NBA: Cavaliers (-1) @ Hawks $$
I really like the Cavaliers right now. They have solidified their starting rotation while adding bench depth in Caris Levert. They are getting healthy with only Lauri Markkanen remaining on the injury list and he is expected back soon. If this team remains healthy the rest of the season and continues to grow as a team, they will be dangerous in the playoffs. The Cavs 8-9 man rotation stacks up well even against even the top teams in the east including MIL and PHI.
I don’t know what has really happened to the Hawks. Just when I thought they were going on a run to solidify a playoff spot, they started faltering again. Losers of 5 of their last 7, the Hawks are once again moving in the wrong direction heading down the stretch. Their lineup is in flux as they cannot get healthy or find consistency. Last year’s run is now looking like a mirage and a repeat looks unlikely.
It should be clear who the better team is in this matchup of two teams moving in opposite directions.
NBA: Heat (-3.5) Vs Mavericks $
The Heat are playing impressive basketball right now as they hang on to a slim first-place lead in the eastern conference. They boast one of the best defences in the NBA combined with a good mix of young talent and leadership. The top half of the eastern conference is stacked deep with talent, but the Heat look as well-positioned as any other team to make a playoff run.
The biggest concern for the Heat is currently their injury status. They are blessed with good bench depth which should get them through the regular season. But they will need to be fully healthy if they hope to make another NBA finals run this season. Tyler Herro is ruled out again for this matchup and Jimmy Butler is questionable. The team is playing so well at the moment that even with two of their best players sidelined, I still like them against the Mavericks tonight.
Dallas traded a major piece of their puzzle away last week in Porzingis. The jury is still out on this trade, but the Mavs do not look like they received fair value in return from the Wizards. I can only assume the coaching staff of the Mavericks knows more than we do about their situation and have a plan for Dinwiddie as the third option at the guard position. But at first, glance, trading a quality starter for a bench player doesn’t seem like a good move and this team may struggle to find an identity.
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Legend $$ – two unit bet $ – one unit bet
NBA odds provided by Odds Shark. Posted lines are of writing time.
