July 30th keeps getting closer and closer which means that the NBA restart in the Orlando bubble. This is going to be one of the wildest gambling scenes ever, in my opinion. With betters, like you, placing your bets on the new NBA playoff structure and all the other unusual and wild circumstances that are coming along with this new format will be exciting and fun. Some players won’t be on rosters, some will be well-rested and returning from injury, and the action will be more exciting than I think many people realize.
There’s been plenty of issues already with the bubble. Players breaking the confines of the bubble and others testing positive with Coronavirus must quarantine longer as the games approach quickly. Will a late tournament addition who was previously in quarantine change a starting lineup last minute and what will that do to spreads and lines? There are many questions that will be answered as the NBA resumes playing.
Utah Jazz +2.5 (-110) vs. New Orleans Pelicans -2.5 (-110) 6:30PM EDT
The lineup that fans are going to be able to watch is going to be awesome! The Utah Jazz is taking on the New Orleans Pelicans at 6:30 PM on July 30th. Zion Williamson, who may not be playing in this first game due to a family emergency, will try to will the Pelicans into the 2020 NBA Playoffs, but will have to sacrifice not being at this first game. High flying Donovan Mitchell and defensive stud Rudy Gobert will try to stop the young and talented Pelicans.
In three matchups this season, the Jazz have come out on top twice. Both times scoring 128 points to the Pelicans 120. In that first win, Mitchell put up a line of 37 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds. Gobert did not play. The second game saw Bojan Bogdanovic put up 35 points, Gobert played this game and snatched 19 rebounds.
However, in that third matchup, the Pelicans came out on top. In an overtime thriller, Mitchell put up 46 but it wasn’t good enough to take down Brandom Ingram. Ingram put up a line of 49 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists to quell arguments he didn’t have superstar potential. Lonzo Ball dished out 13 assists and the Pelicans got production from most of their young talent. Derrick Favors proved he was a great addition to the roster this season with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.
It is puzzling that the 41 win Jazz are underdogs to the 28 win Pelicans. The Zion hype is real and many are thinking he will breakout during this bubble season, but now even without Zion, the young Pelicans are favored to take down the Jazz. I’m not sure if I’m ready to buy into it, give me the Jazz to cover in this one.
Los Angeles Clippers -1 (-110) vs Los Angeles Lakers +1 (-110)
This is the game that everyone wants to see. This is what the NBA fans wanted to watch in the summer, a series of games between LA’s two teams to determine the best in the west. While this is just one game leading up to the modified Playoff process, it’s going to be a good one. LeBron James and Anthony Davis taking on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, a battle of titans!
These two teams faced each other in their first game of the season and they also faced off in the Lakers’ last game of the season. The Clippers’ last game was against the Golden State Warriors in a blowout win. The LA teams split both of the previously mentioned games. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 30 points while Paul George did not play in the first game. AD put up 25 points and 9 rebounds and Lebron had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with 8 assists. Clips won 112-102.
In the Lakers’ final game of the season, LeBron and AD put on a show! James had a near triple-double again with 28 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds. AD had 30 points and 7 rebounds. They were helped tremendously by the 24 point outing from Avery Bradley. The Clippers had a great trio of performances as well. Leonard had 27 points, PG13 had 31 points and 6 rebounds and Montrezl Harrell put up 20 points and 8 rebounds. They fell to the Lakers 112-103.
This game is a toss-up. You could probably pick whichever team and have as good a shot at winning some money as anyone else betting on the game. However, I think that the Lakers are going to put on a show and the duo of LeBron and AD is going to prove to be too much.
Lines are courtesy of Bovado
