Zach’s Season Record: 115-100
Twitter: @ZachSelwyn1
Kevin Durant. Can somebody NFT that performance last night? Holy crap – it looked like he was back at RUCKER PARK in that game (please watch these highlights from the 2011 Lockout summer).
Damn KEVIN DURANT is on one right now – and at this point, I can only say that the only awkward part of my night was Steve Nash hugging KD like an immature sorority girl yesterday, thanking him for (possibly) securing Nash’s (very new) coaching legacy.
But in reality – Monday sucked for me. The same two games I’m about to break down might seem like confident picks if you read my Monday picks, but I will say that there are ONLY two truths here:
Trae Young and Kawhi Leonard.
Atlanta Hawks @ Philadelphia 76ers: Atlanta +6 (+105)
Point Total: Under 223.5 (-110)
“Trae in the A” is unstoppable. But in Philly? He needs some work. Will the Hawks pull off a game back in the City of Brotherly Love tonight? I DON’T KNOW. I will say that I’m betting Trae goes nuts. Embiid’s injury still seemed to bother him on Monday but… not now.
I’d drop some cash on ATL keeping it within 6, as the odds are saying. But then again, Trae has yet to show he can dominate anywhere but NYC. So if he can step into Philly tonight, he might LOSE, but NOT by more than 6.
As for the point total – no more overs. Time is crunched. UNDER. Defense is down to trips to the line, and I don’t see either team challenging each other above a 223.5 tonight. Take the UNDER.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Utah Jazz: Utah -7 (-110)
Point Total: Under 222 (-110)
Does anybody remember the famous video of LeBron James wincing when Kawhi Leonard checked back into that 2013 Finals game?
“Kawhi is a cyborg.” – Jalen Rose…
YES – Kawhi is the best complete 2-way player in the NBA who plays the same position as LeBron. How can we ignore Joel Embiid reacting to Kawhi’s crazy dunk two days ago? DAYUM. That’s “press conference interrupting” brilliance. That’s like the NBA equivalent of streaking the Academy Awards.
However… THIS JUST IN: Kawhi’s latest knee injury could derail him for the series.
If so? This is a JAZZ game. If he plays, he won’t be at 100% – so I’m taking the Jazz here. Kawhi steers the ship for the Clippers, and when your captain is down, the only thing to think of is “iceberg, straight ahead.“
Points-wise: At 222 - I’m gonna go UNDER here – especially after the Jazz struggled with scoring two nights ago – I think this is a more hometown game for the Utah Jazz – and their defense will step up against the Clippers. Unless Playoff P becomes “Playoff HOLY CRAP!!!”
So there ya go – Jazz and Philly. Which sounds like a Will Smith song that never got released…
