Jonathon Simmons
14.2 ppg, 1.9 apg, 48% FG
Caris LeVert
10.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 41% FG
BKN (13th) & ORL (14th) are really struggling right now. Both teams have been ravaged by injury + marred w/ various inconsistencies.
Brooklyn remains interesting despite a 13-23 record. Though D'Angelo Russell is still on the mend, young UnderDOGs Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Caris LeVert & Spencer Dinwiddie have shown tremendous improvement recently - each of them are versatile, contribute offense. LeVert has reached double figures his last 8 games (off bench) - nothing should change v. the defensively-challenged Magic.
ORL is without Nik Vucevic but recently returned Aaron Gordon to the lineup - AG scored 39! pts v. MIA over the weekend. They need to keep pace from downtown and limit easy scores to come away w/ a victory.
Look for Brooklyn to win a tight contest on the strength of strong ball movement & outside shooting.
- (ORL): A. Gordon + J. Simmons =
- (ORL): >15 TOs --
- (BKN): 10+ triples
- (BKN): S. Dinwiddie + C. LeVert
Matchups to Watch
Spencer Dinwiddie x Elfrid Payton
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson x Aaron Gordon
Eric Bledsoe
16.7 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.6 rpg, 44% FG
OG Anunoby
6.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 48% FG
Projected Top DOG: DeMar DeRozan
Projected Winner: Raptors
- (MIL): Giannis + K. Middleton --
- (MIL): 25+ dimes?
- (TOR): D. DeRozan + K. Lowry --
- (TOR): 115+ pts? --
Matchups to Watch
Eric Bledsoe x Kyle Lowry
Khris Middleton x DeMar DeRozan
*(DB Game of the Night!)
Shabazz Napier
9.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 50% FG
Bobby Portis
12.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 48% FG
A DOG Haiku...
Young Bulls on the run
Holding serve, protect the crib?
Or will trails blaze red?
--CHI is 9-8 at home, 7-3 over the last 10
--POR is 10-7 on the road, 7th out West
- (POR): C. McCollum + J. Nurkic --
- (POR): 10+ triples
- (CHI): K. Dunn + Ju. Holiday =
- (CHI): PIP --
Matchups to Watch
Shabazz Napier x Kris Dunn
Jusuf Nurkic x Robin Lopez
Kyle Kuzma
17.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 51% FG
Karl-Anthony Towns
20.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 53% FG
Rundown:
--LA(L) & Minnesota are at two diff. points at the top of the year. The Lakers have tumbled to last in the West (11-24) & are currently without Lonzo Ball & Brook Lopez.
Minnesota, on the other hand, has climbed to 4th out West (23-14) - Jimmy Butler is rolling his past 5 games: avg. 28 points, 5.6 dimes & 5.2 boards. To avoid a letdown v. LAL, the Wolves must secure the glass and control (potentially) explosive front court of Julius Randle, Kyle Kuzma & Brandon Ingram.
For LAL to steal a W, Ingram must play aggressively on both sides + a strong boost from downtown & off bench.
- (LAL): 45+ boards? • 105+ pts?
- (LAL): T. Ennis + J. Hart =
- (MIN): T. Gibson + N. Bjelica =
- (MIN): 50%+ FG?
Matchups to Watch
Brandon Ingram x Andrew Wiggins
Julius Randle x Karl-Anthony Towns