Zach to the Rack NBA Picks For Monday 4/19/2021
April 19, 2021
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Zach’s Season Record: 78-61
Twitter: @ZachSelwyn1
YESSIR. I had a 7-0 night on Wednesday, bringing my confidence back and causing me to buy the swim-up bar in Puerto Vallarta 3 rounds of Modelos. (Read my feature story tomorrow for the whole story.) I even picked that Jokić triple-double. If I had parlayed these bets like a smart sports oddsmaker, I would have flown home in my own private jet. Instead, I had to get smuggled back to America in the trunk of a 2004 Toyota Celica… It’s a long story. It’s also a long season and I’m not going to let a perfect night keep me from cautiously picking my next couple of games – especially after that Lakers-Jazz OT game Saturday. (!!!) Meanwhile, the injuries keep on piling up. Guys like KD, Donovan Mitchell, and Giannis (finally returned with a 15-point game against the Hawks) are tenderly limping towards the end of the regular season. Half the Celtics are out with “impinging symptoms.” WHAT? I hate this whole thing, but I am starting to understand why guys like Kawhi miss games all the time to manage their “loads” – which, by the way, is something I only do when I’m at a laundromat. Speaking of CLEAN, hopefully, these NBA picks are pure enough to keep my 7-0 streak alive. If I go 4-0, today I will change my name from “Zach to the Rack” to “Zach-y the Greek.” LET’S GO.Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets: Denver -7.5 (-110)
Point Total: Over 227.5 (-103)
Okay, so following Jamal Murray’s injury, everybody counted out the Denver Nuggets like that referee did Ben Askren after Jake Paul (sort of) knocked him out on Saturday night. The NBA world panicked and started lowering odds and expectations – which is why Denver is suddenly the easiest team to win on in the NBA. The Nuggets are actually on FIRE. Jokić and Porter Jr. are starting to have a Shaq-Kobe-like connection and might still be the best team everybody has counted out in the NBA. Will the Denver Nuggets win by just 7.6 points against the Memphis Grizzlies? NOPE. The Nuggets win by 10-15, easily covering the spread, and Porter and Jokić both score over 20. Points-wise, why not take the OVER here? Is anybody risking their bodies to play hard defense right now? Not that I’m seeing. Especially with Ja Morant just having fun out there recently. The Grizzlies have also covered the over 7 times in 8 games. Take the OVER and I will once again say that Denver is NOT DONE YET. Might be a good Finals bet in there for y’all if you’re feeling frisky.
Golden State Warriors @ Philadelphia 76ers: Golden State +9 (+107)
Point Total: Over 225 (+112)
“Look at Curry, man! So inspirational!” – @Flight23 I mean, once again – is there a better player on any court than Steph freakin’ Curry? 30 points in 10 consecutive games following tailbone surgery… Matching Kobe accomplishments, hitting HOOK SHOTS? My goodness. Steph wants to let the NBA world – which keeps pushing this Joel Embiid MVP conversation – know that he is truly still the best player on any court at any time. I don’t see the Warriors losing here by more than 8. Steph is not a guy who likes to lose. And the Dubs aren’t gonna let this be a cakewalk for Joel and the Sixers. Take the Warriors …they won’t lose by more than 2-3. Points-wise – I’d say expect another 30+ performance from the Baby-Faced Assassin (do we still call him that?) and 30+ from Embiid. Simmons should be good to go for 20+, and if TOBIAS HARRIS continues to sit for Philly, it should still be a big numbers night. Take the over, take the Dubs to cover, spend the money on that Rubik’s Cube art piece of Embiid I just saw online, and thank me later. I have to go to bed. I have “impinging symptoms.” Tuesday is 4/20. Use that money wisely…
