NBA Picks: Our Best Bets for November 16
Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Golden State's Defense
The Warrior defense has vastly improved to become the top unit right now.
Last year, the Warriors ranked a solid fifth in defensive rating.
This year, their defensive rating has improved 10.1 points to rank number one in the category.
A big part of Golden State's improvement is, surprisingly, being played by Steph Curry.
His positive part in the Warrior defense is surprising because he has never been known for being such a good defender. One always thinks, instead, of his elite three-point shooting.
But Curry's defensive rating has improved 12.1 points from last year to reach a career-best 97.5 (lower defensive ratings are better than higher ones).
One can observe his increased strength, a product of his bulkier frame, when opponents try to post him up. Moreover, his ameliorated lateral speed makes it more difficult for opposing ball-handlers to reach their desired spots.
Curry isn't the only improved or strong Warrior defender, of course. Backcourt partner Jordan Poole has also been effective.
Of course, Draymond Green is well-known to be a solid defender. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team for a fourth time in his career last season.
Net Offense vs. Top Defenses
Brooklyn repeatedly struggles to score against top-10 defenses.
Against teams who are top-10 in defensive rating, the Nets are 1-2 SU and ATS. They beat the Wizards with a normally unconvincing 104-point output.
More recently, they lost by large margins to Chicago and then Miami, scoring 93 and 95 points, respectively, in those two games.
Golden State will be Brooklyn's toughest test in terms of opposing defense.
Depleted
Plus, the Net scoring machine is severely depleted, meaning it must rely with a uniquely high level of reliance on two players, James Harden and Kevin Durant.
Among the three missing Net players, the most notable is sharpshooter Joe Harris, whose high-volume and efficient three-point shooting will be missed today.
Warrior Offense vs. Net Defense
In addition to playing great defense, Curry continues to be an elite scorer. His normally efficient and high-volume shooting from behind the arc allows him to rank second in the NBA in scoring 28.1 points per game.
His shooting helps the Warriors lead the NBA in three-pointers made per game.
Strong three-point shooting is an important asset for a team facing the Nets because they are 0-2 SU and ATS against teams that rank top-10 in three-pointers made per game. Both the Hornets and Bucks dominated them.
Best Bet: Warriors +2.5 at -108 with Heritage
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 10 p.m. ET (TNT) at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah
Missing Piece
Philadelphia is missing a piece whose significance NBA Oddsmakers are evidently unable to account for.
Star center Joel Embiid has not played since Philadelphia's November 6 victory over Chicago
He has missed four games since then. In those four games, the 76ers are 0-4 SU and ATS. One of those straight-up losses came as the favored team.
Embiid is crucial to Philadelphia because he does so much. He is the team's leading scorer and the 76ers' second-leading rebounder.
In addition to boosting the team around the rim and on the glass, Embiid's combination of size, length, and athleticism makes him a strong defender with a forceful presence as a rim protector. His defensive rating is, as usual, very good.
His backup, Andre Drummond, lacks among other things nearly the same game-by-game scoring potential. The depth beyond Drummond is really lacking.
Three-Point Shooting
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU and ATS against teams that rank top-10 in three-pointers made per game.
That is, most of the team's losses have come at the hands of teams that pose a strong threat from behind the arc.
The Jazz are notorious for being such a team as they rank eighth in three-pointers made per game.
Look out, among others, for Mike Conley and Joe Ingles. Both are converting over 40 percent of their three-point opportunities.
Best Bet: Jazz -8.5 at -115 with Bovada
Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Golden State's Defense
The Warrior defense has vastly improved to become the top unit right now.
Last year, the Warriors ranked a solid fifth in defensive rating.
This year, their defensive rating has improved 10.1 points to rank number one in the category.
A big part of Golden State's improvement is, surprisingly, being played by Steph Curry.
His positive part in the Warrior defense is surprising because he has never been known for being such a good defender. One always thinks, instead, of his elite three-point shooting.
But Curry's defensive rating has improved 12.1 points from last year to reach a career-best 97.5 (lower defensive ratings are better than higher ones).
One can observe his increased strength, a product of his bulkier frame, when opponents try to post him up. Moreover, his ameliorated lateral speed makes it more difficult for opposing ball-handlers to reach their desired spots.
Curry isn't the only improved or strong Warrior defender, of course. Backcourt partner Jordan Poole has also been effective.
Of course, Draymond Green is well-known to be a solid defender. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team for a fourth time in his career last season.
Net Offense vs. Top Defenses
Brooklyn repeatedly struggles to score against top-10 defenses.
Against teams who are top-10 in defensive rating, the Nets are 1-2 SU and ATS. They beat the Wizards with a normally unconvincing 104-point output.
More recently, they lost by large margins to Chicago and then Miami, scoring 93 and 95 points, respectively, in those two games.
Golden State will be Brooklyn's toughest test in terms of opposing defense.
Depleted
Plus, the Net scoring machine is severely depleted, meaning it must rely with a uniquely high level of reliance on two players, James Harden and Kevin Durant.
Among the three missing Net players, the most notable is sharpshooter Joe Harris, whose high-volume and efficient three-point shooting will be missed today.
Warrior Offense vs. Net Defense
In addition to playing great defense, Curry continues to be an elite scorer. His normally efficient and high-volume shooting from behind the arc allows him to rank second in the NBA in scoring 28.1 points per game.
His shooting helps the Warriors lead the NBA in three-pointers made per game.
Strong three-point shooting is an important asset for a team facing the Nets because they are 0-2 SU and ATS against teams that rank top-10 in three-pointers made per game. Both the Hornets and Bucks dominated them.
Best Bet: Warriors +2.5 at -108 with Heritage
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 10 p.m. ET (TNT) at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah
Missing Piece
Philadelphia is missing a piece whose significance NBA Oddsmakers are evidently unable to account for.
Star center Joel Embiid has not played since Philadelphia's November 6 victory over Chicago
He has missed four games since then. In those four games, the 76ers are 0-4 SU and ATS. One of those straight-up losses came as the favored team.
Embiid is crucial to Philadelphia because he does so much. He is the team's leading scorer and the 76ers' second-leading rebounder.
In addition to boosting the team around the rim and on the glass, Embiid's combination of size, length, and athleticism makes him a strong defender with a forceful presence as a rim protector. His defensive rating is, as usual, very good.
His backup, Andre Drummond, lacks among other things nearly the same game-by-game scoring potential. The depth beyond Drummond is really lacking.
Three-Point Shooting
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU and ATS against teams that rank top-10 in three-pointers made per game.
That is, most of the team's losses have come at the hands of teams that pose a strong threat from behind the arc.
The Jazz are notorious for being such a team as they rank eighth in three-pointers made per game.
Look out, among others, for Mike Conley and Joe Ingles. Both are converting over 40 percent of their three-point opportunities.
Best Bet: Jazz -8.5 at -115 with Bovada
