NBA Opening Night Picks: Our Best Bets for October 19
Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
Motivation
Motivation always provides important betting angles in the regular season because teams typically don't invest as much effort as they do during the playoffs.
Tonight, I think that the Nets will have a motivational edge because they are facing the team that eliminated them from last year's playoffs.
Their emotions will be all the more amplified as they -- surely with bitterness -- watch that very team, Milwaukee, raise its championship banner and receive its championship rings.
Therefore, they will be out for revenge. In this way, they will be driven in a way the Bucks will not be.
This playoff revenge angle is a strong one with a lot of historical support. Last year, for example, the Celtics had been eliminated by Miami in the previous season's playoffs.
In their first game against Miami, though, the Celtics won straight-up as underdogs on the road.
Joe Harris and Three-Pointers
One common feature in Brooklyn's four losses to Milwaukee last postseason were the struggles of sharpshooter Joe Harris.
Whereas Harris converted over 40-percent of his three-point attempts in Brooklyn's largest wins of the series, he failed to do so in all four losses and frequently by a large margin.
Despite not being Kevin Durant or James Harden (or Kyrie Irving, for that matter, but Irving will not play because of his vaccination status), Harris is a very important element of the Net offense because he makes it more balanced. Durant and Harden can only do so much by themselves.
Last year, Harris led the NBA in converting 47.5-percent of his three-point attempts, thus solidifying himself as the NBA's most efficient three-point shooter for the second time in three seasons.
He has a great opportunity to thrive tonight in order to redeem himself after last year's crucial cold streak.
Plus, this is a strong match-up for him, facing a Buck defense that ranked 27th last year in limiting opposing three-pointers made and 24th in limiting opposing three-point efficiency.
Harris' sharpshooting skills are further encouraged by his increased ability to dribble before shooting, as opposed to being the purer spot-up shooter that he was earlier in his career.
He'll get help, too, from others such as newcomer Patty Mills. Mills brings a spark off the bench with his career 38.8-percent three-point conversion rate.
Harden and Durant
During last year's series against Milwaukee, the Nets had to play with a Harden who wasn't fully fit because he suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1.
Harden is now fully fit. With Irving playing second fiddle to Harden when on the court, Harden was the centerpiece of Brooklyn's offense and will maintain that same function.
After being known as a heavy iso guy in Houston, Harden amassed a career-high 10.9 assists per game last season.
Due to his injury, he was not able to reach this assist total in any of the four games that he played against Milwaukee in last year's postseason. His efficiency sank offensively as he was, also with respect to shooting and scoring, limited by his hamstring.
But with Harden's recovered fitness, Kevin Durant won't have to do so much of the work by himself.
Harris and Harden will provide strong support for Durant, whose performance in last year's series with Milwaukee was truly legendary and included two 40-point efforts where he often put the team on his back and often had to be clutch.
The Buck defense struggled to find anyone to guard Kevin Durant. PJ Tucker was Milwaukee's best hope, but he is in Miami now, not that his lack of length or skill set could have made him a reliable option against the Net superstar.
The Verdict
Brooklyn has an emotional edge that will motivate it more on defense and in general.
With star-power in the form of a healthy Harden plus Harris bouncing back, the Nets will outpace Milwaukee for a season-opening road victory.
Plus, the Bucks will miss glue guy Donte DiVincenzo in addition to important depth pieces at the forward positions.
Best Bet: Nets +1 at -103 with BetOnline
Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
Motivation
Motivation always provides important betting angles in the regular season because teams typically don't invest as much effort as they do during the playoffs.
Tonight, I think that the Nets will have a motivational edge because they are facing the team that eliminated them from last year's playoffs.
Their emotions will be all the more amplified as they -- surely with bitterness -- watch that very team, Milwaukee, raise its championship banner and receive its championship rings.
Therefore, they will be out for revenge. In this way, they will be driven in a way the Bucks will not be.
This playoff revenge angle is a strong one with a lot of historical support. Last year, for example, the Celtics had been eliminated by Miami in the previous season's playoffs.
In their first game against Miami, though, the Celtics won straight-up as underdogs on the road.
Joe Harris and Three-Pointers
One common feature in Brooklyn's four losses to Milwaukee last postseason were the struggles of sharpshooter Joe Harris.
Whereas Harris converted over 40-percent of his three-point attempts in Brooklyn's largest wins of the series, he failed to do so in all four losses and frequently by a large margin.
Despite not being Kevin Durant or James Harden (or Kyrie Irving, for that matter, but Irving will not play because of his vaccination status), Harris is a very important element of the Net offense because he makes it more balanced. Durant and Harden can only do so much by themselves.
Last year, Harris led the NBA in converting 47.5-percent of his three-point attempts, thus solidifying himself as the NBA's most efficient three-point shooter for the second time in three seasons.
He has a great opportunity to thrive tonight in order to redeem himself after last year's crucial cold streak.
Plus, this is a strong match-up for him, facing a Buck defense that ranked 27th last year in limiting opposing three-pointers made and 24th in limiting opposing three-point efficiency.
Harris' sharpshooting skills are further encouraged by his increased ability to dribble before shooting, as opposed to being the purer spot-up shooter that he was earlier in his career.
He'll get help, too, from others such as newcomer Patty Mills. Mills brings a spark off the bench with his career 38.8-percent three-point conversion rate.
Harden and Durant
During last year's series against Milwaukee, the Nets had to play with a Harden who wasn't fully fit because he suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1.
Harden is now fully fit. With Irving playing second fiddle to Harden when on the court, Harden was the centerpiece of Brooklyn's offense and will maintain that same function.
After being known as a heavy iso guy in Houston, Harden amassed a career-high 10.9 assists per game last season.
Due to his injury, he was not able to reach this assist total in any of the four games that he played against Milwaukee in last year's postseason. His efficiency sank offensively as he was, also with respect to shooting and scoring, limited by his hamstring.
But with Harden's recovered fitness, Kevin Durant won't have to do so much of the work by himself.
Harris and Harden will provide strong support for Durant, whose performance in last year's series with Milwaukee was truly legendary and included two 40-point efforts where he often put the team on his back and often had to be clutch.
The Buck defense struggled to find anyone to guard Kevin Durant. PJ Tucker was Milwaukee's best hope, but he is in Miami now, not that his lack of length or skill set could have made him a reliable option against the Net superstar.
The Verdict
Brooklyn has an emotional edge that will motivate it more on defense and in general.
With star-power in the form of a healthy Harden plus Harris bouncing back, the Nets will outpace Milwaukee for a season-opening road victory.
Plus, the Bucks will miss glue guy Donte DiVincenzo in addition to important depth pieces at the forward positions.
Best Bet: Nets +1 at -103 with BetOnline
