Zach’s Season Record: 20-12
Twitter @ZachSelwyn1
I hope you listened to my picks last Wednesday and made some money on the Warriors last week. To quote my favorite YouTube talking head, FLIGHT REACTS: “Looks at Curry man, so inspirational.” Indeed. The dude is on a roll… And they’ve even figured out how to lob to James Wiseman, which is where this guy should be getting more high percentage shots than a COVID-19 Vaccine… Get it? High percentage SHOTS? Vaccines? SORRY. I’m an idiot.
Luckily, I got off the Brooklyn train faster than a Subway pickpocket on the L last week - and did NOT pick them to beat the Cavs - who took ‘em to the house TWICE! Was it Kyrie’s return that did it? Is he just too much for KD and Harden to play with? Who knows, but the Nets’ unbeatable look was interrupted about as quickly as a BAM ADEBAYO-KYRIE IRVING jersey exchange. Maybe the Nets should trade someone for another Hall of Famer and call it a Big 4. At that point, the Super Teams will soon be known as Dream Teams. Let’s make you some Monday Money with these NBA picks on the Philadelphia 76ers versus Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers versus Cleveland Cavaliers.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons: Sixers -6.5 (-105)
Point Total: Under 215.5 (+100)
Today’s picks have me sliding back to the Eastern Division, where the 76ers have been absolutely dominating recently. COVID protocols aside, they had been criticized for a soft early-season schedule, but two victories over the Celtics have me thinking they have something special. Of course, Jayson Tatum was out and Kemba isn’t 100%. BUT Joel Embiid is playing the best basketball of his career and put up an easy 38 against Marcus Smart, who is one of the better defenders in the game. So, look at the depleted Celtics as the full-strength Detroit Pistons - and for Ben Simmons to keep sleepwalking until he decides to turn it on to All-World like levels in the fourth quarter. (Like he did scoring 11 and having arguably the best 40 seconds of gameplay in his career in that game.) Take the Sixers – and they will win by 12.
Point-total-wise, I’m thinking that the Philadelphia 76ers will get 115-122 in this game – but the Detroit Pistons may not even break 100. The Pistons seem to run hot for a while, and then, like the water faucet in my old apartment in North Hollywood, they suddenly go ice cold. It could be age, it could be the fact that they only have three wins… but ultimately, it’s just how it is in Motor City. I feel bad for Blake Griffin – who is going to see his brilliant career go the way of the car company Pontiac… and DIE in Detroit. I guess Blake is sorta like the Trans Am. He was fun to drive for a while, but eventually, he had to be traded in for something more reliable. Take the UNDER.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Lakers -10 (-165)
Point Total: Under 213.5 (+100)
The Young Bull Collin Sexton! Is there any other player who got more props from NBA Twitter than this kid after he spoiled the debut of the Nets’ Big 3 last week? No – and Sexton is a bad man. The Cavs are on some sort of a roll since they acquired Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince. BUT then they hit the Celtics on Sunday and lost by like, a million points.
Now they face the Lakers on the back half of a back-to-back today - so I think LeBron pulls one of his “whisper in Sexton’s ear” maneuvers when he convinces him to join him in LA in a year or so. LeBron does this all the time. But, now that the actual hug protocols have been targeted, LeBron may not get to close talk to the Young Bull after the Lakers beat them by 15. Look, the Cavs are tough. Does this mean they can beat the Lakers? Uhhh no. And they will lose by 12 or more. Los Angeles has had some close games, but ultimately, we all know that they are still the team to beat in the league.
The Lakers are gonna score a lot of points. I’m thinking 120 is an easy number to hit but something is telling me to take the UNDER. I know Sexton wants to prove he can play with the big boys and even guys like Larry Nance wanna show his old team how much he has improved but ehhhh… I don’t see it. Not on a post-NFL Championship weekend… Buffalo wings sit heavy in the stomach. I’m thinking 210.
If I’m wrong, we can do our own jersey exchange – I’ll give you a sweaty Willie Nelson t-shirt I’ve had since 2003.
