Happy Hump Day NBA Parlay at (+269): Invest in These Two Road Underdogs
Best Bet: Parlay Pacers +5.5 at -109 & Timberwolves +2.5 at -110 at +266 odds with BetOnline
Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 7 p.m. ET at Amway Center in Orlando
Orlando's Perimeter Defense
The Magic's perimeter defense repeatedly causes them to lose games against weaker opponents.
For example, two games ago, they lost to the sub-.500 Wizards, who converted an absurd 18 of their 34 three-point attempts en route to a 138-118 victory.
While the Magic offense performed well, it is simply hard to win games in which you allow close to 140 points.
In order to keep its team in the game, Orlando's defense will have to improve in its perimeter coverage, but it doesn't seem close to improving.
Now, one might say that a defense can't help if an opposing offense makes a lot of threes.
After all, it is obviously true that a defense doesn't control what the ball does once it is in the air.
Key Statistics
But a defense can affect the likelihood with which an opposing player makes a shot.
Key statistics indicate that Orlando's defense does this very poorly, perhaps more poorly than any other defense.
One, Orlando allows the second-highest frequency of wide-open three-point attempts.
Two, the Magic concede the third-highest frequency of open three-point attempts.
Three, they allow the sixth-most three-point attempts per game.
These statistics show that Orlando does a poor job of contesting opposing three-point attempts and of guarding the three-point line.
Magic opponents are able to produce many favorable three-point shot attempts against Indiana, with one example being even a Washington team that, as measured by three-pointers made per game, generally isn't particularly strong at shooting from deep.
Indiana's New Offense
Previous versions of Indiana would not be equipped to take advantage of Orlando's perimeter defense problems.
But the Pacers have acquired the right sort of coaching staff and players to become the more modern team that they wanted to be.
One key Pacer player is shooting guard Buddy Hield, who has always been known as a high-volume three-point shooter.
Hield commonly makes at least four threes a game.
On the season, he is averaging 42 percent from deep.
He is a big reason why Indiana makes the sixth-most threes per game.
Building Momentum
Expect Indiana to build momentum as it continues to acclimate itself to life without point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Of course, this current stretch in the season was always going to be difficult -- with Haliburton or not, it is difficult to compete against teams like Memphis and Denver.
But the Pacers ended their SU and ATS losing streaks by beating Chicago.
Orlando is another much more beatable team.
It's important for point guard TJ McConnell to grow comfortable in his momentary starting role while Haliburton recovers.
More so than Haliburton, in fact, McConnell is known as a sharp and efficient passer.
On Saturday in the close loss at Phoenix and in the team's most recent win against Chicago, McConnell accumulated a combined total of 22 assists,
While he can be efficient from deep, his best asset is getting teammates in position to score.
Pacer Defensive Outlook
Orlando will have to score a lot in order to keep up with Indiana's barrage of three-pointers.
The Magic are relatively reliant on the pick-and-roll for the ball-handler play type.
But, as measured by PPP (points per possession), Indiana is one of the better teams at guarding this play type.
Whereas the Pacers can limit what Orlando wants to do offensively, the Magic can't do the same to Indiana.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans
Pelicans' Losing Streak
New Orleans is favored in this game because oddsmakers do not account for current form.
Thus, it takes a long time for oddsmakers to adjust.
Right now, oddsmakers should not be favoring the Pelicans, especially against a playoff-caliber team like Minnesota, because the Pelicans cannot figure out how to win right now.
They've lost five games in a row, including a 13-point loss to Minnesota.
Missing Zion
New Orleans clearly misses star forward Zion Williamson.
Zion's freakish physical skill set helps him lead the team in points per game.
The Pelicans lack sufficient scoring talent and depth to make up for his absence.
Minnesota's Inside Attack
But the Pelicans won't be able to rely on defense, either, in order to defeat the Timberwolves.
Minnesota benefits tonight from loving to attack the basket.
With rim-attackers like Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves rank seventh in field goal percentage within five feet of the basket and make the fifth-most field goals from this part of the court.
New Orleans' opponents do not fear the Pelicans' rim protection, and for good reason: the Pelicans allow the highest field goal percentage within five feet of the hoop.
Best Bet: Parlay Pacers +5.5 at -109 & Timberwolves +2.5 at -110 at +266 odds with BetOnline
Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 7 p.m. ET at Amway Center in Orlando
Orlando's Perimeter Defense
The Magic's perimeter defense repeatedly causes them to lose games against weaker opponents.
For example, two games ago, they lost to the sub-.500 Wizards, who converted an absurd 18 of their 34 three-point attempts en route to a 138-118 victory.
While the Magic offense performed well, it is simply hard to win games in which you allow close to 140 points.
In order to keep its team in the game, Orlando's defense will have to improve in its perimeter coverage, but it doesn't seem close to improving.
Now, one might say that a defense can't help if an opposing offense makes a lot of threes.
After all, it is obviously true that a defense doesn't control what the ball does once it is in the air.
Key Statistics
But a defense can affect the likelihood with which an opposing player makes a shot.
Key statistics indicate that Orlando's defense does this very poorly, perhaps more poorly than any other defense.
One, Orlando allows the second-highest frequency of wide-open three-point attempts.
Two, the Magic concede the third-highest frequency of open three-point attempts.
Three, they allow the sixth-most three-point attempts per game.
These statistics show that Orlando does a poor job of contesting opposing three-point attempts and of guarding the three-point line.
Magic opponents are able to produce many favorable three-point shot attempts against Indiana, with one example being even a Washington team that, as measured by three-pointers made per game, generally isn't particularly strong at shooting from deep.
Indiana's New Offense
Previous versions of Indiana would not be equipped to take advantage of Orlando's perimeter defense problems.
But the Pacers have acquired the right sort of coaching staff and players to become the more modern team that they wanted to be.
One key Pacer player is shooting guard Buddy Hield, who has always been known as a high-volume three-point shooter.
Hield commonly makes at least four threes a game.
On the season, he is averaging 42 percent from deep.
He is a big reason why Indiana makes the sixth-most threes per game.
Building Momentum
Expect Indiana to build momentum as it continues to acclimate itself to life without point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Of course, this current stretch in the season was always going to be difficult -- with Haliburton or not, it is difficult to compete against teams like Memphis and Denver.
But the Pacers ended their SU and ATS losing streaks by beating Chicago.
Orlando is another much more beatable team.
It's important for point guard TJ McConnell to grow comfortable in his momentary starting role while Haliburton recovers.
More so than Haliburton, in fact, McConnell is known as a sharp and efficient passer.
On Saturday in the close loss at Phoenix and in the team's most recent win against Chicago, McConnell accumulated a combined total of 22 assists,
While he can be efficient from deep, his best asset is getting teammates in position to score.
Pacer Defensive Outlook
Orlando will have to score a lot in order to keep up with Indiana's barrage of three-pointers.
The Magic are relatively reliant on the pick-and-roll for the ball-handler play type.
But, as measured by PPP (points per possession), Indiana is one of the better teams at guarding this play type.
Whereas the Pacers can limit what Orlando wants to do offensively, the Magic can't do the same to Indiana.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans
Pelicans' Losing Streak
New Orleans is favored in this game because oddsmakers do not account for current form.
Thus, it takes a long time for oddsmakers to adjust.
Right now, oddsmakers should not be favoring the Pelicans, especially against a playoff-caliber team like Minnesota, because the Pelicans cannot figure out how to win right now.
They've lost five games in a row, including a 13-point loss to Minnesota.
Missing Zion
New Orleans clearly misses star forward Zion Williamson.
Zion's freakish physical skill set helps him lead the team in points per game.
The Pelicans lack sufficient scoring talent and depth to make up for his absence.
Minnesota's Inside Attack
But the Pelicans won't be able to rely on defense, either, in order to defeat the Timberwolves.
Minnesota benefits tonight from loving to attack the basket.
With rim-attackers like Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves rank seventh in field goal percentage within five feet of the basket and make the fifth-most field goals from this part of the court.
New Orleans' opponents do not fear the Pelicans' rim protection, and for good reason: the Pelicans allow the highest field goal percentage within five feet of the hoop.
