NBA Parlay Picks of the Day
Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors,
Monday, March 29, 2021 at 10 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco, California
Chicago Offense vs. Golden State Defense
Offensively, Chicago primarily wants to attack the basket.
The Bulls attempt the seventh-highest rate of field goals within five feet of the basket.
They drafted point guard Coby White largely for his speed, which is supposed to make him an asset via dribble penetration. Zach LaVine also likes to drive the ball.
The acquisition of Nikola Vucevic should strengthen Chicago’s dependence on scoring inside because he loves to post up.
This reliance on scoring inside is problematic against a Warrior defense that features a super athletic and quick center in James Wiseman.
Wiseman’s greatest physical tool is perhaps his length. His tremendous wingspan and standing reach help make up for the development in defensive IQ that he is having to endure as a rookie.
But he’s making this development in IQ with help from known defensive studs like Draymond Green. Above all, he’s improving his positioning.
Largely thanks to him, the Warriors rank 10th best in limiting the opposing efficiency within five feet of the basket.
Even in Wiseman’s offense, you can see why he advances Golden State’s defensive upside. His quickness allows him to easily run the floor on both ends of the court.
Golden State Offense vs. Chicago Defense
On offense, above all, the Warriors want to shoot. They attempt the seventh-most three-pointers per game.
There is a caveat to this tendency, having to do with the fact that Steph Curry last played on March 17.
Curry has a bruised tailbone and is still only limited as ‘questionable’ for tonight’s gane.
Without him, the Warriors are attempting fewer threes.
But they are clearly better when they have Curry and are attempting more threes because, without him, the Warriors have failed to reach their scoring average in three of five tries.
In one exception, Andrew Wiggins came out of nowhere to put on a godly display, scoring 40 points.
In the other exception, the Warriors piled on points in a blowout loss against defensively inept Sacramento.
If the Warriors are more of a three-point shooting team tonight, they contend with a Bull defense that allows a very low rate of open and wide open three-point attempts.
if they miss Curry, they are that much weaker offensively. They also, then, contend with a Bull interior defense that remains stout with Daniel Theis, who injects his physical style of play into Chicago’s frontcourt for the first time since his trade.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday, March 29, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Dallas Offense vs. Oklahoma City Defense
If you’re concerned about Dallas’ recent two-game “under” streak, there’s no reason to be.
Dallas missed its superstar, Luka Doncic, and his 28.6 points per game.
But Doncic is not even listed on today’s injury report. So his mixture of driving and shooting will be available in full to the Maverick offense tonight.
Kristaps Porzingis is back, too, after gaining extra rest time during the second half of Saturday’s game. That’s a center who can stretch the floor — he’s shooting 40 percent from deep in March.
Three-point shooting has become increasingly important to Dallas’ offense, to the point where the Mavericks now attempt the sixth-most threes per game.
Offensively, Dallas likes to spread the floor and use good ball movement to locate open shooters.
The Mavs are also relatively dependent on the ball-screen. A teammate of the ball-handler will set a screen or act like he’s going to set a screen in order to free up the ball-handler for an open shot.
Of course, Doncic can simply create his own shot with a variety of moves like the step-back.
This offensive focus generates optimism for Dallas against a Thunder defense that does not do a good job of running teams off the three-point line.
The Thunder rank 23rd in limiting opposing three-point attempts and allow the seventh-highest rate of open three-pointers.
Thunder Offense vs. Maverick Defense
Like Dallas, the Thunder are rather reliant on attempting three-pointers. They attempt the eighth-most per game.
The Thunder are filled with guys of all positions who make three-point shooting a significant part of the game.
With guys like ceneter Al Horford, the Thunder ably stretch the floor.
So it’s important, in this respect, too, that Porzingis is back for Dallas.
Defense is a struggle for Porzingis, as evidenced by his high defensive rating this season.
Porzingis is stronger as a help defender in the paint, but has problems defending the perimeter.
So having guys like Horford who can stretch the floor will make defenders like Porzingis uncomfortable.
Overall, three-point defense is a problem for a Maverick squad that has been known for employing conservative ball-screen coverages designed to protect the paint.
The Mavericks allow the 24th-most three-pointers per game and they allow the second-highest rate of open three-point attempts.
Oklahoma City is built to take advantage of Dallas’ weak perimeter defense.
The Verdict
Chicago will ride strong perimeter defense to take away what the Warriors do best, which is shoot the three.
The Bulls, with Theis arriving, also feature able rim protection in case the Warriors still miss Curry and have to become more reliant on scoring inside.
On defense, the Warriors bring one of the better interior defenses, with superb athletes like Wiseman, with which to contain the bevy of Bull players wanting to drive or post up inside.
As for the other game, Dallas and Oklahoma City will be engaged in a three-point-shooting contest where neither perimeter defense manages to offer meaningful resistance.
Best Bet: Parlay Bulls/Warriors “under” & Thunder/Mavericks “over” (Odds TBA)
Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors,
Monday, March 29, 2021 at 10 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco, California
Chicago Offense vs. Golden State Defense
Offensively, Chicago primarily wants to attack the basket.
The Bulls attempt the seventh-highest rate of field goals within five feet of the basket.
They drafted point guard Coby White largely for his speed, which is supposed to make him an asset via dribble penetration. Zach LaVine also likes to drive the ball.
The acquisition of Nikola Vucevic should strengthen Chicago’s dependence on scoring inside because he loves to post up.
This reliance on scoring inside is problematic against a Warrior defense that features a super athletic and quick center in James Wiseman.
Wiseman’s greatest physical tool is perhaps his length. His tremendous wingspan and standing reach help make up for the development in defensive IQ that he is having to endure as a rookie.
But he’s making this development in IQ with help from known defensive studs like Draymond Green. Above all, he’s improving his positioning.
Largely thanks to him, the Warriors rank 10th best in limiting the opposing efficiency within five feet of the basket.
Even in Wiseman’s offense, you can see why he advances Golden State’s defensive upside. His quickness allows him to easily run the floor on both ends of the court.
Golden State Offense vs. Chicago Defense
On offense, above all, the Warriors want to shoot. They attempt the seventh-most three-pointers per game.
There is a caveat to this tendency, having to do with the fact that Steph Curry last played on March 17.
Curry has a bruised tailbone and is still only limited as ‘questionable’ for tonight’s gane.
Without him, the Warriors are attempting fewer threes.
But they are clearly better when they have Curry and are attempting more threes because, without him, the Warriors have failed to reach their scoring average in three of five tries.
In one exception, Andrew Wiggins came out of nowhere to put on a godly display, scoring 40 points.
In the other exception, the Warriors piled on points in a blowout loss against defensively inept Sacramento.
If the Warriors are more of a three-point shooting team tonight, they contend with a Bull defense that allows a very low rate of open and wide open three-point attempts.
if they miss Curry, they are that much weaker offensively. They also, then, contend with a Bull interior defense that remains stout with Daniel Theis, who injects his physical style of play into Chicago’s frontcourt for the first time since his trade.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday, March 29, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Dallas Offense vs. Oklahoma City Defense
If you’re concerned about Dallas’ recent two-game “under” streak, there’s no reason to be.
Dallas missed its superstar, Luka Doncic, and his 28.6 points per game.
But Doncic is not even listed on today’s injury report. So his mixture of driving and shooting will be available in full to the Maverick offense tonight.
Kristaps Porzingis is back, too, after gaining extra rest time during the second half of Saturday’s game. That’s a center who can stretch the floor — he’s shooting 40 percent from deep in March.
Three-point shooting has become increasingly important to Dallas’ offense, to the point where the Mavericks now attempt the sixth-most threes per game.
Offensively, Dallas likes to spread the floor and use good ball movement to locate open shooters.
The Mavs are also relatively dependent on the ball-screen. A teammate of the ball-handler will set a screen or act like he’s going to set a screen in order to free up the ball-handler for an open shot.
Of course, Doncic can simply create his own shot with a variety of moves like the step-back.
This offensive focus generates optimism for Dallas against a Thunder defense that does not do a good job of running teams off the three-point line.
The Thunder rank 23rd in limiting opposing three-point attempts and allow the seventh-highest rate of open three-pointers.
Thunder Offense vs. Maverick Defense
Like Dallas, the Thunder are rather reliant on attempting three-pointers. They attempt the eighth-most per game.
The Thunder are filled with guys of all positions who make three-point shooting a significant part of the game.
With guys like ceneter Al Horford, the Thunder ably stretch the floor.
So it’s important, in this respect, too, that Porzingis is back for Dallas.
Defense is a struggle for Porzingis, as evidenced by his high defensive rating this season.
Porzingis is stronger as a help defender in the paint, but has problems defending the perimeter.
So having guys like Horford who can stretch the floor will make defenders like Porzingis uncomfortable.
Overall, three-point defense is a problem for a Maverick squad that has been known for employing conservative ball-screen coverages designed to protect the paint.
The Mavericks allow the 24th-most three-pointers per game and they allow the second-highest rate of open three-point attempts.
Oklahoma City is built to take advantage of Dallas’ weak perimeter defense.
The Verdict
Chicago will ride strong perimeter defense to take away what the Warriors do best, which is shoot the three.
The Bulls, with Theis arriving, also feature able rim protection in case the Warriors still miss Curry and have to become more reliant on scoring inside.
On defense, the Warriors bring one of the better interior defenses, with superb athletes like Wiseman, with which to contain the bevy of Bull players wanting to drive or post up inside.
As for the other game, Dallas and Oklahoma City will be engaged in a three-point-shooting contest where neither perimeter defense manages to offer meaningful resistance.
Best Bet: Parlay Bulls/Warriors “under” & Thunder/Mavericks “over” (Odds TBA)
