01-01-21 New Year's NBA Blog Train Friday
Happy New Year!
We have made it to 2021. As we put 2020 long in the rear view mirror, let’s remember that the best is yet to come.
Ten games on the Friday night menu. If you thought that guys wouldn’t be on top of their best game the day after New Year’s Eve, then you were right. And if you took any Overs like we did… hang in there.
Grizzlies +4.5 at Hornets UNDER 220
This Hornets Over never stood a chance, an Anti Lock from the jump.
When you have the Over, there is not much worse than seeing a player shoot a deep jumper with their toe on the three-point line. Caleb Martin made not one, but TWO such shots.
Dell let it out: “Worst made shot in basketball!”
Eric Collins suggested: “Wear smaller shoes!!!”
We couldn’t agree more.
Grizzlies 108, Hornets 93.
The Hornets were off (after big wins against the Nets and Mavs) and it allowed the Grizz to get too many easy buckets in transition.
We learned from EC that John Konchar’s nickname is Jitty.
Confirmed.
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Celtics at Pistons +8.5 UNDER 213.5
This Celtics-Pistons Over never stood a chance, an Anti Lock from the jump. The Celtics only scored 12 points in the first quarter. The Pistons got a big lead early and the C’s looked pissed all night. The Pistons led by as many as 21. The J-Team brought the Celtics all the way back, but there was too much Derrick Rose down the stretch.
Jerami Grant power dunk! A solid power dunk, we are going 3.5 out of 5 here.
Pistons 96, Celtics 93.
Jaylen Brown had a great look at a 3 at the end with the game on the line. Alas, she did not fall.
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Heat at Mavericks +1.5 UNDER 224.5
Jimmy Butler was back in the lineup tonight, but the Heat began the game 0 for 14 from 3, tied for their worst start to a game since the 1996-1997 season.
Luka put Bam and the Heat in the ringer.
Mavericks 93, Heat 83.
This final score isn’t really a true indicator of how much the Mavs controlled throughout. The Heat made a little run late.
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Hawks +6 at Nets UNDER 244.5
The Hawks +6 was our Pure Lock of the night!
John Collins power dunk! So nice we have to post it twice:
This is a massive jam with a great attack on the rim. A really good 4.4 power dunk rating.
Hawks 114, Nets 96.
The Hawks got their revenge from their loss to the Nets on Wednesday night, playing sound team ball: Six players in double figures and three with 20+ points (Trae, Collins and Hunter.)
Kyrie did not have the 3-ball tonight, just 2 of 11.
Three-pointers: Hawks: 16 of 39 for 41 percent. Nets: 7 of 37 for 18.9 percent.
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Bulls at Bucks -14.5 Under 232.5
Bucks spreads against shitty Eastern Conference Teams seem so high, especially after they lost to the Knicks. Yet the Bucks -14.5 would have been one of the Purest Locks of the night.
Giannis with a casual power dunk in between two Bulls. Not a whole lotta power here, just Level 2.
Bucks 126, Bulls 96.
Three-pointers: Bucks: 22 of 45 for 48.9 percent. Bulls: 6 of 26 for 23.1 percent.
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Wizards -1 at Timberwolves Over 234.5
No Westbrook tonight and the Wiz notched their first win of the season. This was the one Over that hit on New Year’s (Day) night. Of course the Wizards and T-Wolves would be the ones to go Over!
Anthony Edwards had a fun Garbage Time power dunk. We really don’t understand why the #1 pick in the draft is not starting… Ryan Saunders, let the Ant Man loose!
Wizards 130, T-Wolves 109.
Bradley Beal’s previous three games against the T-Wolves: 36, 30 and 44 points. Tonight: 31 points.
The Wizards led from wire-to-wire.
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Lakers at Spurs +7.5 Under 229
This game was really close throughout, but the Lakers -7.5 did have a chance at the end, especially if the Spurs had fouled in the final seconds like some teams do. The Spurs didn’t foul, time ran out and so did our pick — not quite an Anti Lock, just a Pseudo Lock.
A great pass from Gasol to the cutting backdoor KCP who finished the two-handed power dunk on Poeltl. We’ll give that a 2.3.
Fucking S M O O T H, broo. AD went off and had his best game of the young season: 34 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Lakers 109, Spurs 103.
LeBron with a casual triple-double: 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and a game-high +18 net rating.
Keldon Johnson had a solid game for the Spurs: 26 points, including 5 threes to go along with 10 rebounds.
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Suns +3.5 at Nuggets UNDER 220.5
The Suns led for most of this one, but the Nuggets came roaring back in the 4th quarter.
Chris Paul in winning time. You betcha.
Chris Paul hit the clutch shot to seal the game on New Year’s Eve last year.
Suns 106, Nuggets 103.
CP3, Book and Ayton each scored 20+ points on extremely efficient shooting numbers.
MPJ didn’t play tonight for the Nuggs and his offense was sorely missed.
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Clippers at Jazz +3.5 UNDER 219.5
The Clippers started the game with some serious shooting woes and tried to storm back in the 4th, but it was too late.
For some reason, NBA Japan is the one with the best video of this classic Don Mitch power dunk. There is a lot of power here! Almost as good as the John Collins one from earlier, we are going 4.3 out of 5.
Jazz 106, Clippers 100.
Mike Conley loves to torch the Clippers: 33 points on 11 of 20 shooting, 7 of 14 from three (!!), 7 assists and a game-high +24 net rating.
The Clippers finished the night shooting just 38.8 percent from the field.
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Blazers -4 at Warriors Under 237.5
We let this one get a little bit too personal. We were ready to pull the trigger on the Blazers -4 (which would have been a Pure Lock, of course), but we didn’t want to bet against Steph. We wanted to cheer for both Steph and Dame. We thought about how the Blazers and Warriors usually always get into track meets… Yup, we gave another Over a try. Third time is the charm, right?
Things you like to hear Bob and Kelenna saying when you have the Over: “The Blazers have started out loaded offensively!” And: “What a crazy fast start for the Blazers!”
The Warriors were not quite able to keep up, but we were right on pace after after 3 quarters! It was 98-80, however, the bottom fell out in the 4th with only 43 combined points.
Blazers 123, Warriors 98.
Three-pointers: Blazers 20 of 43 for 46.5 percent. Warriors 7 of 35 for 20 percent.
It’s a make or miss league!
Dame and C.J. both shot 11 of 21 from the floor with 10 made threes between them.
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We learned a valuable lesson today kids: Don’t bet the Over the day after New Year’s Eve.
Ten games tonight and 9 went Under. We checked and last year 01/01/20 had a lite slate with 3 Unders and 1 Over.
Can’t wait to capitalize on this next year!
We love this game!
