04/19/24
December 22, 2020
Enter SportsFilter's NBA Pickem: The NBA regular season begins in five days with a Tuesday-night TNT doubleheader of Golden State/Denver and Los Angeles/Los Angeles. SportsFilter's NBA Pickem returns with a new first prize: a Molten BG-Series FIBA basketball ($80 value). For our game we pick the nationally broadcast games on TNT, ESPN and ABC. Choose the winners and margins of victory and make any pick a slam dunk if you dare. Happy Hoopsmas!
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:40 AM - 20 comments
My picks:
Nets by 9
Clippers by 7
Bucks by 10
Mavericks by 15
Heat by 9
Bucks by 9
Celtics by 13
Lakers by 9
Clippers by 9
posted by cixelsyd at 07:36 PM on December 18, 2020
My picks:
Nets by 6
Lakers by 8
Bucks by 5
Mavericks by 6
Heat by 7
Bucks by 8
Nets by 7
Lakers by 9
Nuggets by 7
posted by NoMich at 03:10 PM on December 21, 2020
My picks:
Nets by 9
Lakers by 11
Bucks by 8 (slam dunk)
Suns by 12
Heat by 9
Bucks by 10 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 3
Lakers by 16 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 8
posted by Howard_T at 11:09 PM on December 21, 2020
Here are some things to consider while making NBA picks, at least for the first few weeks of the season.
Those teams that have most of their starting rotation returning, especially those that have 2 or 3 potential all stars, should be favored. Those that have a "dynamic duo", but have major changes to their starting 5 (due to injuries, trades, free agency, etc.) will need time to gel.
Depth will be very important, since there has not been a long off season. Those teams that have bench players that were a regular part of their 9- or 10-man rotation will have the early advantage.
Rookies should not be expected to help out too much. There has been no pre-season, and the Summer League for rookies and 2nd year players did not happen. Even rookies who are incredibly talented will not contribute as much as one might expect. Basketball is still played with 5 men per side.
Teams that have picked up free agents to come in and star might have to wait a while for them to play to their potential. Once again, it is because of the short pre-season and 3 weeks of practice.
This will be a strange season, and early season performance will mean little once it comes time for the playoffs. The best plan will be to do what it takes to make the playoffs, and have your team playing as well as it possibly can thereafter.
posted by Howard_T at 11:24 PM on December 21, 2020
Revised picks:
Heat by 7Bucks by 13 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 4
Lakers by 5
Clippers by 5
posted by rcade at 09:54 AM on December 22, 2020
My picks:
Warriors by 14
Lakers by 7
Bucks by 9
Mavericks by 4
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:46 AM on December 22, 2020
Let's go with:
Nets by 7
Clippers by 5
Bucks by 9
Suns by 3
Heat by 6
Bucks by 11 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 4
Mavs by 2
Clippers by 13 (slam dunk)
posted by Goyoucolts at 12:54 PM on December 22, 2020
Revised picks:
Nets by 14 (slam dunk)Injury/late-scratch update on tonight's early game.
posted by Ufez Jones at 04:22 PM on December 22, 2020
My picks:
Nets by 7
Clippers by 5
Bucks by 9
Suns by 3
Heat by 6
Bucks by 11 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 4
Mavericks by 2
Clippers by 13 (slam dunk)
posted by Goyoucolts at 04:35 PM on December 22, 2020
My picks:
Nets by 5 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 2
Bucks by 3
Suns by 3
Heat by 6 (slam dunk)
Bucks by 8 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 2
Lakers by 4 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 3
posted by scooby10672 at 05:36 PM on December 22, 2020
Nets by 12
Clippers by 8
Celtics by 8
Mavericks by 15 (slam dunk)
Christmas Day
Heat by 18 (slam dunk)
Bucks by 10
Celtics by 5
Lakers by 8
Nuggets by 3
posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:43 PM on December 22, 2020
My picks:
Pelicans by 7
Bucks by 15 (slam dunk)
Nets by 3
Lakers by 8 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 4
posted by jjzucal at 01:03 PM on December 24, 2020
Revised picks:
Heat by 8Bucks by 17 (slam dunk)
Nets by 9
Lakers by 14
Clippers by 7
posted by Ufez Jones at 05:03 PM on December 24, 2020
My picks:
Nets by 11 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 5
Bucks by 6
Mavericks by 6
It's a nice early Christmas present to have the NBA back. If you're curious about fans in the arenas here's the latest.