Here are three games in Sunday’s action where I am looking to go OVER the total in NBA betting. So ‘parlay away’ at America’s Bookie!
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Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers Predictions
When: 8:05 PM ET
NBA Betting Odds: Celtics -2, Total 220.5
Indiana is adopting a new philosophy under first-year coach Nate Bjorkgren. That involves running a lot more (picking up the “pace,” pardon the pun) and shooting more three-pointers. And this is a sharp contrast to previous coach Nate McMillan, who favored a more deliberate approach and had his team shooting fewer triples than any other in the NBA.
Usually players like this kind of change, and that has been reflected in what the Pacers have done in the first two games, as they scored 121 points against the Knicks and 125 against the Chicago Bulls.
Now we have the back end of a back-to-back, which leaves questions about what to do about Victor Oladipo, who has not played in a situation like this since he returned from injury in the bubble. He played 25 minutes against Chicago, in a game where the Pacers were fortunate enough to lead by 28 points going into the fourth quarter.
None of the starters were taxed all that much, and maybe you want to consider that when teams are in the second night of back-to-backs, often it is the defensive intensity that suffers.
We know that under Brad Stevens, the Celtics have been a rather disciplined bunch. But the loss of some personnel, especially that which provided depth, is showing signs that it may be taking its toll. Yeah, we know it’s early, but Boston’s Defensive Rating is the worst in the NBA after the first two games.
What we also know is that the two teams they’ve played (Milwaukee and Brooklyn) are committed to ramping up the pace. So I would not be surprised in the least if this one sailed over this posted number.
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Golden State Warriors at Chicago Bulls Picks
When: 8:05 PM ET
NBA Betting Odds: Warriors -3, Total 226.5
Golden State has already shown a propensity to allow a lot of points, and whether Draymond Green returns here or not, I would expect that to continue. This is not going to be a playoff team without Klay Thompson in the fold, because he was such a key defender. The Warriors have suffered blowout losses of 26 to Brooklyn and 39 to Milwaukee, and that was no accident. For one thing, it’s what happens when Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre are a combined 6 of 41 from three-point range. Do you really think they’re going to keep shooting blanks forever?
Eventually what Billy Donovan is trying to do may take hold in the Windy City, but right now to say they are a “work in progress” would be charitable. Against the Atlanta hawks, they allowed 83 points in the first half alone. Donovan called his team’s defensive effort “awful.” But for the time being, such a thing probably can’t be helped.
Trey Young went for 37 points and had just a dozen field goal attempts against them, so do you think this might be a scenario where Curry “gets well”? We figure it is.
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Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets Picks
When: 7:05 PM ET
NBA Betting Odds: Nets -9, Total 226
The Nets are loaded with offensive talent, and it’s shown itself in the first two games. And sailing might be smooth, at least until the first time Kevin Durant starts to get a little miffed that Kyrie Irving is scoring more points than he is.
But they will score for now. And what makes them always a candidate to go over the total is the fact that they can put a very potent second unit out there.
What Charlotte has that perhaps their previous two opponents didn’t is balanced scoring. All five starters can put it in the hoop, at least a little. And after going scoreless in his NBA debut, rookie LaMelo Ball had 13 points and six rebounds in just 15 minutes last time out against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As more than one of my ex-girlfriends has told me, ‘it’s OVER!’
Whether you’re going over or under, when it comes to NBA action, you can’t do much better than America’s Bookie!
