The NBA schedule for Thursday consists of two games between very competitive teams. However, one club is without important backcourt players who might influence the outcome of the game in both contests. What impact do Bradley Beal’s (doubtful, back), Devin Booker’s (doubtful, foot), and James Harden’s (personal) probable absences have on tonight’s betting angles? Now let’s explore it.
Dre’s preferred wagers on Thursday evening
The NBA schedule for Thursday consists of two games between very competitive teams. However, one club is without important backcourt players who might influence the outcome of the game in both contests. What impact do Bradley Beal’s (doubtful, back), Devin Booker’s (doubtful, foot), and James Harden’s (personal) probable absences have on tonight’s betting angles? Now let’s explore it.
Dre’s preferred wagers on Thursday evening
Bucks defeat 76ers -6 (-110) After the offseason, these two clubs’ trajectory angles couldn’t be more unlike. After acquiring Damian Lillard (when many predicted he would wind up in South Beach) and inking Giannis Antetokounmpo to a super max deal (despite his earlier declaration that he wouldn’t be thinking about his future until next summer), the Bucks are on a high note. The turmoil surrounding James Harden has taken the oxygen out of the room and led to the 76ers asking him not to travel with the club on Thursday. It has not been a happy summer for the player.
The 76ers are talented enough to compete with any team on any given day, even without Harden. However, the Basketball Power Index (BPI) projects the Bucks as (by far) the NBA’s most powerful offense, and they enter this game on such a more optimistic note that I expect to see them cover in their home opener.
Tyrese Maxey with 26.5 points overall and assists. With Harden out, Maxey will need to play a bigger offensive role. The 76ers would have two defensive role players in the starting lineup if Patrick Beverley and P.J. Tucker both start, which would concentrate the offensive output on Joel Embiid, Maxey, and Tobias Harris. Additionally, Maxey will need to assist with running the point since Beverley lacks the qualities of a genuine floor general on offense. Maxey started alongside Beverley and dished out 11 assists in his last preseason game. Lastly, Maxey’s potential offensive output should be enhanced by the Bucks trading their best perimeter defender, Jrue Holiday, and starting guards Lillard and Malik Beasley, who are not recognized for their defense.
Over the Suns (-110), Lakers -5.5. Booker and Beal are both anticipated to sit, thus the Lakers should be too strong on both ends for the Suns. The starting lineup for the Suns will likely be Jordan Goodwin, Grayson Allen, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic if both sit. With Anthony Davis and LeBron James too physically powerful and quick for a Nurkic-led front line to slow down at the basket, the Lakers already have the upper hand in the paint. The Lakers have a better chance to win this game (64.7%) than the Bucks have of defeating the 76ers (63.9%) according to the BPI game predictor, which also seems to coincide with the spread’s size.
More in Sports: https://buzzing.today/sports/
Photo Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/