The 2020-21 NBA regular season is in the books, which means that the play-in tournament comes next. In each conference, the seventh- through tenth-place teams will square off for the seventh and eighth seeds in the playoffs. The purpose of this was to add intrigue in the late part of the regular season for more teams, and to reduce the likelihood of “tanking” down the stretch. Of course, that didn’t stop Oklahoma City from finishing 2-23 in order to make their lottery odds as favorable as possible, but for several teams, the chance to get into the playoffs served as motivation.
Let’s look at the schedule for the play-in tournament, the NBA betting odds for the first four games, and our thoughts as to who will advance.
NBA News: Play-In Tournament Update
Game Schedule
Tuesday, May 18
East #10 Charlotte (+3.5) at East #9 Indiana (6:30 pm ET, TNT)
East #8 Washington (+1.5) at East #7 Boston (9:00 pm ET, TNT)
Wednesday, May 19
West #10 San Antonio (+3.5) at West #9 Memphis (7:30 pm ET, ESPN)
West #8 Golden State (+6.5) at West #7 L.A. Lakers (10:00 pm ET, ESPN)
Thursday, May 20
Charlotte-Indiana Winner at Washington-Boston Loser (8:00 pm ET, TNT)
San Antonio-Memphis Winner at Golden State-Lakers Loser (TBD, ESPN)
Tuesday Predictions
Boston has lost nine of 13, as Jaylen Brown went down for the season with a wrist injury. Some of these losses have included setbacks to such bottom-feeders as the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Washington has won 17 of their last 23 and gotten triple-doubles from Russell Westbrook in 19 of those 23 games. Boston won two of the three meetings between the two teams this season, but their last meeting was February 28. Brown missed that game (which the Celtics won by one). The Wizards have Bradley Beal, who averaged 31.3 points per game (second in the NBA) in 60 games. In three games against Boston, Beal averaged 40.6 points per game, shooting a combined 55.2 percent from the floor. Wizards to cover.
Despite LaMelo Ball missing 21 games, the Hornets played strong enough down the stretch to make the play-in. Along with Ball, P.J. Washington, Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier have formed a solid young core. Gordon Hayward, the team’s top veteran, is expected to miss the play-in, though, and Rozier is the only key Hornets player with postseason experience. Indiana finished second in the NBA in assists per game, and they rank third in the NBA in points in the paint. The Pacers will not have Myles Turner, Jeremy Lamb or T.J. Warren, though, and Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert will be game-time decisions. Brogdon has not played since going down with a hamstring strain near the end of April. With those limitations, I like the visitors. Hornets to cover.
Wednesday Predictions
That Lakers-Warriors line is interesting. Yes, the Lakers have had LeBron James and Anthony Davis back for a few tune-in games. They are still the favorite to win the West, and you wager against them at your peril. However, Golden State comes in on a six-game winning streak (and having won eight of nine). Stephen Curry has put together a monster season, finishing as the league scoring champion. The Lakers do have the weapons, but in a one-game play-in, I’m all about Stephen Curry at least keeping the Warriors close enough to cover, if not drive a stake into the Lakers and send them home. Golden State to cover.
When the Spurs take on the Grizzlies, we see two teams that have one All-Star surrounded by rosters that are deep and productive. For the Grizzlies, that player is Ja Morant, who put up 19.1 points and 7.4 assists per game. The Spurs counter with DeMar DeRozan, who was the other side of the trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, where he would lead them to a title. DeRozan has come on this season, scoring 21.6 points and dishing out 6.9 assists per game. Both teams protect the ball well, sitting in the top ten for fewest turnovers per game, but three-point shooting percentage is a weakness for both sides. Memphis has Jonas Valanciunas in the middle, and their defense is better than the Spurs’. They are tops in the NBA in steals and fast break points. Overall, their defense is seventh in the NBA. Valanciunas is averaging 17.1 points and 12.5 boards per game, both career bests, and the Grizzlies are first in the league in points in the paint (55.8 per game). The Spurs’ edge comes in playoff experience. DeRozan and Patty Mills have combined for 148 postseason games. Their other rotation players have each played in two postseason series, with at least 10 playoff games under their belt. Grizzlies win and cover.
NBA Betting Odds
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