Welcome back NBA fans!!
It’s only been three months since the Lakers won their 17th championship in the DisneyWorld Bubble but a lot has changed already.
It can be hard to keep up with all the goings on in the NBA, alone where to find the best betting value.
The BetDeluxe Blog is your home for all the tips, previews and updates you need to be an informed NBA fan and punter.
Now let’s preview some of the best action in this week’s upcoming NBA fixtures and find you the best bets.
LA CLIPPERS @ LA LAKERS
DECEMBER 23RD 2:00PM
The reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers start their title defence against cross-town rivals the Los Angeles Clippers.
Led by ‘The King’ LeBron James and his partner in crime Anthony Davis, the Lakers were a defensive force to be reckoned with last season.
The pair led the Purple and Gold to top three rankings in both points per possession allowed (less than 1.07) and forced turnover rate (15.8 percent).
James himself also notched up yet another finals MVP trophy to his resume after rounding the season to average 25.3 points a game, 10.2 assists (career best) and nearly eight rebounds.
The Lakers have also added Sixth Man of the Year Award finalists Montrezl Harrell (Winner) and Dennis Schroeder to sprinkle some extra scoring punch to its already impressive offensive line.
On the flip side the Clippers will be looking to put a disappointing end to last year behind them.
In a season where it boasted new signing Kawhi Leonard to combine in offence with superstar wing Paul George, the Clippers failed to produce in the playoffs.
It entered the postseason as finals favourites with the second most efficient offense in the league but a shocking collapse to the Denver Nuggets left a sour taste in the Clippers mouth.
Despite the pain of losing to the Nuggets, this Clippers team is still brimming with talent.
It will welcome the addition of veterans Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum.
James and the Lakers will have their eyes firmly placed on more silverware for this season.
Given the Lakers line-up will be entering this match with a short break from postseason celebrations and the Clippers with a huge point to prove it would be no surprise to see the Lakers start a bit sluggish.
The Lakers will once again be the team to beat this year, especially when the playoffs begin, but this game just means more to Leonard and the Clippers.
Prediction: Clippers to win.
Suggested bet: Clippers cover the +2 line.
GOLDEN STATE @ BROOKLYN
DECEMBER 23RD 11:00AM
What a way to open up the 2020/21 NBA season.
Stephen Curry comes up against his old teammate Kevin Durant in what looks set to be a fierce battle between the youthful Golden State Warriors and the experience laden Brooklyn Nets.
Kyrie Irving is primed to make his playing debut alongside Durant with the pair overcoming lengthy injuries to finally combine on the court for the Nets.
While The Warriors come off a horrific 2019/20 season that saw it finish last in the NBA Western Conference with a 15-50 win-loss record.
That season was riddled with long-term injuries to Curry and his splash brother partner Klay Thompson (ACL) who has unfortunately suffered yet another setback with a torn achilles and will not be available to play for an indefinite period this upcoming season.
Add in the omission of Draymond Green, who is nursing a foot injury, and it makes this first-up assignment for the Warriors very tough given the star studded line up the Nets will throw up.
The Warriors ranked last in the offensive ratings last season and had a 26th ranked defensive rating which showed how far off the pace the team was.
However, the silver lining for the Warriors finishing down in the doldrums of the Western Conference meant it picked up the number two draft pick.
A centre by the name of James Wiseman who will add a whole new dimension to this Warriors squad.
And while on the subject of new recruits, Brooklyn itself has a brand new coach in the form of former two-time MVP Steve Nash.
He will also want to stamp his authority on his team and the league early.
The Nets finished middle of the road with a losing 35-37 record to finish 7th in the NBA Eastern Conference, 16th for points scored in the 2019/20 season and ranked 22nd in the offensive ratings for the competition in 2019/20.
Given the amount of firepower it now has with a fit Durant and Irving as well as nifty bench player Caris LeVert, all those rankings should lead to a stark improvement and a venture up the NBA table.
Prediction: Brooklyn Nets win comfortably.
Suggested bet: Nets to cover the line of -7.5.
