NBA Perfect Ten (Week of December 12th)
It’s beginning to look a lot like…the NBA season is in full swing. The Celtics and Bucks are still hot but here come the Pelicans. So, without further ado, here is our fourth NBA Perfect 10 of 2022-23.
Perfect Ten (Week of December 12th)
#10. Golden State Warriors (+330/+700) - The Warriors flexed their muscle against Boston with the Splash Brothers scoring over 60 points and their ability to slow down Tatum. Strengths: Thompson’s return to form and infusion of youth. Weaknesses: Play on the road. Last Week’s Rank: 10
#9. Philadelphia 76ers (+1100/+2200) - Another team that is getting healthier and flexing their muscles a bit. The Sixers continue to find scoring from the guard spot even with Maxey out and Embiid is rounding into form. Strengths: 3pt shooting and Embiid. Weaknesses: Perimeter defense. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
#8. Brooklyn Nets (+600, +1,200) - The Nets have shot up the boards by going 8-2 in their last ten. Durant, Irving and Simmons have been on the floor together and they have handled the weaker teams on their schedule. Boston did take care of them to start the week. Strengths: Quality late-game shotmakers. Weaknesses: Depth, team defense. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
#7. Denver Nuggets (+700/+1400) - The Nuggets are a half game up on Phoenix in the standings but they have lacked the consistency of a title contender thus far. Then again, they have yet to play at full strength this season. Strengths: 3pt shooting and ball movement. Weaknesses: Health and consistency. Last Week’s Rank: 6
#6. Cleveland Cavaliers (+1100/+2500) - Cleveland went 6-4 in their last ten games but continue to see their odds rise in the bookmaker’s eye. Strengths: Guard play and team rebounding. Weaknesses: Interior defense and health of Allen. Last Week’s Rank: 5
#5. Memphis Grizzlies (+750/+2000) - Memphis has won five straight games and are now entrenched in second place in the Western Conference. Ja’ Morant may soon find himself in our MVP Top Five. Strengths: Shooting and team rebounding. Weaknesses: Defensive consistency and monitoring Morant’s minutes. Last Week’s Rank: 7
#4. Phoenix Suns (+475/+1100) - It has to be a little concerning to the Suns that they were blasted by Boston and then beaten two straight times by New Orleans. Strengths: Floor spacing and offensive efficiency. Weaknesses: Size and Paul’s slow recovery from his heel issues. Last Week’s Rank: 3
#3. New Orleans Pelicans (+900/+2,000) - If a late game dunk by Zion Williamson in a blowout is this team’s biggest concern..things are going well in New Orleans. Strengths: Pressing defense and up-tempo style of play. Weaknesses: Health and inexperience Last Week’s Rank: 4
#2. Milwaukee Bucks (+310/+600) - The Bucks looked stronger as of late and are 8-2 in their last ten games. Strengths: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s offensive and defensive versatility and the return of Middleton. Weaknesses: Free throw shooting and consistency on offense. Last Week’s Rank: 2
#1. Boston Celtics (+145/+295) - The Celtics fell to 21-6 after a loss at Golden State. Their rotational defense looked a bit suspect but the loss did come on the heels of a runaway win at Phoenix in which they led by 47 points in the second half. Strengths: Depth at wing/guards. Defensive rotations Weaknesses: Size up front. Last Week’s Rank: 1
Top-Five MVP Candidates thus far:
Luka Doncic (+280) - Surprisingly, Doncic’s odds went up this week as the Mavs have hit a rough 4-6 patch. His value was never more evident than the team’s near 30-point loss without him to the Wizards. Still, the playoffs are a must if he wants the MVP. Last Week’s Rank: 1
Giannis Antetokoumpo (+300) - His odds bumped up a bit this week as well but he remains as consistent as ever. He will not hurt his chances to win the MVP by his play. His only downside is perhaps the need to see someone new win the award this season. Last Week’s Rank: 3
Jayson Tatum (+260) - Tatum’s odds went down but he had a bit of a clunker in the game against the Warriors on National TV. As the newbie of this MVP group, Tatum will need some more big performances on the bigger stages. Last Week’s Rank: 3
Steph Curry (+850) Curry was in Finals MVP-mode against Boston, which certainly did nothing to hurt his chances to add some more hardware to his trophy case. Last week’s Rank: 4
Joel Embiid (+1000) - Embiid finally bumped out his arch nemesis, Nikola Jokic for the fifth spot. Embiid’s Sixers will likely need to rise past 50 wins for him to have any shot of avoiding the label of the Susan Lucci of the NBA MVP award. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
In parenthesis, conference odds and finals odds. Player MVP props are also in parenthesis. All Courtesy of Draftkings.com
By Mark Ruelle