NBA Best Bets for December 2: The Pelicans Aren’t Worth Backing
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Spread Astaire
- December 2, 2024
Top NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks -9.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The NBA has four exciting games on the schedule for Monday night action. Let’s take a look at the two best games to bet on if we want to make winning NBA picks at the top-rated sportsbooks.
And if you’re looking for more value picks, make sure to take a look at our YouTube channel for more daily betting advice. Today, our expert has advice on the Heat vs. Celtics and Lakers vs. Timberwolves games.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Atlanta Hawks Odds
Monday, December 02, 2024 – 07:30 PM ET at State Farm Arena
The New Orleans Pelicans made a grave mistake. They decided to build their franchise around a lazy man. The Pelicans’ devotion to Zion Williamson has led them to become a laughingstock of the league.
Over-and-Done
The Pelicans’ pathetic display of basketball continued yesterday in Madison Square Garden where the New York Knicks ran away with an easy victory. The Pelicans lost the game 118-85 and the game wasn’t as even as close as that score suggested. At one point in the game, the team missed 15 consecutive shots over 9 minutes of play. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 33-10.
A problem with the NBA’s one-and-done system is that teams are forced to reward players with lucrative contract extensions way before they do anything to deserve them. Ben Simmons is a prime example of this. The latest example of course is the New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson.
Williamson never bothers to stay in shape and is consistently injured. Why should he care though? He has a max deal. Because of the inane structure of the NBA’s salary cap, Williamson was rewarded for his potential, not his production. Now the Pelicans and their fans are paying. Williamson is laughing all the way to the bank while the fans are putting up with this miserable product.
No Leadership, No Backing
Suffice it to say there is no interest from this writer in backing the New Orleans Pelicans.
Until they get a team leader who is about hard work, we can expect uninspired efforts from the rest of these players. They are working hard night in and night out, while their so-called “leader” is at the buffet and barely playing any games.
Because of one huge (and I do mean huge!) mistake, the Pelicans are no longer a team that we would consider backing. Our first bet for the evening is the Atlanta Hawks – 9.5.
NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks -9.5 (-110) at BetOnline
Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Odds
Monday, December 02, 2024 – 08:00 PM ET at United Center
The Chicago Bulls are in no man’s land and will probably be selling off some of their star players before the trade deadline. Still, this team puts forth a respectable effort every night and has many players who are excellent on the offensive end.
The Bulls can definitely fill up the hoop and have multiple different options to get an advantage matchup that results in a good, high-percentage shot.
Brooklyn’s Build
The Nets are 9-12 this season and currently in 9th Place in the Eastern Conference. They would participate in the Play-In tournament if the season ended today.
While the Nets are not one of the top teams in the East, they have many talented young players which they can build around. One of those players is Nic Claxton, who is back in the lineup after missing some games with injuries. Claxton is an athletic frontcourt player who can defend multiple positions. He is good at grabbing rebounds and is a respectable rim runner in the pick-and-roll.
Then the Nets also can play solid defense. Players such as Dorian Finney-Smith provide excellent wing defense. And although the much-maligned Ben Simmons is not worth the contract he is paid, he is still an excellent defensive player and can provide opposing teams with problems.
Offense Wins the Day
This will be a classic matchup of offense versus defense. When handicapping this game, we must ask ourselves a question: can the Nets’ defense slow down the Bulls’ offense?
While the Nets do have the players to slow down the Bulls, the simple fact of the matter is in the NBA good offense beats good defense and the rules are all rigged for the teams to be able to score. So, even though the Nets are a good defensive team, we can bet this game over because of the expected pace.
The Bulls will coax the Nets out of their grinding style. They will get them to get out and run and gun with them. This should lead to plenty of points. Although the Nets have a good defense, the Bulls’ offense is even better and the pace will be high.
Take the over in this game.
NBA Pick: Nets/Bulls Over 233.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
