RADIO
It’s been a while since basketball has been on so allow me these two paragraphs for some free-writing. Monitoring props throughout the season you notice the incredible number of players that flow in and out of rotations and rosters. Those underdog-type players, call-ups and lesser-mentioned names making an impact when no one saw it coming makes basketball what it is. Superstars resting allows these players to do more than just ‘get-a-foot-in-the-door’ and these games are reminders of how it’s a business decision to let certain players ‘spread their wings’ in a sense.
Basketball and variance go hand-in-hand and the more we try to pull it apart the more we’ll stray from what can possibly bring us together. You can feel bad for the family who took an overseas vacation to watch LeBron James play and also understand that James (38) resting on the second night of a back-to-back against an out-of-conference opponent makes sense. What this breaks down to is that the schedule needs to adapt to today’s winning environment if the NBA doesn’t want the fans, and ultimately the league, to suffer.
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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CHA @ MIN
Anthony Edwards (MIN) MORE 29.5 Points ‒ LaMelo Ball (CHA) MORE 24.5 Points
With these first couple games back, there’s going to be some rust to be shaken off and we won’t know who that applies to until tip-off. Based on trends before the All-Star break, Edwards was on pace for 30-point games and playing alongside Mike Conley is only going to boost his potential every night. Charlotte’s defense is fairly lackluster and now that they have backup big men starting, Edwards should have a field day.
The Timberwolves dropped the ball against the Wizards and hopefully a small break allowed them some time to try and figure it out, but that’s doubtful, not to mention their defense is much more intimidating on paper. With LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Gordon Hayward as all capable playmakers and healthy, those Hornets centers might have an easier time tonight if all they have to do is defend and space the floor.
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OKC @ PHX
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) MORE 31.5 Points – Devin Booker (PHX) MORE 26.5 Points
The Suns with Devin Booker and without Mikal Bridges is not a look we’ve seen much but Phoenix is 2-1 during the stretch and we are going to dive into that small sample size. The Suns are extending their rotation but that doesn’t seem to be impacting Booker other than who exactly is passing him the ball. Even if the Thunder match up someone with Booker, he should be taking enough shots to hit around 28 points or so.
The main thing we have to be mindful of is a potential blowout, but something tells me the first matchup of the season between any Suns defender and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to favor the latter. If you want numbers, before the break he was putting up 34 PPG across his last four contests.
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BKN @ CHI
Mikal Bridges (BKN) MORE 20.5 Points – Nikola Vucevic (CHI) LESS 18.5 Points
This current Nets roster is fun to watch because of the resemblance to old-school basketball. With their offense being focused on movement and cuts more than raw talent, players like Mikal Bridges are going to be utilized alongside a lankier paint-threat, Nicolas Claxton, allowing for more freedom in under the basket cuts and passes. Dinwiddie might be the head of the totem pole, but the entire city of Brooklyn realizes that Bridges will finish a possession if they pass to him.
With DeMar DeRozan back in the lineup, it’ll be much harder for Nikola Vucevic to hit his line, but it’s not impossible. If both Vucevic and Claxton decide to play physical in the paint, it’ll be a toss up every possession between Vucevic getting off his baby-hook and Claxton getting the jump on Vucevic' meticulous post-moves. Regardless, when the Bulls are healthy, we take the under.
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HOU @ GSW
Jordan Poole (GSW) MORE 27.5 Points – Alperen Sengun (HOU) MORE 18.5 Points
When there is no competition in the lineup, Jordan Poole makes his presence known in dramatic fashion. This season hasn’t been much different in terms of his potential, just coming off the bench obviously allows for less overall minutes and attempts. However, as long as he’s starting he’s filling Curry’s role and the only way to do that is by scoring.
Alperen Sengun is pivotal to the Rockets offense but that has nothing to do with his scoring. He’s been held scoreless one time this season and since then, he’s only scored over 18 points seven out of a potential 22 games. Looking at their potential starting lineup and it’s easier to see why he’s here, but it’s still more likely he has a more impressive game in other stat columns.
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