NOTHING BUT NET WITH NBA ODDS
THE NBA trade deadline has come and gone, with the balance of power across the league having shifted more than the public’s opinion of Lebron James. It also means some odds wrinkles to a few upcoming games.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: $2.22
DETROIT PISTONS: $1.64
AHEAD of the trade deadline, the Pistons shipped off wing Saddiq Bey in a three-team trade that netted them Warriors big man and former No.2 pick James Wiseman, but kept veterans like Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.
The Spurs sent centre ‘Teenage Mutant’ Jakob Poetl to Toronto.
So with San Antonio already dealing with a litany of injuries, of these two tanking teams, the Pistons have the stronger remaining roster. THE PICK: Detroit H2H
UTAH JAZZ: $3.30 TORONTO RAPTORS: $1.32
A TALE of buyers and sellers. In a surprise twist, the Raptors held on to swingman OG Anunoby and point guard Fred Van Vleet while also bringing in Poetl.
The Jazz shipped off major rotation pieces in Mike Conley, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in return for former MVP Russell Westbrook, who may or may not ever suit up for the Jazz.
Utah still has All-star Lauri Markkanen, but against this tough Raptors squad will be too shorthanded.
THE PICK:
Toronto -7.5 $1.88
CHARLOTTE HORNETS: $4.70
BOSTON CELTICS: $1.18
Boston didn’t make any major
moves at the deadline, bringing over shooting big Mike ‘Moose’ Muscala from OKC, but will be missing AllStar Jaylen Brown due to a facial fracture sustained in the Celtics win over the Sixers.
Charlotte sent starting centre Mason Plumlee off to the LA Clippers in exchange for Reggie Jackson (who according to reports is likely to be bought out of his contract and become a free agent), so the Hornets’ youth movement is in full effect. But Charlotte still has vets such as former Celtics Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward, and has the NBA’S 10th best record against the spread on the road. THE PICK: Charlotte +10.5 $1.91
OKC THUNDER: $2.32 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: $1.59
AUSSIE Josh Giddey was a part of history the other day, being on the court as Lebron
James broke the NBA’S alltime scoring record.
Now his Thunder takes on Dame Lillard and a Blazers squad that’s fresh off a win over the Warriors.
In Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-alexander, though, OKC has a pair of weapons equal to what Portland can throw at it - plus the Thunder owns the NBA’S second-best record (17-10) of covering the spread on the road.
THE PICK: OKC +2.5 $2.06
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