Zach’s Season Record: 122-113
Twitter: @ZachSelwyn1
Recently my picks have been getting more embarrassing than the NBA Olympic team during exhibition games. Anybody else but me wondering WHY Kevin Love is on this squad? This dude hasn’t been a factor in the league since LeBron discorded him. But he did get engaged to Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kate Bock – so maybe that’s why they let him on.
What’s great about the NBA players in the Olympics is that FIBA refs are not giving them the B.S. calls that they are used to getting in America. Frankly, it has made the game better and the NBA should consider adapting some of the FIBA rules.
Meanwhile, I’ve been studying this Phoenix Suns team, and one thing they have done consistently during this post-season is get complacent. Simply put, they often just “show up” but don’t play with any real desire, which is why they’ve lost every single Game 3. When Ayton picked up his 4th foul in Game 3, the wheels came off and the Milwaukee Bucks cruised to a 20-point win at home against the Phoenix Suns. Can they do that again? I think so. Game 4 is upon us… And this series is about to be tied.
Phoenix Suns @ Milwaukee Bucks: Milwaukee -3.5 (-136)
Point Total: Over 220.5 (-115)
Home-court advantage. You don’t think about it much during the regular season, but oh boy does it matter. Stealing a game in an opponent’s city is as challenging as it gets, and not many teams have been able to do it much this postseason. That will not change tonight.
Phoenix thrives when Chris Paul shines. In Game 3, he disappeared. It was almost as if his brother Cliff Paul from the State Farm commercials was out there on the court. So what happens tonight? Momentum shift. Milwaukee is coming out confident and firing, and with the recent resurgence or Jrue Holiday, I think they win game four and even it up. Take Milwaukee at home.
Points-wise, I think we’re gonna see some heightened defense in this game. Giannis’ bully ball will net him 30, but Ayton needs to play heavy minutes and avoid foul trouble to keep this game under 220.5. I would take the over here and expect a big game from Devin Booker, who has struggled in the first half.
Chris Paul has a terrific game tonight and scores 20 points (-165).
Giannis goes bonkers and scores 35 points (+100).
Book it.
