Lakers vs 76ers 22.Mar

This game would be huge if the goal of every NBA team would be to lose as much games as possible. Two bad teams that just not have talent (for different reasons) to compete at a reasonable level. So both teams are playing their young players a lot of minutes and hope to bounce back in upcoming seasons.

Lack of talent especially shows at the offensive end, where in many possessions nothing is happening and the end result is a difficult jump shot at the end of the shot-clock. The 76ers are offensively dead last in the league with an average just 91.1 points per game, while the Lakers are 19th with 98.6 ppg. Not surprisingly the Lakers are 22nd in offensive efficiency, while the 76ers by far are the worst. Young players usually try at the defensive end. The Lakers were known as a the worst defensive team at the beginning of the season (when they still had an offense to match the defensive awfulness), but it has changed in recent months, when their pace has slowed down and effort at the defensive end has been more in focus.

Both teams are bad offensively, both teams have young players getting heavy minutes, both teams try defensively. It will be an ugly game to watch with both teams likely staying below 100 points. Take under 192.5 points @1.952 from Pinnacle with 2/5 units.

Read ATL-SAS and SAC-WAS predictions from my website!

GL

Lakers 101
76ers 87

+1.90 units

Jazz vs Timberwolves 23.Mar

It is true that after the All-Stars break the Jazz have played much better than they did first 2/3 of the season. But they are still a 31-38 team, with young roster and no real expectations from this season other than develop players. The key for their success has been a great defense, but of course offensively they are far from being excellent. Or to be exact, they are 28^th in the league with 94.7 points per game (MIN is 22nd). As sudden as good runs start for an average (and below the average) team, they can also end. The Jazz lost their last game against the Warriors by 15 points, so it is not like they are peaking at the moment.

The Timberwolves are losing more than winning recently, but we still like how they fight in each game. With many injuries they are playing with young players who want to show the coach that they deserve more playing time in the future. Even yesterday they had a 5-point lead against the Charlotte at halftime, even if they lost it at the end. Players like Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Kevin Martin can put up huge numbers offensively in any given night. Even against a good defensive team like the Jazz.

Anything can happen when young players meet young players and team with no expectations meets team with no expectations. Sure, the Jazz will enter this game as favorites, but the odds are ridiculous. We see clear value on Minnesota to pull out a surprise. Stakes of course should be low. Take Minnesota to win @8.60 from Pinnacle with 1/5 units.

Read IND-HOU prediction from my website!

GL

Jazz 104
Timberwolves 106

+7.60 units

Wizards vs Pacers 25.Mar

Both teams have hit the brick-wall offensively, struggled to score points and are having mini losing streaks. It could not have come at the worst time for the Pacers as they have now dropped out from a play-off spot after losing 6 games in a row. Calf injury to Rodney Stuckey that sidelined him for last game hurts the Pacers offense as they become more of a jump-shot happy team, while also wasting more time at the offensive end looking for a good shot. It clearly showed in a game against the Rockets 2 nights ago when the Pacers scored 39 points during the first half and managed to score 100 points only because the Rockets having a safe lead stopped caring to play a good defense during the second half. Rodney Stuckey is listed questionable, but he did not practice yesterday and seems to be unlikely to play.

The Wizards offense has been even worse. When against the Jazz they score 88 points it could have been explained by tough defense the Jazz play nowadays, but to score 99 points vs LAC, 86 vs SAC and 76 vs high-tempo GSW can`t be explained by anything other than offensive struggles. With Bradley Beal back in their lineup, the offense should be better, but it also means John Wall having less time with the ball and Beal taking many jump shots. If they do go in, it is a thing of beauty, but it is not really effective way to score points. Washington shooting percentage has been an issue for 3 games in a row and playing against the Pacers solid one-on-one defense will not help the matter here.

Indiana as always expects to win the game by playing a tough defense and try to make it as much of an half-court offense vs half-court offense as possible. You would expect the Wizards try to run, but this is not something they have done well in recent games. When it comes to the half-court offense, the Pacers defense will dominate the Wizards and the Wizards defense is good enough to limit Indiana`s crippled lineup. Take under 193 points @1.952 with 3/5 units from Pinnacle.

Read MEM-CLE and CHA-BKN picks from my website!

GL