NBA Matchups, Odds, Analysis 2/6-2/7: Celtics @ LA Lakers

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NBA Matchups, Odds, and Analysis February 6-7, 2019 By: Christopher B. Watford for NoLuckNeeded.com

Washington Wizards @ Milwaukee Bucks - 2/6/19

The Washington Wizards continue to be one of the most disappointing teams this season - and that’s coming from a Pelicans fan. With the NBA trade deadline coming up this week, the Wiz desperately need to do something if they want to make any sort of impact in an ever-growing competitive Eastern Conference. Whether it be a coaching change or parting with some of their players, the Wiz need to do something before the trade deadline if they want to make the playoffs. They’re capable of doing it, but with how injured they are this season, their chances are looking pretty slim.

As for the Bucks, well, they’re still one of the best teams in the league. In an article from a couple of weeks back I mentioned how much of a drastic impact that coach Bud has made for this Bucks team and the success is continuing. Giannis is having himself an MVP season (place your bets on Intertops.eu on who you think will win the MVP this year) and they’re 9-1 over their last 10.

These two teams met just a couple of days ago and the Bucks took the game with hardly any effort at all (131-115). With multiple starters injured, the Wiz don’t stand much of a chance against lottery teams, let alone one of the best teams in the league. The Wizards are missing John Wall, Dwight Howard, and Markieff Morris going in to this game, so there isn’t very many matchups to watch in this game. Instead, keep your eye on Giannis Antetokounmpo and watch him continue to dominate and try and solidify his case for MVP.

Watch the Greek Freak do his thing this Wednesday on ESPN at 8:00 PM ET.

Will the Warriors Three-Peat? Bet your team!

Boston Celtics @ LA Lakers - 2/7/19

A rivalry as old as time itself and two teams competing for the rights to Anthony Davis (not to mention the fact that LeBron will likely be playing this game too), this is a matchup that you don’t want to miss. With LeBron finally making his return after missing a career-high number of games, it’s obviously huge for the Lakers. They’ve been struggling without him and they’re in for an incredibly tough schedule to close out the season, but the playoffs are still a possibility. There’s a lot of history behind these two teams, but we’re in the day and age of basketball where most players are good friends with each other - including Kyrie Irving and LeBron who have recently rekindled their friendship.

With the NBA trade deadline being on the date of this game, there’s a very large possibility that Anthony Davis could end up playing for the Lakers by next week - unless Dell Demps decides to hold out on trading AD to the Celtics in the off-season - either way, there’s bound to be a lot of drama in the upcoming week.

Of course, you’re going to want to keep your eye on LeBron if he ends up playing this game. Although he’s healthy and playing again, Luke Walton has been staggering his playing time to attempt reintegrate Bron back in to the game. If this game ends up going down to the wire, you always want to be aware of Kyrie Irving. If you can look past his pseudo-intellectual comments, he’s one of the most exciting players to watch in the clutch. Any time a game comes down to the wire, the game plan is always to get the ball to Kyrie.

Watch these two historically great teams battle it out with the TNT crew this Thursday at 8:00 PM ET.

San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers - 2/7/19

With the trade deadline approaching, the Trail Blazers have finally made some moves. They traded away Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin, and a couple of second round picks to the Cavaliers for point guard, Rodney Hood. Hood had his fair share of problems last year with LeBron and the Cavs, including refusing to enter the game in a blowout and a severe lack of confidence. Hood wasn’t playing very well and it just completely shot his confidence. Each game that he played, he would play worse and worse, and at points he would look scared to even touch the ball. However, he should be able to prove as a serviceable backup point guard to All-Star, Damian Lillard.

Even if their roster doesn’t look very good on paper, Gregg Popovich and the Spurs have solidified themselves as a serious playoff threat. In an incredibly competitive Western Conference, the Spurs just don’t seem to be letting up - winning their last five games and going 7-3 over their last 10.

The Spurs pride themselves on their ball movement and with the greatest coach of all time at the helm, they’re pretty damn good at it. The best thing about the Spurs is that their top three scoring leaders can demolish a team in a number of ways. DeMar DeRozan is a master at getting in to the paint and the midrange shot, LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the best post-up bigs in the league, and Rudy Gay can hit game winners like it’s no big deal. They’re a very well rounded team and need to be taken seriously.

This will be the third time that these two teams have met this year, with each team taking one game a piece. Keep your eye on the battle between DeMar and the Blazers’ backcourt. C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard are still a top five backcourt in the league and although they got swept by the Pels last year, they might be able to make a deeper playoff run this year.

Tune in to TNT this Thursday at 10:30 PM ET and place your bets at Intertops today!

(Check NBA game odds and updates at Intertops Sports Betting)

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