NBA’s Sunday Slate offers plenty of intrigue this week as teams start to figure out what the first part of their season is going to look like. With injuries starting to take hold there are plenty of opportunities for you.
Our writer Peter Sharland is back and he has a few value picks in mind!
8:40pm Detroit Pistons @ Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets to win
Dennis Schroder to score 20+ points
12:10am Atlanta Hawks @ New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson to record 6+ rebounds
12:40am Orlando Magic @ Dallas Mavericks
Kyrie Irving to make 3+ Threes
Anthony Black to record 4+ assists
Detroit Pistons @ Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets to win
That the Pistons sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference is hardly a surprise to anyone, no-one was really expecting a massive step forward in Motor City this season.
However, to say that the Nets’ feisty performances, currently sitting seventh with a 3-3 record, were expected would be a stretch of anyone’s imagination. Not to mention that with a bit more luck, that could have been 4-2 after pushing the Nuggets hard in overtime. Something fun is happening in Brooklyn.
The hiring of Jordi Fernandez was a symbolic move for a franchise that is trying to move on from its ill-fated superstar era, and it seems that it was a smart decision.
Widely regarded as one of the best assistants in the league in Sacramento and, before that, Denver, Fernandez has shown that he was ready for the top job, getting his team to play fast and play hard. The Nets keep rolling here against a struggling Pistons team that is currently more interested in Capturing the Flag.
Dennis Schroder to score 20+ points
Arguably, the star of this resurgence in Brooklyn is Dennis Schroder who is averaging 22 points and eight assists a game, up from his career average of 14.1 and 4.8.
Schroder, one of just two players on the Nets roster aged 30 or over, is clearly embracing a leadership role on a young team, and the mutual respect between he and Fernandez is obvious. We’re backing the German’s electric start to the season to continue against a Pistons defence that is firmly entrenched in the bottom ten.
Atlanta Hawks @ New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson to record 6+ rebounds
Make no bones about it, this is an incredibly difficult game to predict. The Pelicans are just so hurt right now that it doesn’t seem worth it to make any sweeping judgements, especially until Dejounte Murray is back. Really, they’re just trying to get through these games without losing any more players.
The Hawks, meanwhile, are just who they are with Trae Young, for now and forever. They have a top-ten offense and a bottom-five defence. It doesn’t seem to matter who they trade for or who they sign; they just seem to be stuck on repeat.
We’re keeping it safe and backing Zion to get to six rebounds, a figure he’s only failed to reach once this season.
Orlando Magic @ Dallas Mavericks
Kyrie Irving to make 3+ Threes
What happens when you add Klay Thompson to a team that contains Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic? Well, look at that they’re all averaging over 2.5 threes made per game, and Kyrie and Klay are both at 3.8. Who would have thought?
The Magic have a terrific defence but losing Paolo Banchero is a devastating blow. There’s no other way to put it. The Mavs have been far from perfect this season but Irving seems like a solid bet here.
Anthony Black to record 4+ assists
Anthony Black is a lot of fun. He’s still just 20 but nothing seems to faze him. In so many ways, he seems the perfect fit next to Jalen Suggs in the backcourt as he continues to eat away at Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s minutes.
In each of his last two games, he has notched six assists, including against the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a top-five defence. The Mavs are the definition of a middling defence, and Black should have no problems even without Banchero.
Sunday’s NBA betting tips
8:40pm Detroit Pistons @ Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets to win
Dennis Schroder to score 20+ points
12:10am Atlanta Hawks @ New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson to record 6+ rebounds
12:40am Orlando Magic @ Dallas Mavericks
Kyrie Irving to make 3+ Threes
Anthony Black to record 4+ assists
Read More
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com now
