NBA Preview January 5th

 

Current Bank: 106.23 Units (+6.23 U) Max outlay on any event is 5 units.

 

NY Knicks v Atlanta Hawks

11:35 am 5 January AEST

The perennial cellar dweller Knicks are well and truly exceeding expectations this early in the season with a 3-3 record. Only a week ago they blew out the Bucks by 20 points and followed that up with another win over an also overachieving Cavaliers team. The problem the Knicks have is that while they have proven to be solid enough so far defensively, offensively they lack a proper punch, and when coming up against right now the most potent offence in all of NBA in the Atlanta Hawks, they certainly look to have their work cut out for them.

As mentioned last week, the Hawks are absolutely rolling on offence right now despite allowing some decent scores against them. After a close loss against the superstar Nets where they put up 141 points, they backed that up with a very comfortable win albeit with the Nets star starters both sitting. They were finally held to under 100 points by the Cavaliers but now with some much needed rest in between games and a return trip home, am expecting the likes of Trey and Collins to annihilate their expected matchups to the likes of Barrett and Bullock. Robinson from the Knicks also looks to have his hands full with a defensive force in Capela and Rajon Rondo has been electric off the bench for the Hawks. The Hawks may give up another 100 here, but they look to pack way too many weapons on offence for a Knicks team that on paper cant match it

The Hawks opened a -5.5 favourite and that line was quickly snapped up, and now sits at flat 6. Still prepared to take the Hawks at the current line with a decent amount of confidence

 

BACK: Atlanta Hawks -6 at $1.91 for 2.23 units

 

 OKC Thunder v Miami Heat

11:35 am 5 January AEST

 The Miami Heat are a bit of an enigma this season so far. When they have won, they have won well and looked just like the team that featured in the NBA finals only 3 or so months ago. However, when they lose they have looked absolute appalling in doing so. On Saturday they put up a paltry 83 points in their loss to the Mavericks, which was coming off a very easy win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who embarrassed them by setting the record for made 3s against the Heat only days earlier. They’re an absolute roller coaster team so far, but with a few days off they look to have an easy “get well game” over the erratic OKC Thunder.

Jimmy Butler made his return from injury against the Mavericks and was horrible. He rarely, if ever will play two bad games in a row so expecting him with some extra rest and rehab to strip much fitter here. Al Horford is a fantastic matchup for Bam Adebayo, the young Adebayo should have a field day running Horford off the court, and would be surprised to see George Hill or Lou Dort get through the defence of Butler and Dragic.

Keeping this one very simple. The Heat, back at home, well rested and should make very light work of this OKC team. The line has opened with the Heat as a -7.5 favourite, and that looks a fair start for them to cover.

 

BACK: Miami Heat -7.5 at $1.90 for 2 units