The 2015-16 NBA season is heating up and there is a massive 11 games played on January 7th with the Cavaliers and Wizards headlining the ESPN Australian coverage. Continue reading for all our NBA Preview and Betting Tips.
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Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards (Thursday 11am AEDT)
The Wizards are continuing to struggle in the Eastern Conference that has stepped up its game this season with the majority of the teams being above 0.500. John Wall is missing his partner in crime Bradley Beal who has been sidelined for the past two weeks and it will be a big blow for the side as they attempt to contain the Cavaliers who are sitting on top in the East.
Kyrie Irving is still finding his feet back in the starting side for the Cavaliers and it is understandable after coming off such a serious injury and being unable to practice for a long period of time. However, his load is continuing to slightly increase whilst Lebron James and Kevin Love continue to do their thing. The Cavaliers will win this one comfortably and beat the line.
TIP: Cavaliers -7 @ $1.95 with William Hill
Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic (Thursday 11am AEDT)
The Magic has been one of the surprise teams this season as their rebuilding over the last few years since Dwight Howard’s departure is beginning to pay dividends. They are clearly a stronger side at home than on the road as they are 12-6 whilst the Pacers are 7-10 on the road. Paul George has slowed down in recent weeks but he is still a superstar on the floor and he will be an all-star this year.
The Magic’s defence is solid and has contributed to a lot of their wins. However, it is on the offensive end where they need a lot of improvement. Meanwhile the Pacers are a strong side from behind the arc and this will contribute greatly to a big away side that is destined for the playoffs.
TIP: Pacers -1 @ $1.91 with Sportsbet
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics (Thursday 11.30am AEDT)
Andre Drummond is continuing to be a dominant force inside the paint however his massive numbers to start the season have dropped away. Reggie Jackson is the other imposing player on this team and coach Stan Van Gundy needs to find a way to include Brandon Jennings into the fold, as he is too good a player to be out of the big picture for this side.
Meanwhile the Celtics are just one position above the Pistons on the ladder but they have received a massive boost with Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder returning to the starting line-up. The Celtics are only 9-9 at home but they will improve that record on Thursday.
TIP: Celtics -4 @ $1.92 with Palmerbet
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder (Thursday 1.30pm AEDT)
The Thunder will be without former MVP Kevin Durant who will sit out the match with a bruised toe. OKC are no stranger to this situation after having to play the majority of last season and a few games earlier this season without their superstar. You can expect Russell Westbrook to step up in Durant’s absence and he is often a triple double machine when he plays without his running partner.
The Grizzlies are still struggling and it could be just weeks before the team is dismantled and rebuilt as they have the second worst offence in the league and their defence isn’t the same as it was in the past few seasons, however it has improved over the last week.
Despite the Thunder being without Durant, they are 16-5 at home and will still pick up a big win in this one and they should easily clear the line.
TIP: Thunder 7 or more @ $1.99 with Crownbet
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
