NBA Picks

The NBA playoffs are officially here after a long season. The Celtics locked up the No. 1 seed in the East while the Thunder earned the 1-seed in the West.

The Playoffs started on Saturday, April 20 following the play-in tournament. The 76ers and Heat locked up the final 2 spots in the East while the Pelicans and Lakers earned the final spots in the East.

Here’s a look at the matchups for Round 2 after an exciting, yet chalky Round 1.

East:

• 1 Boston Celtics vs. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (BOS leads 1-0)
• 2 New York Knicks vs. 6 Indiana Pacers (NYK leads 1-0)

West:

• 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5 Dallas Mavericks (OKC leads 1-0)
• 2 Denver Nuggets vs. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves (MIN leads 2-0)

Our Favorite Picks For Today (May 8, 2024)

The NBA Playoffs continue tonight with a pair of matchups. Here’s a look at our picks for Wednesday’s playoff slate:

Is it insane to take the higher option here? Maybe. But it’s also hard to go against what Brunson has been able to do these playoffs. He’s been the heart and soul of New York’s hot start, and it’s tough to bet against him when he’s dropped 5 straight games of scoring 39+

Siakam has slightly underperformed so far this postseason and totaled 19 in Game 1’s loss.

Hart has been a surprise this postseason for New York, and he’s already proven he can score in the mid-20s when needed.

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As you can see, there are several options to choose from, whether it be higher/lower matchups as seen in the previous table or your classic daily drafts. Underdog Fantasy does a superb job of giving you a variety of picks to choose from so you can have the most complete experience!

Introduction

Saturday Down South may be a football site through and through, but our team is passionate about basketball, too. With so many games to choose from across the NBA and college basketball slates, there are so many ways to win real money with top DFS apps!

My NBA team, perhaps unfortunately, is the Utah Jazz. Utah is a complicated NBA franchise that always seems to be among the top pack of teams (well, maybe not this year. They’re surging!) but can’t quite finish when it counts. Does the name Michael Jordan mean anything to y’all?

Anyway, I was just recently able to cash in as Jordan Clarkson broke the uber-weird and almost unbelievable streak of not having a regular season triple-double, which dates all the way back to 2008! It can sometimes take some research, but it’s all about picking the right matchups, trends and lines.

I recently moved from Tennessee to South Carolina, where I am now able to make DFS pick’ems after not being able to in Tennessee. However, the move also means that I have to find an alternative to your traditional means of sports betting, as it is illegal in South Carolina. Good thing I already have DFS experience!

If you’re like me and live in a state with limited ways to play, this is the page for you. If not, there’s still plenty to learn about the exciting world of DFS and the numerous ways you can win! Here, we’ll take you through some of the strategies for beginners and advanced DFS players. We’ll also list out a few common mistakes to avoid as you get started on your NBA DFS journey.

And remember, the top of this page will be updated frequently with the best picks for upcoming slates! Be sure to check back at your convenience.

Strategies for NBA DFS Picks

1. Keep an eye on injuries

This seems obvious, right? If Joel Embiid or Luke Doncic are questionable, it might be a good idea to hold off on that particular pick for an evening. At the same time, if Alex Caruso is set to miss a game against a guard you like, it may not be a bad idea to look into that specific line and see if it suits you.

2. Construct smart rosters. 

Say a team with numerous talented players (the Kings, for example) is facing off against a Detroit- or San Antonio-type squad at home. It makes sense to draft or construct an entry with numerous players from that team right? Not necessarily.

There’s still only one ball. And picking multiple players to hit a “Higher” pick may end up burning you when a certain player has an especially hot outing. It could happen (and has several times before), but Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox aren’t always going to both drop 30+ on the same night, folks.

Instead, consider picking from opposing teams. Throw in some love for Victor Wembanyama to nab 7.5 plus rebounds alongside a bid for Fox to go for 27 points or more, theoretically. Each and every game is different!

Advanced Strategies

1. Research trends, dynamics and understand the “why”

This kind of plays into matchups as referenced above. For those who really know the game, you know certain players can struggle at certain venues and certain teams can struggle against others.

Also, understand the “why” in a certain player/team’s recent success. Why did Utah suddenly start winning games in late December/early January? Probably because it was playing a weaker schedule, along with Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton finding their groove in the backcourt. Talen Horton-Tucker has been worked into a reserve role, too.

Common Mistakes

1. Watching box scores (To an extent)

This is one of the best ways to get burned, y’all. Just because a certain player has dropped 30 in 10-straight games does NOT mean he’s going for 35 against the Milwaukee Bucks in Wisconsin. At the same time, just because a player is struggling, it doesn’t mean he’ll be at the bottom of the hill forever. Averages demand some flux, and it’s nearly impossible to cold-predict the dips and valleys in a game as fast-paced and chaotic as the NBA.

Now, that’s not to say you should just discredit history. Pick up on trends, such as specific teams a player performs well against, specific venues and specific matchups.

2. Letting bias get in the way

Be realistic about your team, your favorite players and the legitimacy of your opponent. Being a Jazz fan, I’m against the Denver Nuggets every day of the week. But I can also understand that Nikola Jokic is not human and capable of doing things on the court that, if I play my cards right, could help me profit.

If you’re going to be a hater, at least be a smart one.

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Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South.