Fact #1: The Bucks (31.5) and Pelicans (29.8) are 1st and 6th, respectively in first quarter point averages this season.
Sixth Pick: Jrue Holiday O16.5 pts vs NOP (-103)
Logic: Holiday is coming off his worst shooting performance of the season against Toronto (2-14), but tonight is his first regular season return to New Orleans, who traded him this past off-season. I’m here for the revenge game narrative.
Seventh Pick: Marvin Bagley III O13.5 pts vs TOR (-110)
Fact #1: The Raptors are allowing 23 PPG to the PF position over their last seven games.
Fact #2: Bagley has eclipsed 14 points in three of his last five and put up 15 against the Raptors in their first meeting back on the 8th.
Eighth Pick: James Harden O27.5 pts vs OKC (-106)
Fact #1: You have to remind your past that you’re better since you left them.
Fact #2: Durant is out tonight.
Fact #3: Harden has 28+ in three of his seven games since joining Brooklyn.
Recap: Last Thursday looked oh, so promising until Malcolm Brogdon decided to hit his over as the game-winning 3-pter in OT against the Magic.
First Pick: Terry Rozier O17.5 pts vs IND (-120)
Fact #1: The Pacers are allowing an average of 25 PPG to the two-guard position over their last seven games.
Fact #2: Rozier has eclipsed 18 pts in four of his last six.
Second Pick: Jerami Grant O23.5 pts vs CLE (-110)
Fact #1: Grant went for 28 the first time these teams played and has eclipsed 24 pts in four of his last six.
Fact #2: The Cavs are allowing 28.5 PPG to the small forward position — the 2nd-most by any team — over their last seven games.
Third Pick: Evan Fournier O17.5 pts vs SAC (-134)
Fact #1: Fournier has eclipsed 18 points in all four games since returning from injury.
Fact #2: The Kings are allowing 27 PPG to the two-guard position over their last seven contests.
Obligatory homer picks incoming…
Fourth Pick: Kyrie Irving O24.5 pts vs ATL (-118)
Fact #1: Irving has hit this number in three of four games since Harden’s arrival
Fact #2: The Hawks allow an average of 25 PPG to the PG position over their last seven.
Fifth Pick: James Harden O9.5 assists vs ATL (+107)
Fact #1: Harden has recorded double-digit assists in five of six games since joining Brooklyn and this game should be very high-paced as the previous two matchups were.
Sixth Pick: Nets -5.5 vs ATL (-110)
Fact #1: The Nets are catching the Hawks in their third-game-in-four-nights and they struggled to get past a Kawhi and PG13-less Clippers team last night.
Seventh Pick: Bucks -2.5 1st quarter vs TOR (-108)
Fact #1: The Bucks are an NBA-best 12-4 against the 1st quarter spread this season. Yes, Toronto is 11-6, but they will be with OG Anunoby, while Siakam is a game-time decision.
Recap: The Bucks were leading by 5 with 2:20 left in the first and then surrendered an 11-0 run by the Heat to close the quarter. Elsewhere, Durant did everything against the Hawks, except cook three times from behind the arc.
First Pick: Cavs +2 1st Quarter vs IND(-109) – Loser
Fact #1: The Pacers have yet to hold a lead entering the 2nd quarter in this young season and are 0-4 ATS in the 1st quarter thus far
Fact #2: The Cavs are 3-1 ATS in the first quarter thus far
Second Pick: Darius Garland O14.5 pts vs IND(-121) – winner
Fact #1: Garland has posted 15+ points in three of four games this season
Fact #2: The Pacers are allowing an average of 28.5 points to the 2-guard position through 4 games
Third Pick: Pascal Siakam O19.5 pts vs NYK (-110)
Fact #1: I’m not stopping this “Skilled Big Man Point Total Over vs NYK” narrative until it goes ice cold. I played Drummond on my own the other night, but felt shaky about it blog wise and it didn’t hit because he didn’t get the shot attempts. So it’s like it never happened in our world.
Fact #2: Siakim dominated this matchup a season ago, posting point totals of 23 and 31 points, respectively.
Fact #3: Siakim has eclipsed 20+ points in two of three games thus far and the Knicks allow an average of 25.6 points to the PF position.
Fourth Pick:5-Pt Teaser of Thunder +10.5/Suns +9 (+107)
Logic: The Thunder have been playing close games to start, so the points are just for comfort here against a Pelicans team off to a 2-2 start. On the other side, the Suns played the Jazz well in two meetings last season + aside from a thrashing of the Blazers to open the season, teams have kept it close with Utah out the gate
With the NBA playoffs now underway, a handful of The 300s team members have taken the NBA bracket challenge. The picks are in, and here’s what we’ve got for finals predictions. We’ll routinely check in after each round is finished and see who actually knows what they’re talking about. Here’s what we’re looking at for finals predictions:
GRENGA
FINALS: BUCKS vs. THUNDER WINNER: THUNDER
The Bucks were the best team in the NBA this year, and Giannis is unstoppable. They are getting healthy at just the right time, and although last years ROY Malcolm Brogdon will miss the first round, they won’t need him. I think the Celtics will give them some trouble in the second round, but I’m just not sold that the Celtics can play consistent enough to beat the NBA’s best team, especially since they only finished the year one game over .500 on the road. The Bucks dominated Toronto in the regular season, so I don’t think they’ll have a problem with them when they eventually meet up in the ECF. As for the Sixers, that process is still going.
In the West, the Thunder have a long road to the championship, but I think this is their year. Paul George is playing out of his mind, and when you combine his MVP-caliber play with constant triple-doubles from Westbrook and a defensive post-monster in the form of Steven Adams, I think they have what it takes to beat anyone in 7. They swept the season series against Portland, the Nuggets are set up for an early exit with the youngest team in the playoffs, and I think they matchup against the Bucks as well as anybody. The biggest question is whether or not they play the Warriors in the WCF. I have the Rockets topping the Warriors because they won the season series, but I might be falling for a trap. Honestly, I’m just sick of the Warriors and want any excuse to root against them. We’ll see how it goes.
BIG Z
FINALS: RAPTORS vs. WARRIORS WINNER: WARRIORS
“Short and sweet here. I’m going with the Warriors. The NBA is a top-heavy league and there’s no reason not to take the favorite. As for the Celtics, I think they’ll make it past the Bucks to the Conference Finals because they’ve got so much talent. I think they’ll fall to the Raptors in the conference finals though, because when the going gets tough I think they’ll ultimately pack it in. This will mark 3 straight championships and 4 outta 5 for Dubs.”
JIMMY LIPS
FINALS: BUCKS vs. ROCKETS WINNER: BUCKS
“Milwaukee — the league’s best team in the regular season — has a cupcake path to the Finals. The Bucks went 14-2 against their division this season and neither of those 2 losses were at the hands of the Pistons, who lost all four contests by an average of 14.75 points. Being that I have the Victor Oladipo-less Pacers beating the Celtics in Round 1 (in 7 games), the Bucks 14-2 record against the Central still applies here. Now, the Pacers did top the Bucks back in late December, however that was Milwaukee’s third game in four nights. When the Bucks meet the Raptors in the ECF, it’ll be the first time they’ve been there since George Karl was at the helm in 2001. In games in which Mr. Leonard played, the teams split the two meetings but haven’t played since January 31. That shouldn’t matter overall and Milwaukee should advance to its first Finals appearance since the 70s.
Out West, spoiler alert: the Rockets are beating the Warriors in Round 2. This is a healthy Rockets squad and they will get the Warriors a round earlier, assuring they are fresh. Houston took 3 of 4 during the regular season, including the classic at Oracle on January 3 that went to OT thanks to The Beard. They’ll meet Denver in the WCF because there isn’t a strong enough case to build for OKC beating a formidable and hungrier team like the Nuggets in a 7-game series. The Beard and CP3 get the Rockets to their first Finals appearance since 1995 when they won back-to-back chippers with some guy named Olajuwon at center. Rejoice, NBA fans. We will get to see this season’s top two MVP candidates face off in June. Milwaukee swept the season series. And yes, I know, CP3 didn’t play in one of those games.
Bucks in 6. The Greek World Order begins this summer.”
RED
FINALS: CELTICS vs. WARRIORS WINNER: WARRIORS
“I’ve got the Celtics making it through the toughest road in the East, going through the Pacers, Giannis and the Bucks, and Kawhi and the Raptors before falling to the Warriors in the NBA Finals. The Celtics match up with the Warriors better than any other team in the NBA, but its hard to pick against the team that is one Kyrie Irving circus shot away from being back to back to back to back champions. Warriors in 6.”
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