Perry Perspective: NBA Feature
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Bucks lead charge of the cellar dwellers
Sure, it?s early in the season, but there have been a few pleasant surprises in the NBA worth noting.
The LA Clippers, the league?s perennial doormats, are leading the Pacific Division and are among the leaders in the Western Conference.
Over in the East, the Washington Wizards top the Southeast, and are nipping on the heels of the conference leaders, the Detroit Pistons.
A couple of other teams that are also accustomed to the basement are the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors. Both teams finished last in their respective divisions last season.
Yet, both teams are off to solid starts in the current campaign. The Warriors are 5-3 and trail the Clippers; the Bucks were 4-1 prior to last night?s game against the Clippers.
The Bucks are a particularly intriguing case. This year?s team features Andrew Bogut, the No. 1 pick in the June draft. The 7-foot center out of Utah appears to be quite comfortable in the NBA and is getting rewarded with plenty of court time.
The 20-year-old Aussie, who has been starting at the power forward position, is averaging more than 30 minutes and nearly nine boards per game, second among Bucks? starters behind Jamaal Magloire. Bogut is also nailing more than 9 ppg and leads all starters in field goal percentage.
A nice story to be sure. Equally nice for the Bucks has been the play of shooting guard Michael Redd, who is off to one of the best starts of his career. The Bucks? 6-foot-6 team captain is leading the team in scoring for the third straight year, draining more than 28 ppg as of Tuesday. That?s third overall in the NBA behind Allan Iverson and Kobe Bryant.
Tuesday night?s game in LA was the first in a four-game western road swing for the Bucks. Milwaukee headed into the trip on a high after a dramatic victory over the Indiana Pacers Saturday night. The Bucks won the game 103-102 on a final-second 3-point basket by Mo Williams, who has been on fire beyond the arc. Williams is sinking an amazing 75 percent of his 3-point attempts and leads the league.
Williams? basket capped a comeback from a 96-82 deficit with less than four minutes remaining.
"Honestly, I've never seen a game like that. It's hard to describe,? coach Terry Stotts told reporters.
After last night?s stop in LA, the Bucks? road trip resumes tonight in Oakland where they will face the Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports North/FOX BAY). That will be followed by stops in Sacramento and Utah.
Golden State has had a decent start even though they haven?t been lighting up the scoreboard. The Warriors are only putting up 94.5 ppg, which ranks No. 18 overall.
Part of the problem has been shooting percentage, which is a dismal 41.6 percent. Also, one of the team?s leading scorers, Baron Davis, has been playing with an injured hamstring.
As such, some credit for the Warriors? success has been their ability to shut down the opposition and grind out wins. Opposing teams have been knocking down less than 91 points per game.
The Warriors have won their last four meetings with the Bucks including a 110-103 victory in Milwaukee on Nov. 8. The Bucks were -5 favorites in that game. The score topped the posted total of 207.
Golden State is 5-3 against the spread (ATS) so far and 2-6 on the OVER/UNDER. Prior to last night?s game, the Bucks were 4-1 ATS and 5-0 on the OVER/UNDER.
Other notable games:
NY Knicks at LA Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Larry Brown?s struggling Knicks (2-5 SU, 3-4 ATS) visit La La Land to take on Kobe, Phil and the Lakers (3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS).
After a quick start, the Lakers are coming off a disappointing 1-3 road trip. New York, meanwhile, has won its past two games after starting the season 0-5.
The Knicks are one of the worst teams in the league in scoring, but the Lakers aren?t much better. Together, the two teams are 5-9 on the OVER/UNDER.
Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors (7 p.m. ET, COMCAST/RSN)
The Raptors are in a heated battle with the Atlanta Hawks for the dubious distinction of being the worst team in the NBA.
The Raptors (0-6 SU, 0-6 ATS before last night) host the 76ers (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS) in the conclusion of a home-at-home set.
On offense, the Raps have had mediocre success putting points on the board, averaging 95 ppg. Defensively they have been atrocious, allowing 108 ppg.
Led by Allen Iverson, who tops the NBA in scoring, the 76ers have been knocking down baskets averaging more than 101 ppg.
However, they too have been poor defensively and are right behind Toronto allowing more than 104 ppg.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that, before last night?s meeting, the 76ers were 6-1 on the OVER/UNDER. The Raps were 3-3.
BetWWTS
Lines Dept from
BetWWTS
Bucks lead charge of the cellar dwellers
Sure, it?s early in the season, but there have been a few pleasant surprises in the NBA worth noting.
The LA Clippers, the league?s perennial doormats, are leading the Pacific Division and are among the leaders in the Western Conference.
Over in the East, the Washington Wizards top the Southeast, and are nipping on the heels of the conference leaders, the Detroit Pistons.
A couple of other teams that are also accustomed to the basement are the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors. Both teams finished last in their respective divisions last season.
Yet, both teams are off to solid starts in the current campaign. The Warriors are 5-3 and trail the Clippers; the Bucks were 4-1 prior to last night?s game against the Clippers.
The Bucks are a particularly intriguing case. This year?s team features Andrew Bogut, the No. 1 pick in the June draft. The 7-foot center out of Utah appears to be quite comfortable in the NBA and is getting rewarded with plenty of court time.
The 20-year-old Aussie, who has been starting at the power forward position, is averaging more than 30 minutes and nearly nine boards per game, second among Bucks? starters behind Jamaal Magloire. Bogut is also nailing more than 9 ppg and leads all starters in field goal percentage.
A nice story to be sure. Equally nice for the Bucks has been the play of shooting guard Michael Redd, who is off to one of the best starts of his career. The Bucks? 6-foot-6 team captain is leading the team in scoring for the third straight year, draining more than 28 ppg as of Tuesday. That?s third overall in the NBA behind Allan Iverson and Kobe Bryant.
Tuesday night?s game in LA was the first in a four-game western road swing for the Bucks. Milwaukee headed into the trip on a high after a dramatic victory over the Indiana Pacers Saturday night. The Bucks won the game 103-102 on a final-second 3-point basket by Mo Williams, who has been on fire beyond the arc. Williams is sinking an amazing 75 percent of his 3-point attempts and leads the league.
Williams? basket capped a comeback from a 96-82 deficit with less than four minutes remaining.
"Honestly, I've never seen a game like that. It's hard to describe,? coach Terry Stotts told reporters.
After last night?s stop in LA, the Bucks? road trip resumes tonight in Oakland where they will face the Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports North/FOX BAY). That will be followed by stops in Sacramento and Utah.
Golden State has had a decent start even though they haven?t been lighting up the scoreboard. The Warriors are only putting up 94.5 ppg, which ranks No. 18 overall.
Part of the problem has been shooting percentage, which is a dismal 41.6 percent. Also, one of the team?s leading scorers, Baron Davis, has been playing with an injured hamstring.
As such, some credit for the Warriors? success has been their ability to shut down the opposition and grind out wins. Opposing teams have been knocking down less than 91 points per game.
The Warriors have won their last four meetings with the Bucks including a 110-103 victory in Milwaukee on Nov. 8. The Bucks were -5 favorites in that game. The score topped the posted total of 207.
Golden State is 5-3 against the spread (ATS) so far and 2-6 on the OVER/UNDER. Prior to last night?s game, the Bucks were 4-1 ATS and 5-0 on the OVER/UNDER.
Other notable games:
NY Knicks at LA Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Larry Brown?s struggling Knicks (2-5 SU, 3-4 ATS) visit La La Land to take on Kobe, Phil and the Lakers (3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS).
After a quick start, the Lakers are coming off a disappointing 1-3 road trip. New York, meanwhile, has won its past two games after starting the season 0-5.
The Knicks are one of the worst teams in the league in scoring, but the Lakers aren?t much better. Together, the two teams are 5-9 on the OVER/UNDER.
Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors (7 p.m. ET, COMCAST/RSN)
The Raptors are in a heated battle with the Atlanta Hawks for the dubious distinction of being the worst team in the NBA.
The Raptors (0-6 SU, 0-6 ATS before last night) host the 76ers (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS) in the conclusion of a home-at-home set.
On offense, the Raps have had mediocre success putting points on the board, averaging 95 ppg. Defensively they have been atrocious, allowing 108 ppg.
Led by Allen Iverson, who tops the NBA in scoring, the 76ers have been knocking down baskets averaging more than 101 ppg.
However, they too have been poor defensively and are right behind Toronto allowing more than 104 ppg.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that, before last night?s meeting, the 76ers were 6-1 on the OVER/UNDER. The Raps were 3-3.
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