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25.12.21 - 18:10 CET
NBA
The local NY Knicks will host Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. Both teams are in a similar position, though they probably don't have the chops to go straight to the PO, but they definitely have the chops to be in the middle of the table and contend for it in the qualifying round. I'll write some reasons for this pick.
1. Missing in guests squad: Atlanta is being slashed by covid protocols - they will be without their biggest driver Trae Young, then without skilled shooter Gallinari, strong under the basket Clint Capel, Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams, skilled shooter Timothe Luwawu-Cabarota and they will have to do without Onyeka Okongwu, who was part of the nice win over 76ers. Probables like Cam Reddish and Delon Wright are also listed today = that's a really wide list and I haven't even finished the other less important players.
2. Knicks will have to do without Rose and the hopeful news is that RJ Barrett is questionable - a skilled Canadian who can shuffle tonight's starting lineup (speculation is that the recently awakened Kemba Walker or Alec Burks could do the job) - I think Alec is more likely to go on the bench, but no matter what, NYK could be a bit stronger
3. Knicks have minimal absences. They should have their leading scorer Julius Randle playing, their new acquisition for this season Kemba Walker, they also have a skilled shooter Evan Fournier who also stepped up in the preseason, a decent Mitchell Robinson and Alec Burks who has been playing in the starting lineup lately. Someone will "fall" to bench if RJ plays, and then there's the likes of Dotson, Toppin, and the very experienced Taj Gibson, so bench isn't bad at all.
4. Knicks have strengthened a lot before the season and must want to fight for the PO and in the current situation today it would be a shame not to handle the opponent in front of them (who currently holds that borderline 10th place in the Eastern Conference), which they can get closer to (losing a win, but with one more game played).
5. Knicks need to win, and even if they don't do as well as they should, they really should watch this game, because the ratio of absences of important players is high.
With RJ Barrett to a flying start, Knicks stock will go up. Even without him, though, they have many players who can take it on shooting-wise - Randle, K.Walker and Fournier - it will be enough for one of them to catch taste. Defending Collins might be a good thing and then the visitors will have it all the harder.
My bet:
New York Knicks @ 1.41 (bet365)
NBA
The local NY Knicks will host Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. Both teams are in a similar position, though they probably don't have the chops to go straight to the PO, but they definitely have the chops to be in the middle of the table and contend for it in the qualifying round. I'll write some reasons for this pick.
1. Missing in guests squad: Atlanta is being slashed by covid protocols - they will be without their biggest driver Trae Young, then without skilled shooter Gallinari, strong under the basket Clint Capel, Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams, skilled shooter Timothe Luwawu-Cabarota and they will have to do without Onyeka Okongwu, who was part of the nice win over 76ers. Probables like Cam Reddish and Delon Wright are also listed today = that's a really wide list and I haven't even finished the other less important players.
2. Knicks will have to do without Rose and the hopeful news is that RJ Barrett is questionable - a skilled Canadian who can shuffle tonight's starting lineup (speculation is that the recently awakened Kemba Walker or Alec Burks could do the job) - I think Alec is more likely to go on the bench, but no matter what, NYK could be a bit stronger
3. Knicks have minimal absences. They should have their leading scorer Julius Randle playing, their new acquisition for this season Kemba Walker, they also have a skilled shooter Evan Fournier who also stepped up in the preseason, a decent Mitchell Robinson and Alec Burks who has been playing in the starting lineup lately. Someone will "fall" to bench if RJ plays, and then there's the likes of Dotson, Toppin, and the very experienced Taj Gibson, so bench isn't bad at all.
4. Knicks have strengthened a lot before the season and must want to fight for the PO and in the current situation today it would be a shame not to handle the opponent in front of them (who currently holds that borderline 10th place in the Eastern Conference), which they can get closer to (losing a win, but with one more game played).
5. Knicks need to win, and even if they don't do as well as they should, they really should watch this game, because the ratio of absences of important players is high.
With RJ Barrett to a flying start, Knicks stock will go up. Even without him, though, they have many players who can take it on shooting-wise - Randle, K.Walker and Fournier - it will be enough for one of them to catch taste. Defending Collins might be a good thing and then the visitors will have it all the harder.
My bet:
New York Knicks @ 1.41 (bet365)