Zach’s Season Record: 97-76
Twitter: @ZachSelwyn1
I went an embarrassing 0-4 on Monday. Dammit. WTF happened there, Portland? What game were you playing, Miami? I predicted close, low-scoring games and was met with more blowouts than a New Jersey hair salon post-COVID.
Meanwhile, Kristaps hit the strip club in Los Angeles, which means… a 7’3” guy tried to be inconspicuous at a strip club? What was he doing – acting as the POLE? Dude. (You deserve that $50,000 fine. Although, if you can tell me what strip club was open in LA you’re forgiven.) When Paul George crossed him over last night, it looked like he was picking up dollar bills from the floor. They still beat the Clips though, who are… well – the curse lives on.
Last night’s games were a little easier to predict (I won on the Lakers and Brooklyn after hearing that LeBron has NEVER trailed a series 2-0). The thing is? Chris Paul’s shoulder injury and lack of late minutes have me more concerned for the Suns than Friends fans were for Matthew Perry when he was slurring his words during the reunion trailer earlier this week… Without CP3, the Suns may be doomed for an unsettling finish to this series. I hate injuries.
I also hate going 0-4. So I’m going to get back in the winner’s circle tonight and shut you haters up like you were being chased in A Quiet Place Part II.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Utah Jazz: Utah -9 (-120)
Point Total: Over 219 (-110)
The Memphis Grizzlies burned me again in Game 1 with that defeat of the Utah Jazz… but the number 1 seed was without Donovan Mitchell and I think Ja and Jonas were still rolling from that victory over Golden State last week. So do they have what it takes to go up 2-0 tonight? Sure. Will they? NO. Take UTAH and expect them to have one of those bounce-back games like we saw from Milwaukee and Denver two nights ago.
Points-wise, I was SO burned by taking the under this week, I’m gonna go with the OVER here. I can see this one being close for a while, but I don’t think the Utah Jazz want to go in that big of a hole to start a series with the Memphis Grizzlies already up a game. Donovan Mitchell wants to prove that he probably didn’t even need to miss a game Monday with a 25-piece.
Washington Wizards @ Philadelphia 76ers: Washington +8 (-110)
Point Total: Under 230.5 (-115)
The 76ers won Game 1 by 7 and are still favored by 8.5 against the high-scoring Wizards. I have yet to win with the Wizards this year, so I’m going to go out on a limb here and say – TAKE WASHINGTON! If not to win but to not lose by 8.5. I know Russell is a competitor and when the pressure is on, he can turn a team around by himself like he was Ben Affleck bouncing back with J. Lo. (Shout out to that cigarette he had AFTER the gym yesterday…) I’m going with Washington – maybe not to even up the series, but to make this a close game.
I’m sticking with the under here, as I think 230 may be hard to come by when the Wizards turn on their defense. Embiid will get 40, but the rest of this team might face the wrath of Beal and Russ.
Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks: New York Knicks -2.5 (-105)
Point Total: Under 212.5 (-105)
Night two in Madison Square Garden after Trae Young shut the building down on Sunday… Who to take? Obviously, this is an electric matchup, but I think the Knicks can bounce back here and win by a few more than 2.5. I mean, you have to think they’re gonna do it for the city, right? According to the media, NYC is a violent town of gunfighters and subway attacks these days, but according to friends who live in the city, New York Is alive and vibrant and the Knicks are the reason why. They have brought the boroughs together and I think Julius Randle, fresh off of his “Most Improved Player Award,” shuts down Trae Young and even rubs his shoulders to mock the “Ice Trae.”
Points-wise, it’s always weird when 212 is the ceiling and they scored 212 on Sunday. I’m going to take the under on this one. I think we see a more defensive game here – because Trae just made himself a certified VILLAIN in the city. Even the damn MAYOR called him out! Look for him to have to work a lot harder for his buckets tonight. It will be one of those games where Bogdan Bogdanović gets the rock more than he should. If he responds, who knows… But if Trae is really as good as he looked Sunday, he may turn the Garden back into A Quiet Place Part II as well…
