Suns? Vegas Doesn't Think So 👀

The NBA trade deadline featured a lot of Suns, Mavs, Clippers and Raptors talk, but don't forget about the two best teams in the NBA. Both the Bucks and Celtics added key role players and have the stars needed for a deep playoff run. Tonight's game should be a good one 🏀 (3 min read)

Author

Will Gendron
February 14, 2023

Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Under the Radar

Amidst all the trade deadline activity, the consistent dominance of the Eastern Conference elite has been lost — both the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks hold the NBA's two-best records. According to Vegas, these two teams also have the best odds to win it all (+270 & +410), despite Phoenix adding Kevin Durant, Kyrie teaming up with Luka and Denver boasting an iron man in Nikola Jokic 👀

Before we dive into tonight's potential Eastern Conference Finals preview between the Celtics and Bucks, let's take a look at a freshly shaken-up Western Conference 👇

  • Nearly every team in the West made moves to get better, whether that was a splashy acquisition like adding Kyrie Irving, or a more marginal move like the Clippers' addition of Eric Gordon

  • In the case of the Lakers an entire overhaul took place, with LA sending out Russ, a number of other role players and draft capital, to bring back D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jared Vanderbilt

  • Even the Warriors added a familiar face in Gary Payton II, ending the James Wiseman experiment

  • Denver and Memphis made smaller moves like Thomas Bryant and Luke Kennard, opting for continued chemistry and depth

Personally, I think the Nuggets at +750 to win it all offers great value barring injury, considering Denver will likely emerge as the top seed out West. Jokic plays nearly every game and the core of this squad has now had three years of building chemistry together 🏔

Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

Battle of the Behemoths

Whether or not it was intentional, the NBA is celebrating Valentine's Day by pairing what almost every fan would like to see in the playoffs — a Bucks and Celtics matchup on national television. Tatum and co. will enter a hostile environment, as the Bucks are currently riding a 10-game winning streak. Side-note: Giannis might have had the best Super Bowl commercial cameo of the night 😂

Antetokounmpo is on another level right now (a statement like this is issued every year), putting up 37.3 PPG, 13.4 RPG and 5.5 APG over the Bucks' last 10 games. Jayson Tatum is doubtful to play due to a non-COVID illness, so in the event he's absent, expect Boston's cohort of perimeter talent to pick up the scoring slack. Sadly Brown is out too 🤕

  • Derrick White should continue to see an uptick in production due to all of the Celtics' injury woes (Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart have also been sidelined) — he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 23.4 PPG, 6.2 APG and 4.8 RPG over his last five games

  • Khris Middleton has been quietly rounding into form, as he's been playing limited minutes off the bench since returning from injury. Milwaukee desperately needs to get him back to full strength if they want to make another Finals run

  • Spread: Bucks -8.5

  • Moneyline: Bucks -420 (bet $420, win $100), Celtics +330 (bet $100, win $330)

  • Over/Under: 227.5

  • When: 7:30PM EST on TNT

Trivia Question: After winning Player of the Week, Derrick White has become the first non-Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown Celtic to win the award since...who?

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

I'm going to take the Bucks' spread tonight because they're at home, Giannis is unstoppable right now and the Celtics are a little too banged up. This number might continue to grow as we get closer to tip-off, so if you agree get in early. I'm also leaning towards the Kings, as the Suns won't have too much fire until KD gets back. Take a look 👇

  • Bucks -8.5 vs. Celtics: -110

  • Kings +2.5 @ Suns: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $264 — if we hit, make sure you email justin.schnell@itsovertime.com for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: Isaiah Thomas won the award six years ago during his MVP-caliber 2016-17 campaign. Since then it's been all Tatum, Brown and now White

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