Top NBA Picks & Predictions of the Week - December 4th Edition

Top NBA Picks & Predictions of the Week – December 4th Edition

Written by on December 4, 2017

In the wake of Blake Griffin’s injury, could the LA Clippers decide to trade All-Star center DeAndre Jordan? Other teams think it’s possible and the Milwaukee Bucks are known to be very interested. Would they part with Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon and John Henson, though? We shall wait and see. Here are two interesting NBA odds matchups this week. Check back at MyBookie for all your NBA picks and betting lines for upcoming games.

Top NBA Picks & Predictions of the Week – December 4th Edition

Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers

When: Thursday, 8 PM ET (TNT) It’s the second and last meeting between these rising young teams and two good-looking rookies in Philly’s Ben Simmons – he’s your lock Rookie of the Year right now – and L.A’s Lonzo Ball. Back on Nov. 15, the Sixers beat the Lakers 115-109. Joel Embiid had a career-high 46 points, the most by any Sixer in 11 years. Embiid also had seven assists and seven blocked shots, making him the first NBA player with 40 points, seven assists and seven blocks in a game since Julius Erving did it for the 76ers against Detroit in 1982. Simmons barely missed a triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Brandon Ingram led Los Angeles with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma added 24 points, and Jordan Clarkson scored 20 off the bench. Ball was not good by hitting just 1-for-9 from the field in 21 minutes. Through 50 career games, Embiid has 1,065 points, 457 rebounds, 125 assists and 108 blocks, which averages out to 21.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.2 blocks. He is the only player in NBA history (since 1963-64) to have such stats through 50 career games. Just eight players in the league have more double-doubles than Embiid and Simmons, and the duo is one of three pairs of teammates each with 12 double-doubles. The others are New Orleans’ DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis and Cleveland’s LeBron James and Kevin Love. Ball has two triple-doubles this season and on Nov. 19 became the first rookie guard with at least 16 rebounds since Steve Francis in 2000. Eight guards have recorded a triple-double with at least 16 rebounds since the ’99-00 season: Lonzo Ball, Russell Westbrook (8x), James Harden (2x), Rajon Rondo, Jason Kidd (3x), Vince Carter, Andre Iguodala and Francis.

Golden State Warriors at Detroit Pistons

When: Friday, 7 PM ET Preview of the NBA Finals? The Warriors probably will get back there again as they look for a third title in four years. I’m not quite sure Detroit will, although the Pistons are one of the early success stories in the NBA. They already own a win in Boston, which has the East’s best record, and over these Warriors in Oakland. Andre Drummond recorded season-highs in points (26) and rebounds (22) at Boston on Nov. 27. He became the first Pistons player with at least 25 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in a game since Bob Lanier in 1977. Drummond also was the first player since Charles Barkley (1/20/1990) to record at least 26 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and four steals. He was also the first player since Barkley (11/30/88) to record those numbers and shoot 80% or better from the field. No player in Pistons history had ever recorded 26 points, 22 rebounds and six assists while shooting 80% from the floor and Wes Unseld (26 points, 23 rebounds, seven assists, 12-14 FG on 1/31/70) is the only player to have a game with such numbers against Boston. On Oct. 29, Detroit beat Golden State 115-107. Tobias Harris hit a 3-pointer with 1:27 remaining that all but sealed it after Kevin Durant fueled a late Warriors rally. Avery Bradley led the Pistons with 23 points. Klay Thompson scored 29 points for the Dubs. Durant wound up with 28 points and Steph Curry 27. The Pistons have improved in points per game and every shooting category this season over last year. Are the Warriors a safe bet this week in NBA? The Warriors are ranked first in scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, assists, blocks, opponent field goal percentage, offensive rating and net rating. Golden State has allowed only one team (Sacramento, 11/27) to shoot 50 percent or better from the field this season. The Warriors have league-leading seven 40-point quarters this season, most recently on Dec. 1 at Orlando when they scored 41 points in the first quarter. With a 45-point second quarter vs. Chicago (11/24) and a 47-point third quarter at Philadelphia (11/18), the Warriors had two quarters in which they scored 45 or more points in a seven-day span since Jan. 18, 1991 and Jan. 22, 1991.  Golden State’s 47 points are the third-most points scored in a quarter in the NBA this season, trailing only Washington’s 48 points at Philadelphia. The Warriors are the only team in the NBA with three players averaging 20 or more points per game this season with Curry (26.0 ppg), Durant (24.9 ppg) and Thompson (20.5 ppg).

Expert Predictions & NBA Picks of the Week

Warriors won’t want to get swept so they in Detroit as long as all the key guys play. Philly handles the Lakers again. We’ll be having more NBA picks and odds for some of the top games this week, so be sure to keep your eyes on upcoming news!