The Suns were no match for Anthony Edwards in Game 1 of their first-round series, and Draymond Green believes Kevin Durant should be the one to step up.
Phoenix was unable to control Edwards’ offence, as seen by his 33 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
He and KD squared off in the third quarter, with Ant outscoring Durant 18-10.
Green said it will be up to KD to stop Edwards in the remaining games.
“What the Phoenix Suns will have to do is play KD against Anthony Edwards throughout the series,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show. “That must be his matchup. And Phoenix will have to rely on Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen to make some shots. They will have to rely on those players to carry the offence. To ask Kevin to go attempt to lock up Anthony Edwards and then shoulder the weight on the offensive end, he is in his 18th year, this isn’t going to happen every night.”
Former Warriors coach Mark Jackson had similar sentiments to Green, asking someone on the Suns to reach Ant’s level as Game 2 approaches.
“We’re not going to win it on the offensive end,” Jackson remarked on The Mark Jackson Show.”The problem is that they haven’t taken satisfaction in their defensive performance this season. I need someone to equal the passion and accept the challenge of stating, “Anthony Edwards, you are an elite player.” We notice you playing with a chip on your shoulder. We see you’ve got something going on. “We see you have something to prove.”
Related article: Damian Lillard responds to rumours of being unhappy in Milwaukee.
Jackson went on to say, “I need someone to discover any way to halt the bleeding. Walking and jogging around with a swagger and a bounce is astonishing, but he earned it. But in the Phoenix Suns locker room, someone has to take pride and speak. ‘I’m going to halt the bleeding; I’m going to make him earn everything he receives.”
Is Durant, 35, confident enough to compete with Edwards, 22? We are about to find out.
Former Knicks pick blasts Joel Embiid: ‘I hate him’
Former Knicks draft pick Frederic Weis has slammed Joel Embiid for choosing to play for Team USA over France in the Olympics, even suggesting that the big man should be barred from entering the nation.
Weis, who gained famous as the guy Vince Carter performed his ‘dunk of death’ on in the 2000 Olympics, claimed on his French radio show that he despises Embiid for betraying the French squad and considers him a “dirty guy”.
“I believe this youngster to be both a superb footballer and a filthy character. “I hate him for what he did,” Weis stated. “I believe he has no respect for France or for all of those who apply for a French passport but do not receive one. And he received it on the pretext that he is an excellent athlete. I think it outrageous and embarrassing. I don’t care about his excuses; they’re his words, and they signify nothing.”
Embiid was born in Cameroon and possesses French and American citizenship, so he could have represented any of the three countries.
Although Embiid disputes it, Boris Diaw, the general manager of the French men’s national team, told The Athletic that Embiid told him he wanted to play for France.
There were also claims that Embiid wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron, requesting “French naturalisation” so that he may represent the country.
Much to France’s dismay, Embiid decided to play for Team USA in October and explained why.
Weis said that because of Embiid’s conduct, he should not be able to enter France for the Olympics.
“I would strip him of his French identity and prevent him from entering France. “You will not play in the Olympics,” Weis stated. “You will arrive at the airport with Team USA, and we will inform you that you do not have the right to enter the land; please return home. “You are Cameroonian, American, and not French; leave.”
Best NBA Playoffs Player Prop Bets (4/22/24).
We’re back today with NBA playoff basketball, featuring some of our favourite games from Basketball Forever. Our Basketball Forever bot used complex simulations and machine learning to run hundreds of simulations on each game in order to effectively identify our top playoff player bets for tonight’s schedule.
1. Paolo Banchero has over 5.5 total assists (+106).
Odds: +106
probability: 64.1%.
Projection: 8.1; Edge: 15.6%.
Game: Magic vs. Cavaliers (7 PM EST)
Our Basketball Forever betting algorithm has determined the top NBA player prop bets for today’s playoff games. The best player bet is on the Magic vs Cavaliers, with Paolo Banchero offering value in the total assists market. Our model has identified Paolo Banchero Over 5.5 Total Assist as the best player bet for today. Throughout the 23/24 season, Banchero has averaged 5.4 assists per game. Banchero has covered this line 4/5 times in his last 5 games. He needs a big game tonight as Orlando looks to tie the series with Cleveland, so expect much of the offence to go via him.
Our algorithm recommends wagering on Paolo Banchero. Over 5.5 Total Assists at +106 odds and a 15.6% lead on Fanduel Sportsbook make this our best player bet of the day.
2. ANTHONY DAVIS OVER 24.5 POINTS SCORE (-102).
Odds: -102
Probability: 65.2%.
Projection: 33.1, edge: 14.7%.
Game: Lakers at. Nuggets (10 PM EST)
According to our model, another top player prop bet for today’s playoff slate is the Lakers versus Nuggets game, with Anthony Davis exhibiting value in the over points scored market. Davis averages 24.7 points per game this season and has eclipsed that total in three of his previous five games, falling one basket short in one of them. Davis was able to step up in the most recent game against the Nuggets, scoring 32 points while also grabbing 15 rebounds and five assists. Our model forecasts that tonight’s game will follow a similar pattern.
The Basketball Forever betting bot advises betting on Anthony Davis Over 24.5 Points Scored, which has a 14.7% edge at -102 odds on Draftkings Sportsbook.
3. NIKOLA JOKIC HAS OVER 8.5 TOTAL ASSISTS (-128)
Odds: -128
Probability = 69.3%
Projection: 12.9, edge: 13.2%.
Game: Lakers at. Nuggets (10 PM EST)
The next best NBA playoff player prop bet that our betting algorithm recommends is the Lakers vs Nuggets game, with Nikola Jokic exhibiting value in the over assists prop market.
Throughout the 23/24 season, Jokic has averaged nine assists per game. Our model believes this line is a touch low, expecting Jokic to record 12.9 assists in tonight’s game.
The Basketball Forever betting bot believes Nikola Jokic will have over 8.5 total assists in tonight’s game, giving us a 13.2% advantage over the current -128 odds at Fanduel Sportsbook.
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An edge occurs when the Dimers.com prediction model estimates that the likelihood of an occurrence will be greater than the best odds available from US sportsbooks. Essentially, the Dimers/Basketball Forever NBA model predicts that a wager has a higher chance of winning than the bookmakers estimate. That is why a higher edge is preferable for you.
Although an edge does not guarantee a victory, frequently selecting picks with a bigger betting edge can improve your chances of becoming a profitable bettor in the long run. This is a critical component of effective sports betting.
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BetMGM is well-known for its diverse betting choices, which allow customers to wager on almost every facet of major sporting events, including game results and individual player performances. Furthermore, it offers extensive in-game betting options, allowing gamblers to place wagers as the action unfolds, boosting the thrill. For novices, BetMGM provides an intriguing welcome bonus that allows you to jump right into sports betting with a substantial bankroll to work with.
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NBA Playoffs Injury Update: Giannis, Joel Embiid, and Kawhi Leonard.
The NBA has been a war zone over the previous few weeks, with major players suffering injuries.
Let’s look at how some of these injuries are progressing.
Giannis Anteokounompo
The Bucks are missing their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the team managed to win without him thanks to a Game 1 clinic from Damian Lillard.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since April 9, owing to a calf strain ailment.
The Bucks are hoping Giannis will be able to return later in the series, since the average recovery period for a calf strain is one to two weeks.
Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers was unable to establish a timetable for his return.
“We prepare with what’s on the floor,” Rivers stated before Game 1. “Giannis did a lot of work. He’s shooting and running again, and he looks terrific, but he hasn’t been able to compete.”
JOEL EMBIID
Joel Embiid is labelled as questionable for Monday’s Game 2 of the first-round series against the Knicks due to a left knee “injury recovery”.
Embiid worsened the knee injury he had recently recovered from in Game 1 as he slammed down a reckless one-handed dunk for himself off the backboard, colliding with the opposition and landing hard.
Nick Nurse was asked by reporters after Sunday’s practice how Embiid’s knee was doing, and he replied, “Uh, very good, I believe. I asked how he was feeling, and he answered ‘very good’.”
After Saturday’s 111-104 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Nurse stated that he had no plans to shut down the reigning MVP.
“He really is a warrior, and he’s battling,” Nurse told ESPN. “I think he absolutely wants to play.”
KAWHI LEONARD
Kawhi Leonard missed Game 1 against Dallas due to knee irritation, but the Clippers won 109-97 courtesy to a historic performance by James Harden.
According to NBA insider Mark Medina, Ty Lue and the Clippers organisation have been mostly quiet about Kawhi’s injury, though Lue did voice concern about “whether Leonard could miss Game 2 on Tuesday and possibly beyond”.
The day before Game 1, Lue told reporters that Leonard was doing shooting drills but had yet to perform any contact practice.
After Game 1, Paul George stated of his injured teammate, “Kawhi obviously is the piece we do need if we want to win it all and get where we want to get to.” But we’ll hold it down for him until he’s ready to return. We are content with our current situation.”
Damian Lillard Scores 35 Points in Revenge Win Over Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton mocking Damian Lillard with a Dame Time celebration when the Bucks and Pacers met during the NBA In-Season Tournament irritated him.
But Lillard got his revenge tonight, scoring 35 points in the first half alone, as Milwaukee defeated Indiana 109-94 to take a 1-0 lead in the first round series.
Lillard remarked after the game that he understood he’d have to step up with Giannis Antetokounmpo out due to injury.
“I don’t think that it’s all on me but I know that I’ve got to be a little bit more aggressive and I’ve got to step forward a little bit more assertively,” he told reporters.
“Setting a tone is important during the playoffs. We’re going to see this team a lot, and you want to establish yourself, especially on your home court. That was basically my mentality: come out and try to set the tone.”
Lillard noted that he was simply delighted to be back in the playoffs.
“We haven’t made the playoffs in the past two years. It stinks,” he admitted. “I travelled to Coachella. I’ve never been able to go to Coachella.
Lillard had a bizarre night, going from 35 points in the first half to zero points in the second. He only took five shots after halftime, as the Pacers concentrated their efforts on slowing him down. However, the Bucks star had basically won the game for Milwaukee with his sensational play.
Game two is slated on Tuesday.