This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
After a one-week layoff, the NBA is finally back in action with three games on tap Thursday. If you're like me, and you're chomping at the bit to get back in action, then take a look at a breakdown of Thursday's best bets.
Jazz at Wizards -1; Total: 196.5
The Jazz headed into the All-Star break as one of the hotter teams the previous few weeks, winning seven of their last eight games. It's no surprise their recent winning streak was buoyed by the Jan. 25 return of power forward Derrick Favors, who missed 17 games dating to Dec. 26 due to a back injury. The Jazz once again boast perhaps the league's best defensive frontcourt, with Favors paired alongside Rudy Gobert at center. In their last 10 games, the Jazz ranked third in defensive efficiency rating at 21.4, just barely behind the Portland Trail Blazers (21.5). Utah's frontline ranked first in defensive efficiency over the same span at 19.4, three points ahead of the Boston Celtics.
This is particularly troublesome for John Wall, who strongly prefers to do the majority of his scoring at the rim. Look at Wall's shot chart below for this season. His 297 shot attempts at the rim are at least three times the shots taken at any other spot on the floor. (Shot chart via StatMuse)
In addition to being one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, the Jazz and coach Quin Snyder love to play snail ball. Utah ranks
After a one-week layoff, the NBA is finally back in action with three games on tap Thursday. If you're like me, and you're chomping at the bit to get back in action, then take a look at a breakdown of Thursday's best bets.
Jazz at Wizards -1; Total: 196.5
The Jazz headed into the All-Star break as one of the hotter teams the previous few weeks, winning seven of their last eight games. It's no surprise their recent winning streak was buoyed by the Jan. 25 return of power forward Derrick Favors, who missed 17 games dating to Dec. 26 due to a back injury. The Jazz once again boast perhaps the league's best defensive frontcourt, with Favors paired alongside Rudy Gobert at center. In their last 10 games, the Jazz ranked third in defensive efficiency rating at 21.4, just barely behind the Portland Trail Blazers (21.5). Utah's frontline ranked first in defensive efficiency over the same span at 19.4, three points ahead of the Boston Celtics.
This is particularly troublesome for John Wall, who strongly prefers to do the majority of his scoring at the rim. Look at Wall's shot chart below for this season. His 297 shot attempts at the rim are at least three times the shots taken at any other spot on the floor. (Shot chart via StatMuse)
In addition to being one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, the Jazz and coach Quin Snyder love to play snail ball. Utah ranks last in the league in pace this season (92.9) and allows the third-fewest points to their opponents, giving up just 96.4 points per game. The Jazz also have had the second-highest percentage of games go under their team totals this season (56.9 percent).
The Pick: Under 196.5
Spurs at Clippers +4.5; Total: 205.5
Is it possible that the second-best team in the NBA, a team that is 45-8 and a winner of its last six games, is also one of the most overlooked teams in NBA history? That could be the rare case for such a dominant team in San Antonio. Something else that is rare is finding the Spurs as only 4.5-point favorites in a game this season. The Spurs will be ready for Tim Duncan to make his second start since missing the last eight games with a knee injury. Meanwhile, the Clippers will not only continue to battle shorthanded minus Blake Griffin and Austin Rivers, both of whom have hand fractures, but L.A. will also be without Lance Stephenson, who was recently traded Thursday for Jeff Green.
Per usual, coach Greg Popovich's team plays top-notch defense -- the Spurs are second in defensive efficiency (31.6), allow the fewest points per game (91.8) by a wide margin and allow the fewest rebounds per game (39.9).
The Picks: Spurs -4.5, under 205.5
