PREMIUM
**NOON ET** Rogers' VERY EARLY ANNIHILATION >> 21-13-2 L35 NBA!
(NBA) Philadelphia vs. Brooklyn,
Point Spread: -2.00 | -115.00 Brooklyn (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -2.00 | -115.00 Brooklyn (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 9-25 Philadelphia 76ers have inched ahead of the 8-27 Brooklyn Nets in the standings, as the Nets have dropped their last five games and 10 of their last 11. Meanwhile, the 76ers began this season with 18 losses in their first 22 games but after snapping an eight-game losing streak with an 11-point win over the Pelicans back Dec. 8., Philly has five wins during a stretch of 13 games.
Philadelphia: One of those five wins was a 108-107 home win over the Nets back on Dec. 18, led by Joel Embiid's career-high 33-point performance. After sitting out two years due to foot injuries, Embiid is averaging 19.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 2.38 BPG. Through 34 games, the 76ers have six more wins than last season (team finished 10-72) and four more than 2014-15, which ended with 18 wins. Embiid is a significant reason for Philadelphia's improvement this season plus credit must also be given to Ersan Ilyasova, averaging 15.1 & 6.4, who was acquired Nov.1 by the 76ers in a trade with the Thunder.
Brooklyn: The Nets are near the bottom of several offensive categories such as assists (20.8), FG percentage (44.0 percent), turnovers (17.2) and three-point percentage (33.7 percent) and combined with the league's worst scoring defense (114.3 PPG), have resulted in a 4-22 slide since Nov. 12, 10 of 11 losses since Dec. 14 and a current five-game losing streak. The Nets played their fifth game without PG Jeremy Lin (13.9 & 5.8 APG in 12 games, nine starts) in Friday's 116-108 home loss to the Cavs, who is rehabbing his second left hamstring injury. The Nets are 5-18 when Lin does not play and his absences have resulted in 14 different starting lineups with five different point guards, including Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored seven points in 17 minutes Friday.Center Brook Lopez (19.9 & 5.2) scored 17 points Friday, marking the season-high fourth straight game he was held under 20. The Nets are 1-13 when Lopez does not hit 20 and he is shooting 19 of 49 percent, including 4 of 18 from 3-point range in his last four games.
The pick: Sure, the Nets are a mess but Brooklyn found some positives off the bench on Friday, when guards Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead combined for 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. "Caris and Isaiah coming in and playing really important minutes against the world champions is really positive," Atkinson told reporters. "We don't back down, especially at home." The 76ers are just 3-11 SU on the road this season and with this pointspread, almost have to win to cover. I won't say this very often the rest of 2017 but make the Nets an 8* play.
Philadelphia: One of those five wins was a 108-107 home win over the Nets back on Dec. 18, led by Joel Embiid's career-high 33-point performance. After sitting out two years due to foot injuries, Embiid is averaging 19.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 2.38 BPG. Through 34 games, the 76ers have six more wins than last season (team finished 10-72) and four more than 2014-15, which ended with 18 wins. Embiid is a significant reason for Philadelphia's improvement this season plus credit must also be given to Ersan Ilyasova, averaging 15.1 & 6.4, who was acquired Nov.1 by the 76ers in a trade with the Thunder.
Brooklyn: The Nets are near the bottom of several offensive categories such as assists (20.8), FG percentage (44.0 percent), turnovers (17.2) and three-point percentage (33.7 percent) and combined with the league's worst scoring defense (114.3 PPG), have resulted in a 4-22 slide since Nov. 12, 10 of 11 losses since Dec. 14 and a current five-game losing streak. The Nets played their fifth game without PG Jeremy Lin (13.9 & 5.8 APG in 12 games, nine starts) in Friday's 116-108 home loss to the Cavs, who is rehabbing his second left hamstring injury. The Nets are 5-18 when Lin does not play and his absences have resulted in 14 different starting lineups with five different point guards, including Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored seven points in 17 minutes Friday.Center Brook Lopez (19.9 & 5.2) scored 17 points Friday, marking the season-high fourth straight game he was held under 20. The Nets are 1-13 when Lopez does not hit 20 and he is shooting 19 of 49 percent, including 4 of 18 from 3-point range in his last four games.
The pick: Sure, the Nets are a mess but Brooklyn found some positives off the bench on Friday, when guards Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead combined for 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. "Caris and Isaiah coming in and playing really important minutes against the world champions is really positive," Atkinson told reporters. "We don't back down, especially at home." The 76ers are just 3-11 SU on the road this season and with this pointspread, almost have to win to cover. I won't say this very often the rest of 2017 but make the Nets an 8* play.
