NBA Best Bets: Knicks Apple Bite, Clippers Sinking

As the calendar turns from February to March, some players and teams are on rolls right now. As always, don’t forget to visit our NBA odds page for individual games, player props, and NBA futures.

We have a lot to cover, so let’s get right to it.

New York’s Bite

The legendary team hailing from the Big Apple has coasted mostly on its famous locale and history than actually winning for many seasons. That said, Tom Thibodeau’s unit is peeking at just the right time, so much so that it’s beginning to look as if they’ll be a playoff team for the second time in three years. That might not sound like a great feat to other franchises, but such has been the state of the Knicks for about a decade. Led by Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson and hopefully newcomer Josh Hart, New York has posted a stellar 9-1 record in its last 10. Moreover, they manhandled the Celtics last Monday night. Not only do they have the seventh-ranked defence, but they are third-best in rebounding.

Can they keep it up and make an even stronger push in the East? We suggest that betters proceed with a modicum of caution. It isn’t that the Knicks haven’t looked good (they certainly have) but two details stand out. One, it’s a little early to think the team has figured everything out thanks to a 9-1 record that recently sprouted. 64 games into the season, it was about time they hit a good winning streak. Second, apart from Boston, a lot of their opponents have been beatable. What comes next won’t be as simple. Road games in Miami (tonight as of this writing) and Boston (who will surely want to return the favour), then at home to Charlotte (March 7), followed by a west coast swing at Sacramento (March 9), and against the Clippers and Lakers (March 11 and 12). Proceed carefully when betting on the Knicks.

Celtics Pride

Speaking of Boston, it’s ironic that we finally broach one of the best teams in the NBA after they’ve fallen from first to second in the Eastern Conference, but here we are. Jayson Tatum is, by most accounts, the club’s main inspiration. Al Horford is older, Marcus Smart is the gritty go-getter, and Jaylen Brown is perpetually relegated to Robin status. Then again, with an average of 30.3 points a night, it’s understandable that most are convinced that the Celtics will go as far as Tatum takes them. That figure places him as sixth-best in the NBA in scoring.

Averaging just over 30 requires plenty of huge nights against easier opponents, but he can also light it versus great defences, such as this past Wednesday against the Cavaliers (41 points). So, what’s up next? Admittedly, betters will need to be somewhat cautious with this topic as well. Brooklyn (tonight as of this writing), Portland (March 8), and Atlanta (March 11) look like safe bets. Conversely, Both New York and Cleveland are on the horizon again, as the Celtics host the Knicks on March 5 and head to Cleveland on the 6^th.

Warriors Moulding a Winner like Klay

Earlier we discussed the Knicks as a club finding its stride. How about the team that actually won the championship last season? The Golden State Warriors won’t wow anybody with their 33-30 record, but they’ve won four straight games and have weathered the storm of not having Stephen Curry for several games. They still haven’t figured out how to win on the road – only San Antonio and Houston in the West have won away fewer times – but as long they can steal a few and keep on defending home court, they should finish with decent playoff seeding.

Klay Thompson has been tearing it up from beyond the arc, and he’s had to without his splash brother around. He’s been good for over 40 per cent in four of his last six outings and hasn’t hit less than three in 10 straight games. Thompson has also nailed a minimum of four from distance in seven of those same 10 contests. As great as he is, the upcoming schedule is surprisingly difficult. The Pelicans (tonight as of this writing), Lakers (March 5), Bucks (March 11) all have top 5 defences for opposing three-point efficiency.  OKC and the Grizzlies are sandwiched in between (March 7 and 9) and they’re not as strong at defending against three-point shooting. With Steph Curry reportedly coming back Sunday, that should help Klay stay hot. Keep an eye on his three-point props.

Los Angeles Getting Clipped

What is going on with the Los Angeles Clippers? Tyronn Lue does his best to manage Kawhi Leonard’s workload and they traded for players that were supposed to lend them extra depth. And yet, Thursday’s defeat to the Warriors was their fourth in a row in addition to being just plain ugly. Granted, this year’s Western Conference is notoriously congested, but the lineup they possess should do better than 33-32. It’s almost unbelievable that with Paul George and Leonard they’ve only mustered the 22nd-best offence.

Are the Clippers sinking or can they right the ship? Frankly, judging by their recent play and looking at the looming schedule, it won’t be easy. Not impossible – provided their best players play up to that moniker – but difficult. They contend with the Kings (tonight as of this writing), the Grizzlies on March 5, the Raptors on March 8, then the Knicks on March 11. Golden State comes on March 15, but that’s a while away. Sacramento is a scoring machine and LA is the opposite. Both New York and Memphis feature top 10 defences. It’s understandable to cling to hope for a roster like the Clippers’, but this is some risky business.