


NBA
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Understanding Public and Money
I think the Raptors have every major player available for the first time all season with Immanuel Quickley back tonight -- he's a big reason they all haven't been together having played only nine games. Toronto has won a season-high five straight games and seven of its last eight. Funny what getting healthier will do. No Zach LaVine for the Bulls, and he probably has played his last game for them. I used to care about that team but now it's just irrelevant sadly. And they can't even "Lag for (Cooper) Flagg" as the Bulls aren't horrid bad like the Wizards.
Sign us up for this hot streak! Toronto has made an unexpected turnaround the past two weeks, winning five straight, and now seven of eight, with a victims list that includes the Celtics and Warriors. Also four straight wins at the Scotiabank Arena, and recent highlight on F Scottie Barnes, who has had a hot month as he scores at a 21 pg clip in January. Meanwhile the Chicago season continues to lack definition as the Bulls appear locked into mid-table purgatory, losing 8 of 10 into tonight. That top scorer Zach LaVine (24 ppg) is apparently out again tonight doesn't appear to bode any better for the Bulls' chances. Play Raptors
Toronto's Scottie Barnes is such a good all-around player but this is a big number -- our model has him around 32 PRA and NumberFire has him at 33. If Barnes simply hits his season averages (20.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 6.5 APG), we cash fairly comfortably. He averages two points fewer at home this season than away. The Dinos might get back point guard Immanuel Quickley tonight as well from injury and that would in theory cut into Barnes' shot attempts and assist chances.
This looks like another good spot to fade Nikola Vucevic who despite being in the midst of arguably his best season, looks like a regression candidate to me. Vucevic has been lights out from an efficiency standpoint and I do not believe he can sustain this current rate of production throughout the season. At first glace this may appear like a plus matchup, however the Raptors have made major defensive improvements. Case in point, over their last 15 games, they have allowed the third fewest PPG to opposing Centers.