Today's Picks Include a +271 NBA Parlay
Golden State Warriors vs. Orlando Magic
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET at Amway Center in Orlando
Warrior Offense
Three-point shooting forms a seminal part of Golden State's offensive strategy.
The Warriors attempt the third-most threes per game.
This devotion to three-point shooting has persisted despite star Steph Curry's absence.
Among others, guards Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole are high-volume shooters who are easily inclined to attempt at least 10 threes in a game.
Orlando's Perimeter Defense
A strong perimeter defense will do a good job of contesting three-point shots.
In order to contest these shots, defenders will have to be in good position relative to the opposing shooter.
They cannot, in other words, allow too many open three-point attempts.
Orlando, however, is one of the worst teams at limiting opposing open and wide open three-point attempts.
The Magic allow open three-point attempts with the 10th-highest frequency and wide-open three-point attempts with the eighth-highest frequency.
Based on their recent success against Minnesota and Oklahoma City, one might success that the Magic have improved in perimeter defense because both teams love to shoot the three.
However, on March 11, which is when Orlando played Minnesota, the Magic allowed open three-point attempts with by far the highest frequency.
Plus, the Timberwolves missed 12 of 16 wide open three-point attempts. They had great chances, therefore, to knock down a lot of threes.
But they simply didn't capitalize on those opportunities.
It is a fact, therefore, that good opportunities are regularly available for three-point shooters when facing the Magic.
Among others, look out for Thompson and Poole who are both converting over 36 percent of their three-point attempts.
Efficiency
Orlando's offense does not bring remotely the same level of efficiency as Golden State's.
The Magic rank towards the bottom in both three-point efficiency and field goal percentage of shot attempts near the basket (within five feet, exactly).
Hence, before the Thunder lay an egg making 13 of 48 three-point attempts, the Magic allowed 150 points to Brooklyn and then 134 to Detroit.
Golden State certainly has the personnel to do similar damage as these last two teams.
Its superior offensive efficiency will help secure a big Golden State victory.
Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 8 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
Ball-Screens
On offense, Chicago loves to run ball-screen actions more than almost any other team.
To be exact, the Bulls run the pick-and-roll for the ball-handler with the third-highest frequency.
The two biggest beneficiaries of this play type are DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
Ball-screens are designed to give the ball-handler space. A good screener will secure his teammate space to operate with the ball while his on-ball defender is screened or blocked from deterring him.
Chicago is lucky, in this respect, to have Nikola Vucevic, who is a reliable screener. He'll screen multiple times in a single possession in order to help the ball-handler on offense.
Buck Ball-Screen Defense
Since running ball-screens is so important to the Bull offense, ball-screen defense will be extra important for Milwaukee to engage in well tonight.
Unfortunately for the Bucks, they are one of the worst at defending against the pick-and-roll for the ball-handler.
They allow the seventh-most PPP (points per possession) against this play type in which respect they are tied with lowly Orlando.
Milwaukee's ball-screen defense has repeatedly been broken under current head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Budenholzer is known, on the one hand, for his eminently beatable version of drop coverage as well as, on the other hand, for his team's clumsy attempts to diversify ball-screen defense.
Since Chicago's reliance on ball-screens is nothing new in the current NBA landscape, defenses have tried to expand upon their approach to ball-screens.
Given its opposing PPP stat, the Bucks are still struggling against the Bulls' preferred play type.
Perimeter Defense
The winner of tonight's game will shoot better behind the arc.
Milwaukee's struggles with ball-screen coverage extends to its perimeter defense, which is also a common area of concern for Budenholzer's Bucks,
Whereas the Bucks are one of the worst teams at limiting opposing open and wide-open three-point attempts, Chicago is one of the best.
The Bulls are aided in this regard by now healthy guard Alex Caruso who is known above all for his strong on-ball defending especially along the perimeter.
Since the Bucks rely heavily on three-point shooting, they are uniquely disadvantaged by Caruso's return.
Best Bet: Parlay Warriors -8 at -108 & Bulls +6 at -108 at +271 odds with BetOnline
Golden State Warriors vs. Orlando Magic
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET at Amway Center in Orlando
Warrior Offense
Three-point shooting forms a seminal part of Golden State's offensive strategy.
The Warriors attempt the third-most threes per game.
This devotion to three-point shooting has persisted despite star Steph Curry's absence.
Among others, guards Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole are high-volume shooters who are easily inclined to attempt at least 10 threes in a game.
Orlando's Perimeter Defense
A strong perimeter defense will do a good job of contesting three-point shots.
In order to contest these shots, defenders will have to be in good position relative to the opposing shooter.
They cannot, in other words, allow too many open three-point attempts.
Orlando, however, is one of the worst teams at limiting opposing open and wide open three-point attempts.
The Magic allow open three-point attempts with the 10th-highest frequency and wide-open three-point attempts with the eighth-highest frequency.
Based on their recent success against Minnesota and Oklahoma City, one might success that the Magic have improved in perimeter defense because both teams love to shoot the three.
However, on March 11, which is when Orlando played Minnesota, the Magic allowed open three-point attempts with by far the highest frequency.
Plus, the Timberwolves missed 12 of 16 wide open three-point attempts. They had great chances, therefore, to knock down a lot of threes.
But they simply didn't capitalize on those opportunities.
It is a fact, therefore, that good opportunities are regularly available for three-point shooters when facing the Magic.
Among others, look out for Thompson and Poole who are both converting over 36 percent of their three-point attempts.
Efficiency
Orlando's offense does not bring remotely the same level of efficiency as Golden State's.
The Magic rank towards the bottom in both three-point efficiency and field goal percentage of shot attempts near the basket (within five feet, exactly).
Hence, before the Thunder lay an egg making 13 of 48 three-point attempts, the Magic allowed 150 points to Brooklyn and then 134 to Detroit.
Golden State certainly has the personnel to do similar damage as these last two teams.
Its superior offensive efficiency will help secure a big Golden State victory.
Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 8 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
Ball-Screens
On offense, Chicago loves to run ball-screen actions more than almost any other team.
To be exact, the Bulls run the pick-and-roll for the ball-handler with the third-highest frequency.
The two biggest beneficiaries of this play type are DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
Ball-screens are designed to give the ball-handler space. A good screener will secure his teammate space to operate with the ball while his on-ball defender is screened or blocked from deterring him.
Chicago is lucky, in this respect, to have Nikola Vucevic, who is a reliable screener. He'll screen multiple times in a single possession in order to help the ball-handler on offense.
Buck Ball-Screen Defense
Since running ball-screens is so important to the Bull offense, ball-screen defense will be extra important for Milwaukee to engage in well tonight.
Unfortunately for the Bucks, they are one of the worst at defending against the pick-and-roll for the ball-handler.
They allow the seventh-most PPP (points per possession) against this play type in which respect they are tied with lowly Orlando.
Milwaukee's ball-screen defense has repeatedly been broken under current head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Budenholzer is known, on the one hand, for his eminently beatable version of drop coverage as well as, on the other hand, for his team's clumsy attempts to diversify ball-screen defense.
Since Chicago's reliance on ball-screens is nothing new in the current NBA landscape, defenses have tried to expand upon their approach to ball-screens.
Given its opposing PPP stat, the Bucks are still struggling against the Bulls' preferred play type.
Perimeter Defense
The winner of tonight's game will shoot better behind the arc.
Milwaukee's struggles with ball-screen coverage extends to its perimeter defense, which is also a common area of concern for Budenholzer's Bucks,
Whereas the Bucks are one of the worst teams at limiting opposing open and wide-open three-point attempts, Chicago is one of the best.
The Bulls are aided in this regard by now healthy guard Alex Caruso who is known above all for his strong on-ball defending especially along the perimeter.
Since the Bucks rely heavily on three-point shooting, they are uniquely disadvantaged by Caruso's return.
Best Bet: Parlay Warriors -8 at -108 & Bulls +6 at -108 at +271 odds with BetOnline
