opportunities to hurl some long ones and we only need one!
Three-Pointers
Thunder +5.5 @ Timberwolves (-110): Wanna know a hilarious stat? Without Rudy Gobert this season, the T-Wolves have a record of 8-5. With Rudy? 34-36. LOL. Want to know an even MORE hilarious stat? Minnesota’s defensive rating is better without Rudy Gobert (113.4) than it is with him (114.7). Guess who’s supposed to be playing in this win-or-go-home game tonight? Good ol’ Rudy!
The Timberwolves don’t seem to like Rudy — does anyone in the NBA? — and it shows on the court. They now face a happy-go-lucky Thunder squad that’s churning on all cylinders after upsetting the Pels on the road. With Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, I’m not sure how the Timberwolves’ defense can keep up when they’re worse with Rudy on the floor. OKC is live to win this game, so I’m more than happy to take the points.
Nets +8.5 @ 76ers (-110): This is a case of a team that’s been playing well meeting one that’s been playing poorly. It’s as simple as that. In Game 1, I think the Nets are more than capable of not only covering this number but winning outright against a sluggish 76ers team that ranks 21st in net rating over the last 10 games.
Brooklyn’s offense has also been top 10 in the league to end the season. Joel Embiid will get his 30+ points, but I’m worried about his surrounding cast being able to step up consistently. The Nets should be able to keep it close and give Philly a scare by the end of this game.
Hawks-Celtics 1H Over 117.5 (-110): These two teams are going to score. A lot. Over the last five games, Atlanta has averaged a whopping 65 points per first half. And at home, the Celtics are averaging a tick above 61 points per first half over their last ten games. The Hawks have been playing with the seventh fastest pace in the NBA while the C’s play the 11th fastest pace in the league at home. Before it slows down in the second half, let’s bet on a seemingly low first-half number for two teams who are at the top of their offensive games.