Today's NBA Picks
New York at Boston
Pick - Spread
New York Knicks +5.5 (-108)
Best Odds -108
The Boston Celtics will be raising their championship banner, but with the Celtics favored by 5.5 points on Opening Night against the Knicks, I’m siding with the Knicks. The Celtics will be without Kristaps Porzingis, who is expected to miss the first month or two of the season, while Mikal Bridges will be making his debut for the Knicks. Re-signing OG Anunoby and trading for Bridges were moves specifically aimed at countering the Celtics' roster. The Knicks now have multiple wings who can defend and shoot three-pointers. This roster is built to match up against the Celtics, and with Bridges in the lineup and Julius Randle back from injury, Josh Hart won’t have to play 48 minutes.
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Jon Metler - Pick Made 50 days, 11 hrs, 6 min ago.
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Minnesota at L.A. Lakers
Pick - Moneyline
Minnesota (-105)
Best Odds -125
Am I missing something here? I know the Lakers are at home, but penning them as opening-night favorites against a team that won nine more games than them last year and still hasn't hit its ceiling seems...optimistic. The Lakers' rotation is virtually unchanged, and they have a dude with zero relevant experience suddenly coaching them. The chances of them bursting out of the gates and beating a Western Conference Finalist (that probably thinks it left something on the table and has more to prove) are nowhere near this good, in my opinion.
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AJ Salah - Pick Made 16 days, 11 hrs, 7 min ago.
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Minnesota at L.A. Lakers
Pick - Spread
Los Angeles Lakers +1.5 (-110)
Best Odds -110
It may be JJ Redick's coaching debut, but consider the challenge this presents for the Wolves' coaching staff. Redick has plenty of film on the Minnesota Timberwolves, whose roster has remained the same, while the Wolves have no film on the Lakers under Redick’s coaching and no clue what his offense might look like based on previous head coaching experiences. With the Lakers catching 1.5 points at home on Opening Night, I’m backing LeBron James and company. Redick mentioned in his opening press conference that math will play a significant role in his coaching. The Lakers ranked 28th in three-pointers attempted last season, and I fully believe Redick will correct that, pushing them near the top of the league. If the Lakers can successfully increase their three-point shooting, they could be a dangerous team that is undervalued at the start of the season.
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Jon Metler - Pick Made 50 days, 10 hrs, 52 min ago.
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Indiana at Detroit
Pick - Spread
Indiana -5.5 (-110)
Best Odds -5.5 -110
It's facile to say "fade the Pistons", but it's also correct in this spot. This unit won a pitiful 14 games last year, and brings back effectively the same rotation, adding dice-roll rookie Ron Holland (in fairness, you could say that about most of this year's class) and Tobias Harris, who looked more washed than your dad's car last season. The Pacers just went to the East Finals (say what you want about their route there) and will benefit from both continuity and, likely, mini-leaps from multiple rotation players. Pascal Siakam also never really got to play with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton last season, which could unlock new levels of mayhem in transition. The Pacers love to run, and can score at a rate the Pistons will struggle to match. This could be a blowout.
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AJ Salah - Pick Made 13 days, 7 hrs, 15 min ago.
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Memphis at Utah
Pick - Spread
Memphis -2 (-110)
Best Odds -2 -110
Let's not overthink this. The last time this Grizzlies team was anywhere near fully functional, it gave the eventual champion Warriors their toughest test of the playoffs. Granted, that seems like eons ago, but with Ja Morant healthy, and better wing depth than this roster's ever had, the pieces will fall back into place. It may not be enough to win a loaded West, but it's more than enough to beat a Jazz team that's likely aiming to tank. This feels like a spot where Memphis' anomalous disaster of a 2023-24 season is distorting perception a bit; this is an elite basketball team at full strength — and a brash one that will be looking to serve notice to the rest of the NBA on opening night.
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AJ Salah - Pick Made 13 days, 7 hrs, 2 min ago.
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Phoenix at L.A. Clippers
Pick - Spread
Phoenix -1.5 (-110)
Best Odds -1.5 -108
Oh, Kawhi Leonard's on the injury report in training camp? You don't say! This Clippers rotation is now stretched more thin, with plenty of opportunity for James Harden self-sabotage and Kawhi to simply not play. Meanwhile, the Suns are heading into the season with a healthy Big 3, who get a fresh start under a head coach (Mike Budenholzer) whose teams routinely crush regular-season expectations. Tyus Jones is a godsend for their offense; a peak-efficient, pass-first PG who will keep the rock moving to Durant, Booker, and Beal, while no longer having to play Drew Eubanks 16 mins a night is an immediate VORP win. Whether the Suns can stay healthy remains to be seen, but in a one-game vacuum, there's lots of reason to be bullish on them against such a short spread.
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AJ Salah - Pick Made 7 days, 8 hrs, 51 min ago.
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