Dejounte Murray (+800 To Win MIP) Is Averaging Close To A Triple-Double

James Bouknight had a crazy put-back dunk last night and we hit our parlay 🤑. Let’s talk MIP and Knicks vs. Spurs 👇

Different Directions

The NBA is generally filled with teams doing one of three things — rebuilding, fighting for a play-in spot, or competing for a championship. When this season started, you’d probably consider the Spurs a rebuilding franchise, and the Knicks a competing one. After 20+ games, the Spurs seem a little ahead of schedule, while the Knicks are under-performing 😔

• The Knicks have lost three in a row and four of their last five

• The Spurs had won four games in a row before losing by four points to the NBA-leading Suns last night

• These two teams play each other tonight in San Antonio

Knicks @ Spurs Betting Preview

• Spread: Knicks -2.5

• Moneyline: Spurs +120 (bet $100, win $120), Knicks -140

• Over/Under: 212.5

The Knicks’ current three-game skid won’t be the only streak they are looking to break tonight — New York has dropped seven straight matchups at the AT&T Center dating back to 2014 😳

Figure It Out

The ragtag Knicks were one of the NBA’s best feel-good stories last year, en route to a 41-31 record and the fourth seed in the East. As a result of that success and some roster reinforcements, expectations were high entering the season, but so far its been a mixed bag of results at Madison Square Garden

• The Knicks started the season by winning five of their first six, but have gone just 6-11 since. At 11-12, they currently sit a half-game out of a play-in spot

• After ranking fourth in the NBA in defensive rating last year, New York has tumbled all the way down to 23rd this season

A leaky defense on head coach Tom Thibodeau’s watch is a rare sight, so don’t expect that to remain the case for much longer. But, there are problems on the other side of the ball…

• Kemba Walker has not been the floor general New York envisioned when they signed him this offseason, averaging career-lows in points (11.1), rebounds (2.6) and assists (3.1)

• The four-time All-Star has been out of the rotation for over a week now. Backcourt duties belong to Alec Burks, Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley

• To make matters worse, guard R.J. Barrett has been ice-cold, averaging just 10.4 PPG over his last 13 games, while shooting 32.9% from the field and 22.4% from deep 🤢

Julius Randle has continued to build on his Most Improved-winning season last year, currently averaging over 20 PPG, 10 RPG and 5 APG. But, he needs help if the Knicks are going to return to contention 🤷🏻‍♂️

Trivia question: Kemba’s All-Star pedigree didn’t follow him to New York; who is the last NY Knick guard to be named an All-Star? (answer below)

Spurs’ Quiet Superstar

On the flip side of the matchup we have the Spurs, who are currently playing some of their best ball of the season. Much of that can be attributed to the performance of their extremely underrated PG Dejounte Murray

• The fifth-year guard is quietly averaging a near triple-double, and is the only player in the NBA putting up 19+ PPG, 8+ RPG, 8+ APG, and 2+ SPG this season

• Over San Antonio’s last seven games Murray has taken it to another level, notching 20.9 PPG, along with 9.2 RPG and 10 APG

Murray has increased his offensive output in each season of his career, but now people are starting to notice, and nothing gets by Vegas — check out the current favorites for NBA’s Most Improved👇

Odds to Win 2021-22 NBA Most Improved

• Miles Bridges: +225 (bet $100, win $225)

• Ja Morant: +350

• Dejounte Murray: +800

• LaMelo Ball: +1300

• Tyler Herro: +2000

• Jordan Poole: +2500

• Anthony Edwards: +2500

There’s so much improving young talent around the league, so Murray will have his hands full trying to bring home MIP. But with Morant missing some time and Bridges having to compete with his own teammate, Dejounte might be worth a look if you believe he can keep his stats up 💰

For My Parlay Gurus

The House That Popovich Built is never the ideal place to try solving any offensive woes. The Knicks have failed to top 100 points in three of their last five, and I see that continuing tonight in a close one in San Antonio👇

• Spurs +2.5 vs. Knicks: -110

• Under 212.5 total points: -110

If this parlay hits you’ll have almost enough to snag a signed Tim Duncan jersey 👔. And make sure to email [email protected] if we’re right, first come first serve for $100 💰

Trivia answer: The Knicks have had a few All-Stars in recent years (Randle, Porzingis, Melo, Stoudemire, David Lee), but all have been frontcourt players. The last NYK guard to play in an All-Star Game was SG Allan Houston, who made it in both 2000 and 2001