Around the NBA - March 2018

I remember listening to that game on the radio; Rice left in the 3rd quarter to "get a milkshake" which meant he got a Jack and Coke.

 

Should be any interesting weekend. FiveThirtyEight predictions (below) have the Jazz as serious underdogs in both of their games (@SAS and @GSW). Given the way UTA has been playing, and all the injuries to GSW, I find that a little surprising. Curry is supposed to be back tonight, but Durant and Klay will be out until sometime in April. Not sure when Draymond and Caspi are due back. It would be nice if GSW would do us a solid and beat UTA on Sunday.

The UTA @SAS game should be interesting. The only listed injury for SAS is Kawhi, and they are used to playing without him. Plus, the game is in San Antonio, and the Spurs are MUCH better at home (28-8) than on the road (14-22). The good news is this will be a guaranteed loss for one of the teams chasing us.

We need to take care of business against a depleted BOS team before heading out on the road. I REALLY want a win over OKC on Sunday. I'd love to get the season sweep over those fuckers.

I've been watching the FiveThirtyEight predictions over the last couple of weeks. Their model seems to be accurate about 85% of the time (in terms of wins and losses, I haven't been following their point spreads as they don't matter in the standings). They are currently predicting the Blazers will go 7-4 over their last 11 games. Using the +/- 15% variance, that means the team should win between 6 and 8 of their final 11 games. Even just going 6-5 gets the team to a final record of 50-32 and would make it difficult for any of the teams chasing us to catch us (given that all already have 30 or 31 losses and there are several head-to-head match ups where both teams can't win).

But, they play the games for a reason. The Blazers control their own fate. It's up to them to do what they need to do to hold onto the third seed.

BNM

Friday, March 23

Timberwolves -4 65%
Knicks 35%


Heat 24%
Thunder -7 76%


Jazz 35%
Spurs -3.5 65%


Celtics 27%
Trail Blazers -6 73%


Saturday, March 24

Timberwolves 28%
76ers -6 72%



Pelicans 13%
Rockets -11.5 87%

Sunday, March 25

Spurs 49%
Bucks -0.5 51%




7 p.m.
Trail Blazers 38%
Thunder -3 62%


Jazz 31%
Warriors -5 69%

 

Just doesn't seem like they're all on the same page.

 

Two biggest conspiracies this season are juicy. What’s up with kawhi? What’s up with fultz?

 

Basketball-Reference odds for key Western Conference games this weekend:

Today's Games
Minnesota (61%) @ New York (39%)
Miami (31%) @ Oklahoma City (69%)
Utah (40%) @ San Antonio (60%)
Boston (43%) @ Portland (57%)

Mar 24, 2018 Games
Minnesota (39%) @ Philadelphia (61%)
New Orleans (19%) @ Houston (81%)

Mar 25, 2018 Games
San Antonio (53%) @ Milwaukee (47%)
Portland (39%) @ Oklahoma City (61%)
Utah (28%) @ Golden State (72%)

I still think they have UTA's chances against GSW WAY to low based on the Warriors injury situation (Durant and Klay definitely out, Draymond day-to-day).

BNM

 

Uh-oh. Did Parker sleep with a teammate's wife again?

 

Yeah, well FiveThirtyEight gave us the EXACT same chances against the Clipers as they do against OKC (home team 68/32 favorites with a 3 point margin). So, I wouldn't read too much into these projections. They are far from perfect. They typically get the outcome wrong about 15 - 20% of the time, and I haven't even bothered to check how close they come on the point spreads.

These computer models need further refinement, especially when comprehending injuries, momentum, etc. I think a reasonably knowledgeable person could look at how both teams have been playing lately, look at the injury reports for both teams and come up with more accurate predictions.

BNM

 

Looks like Vegas has us at a 6.5 to 7 point favorite tonight & 84% of the money is being placed on Portland to cover.
The website I'm looking at doesn't have the line set for Sunday's game yet.

 

Wiz coming back now against the Nugs.

I want Plums to play well but the Nugs to lose.

 

Thunder only up 4 at the half

 

Lotta big games going on tonight.
I'll prolly end up disappointing with the outcome of many.

 

Come on Knicks !
Wolves announcers are so butthurt

 

Wizards ugh!

 

Utah or Spurs?

 

Spurs hopefully; Utah’s a stronger team.

 

Who cares, Denver ain't doing shit in the west and they are certainly not catching us

 

I just want them to have a good Summer