The All-Star Game awaits on the NBA schedule. And we (that’s the figurative “we”) like to think we’re coming into the break with some momentum.

But you know, we probably don’t feel as good about ourselves as two teams in particular who have provided the biggest surprises in the season’s first half.

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The Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau and the Suns’ Monty Williams have to be looked upon as prime contenders for the coach of the year award, and they’ll be in action on Thursday night in situations that might be very favorable for them.

And that spells opportunity as you play these games at 1Vice.

Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks Picks

Pistons vs. Knicks Betting Report

Tip-off: 7:35 PM ET

NBA Betting Odds: Knicks -7, Total 210

You will notice that while the Pistons have a dismal record of 9-25, they are actually above water against the pointspread (17-15-2 ATS). And they just destroyed Toronto (129-105) with personnel no team really craves.

That was their fourth road win of the season, and now they travel to Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks returned from an absolute drubbing they took at the hands of San Antonio. The Spurs don’t take a lot of three-pointers under coach / politician Gregg Popovich, but they made seven on 14 attempts in the third quarter alone in that game.

That was out of character for them. And it was very out of character for the Knicks, who have held opponents to just 33% shooting beyond the arc.

We had mentioned somewhere along the way that we expected Derrick Rose to take over as the starting point guard in New York. Well, that was the case in three previous games (with good numbers, we might add) before he had to sit out against San Antonio, due to COVID protocols.

But that was on the basis of an inconclusive test, not a positive one. So he flew back with the team and might actually be able to play. And by the way, Immanuel Quickley, the good-looking rookie he’s mentoring, had 26 points vs. the Spurs.

Was there any chemistry out there the other night? Well, the Knicks had to go with Frank Ntilikina at point guard, and he hadn’t played in a game since December.

We doubt Tom Thibodeau is going to stand for something lackluster for a second straight game. And after all, he is the guy these players submitted to as he changed the “culture.”

Are you ready for the Knicks to actually be over the .500 mark at the All-Star break?

The Play: NEW YORK -7

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Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns Picks

Warriors vs. Suns Betting Report

Tip-off: 10:05 PM ET

NBA Betting Odds: Suns -6.5, Total 224

There are certain things that really sneak up on you. And one of those things is that, as I look, I see the Phoenix Suns have the second best record in the National Basketball Association.

They are 23-11, and if you count those eight in a row they won in the bubble, they have now won 31 of their last 42 games. If that’s not impressive, what is?

Yes, there’s a lot clicking right now, and they don’t need their best scorer on the floor to beat the defending world champions. Devin Booker got two technical fouls in rapid-fire succession on Tuesday night, missing half of the third quarter and all of the fourth with the ejection. Yet Phoenix outscored the L.A.Lakers 54-51 in the second half on the way to a 114-104 victory.

That’s now twelve wins AND covers in the last 14 games.

Role players are now part of the whole picture in Phoenix; Dario Saric is back in the rotation and scored 21 off the bench the other night. And Chris Paul can make any player and any offense better. He changes a game even if he scores in the single digits.

It’s kind of unusual to see the Warriors in the lower reaches of the NBA in the category of “Offensive Rating,” but they are 21st. Thankfully they have played pretty good defense, and as a result they are a contender for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Here is an interesting thing to ponder, considering that Steph Curry leads the NBA in three-pointers attempted and made – Phoenix is second best in the NBA in both triples allowed per game (11) and three-point percentage defense (34.3%). I think they’ll be okay here.

The Play: PHOENIX -6.5

Catch up on last night’s action with our NBA game recaps.