Degen’s Best NBA Bet Picks for 2/23/21 and some NHL picks too!

Degen Show Part (2/23/21)

Your favorite Degens give you their NBA Bet Picks for 2/23/21 and there’s some hockey picks below too. Listen to their NBA win totals episode for more NBA action.

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Max’s NBA Bet Picks for 2/23/21

Minnesota (11) at Milwaukee (-11)

Pick: Bet $20 Minnesota

Total: 231.5 (Lean Under – 228)

Predicted Score: Milwaukee 117 – Minnesota 111

Overview: The Bucks have beaten some bad teams lately and by a lot – covering double digit spreads in consecutive games. It seems to be their bread and butter. Now how that plays out in the playoffs, that’s a different story. But for tonight, they get another bad team and another double-digit spread.

The Timberwolves are a young team who just got a new coach. After firing Ryan Saunders, Minnesota acted quickly and outright hired a new coach in Raptors’ assistant Chris Finch. Finch has a history with Minnesota’s VP of Basketball Operations and was one of the more enticing assistant coaches out there.

Normally I’d like a team on a post-coach-bump but this is different. Most situations involve an assistant who knows the players and the playbook and is just a new voice in the locker room. This is a whole new coach with a new system. So any dividends won’t be seen for a few weeks.

But am I dismissing Minnesota here tonight? No. Minnesota has managed to keep games close lately and while Milwaukee will get a win today, I have the winning by about 6 or 7. So a $20 bet on Minnesota.

Golden State (-1.5) at New York (1.5)

Pick: Bet $20 Golden State

Total: 215.5 (Lean Over – 217)

Predicted Score: Golden State 114 – New York 103

Overview: Steph Curry is listed as questionable in this game after being a late scratch to his last game. And Draymond Green has been on an apology tour ever since getting ejected in the final seconds against Charlotte – resulting in a tie that eventually became a loss. My predictions are that Curry does end up playing and Green is focused on playing his best basketball tonight.

Which means I like Golden State to cover this line.

Yes, I know, the Knicks. My goddamn kryptonite. And the Warriors have not treated me well lately. And yes, I know, the Knicks have won 4 of 5 games and have a 3-game home win streak going on while the Warriors are 5-9 on the road.

And yes, I know, the Knicks beat the Warriors 119-104 last time they played.

So why am I taking the Warriors? Factoring in the Knicks defense and Golden State being on the road, the Warriors effective field goal % is still better than New York’s. That means even if the Knicks play their best defense and Curry misses the game, there is still a chance that the Warriors shoot better from the field than the Knicks.

Golden State makes 5 more 3-pointers per game than New York does. It could take a hit with Curry out, but still, I just think the Warriors can survive a cold quarter of shooting while New York might need to shoot great all game to keep up with the Warriors.

So yes, a $20 bet on the Warriors here.

Meaningless Leans

Atlanta (-7) at Cleveland (7)

Pick: Lean Cleveland

Total: 228.5 (Lean Under – 222)

Predicted Score: Atlanta 114 – Cleveland 108

Detroit (3.5) at Orlando (-3.5)

Pick: Lean Detroit

Total: 207 (Lean Over – 220)

Predicted Score: Detroit 111 – Orlando 109

Boston (-1.5) at Dallas (1.5)

Pick: Lean Dallas

Total: 225.5 (Lean Over – 225)

Predicted Score: Boston 113 – Dallas 112

Notes: Dallas is in a back-to-back and Porzingis is questionable with a tight back.

Sacramento (7.5) at Brooklyn (-7.5)

Pick: Lean Sacramento

Total: 242 (Lean Under – 238)

Predicted Score: Brooklyn 122 – Sacramento 116

Philadelphia (-1.5) at Toronto (1.5)

Pick: Lean Toronto

Total: 224.5 (Lean Under – 223)

Predicted Score: Philadelphia 112 – Toronto 111

Portland (7.5) at Denver (-7.5)

Pick: Lean Portland

Total: 230.5 (Lean Under – 230)

Predicted Score: Denver 117 – Portland 113

Washington (9.5) at LA Clippers (-9.5)

Pick: Lean Washington

Total: 235.5 (Lean Under – 230)

Predicted Score: Washington 116 – LA Clippers 114

Max’s Salty NHL Bets for 2/23/21

5-3 in picks and 1-0 in bets yesterday. That puts me at 151-115 in picks and 40-35 in bets (up $82.32 in $20 base bets).

Chicago Blackhawks (111) at Columbus Blue Jackets (-123)

Pick: Bet Chicago

Edmonton Oilers (-129) at Vancouver Canucks (116)

Pick: Bet Vancouver

Meaningless Leans

Montreal Canadiens (-221) at Ottawa Senators (195)

Pick: Lean Montreal

Pittsburgh Penguins (-103) at Washington Capitals (-107)

Pick: Lean Washington

Buffalo Sabres (110) at New Jersey Devils (-130)

Pick: Lean Buffalo

Nashville Predators (-156) at Detroit Red Wings (141)

Pick: Lean Detroit