The matchup between the Nets and Lakers may be an NBA Finals preview and it’s one that could come down to pace and defensive intentisity.
The Lakers play slow and methodically, ranking first in defensive rating and 23rd in pace on the season, while the Nets play wild and free, ranking 28th in defensive rating since James Harden arrived.
The lack of defense hasn’t mattered much to the Nets’ bottom line. After Brooklyn’s win on Tuesday over the Suns, the franchise is 10-1 on the season against teams above .500 this season. The only loss came against Philadelphia in a game where neither Kyrie Irving nor Kevin Durant played (Durant won’t suit up tonight but Kyrie Irving will).
Los Angeles will be without Anthony Davis and while the Lakers are a deeper team this year that can sustain his absence, it’ll take an MVP performance by LeBron James to take down the Nets. Never bet against The King but if you’re betting on him (current line: Lakers -3), know that he has one of the toughest challenges of the season ahead of him.
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More NBA Odds & Ends
- Over the past month, only the Nuggets and Suns have given up fewer fantasy points to opposing point guards than the Heat, per Hashtag Basketball. Fading De’Aaron Fox may be a smart strategy on Thursday night.
- On the opposite end of the spectrum, Miami ranks third-worst in allowing fantasy points to centers. Hassan Whiteside and Marvin Bagley both appear to be value plays (each at under $5,000 on DraftKings) with Richaun Holmes out for the contest.
- Just a hunch but I’d imagine Nemanja Bjelica gets lots of opportunity with Harrison Barnes out. The Kings are shopping the Serbian forward and there’s plenty of incentive for Sacramento to feature him.
- Kyle Lowry (sprained left thumb) won’t play vs. the Bucks and may miss additional time. Toronto just welcomed OG Anunoby back on Tuesday when Toronto beat Milwaukee behind a dangerous small-ball lineup of Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam. The Bucks didn’t have Jrue Holiday (COVID-19) in that one and he’ll miss his sixth-straight contest on Thursday night.
*This post has been updated to included Kyle Lowry’s status.
