Thursday 8:00pm: Eels vs Storm

To open the 2023 season the Eels host the Storm at home and I’m expecting this one to be a cracker. Eels have won 5 of their past 6 against Melbourne however, Parra is missing some firepower they have had over the years in Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i, Ray Stone, Marata Niukore and Ryan Matterson (who is suspended). They look easily worse than last season but I can’t right them off as they still have a lot of promise in their 13. The likes of Gutho, Moses, Brown, RCG and Paulo will be huge for the Eels in this game and are critical for the team’s success. Unfortunately, for Parra, the Storm looks red hot coming into the season and are flying under the radar for the comp big time in my opinion. Munster, Hughes, and Grant are only going to get better this season and the gains of Katoa and Sims are huge. They will blossom at Melbourne under Bellamy, especially Katoa. They are very dangerous and when Papi is back it can only get worse for the opposition. I have Storm winning this one in a tough battle.

Result: Storm 1-12: $3.00

Friday 6:00PM: Warriors Vs Knights

One of the more average games of the round with this matchup with both teams expected to come in the lower bottom half of the table. Not much to discuss here, both teams are on the same kind of playing level. On paper, the Knights are better slightly however, their performances over the years have been extremely below average. I don’t see a blowout going to either side but the Warriors have a home advantage and do perform in NZ however I’ll lean ever so slightly with the Knights to win on the back of a Jackson Hastings and Lachie Miller masterclass. I really like these two signings for Newcastle and I think it will help them edge over the line in some close games.

Result: Knights 1-12: $3.75

Friday 8:00PM: Panthers vs Broncos

Onto the big Friday night game with featuring the Panthers and the Broncos in Penrith. I’ll try to keep this one short and sweet as I think Penrith will be way too strong on Friday night. They will come out with a chip on their shoulder due to their recent loss against St Helens. The Broncos are flying under the radar this season so I won’t be expecting a blow out however, Penrith are looking ready to win and control the game as they always look to do.

Result: Penrith 1-12: $3.00

Saturday 3:00pm: Sea Eagles vs Bulldogs

To kick off the Saturday games the new-look doggies take on Tommy Turbo and the other lot. Manly are rubbish without this bloke and I’m not saying players like DCE and Jurbo aren’t great players. Tommy being in this side allows this team to do what they do best with the footy. The spark and flare he adds to this side will be too much for the dogs in my opinion. The dogs have another year to go before they are a top 8 side in my opinion so I don’t have high expectations.

Result: Manly 13+: $2.90

Saturday 5:30pm: Cowboys vs Raiders

Big season for both teams. NQLD were a game away and a few missed calls away from playing in the Grand Final last season and personally, I don’t see them slowing down. No changes to the side, bar the loss of the Hammer however, I don’t see that coming back to hurt them. Raiders are in for a big year as well with an easy draw. I see them making the 8 off the back of Wighton, Papa & Tapine. Can’t see them winning this one though as the Cowboys look very switched on as always and No Papali for the Raiders as well which hurts.

Result: Cowboys 1-12: $2.95

Saturday 7:30pm: Sharks vs Rabbitohs

The Sharks face Souths without Nicho Hynes. I go for the Sharks as well and the only way we win this is if our backs just bully Souths through the middle which is a big ask. Sharks are not a one-man team by any means but Trindall is seriously bad in games against big teams. Souths will dominate the majority of the game and most likely run away with it. Latrell, Walker, Cook, Murray etc will have stellar performances as well which isn’t a bold prediction but I just think they will play to prove a point that they are in it to win it all this season.

Result: Souths 13+: $3.00

Sunday 4:00pm: Dolphins vs Roosters

Now, I’ll keep this very short. The Dolphins are f*cked and won’t win more than 3 games. Roosters are the Roosters. If Roosters don’t win 13+ that is very concerning.

Result: Roosters 13+: $1.53

Sunday 6:00pm: Tigers vs Titans

This is going to be a good game. Both teams look better than last season and it will be interesting to see how this pans out. The advantage edges toward the Tigers in my opinion as the Titans don’t have a true 7 and are coming off the back of an extremely underwhelming year. The Tigers looked outstanding in the second trial and they seem to have an entirely different mentality towards their footy. If that’s any sign of what’s to come I’ll take the tigers in a high-scoring close game.

Result: Tigers 1-12: $3.10

The post NRL Weekly Preview – Round 1: Which Teams Will Start Off On The Right Foot? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

Sandown:

Race 3 – Barber: My first bet and win of the day on Saturday were on Barber and it’s safe to say I was very impressed with his performance. $4 for the mighty 2YO was slightly overs in my opinion after seeing his win at Rosehill late last spring. Barber sat in a perfect spot behind the leaders and when the time was right, kicked to the front and held on well. A shoutout to little brose as well who I thought raced really strongly and could be there in some big races this carnival. Barber was great though and it would be silly not to keep an eye on the unbeaten 2YO.

Race 6 – Lofty Strike and Uncommon James: I just want to begin this by asking two things. How was lofty strike $9 and How did he win from there? Lofty strike was in the worst spot imaginable when he approached the turn and somehow came from nowhere, found a gap, and exploded toward the finish. Fantastic ride from Craig Newitt as well but this horse has potential. 0.6L behind Nature strip on champions stakes day as well. Came 7th that day but only 1L behind Rock n Horse. Huge shoutout to Uncommon James who was great and looked like the winner for all money but Lofty Strike was just too good in the end. Watch out for both of these horses.

Race 7 – Nugget: I understand he did not win and I am not taking anything away from the performances of Jacquinot or Gentlemen Roy here. I just want to point out that Nugget ran a close 3rd against the top horses in the country including a result over place getter in the 2022 Cox Plate “I’m Thunderstruck”. Personally, I did not think Nugget was capable of a place getting performance against the higher calibre horses but I was gladly proven wrong. Great ride and an awesome run in the end. Keep an eye on the big boy in the futures markets.

Randwick:

Race 1 – Cafe Millenium: WOW! Wasn’t expecting that. Looked like a bust for all money, was out of control almost and then just pinned it home. That was a great show of a top turn of the foot coming from dead last to a 1.25L win. Might be hyping the run up too much so I’ll keep it brief as that run was its debut. Watch out for this 2YO in some feature races in future. Very quick and will look for a 1200m race.

Race 4 – Learning to Fly: How on earth did she win? Drew the carpark, terrible jump, sat 6 wide the whole trip, was 15th at the 400m, and chased about 8-9 wide. Everything that could of went wrong did go wrong and she has every excuse in the world for a no result let alone a win. Outstanding performance and will be my run of the day for sure. You are silly to not have this horse in your futures market bets. Outstanding run, unreal stuff.

Race 7 – In Secret: I only caught the replay of In Secret’s run as I claimed I did not need to watch it as it was a moral. I almost looked very silly. She missed the start, didn’t settle that well and had to do a lot of work to find a nice gap to hit the clear. Unreal job to win after missing the start, Nash Rawiller rode her to perfection and I am a huge fan of this filly. 2 Group 2’s now along with her Group 1 trophy as a 3-year-old and I will be shocked if she doesn’t win another race this carnival. Huge potential.

Performances Of The Day

1st: Learning to fly

2nd: Lofty Strike

3rd: In Secret

The post Raceday Recap: Who Stuck Out As Ones To Watch Out For in The Autumn Carnival? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

Kevin Durant has been packaged with TJ Warren and sent to the Phoenix Suns and the Nets receive Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and 4 first-round pick not including the first-round swap. This trade has officially made the Nets a non-contender for the season and a possible play-in team as it stands. The Nets probably should have asked for Deandre Ayton included in the package considering Durant’s value but that is just my opinion. Today will be a brief rundown of the top 5 contending teams in each conference which I deem a ‘title contender’ and what the trade deadline result means for them.

Western Conference: Here me out, you may laugh at my contender picks but you have to think from a perspective of who will beat them in a 7-game series in playoff-style basketball. In saying that, here are my top 5 contenders in the west in no order.

*ranking will be out of all 10 teams (east and west combined)*

LA Lakers: I understand they are in a horrible position at the moment but after getting Beasley and Russell they improve them in a big way. They will make the play in at least and should make the playoffs and if they make the playoffs they have a good chance to win it all. However, a fair bit needs to turn around to get to the stage and that is why I have ranked them slightly lower than other teams.

Overall ranking: 7th

LA Clippers: Again, another team must be healthy to win. Kawhi turns into MJ in the playoffs and PG is probably the best 2nd option in the NBA. Clippers play some good basketball but I’m curious to see how their supporting cast plays in the playoff style of basketball. I think their a good smokey to get up this season.

Overall ranking: 6th

Dallas Mavericks: The matchup between the Mavs and the Suns will be unreal this season. The playoff matchup possibility would be insane. Kyrie v Durant and Luka v Booker would be heated. Mavs have a shot at winning it all but need to fix their defence. Start Josh Green and there is a much better team. Don’t overlook it.

Overall ranking: 5th

Golden State Warriors: Poole and Thompson are starting to get going with some impressive performances but the warriors really need to fix their defensive issues. They are usually dominant on both ends, but their defence has been poor this season. They must improve come playoff time and with a healthy Steph Curry, they can win it all.

Overall ranking: 4th

Phoenix Suns: Booker, CP3, KD, and Ayton. If this team is healthy it is over. The league is over if they are 100%. Who can actually stop this team? $5 for the title is over in my opinion so a small $25-$50 play on that would not be a bad option if you’re into futures betting. Monty Williams will make this team close to unbeatable and they will be unreal to watch.

Overall ranking: 1st

Eastern Conference: No brainer for the top 5 in the east, some teams probably aren’t contenders just yet but they are on the verge of title contention in my opinion.

Boston Celtics: No reason why they shouldn’t be favourites to win the title this season. Boston has the best depth in the NBA and I think players like Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon are really going to have crucial roles to support Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Boston v Suns finals are likely.

Overall ranking: 2nd

76ers: Probably not a contender just yet. I don’t know what it is must they are just missing something. This is coming from a 76ers fan as well and every time they play a contender on the road they seem to just collapse and throw the ball to Embiid and Harden. You can’t play 48 minutes with 2 players which Doc Rivers still hasn’t clocked yet. A small chance to win it all.

Overall ranking: 9th

Bucks: Fully healthy, this team is just as good as Boston. Boston has an edge on depth but when you have Giannis on your team you are always a top contender. If they come out of the east they will win it all in my opinion. Playing in Milwaukee is as tough as it gets for the opposition. Keep an eye on this lineup come the postseason.

Overall ranking: 3rd

Miami Heat: I don’t know where I am at with this team just yet. They are either really good or just average. When their stars are locked in, Miami is a top 6 contender and can beat anyone. Just remember they were a shot away from making the finals last season. I wouldn’t rule them out but I say it’s unlikely they win the title.

Overall ranking: 8th

Cleveland Cavs: Again, Probably not a contender but they are on the right track to get there. They can 100% beat a few top teams and cause some upsets. They are really fun to watch but come playoff time I have queries about their ability to adapt to the playoff style of basketball. Won’t win this year but they are on the way up.

Overall ranking: 10th

Who is your top seed from here? Let me know in the comments!

The post What does the Kevin Durant trade mean for the NBA? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

Game breakdown:

This is personally my favourite matchup out of every other possible matchup in the NBA right now. Two MVP candidates, Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum. It does not get much better than this. The rivals of the east. Everyone takes this one personally and I know Joel Embiid will be out to put on a clinic.

Boston and Philly are probably the two best teams in the East and some could say the two best teams in the league in terms of form. This game will be in Boston which swings the odds in favour of Boston but I’m not too sure if they will come out on top here. Having to worry about Embiid, Harden, Harris, Maxey, Melton etc is not ideal for any defence. In saying that, the same could be said for Boston as they have Tatum, Brown, Brogden, Horford, Williams etc. This game will be incredible and I am pumped to see who will come out on top.

76ers Breakdown: 

Philly is coming into this one off a poor loss to the Knicks as they blew a 21-point lead and were very on and off throughout the game. They have had 2 days of rest to prepare for the firepower that Boston possesses and I think they will be ready for an upset win in Boston.

Embiid is averaging 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists on 53% shooting this season which for me tells us why he deserves the MVP trophy at the end of the season. He will be out to prove this to the world and also show why he should have been an all-star starter over Tatum. I’m expecting a 35+ point game from the big fella paired with some great support performances. The James Harden and Joel Embiid pick and roll and torn teams apart this season and it is a huge part of Philly’s offence as it is nearly unstoppable. Harden averages 21 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists with 1 steal a game on the season and has really taken over his role as a scoring creator. His IQ for the game has been incredible and he will be looking for an open shooter if Boston is to triple-team the Harden-Embiid pick and roll which is likely.

Tyrese Maxey is another player who will 100% try to tear apart Boston when he is on the floor. The speed and skill that he has are unreal in my opinion as he brings so much energy to the floor and always has a smile on his face just showing you he loves to play ball. Melton, Harris, Niang and Tucker also will need to have solid games on both ends to make sure their boys get over the line against Boston and I expect a good game from Tobias Harris tomorrow. He has been quiet recently but I have a sneaky feeling he will be in for a solid performance. I’ll be taking the 76ers tomorrow in what I hope is an Eastern Conference Finals preview.

Boston Celtics Breakdown:

Boston are coming into this one off a breezy win over the pistons and being the 3rd best offence in the NBA, I would say there are focused on dominating their rivals at home. As I am a Philly fan, I know for a fact that Jaylen Brown loves to play against us. He just switches on as soon as tip-off happens and it’s painful to watch. Unbiased opinions here though, Brown will probably try and dominate alongside Tatum who also often has 30-35 point games against us as well. Earlier on in the season, they combined for almost 70 points against Philly while both shooting above 50% from the field. Along with help from Brogdon, Boston could well and truly dominate this game.

The depth of Boston usually comes through most games and Grant and Robert Williams have been outstanding in those supporting roles on both sides of the floor. Rob Williams who is a menace on the defensive side of the floor will be key to stopping Joel Embiid or at least limiting his impact and getting the ball out of his hands. Stopping Embiid is key for victory tomorrow along with their pick and roll defence. Harden will try to catch Williams off guard but when you have Jaylen Brown playing help defence along with players like White, Horford and Grant Williams it makes everyone’s job easier.

The Verdict:

Who Wins: Philly 1-10

Players to watch: Jaylen Brown (BOSTON) Joel Embiid (76ERS)

Same game multi:

Philly to win

Embiid: 30+ points

Harden: 10+ assists 

Brown: 20 points, 4 rebounds

Tatum: 25 points

The post NBA Matchup Of The Day: Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics first appeared on The Mock Sports.

Game Breakdown:

It would be rude of me not to return to the NBA preview series without the game being the matchup that could change history forever. The Thunder will come off back-to-back games to face the Lakers in the game where Lebron will be trying to score 35 points to tie the record of Kareem Abdul – Jabbar’s all-time scoring record and anything over 35 points will see LeBron be the all-time scoring leader in NBA history. So, 36 points will see him cement himself in history and enhance his resume for the GOAT debate against Michael Jordan.

However, knowing the way Shai Gilgeous – Alexandar has been playing this season, he will do everything in his power to make sure LeBron doesn’t achieve greatness against him. The Thunder are extremely up and down form-wise as well so after their recent loss against the Warriors I’m not so sure what to expect from them. Will not be writing them off though.

Lakers Breakdown

Although AD and LeBron are questionable to play, I believe there is a 90% chance both will play against the Thunder. The Lakers are starting to look way better than they did earlier on in the season and the acquisition of Rui Hachimura has been a nice pickup for them so far. The supporting cast of Thomas Bryant, Russell Westbrook, Lonnie Walker and Dennis Schroder is starting to come together in support of LeBron and AD which is allowing the Lakers to break down their opposition easier. I think they will have an above-average performance on the offensive end of the floor especially if LBJ rocks up with a mentality to take over and control the game.

I also think LeBron will score the 36 points he needs to overtake Kareem on the all-time scoring list as he will be at home in front of the home crowd and against a team he should be beating. AD should also have a field day in the paint against the undersized Thunder so I’m expecting a big performance from the two LA superstars. My man to watch from the bench from LA will be obviously Russell Westbrook. Say what you want about the man but he can still turn a game around. He creates offence so easily and can still take over the game when he is on. I’ll be keeping a close eye on him when he comes on against the thunder bench. Big chance to win this game.

Thunder Breakdown

Coming off the loss to the Warriors, the Thunder’s struggles were evident on the defensive end as they conceded 141 points led by an impressive 42-point game from Klay Thompson and an incredible team effort to drain 26 3’s on 52% from the perimeter. OKC head to LA to play the 2nd game of their back-to-back and I think they will be more than ready to take on the challenge of stopping LeBron James from making history against the team.

Shai only had 20 points against the Warriors which for his standard at the moment is close to unheard of. He has been insane this season as he averages 31 ppg, 5 rpg, and 6 apg on the season along with 2.8 steals and blocks combined. It is likely he will try and outplay LeBron by whatever means but he will not be able to do it alone. Josh Giddey will have to step up to help Shai along with rookie Jalen Williams who’s averaging 12ppg on the season.

Giddey and Williams are the only two above-average players who have the tools to turn this game on its head (apart from Shai). I think the Thunder will hang in there and have a few runs here and there but won’t get the win in the end. Not a write off though.

The Verdict:

Who wins? – Lakers win by 1-10

Players to watch – Shai (THUNDER), LeBron (LAKERS)  

My Multi:

Lebron James – over 34.5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Shai Gilgeous Alexander – 25+ points

Russell Westbrook – 4+ rebounds, 4+ assists

Josh Giddey – 4+ Rebounds, 4+ assists  

Odds TBC

The post NBA Matchup Of The Day: OKC Thunder @ LA Lakers – Will LeBron Become The All-Time Leading Scorer? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

In a shock to the majority of the NBA community, Kyrie Irving requested a trade out of Brooklyn due to a fallout during contract negotiations following a blowout loss to Boston. This morning, Irving was sent to Dallas in a blockbuster trade for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney Smith and some draft capital which the Nets significantly lack.

In today’s article, I’ll be discussing the fallout of what had the potential to be the best big 3 of all time and where do Brooklyn go from here as well as the future for Dallas and how they can use this trade to build on the reputation as a finals contender.

THE TRADE

Brooklyn Nets receive

Spencer Dinwiddie

Dorian Finney – Smith

2029 FRP

2x SRP

Overall Grade B +

Dallas Mavericks Recieve

Kyrie Irving 

Markieff Morris 

Overall Grade A –

THE NETS PERSPECTIVE

The Brooklyn Nets have now somehow failed to make the finals let alone get a ring with arguably the best trio of all time in Harden, Irving and KD.

This big 3 gave Nets fans plenty of stress with all the disputes and injuries they experienced in their short tenure. In the future though for the Nets, Durant is an essential piece to the success of this team. If they can keep him they will be able to maintain their run for a ring in my opinion. The supporting cast in O’Neale, Curry, Thomas, Dinwiddie, Claxton, and Dorian Finney Smith are players who could 100% be involved in a championship contender in this NBA. The issue I have with the trade for the Nets right now is that they could have gotten maybe a little bit more for Irving. If they got Josh Green or a Tim Hardaway Jr in this trade it would really shake things up.

Building on that supporting cast is so important these days. I think Durant can do whatever he wants on the court and with the supporting cast I haven’t ruled the Nets out just yet. Dinwiddie needs to continue his current form for the nets to thrive as well. Cementing a second star-type player is crucial for success and we know the fraud Ben Simmons isn’t going to stop underperforming anytime soon unless a miracle happens. If Ben pulls his head out, the NBA needs to watch out for the nets. Good trade for them and I hope they let Cam Thomas get more minutes now without Irving to see what he can do after dropping 44 points in 29 minutes.

The Dallas Perspective

Luka Doncic has been looking for a second star to support his game for the past 2 seasons now and even though the Mavs signed Christian Wood who in my opinion has been great for them and his per 36min numbers look outstanding, Luka still found himself having to drop 50-60 point games and only win by single digits.

Now that Kyrie Irving is now a Maverick, they have the best backcourt in the NBA. No questions asked. The duo of Luka and Irving is next to unstoppable. It will be so exciting to see them play together and along with Christian Wood this team is now a contender and they probably have the best offence in the NBA.

However, the Mavs are ranked 24th in defence this season and it won’t be getting better with the gain of Irving. That backcourt will be eaten alive against the better teams on the defensive side of the floor and it is a concern however, not as big of a concern as people think. In my opinion, Josh Green is one of if not the most underrated players in the league at the moment. Green averages 8ppg on 55% shooting with 41% from 3 in just 22 minutes a game this season. He fits so well with the gameplan and not to mention his incredible defensive abilities as well. I believe he can start at the 3 in a small ball rotation (assuming Wood starts at the 4 and Powell or Kleber starts at the 5 come playoffs) to support the lack of defence that the Mavs have right now.

This being said I think the Mavs are a Myles Turner or even a Walker Kessler-type player away from a ring at this point but they are now 100% a contender. But come playoffs defence wins games and the Mavs just need 1 or 2 more above average 3 and D-type guys on their roster to solidify them as a top 3-5 team in the league.

So who won in the end? We say both! The Nets got rid of a disease on team morale and they now have a supporting cast to enable Durant to carry them to a playoff run. While the Mavs obviously gain the best backcourt in the league. What do you think? Comment below your thoughts on the trade as a whole and who came off second best!

The post Who Won The Kyrie Irving Trade? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

Think It Over

I am pumped to see the return of Think It Over this Autumn. I’m expecting some big runs from the 7yr old and especially now that Verry Elleegant isn’t there to steal the race off of him like she used to. Coming off an extended break, Think It Over ended his last campaign with an extraordinary win along with a genius ride from Nash Rawiller at massive overs paying $41. He beat the likes of Zaaki, Anamoe, and I’m Thunderstruck that day and even though the ride from Nash Rawiller was a large key to the win, it shows us punters to never write off Think It Over. Even though he HATES a heavy track, Nash might be able to work his magic again if it’s wet. Definitely keep an eye on Think It Over and once he builds a bit of fitness, he will be right in contention with the top horses in the group races.

Incentivise

Please for the love of all that is holy do not forget about Incentivise. This is the horse that won the Caufield cup by 4 lengths from barrier 24, at top weight, and while running 3 wide the entire trip. He also came 2nd in the Melbourne Cup, while injured, along with two other Group 1 wins showed punters that Incentivise is a superstar. People forget how good he really is and I think he will 100% add to his tally of group ones this prep and the Futures markets are quite harsh to have him at double-digit odds. In fairness, it’s unclear what route Incentivise will be taking this prep, but my advice is to keep a close eye on all news regarding the 5yr old.

MAzu

The money man himself is probably one of my favourite horses at this point. I have never had so much success as a punter on a horse until Mazu started dominating last Autumn. The 4yr old started at big odds for some of his spring group 1’s and the place bet was always a shout in my eyes. Hopefully, he just gets better and better and starts to work his way up to one of the best sprinters in the world. I’ll be keeping a close eye on Mazu this Autumn and hopefully catch him at some big odds. Don’t overlook the 4yr old come the peak of Autumn carnival.

JoyFul Fortune

I’m actually a huge fan of this horse and I believe it has a lot of potential to work its way into the money of some big upcoming races. Although he most likely isn’t Group 1 standard yet, the run in The Everest wasn’t all that bad in my opinion. 4.89L behind Giga Kick doesn’t sound great, however, I think we see the best of Joyful Fortune when the distance is in the 1000-1100 range. Looks like a good sprinter and had an impressive win last start. Some each-way bets won’t be the worst option so keep an eye on the big 6-year-old.

What are your thoughts? Which horses are you keen to see race this Autumn? Let us know in the comments!

, 

The post The Stars Align: The Horses To Watch This Autumn Carnival first appeared on The Mock Sports.

My Robbed Starting 5:

Anthony Edwards: If anyone has seen my previous articles that involve the Timberwolves, you would know I highly rate Ant’s game and how good he is at a such young age. His ability to control / takeover a game whenever he wants has made the timberwolves get through a rough patch without KAT. Joke

James Harden: My guy is averaging 21ppg, 6rpg, and 11 apg and has somehow lost his spot to either Haliburton or Holiday. Let’s be deadset here, Harden is clear of them both and I get the argument for Haliburton to an extent but Jure Holiday?! Don’t get me wrong, Jure is great but not better than Harden this season.

Trae Young: Come on, I mean yes he is inefficient but seriously? 29 Points and 9 assists! He could be a starter but he somehow isn’t even a reserve. I’m speechless and I hate this man with a passion. Plain and simple stitch-up if you ask me.

Pascal Siakam: Once again why is he not playing? 25,8,6!!! He is playing out of this world and yes they may not always win and be having a tough season but wow. I would have him over Randle and Bam any day.

Devin Booker, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis: I get that maybe they haven’t played enough games and that’s why I have put them all in the same section here but no one with an NBA brain can sit there and tell anyone that these 3 aren’t all stars. Davis, there is a slight slight argument to be made but D Book and Kawhi are deadset robbed. Kawhi is a starter no doubt but D Book is easily on the bench as well as AD.

Unlucky to miss out but deserved to miss out – De’aaron Fox: Great season from Fox he has been unreal for the kings. The Kings look so switched on this season and he is the main reason they are getting wins. Just misses the cut for me as Shai, Curry, Doncic, Ja and Dame all deserve to be there but he should still be over the moon with his game at the moment. Light the beam!

Should Joel Embiid be starting?: Honestly, the fact that this man is on the bench makes me want to just cry. The most overhated man on planet earth. This guy averages 34ppg, 10rpg, 4asp, 1 steal, 1.7 blocks, on 54% FG percentage and 35% from 3. Those are MVP numbers. But somehow he isn’t starting! Beyond me. Who’s place do I think he takes though?

Well, I think you should be playing the 1-5 position wise so for me it’s Durant at the 3, Giannis at the 4, and Embiid at the 5. Meaning Jayson Tatum misses out which is extremely controversial as well. I’m okay with Tatum or Durant missing out but for me, KD has the smallest of edges over Tatum. Anyway, Embiid has been robbed here but I think he will still play tonnes of minutes in the game itself and hopefully, it ends up being as good as last year’s!

Yes, I’m also aware that not everyone in the robbed list could have made it but those are the players I feel got unlucky. Anyway, I’ll leave the snubs and accept it for what it is and continue on to our 2023 NBA All-Star teams. What a game it will be!

The Starters

Western Conference:

LeBron James: Top 2 all-time, 38 and in the MVP conversation in my opinion, no point in me getting too far into this one as he has been unreal this season.  Deserved starter and captain.

Stephen Curry: This guy just has fun when he plays. So effortless in his stroke. Best PG of all time in my opinion and once again deserved starter.

Luka Doncic: What a freak,  carries Dallas so hard and is the future of the NBA. People’s champion as well always helps the multi-out and I love this guy as a player. Deserved starter.

Nikola Jokic: AKA “Joel Embiid’s son” has been a magician on the court as always. The battle between him and Embiid was the best basketball I’ve seen from two centres in my lifetime. No doubt he is a starter and hopefully, they give him a crack at captain soon.

Zion Williamson: Can’t really disagree with him being a starter however, he hasn’t been that active this season and if he is eligible to start/play then AD, Kawhi etc should be there. That being said, Zion is insane and just has that takeover factor about him, love watching him play.

Eastern Conference:

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Should be the captain and is arguably the best player in the league and has been for a few years. He will just keep getting better. Deserves to start and be captain.

Kyrie Irving: Just a baller this bloke. So quick and flashy with the ball and is a punishment to defend. 100% a starter.

Donovan Mitchell: Led the Cavs to a great season so far. Had 71 points a month or so back. It would be criminal not to have him start.

Kevin Durant: KD is KD. What do I need to say about this guy? He is just unstoppable and can do whatever he wants. He starts in my books.

Jayson Tatum: Now, as we know I previously said I would have Embiid in the starting lineup over Tatum. However, this kid is legit. Went to the finals last year and is currently the 1 seed. He deserves to start however Embiid didn’t get what he deserved but that’s basketball I guess.

The Reserves

Western Conference:

Shai Gilgeous Alexander: This guy probably should start at the 2 spot and shift Luka to the 3 but what can we do? Has been amazing this season and reminding NBA fans that the Thunder is never an easy game. 30, 5, 5, and 2 steals! Shai has got the drip on and off the court!

Damien Lillard: He is mucking around at the moment. He averages like 45ppg over his last 5 games and that goes along with 8 dimes as well. No argument here.

Ja Morant: Again no argument and who could seriously argue that he shouldn’t be here? Grizzlies are a contender led by Ja and a team to watch out for this year mainly due to his performance. Future starter.

Domantas Sabonis: I love this guy! He can do everything on the offensive end and is the heart and soul of the Kings’ style of play. Sabonis and Fox are just perfect together. No argument.

Paul George: Paul George is great and most likely deserves to be here however, D Book, AD, Ant and Kawhi deserve the spot over him. Controversial take but his spot is questionable for me.

Lauri Markkenen: You’re a casual if you don’t think he should have made it. This guy is carrying arguably the worst team in the league to a play-in spot. Most improved player no doubt and a well-deserved place.

Jaren Jackson Jr: No, just no. I really rate his game but All-Star is a joke. So many better options that I’ve named above in the Paul George comments. Verdict – Imposter!

Eastern Conference:

Jaylen Brown: Outstanding season, outstanding player, unlucky not to start but who does he start over? Love his game and hopefully, he gives us a show come the All-Star game. 100% deserved.

Joel Embiid: Lol. Top 2 in the MVP race and arguably the MVP. But he’s on the bench somehow. What a stitch-up, get this man in the starting lineup.

Bam Adebayo: Again, Big fan of his game and he is a crucial piece to Miami’s successes however Siakam is better in my opinion. Still and All=Star though. Semi deserved.

Demar DeRozan: I’m not sure what happened to the Bulls but they are not the same as last season. Demar is doing his thing though. 26, 5, 5 is very good. Well deserved.

Julius Randle: Again, I like his game but I’ll have Siakam over him any day. Randle is a baller though and 24,10,4 is very good even though he shoots the ball a fair bit. Had some insane stat lines this season. Semi deserved.

Jure Holiday: Same case as Jaren Jackson Jr, he is the imposter. Who voted for him? Harden, Young, and Siakam are so clear it’s not even funny. Not deserved.

Tyrese Haliburton: Controversial pick but I like it. He is a genius with the ball. Shoots at good percentages, good defender as well and most importantly, he makes the Pacers look actually decent. I’m okay with this pick. Deserved.

Agree with me? Disagree? Comment Below, I would love to discuss!

The post NBA All-Star Game: Who Was Robbed Of A Spot? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

GAME BREAKDOWN:

Tomorrow, the Boston Celtics take on the Nets at home in Boston and are looking to continue their dominance as the 1 seed in the East.

The Nets will suit up without KD again and of course without the imposter himself Ben Simmons. The thief (Simmons) is on nearly 40 million a year and putting up 7,6,6 and not half the defender he was at Philly so it is better off he is not playing tomorrow. On the other hand, Kyrie Irving has been unreal over the past 10 as he averages 31 points, 6 boards and 7 dimes. He will have to drop 35+ for Brooklyn to have a chance tomorrow and his centre Nic Claxton will need to support him. Claxton has also been impressive over the last 10 averaging 18ppg, 11rpg and 3 blocks a game on an insane 75% from the field! He is really starting to come into form and look like a top 10 centre in the league.

Unfortunately for the Nets, Boston seems to have the nod over them. Not to mention it’s Boston and they are often unstoppable on both sides of the floor. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have played on different levels this season as they have led the 1-seeded Celtics to a 36-15 record. Tatum, averaging 32 and 11 over his last 10 has just taken over games whenever he wants to. Not to mention 6th man Malcolm Brogdon finding form over his last 10 as well. Brogdon averages 19 points on 47% from the 3-point line which is incredible.

NETS BREAKDOWN:

As I previously mentioned, Kyrie Irving and Nic Claxton are going to have to carve up Boston’s defence to win this game. The Nets are known for their electric offence and that’s exactly what they will need to be in tomorrow’s matchup. The supporting cast of the Nets including O’neale, Harris, Curry, and Thomas will need to show up for double-digit scoring games with above-average efficiency to help Irving and Claxton dominate.

The Nets have won 3 of their last 4 and I can’t write them off tomorrow just because they play Boston. We all know Irving loves to play against his former teams and won’t be surprised to see a 40-piece from the superstar point guard. Claxton is on for a 20-point double-double as well in my opinion, even though I don’t see the Nets coming out with the win, they in no way will go down without a fight.

Claxton can do whatever he wants in the paint at such high efficiency mainly because the fraud himself (Ben Simmons) is not there to pull up a camp chair in the paint and sit down and just observe. I think the Nets are so much better without him on the floor and they have a decent shot to win the game tomorrow. A line bet with an 8.5+ start would be a great shout (Currently paying $1.88 on Sportsbet) if you are into the shorter singles.

CELTICS BREAKDOWN:

Brown and Tatum are probably two of the top 10 players in the league right now and Tatum is top 3 behind Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic (in my opinion). They just do so many things right as a team. From the stars to the role-playing starters to the supporting unit, everything just clicks and that’s why they are where they are right now. A pleasure to watch this team play and a championship run is right around the corner for this team.

I’ll start off by talking about Jayson Tatum. Tatum shows up against the Nets 9 times out of 10 and he just loves dominating the big games. He has had a poor start against them this season but in no doubt, he will be after a big game tomorrow. Even if he doesn’t play to his par, Jaylen Brown is just one of those guys who you just can’t remember a shot he actually missed. He has taken his play to the next level as of late. He will destroy the Nets’ defence tomorrow and I have 0 doubt in that comment and will eat my words if I am to be proven wrong.

THE VERDICT:

Who wins: Boston gets up just, a 1-10 margin

Players to watch: Jaylen Brown (CELTICS) Kyrie Irving (NETS)

Same Game Multi:

Brown: 20 points, 4 rebounds

Irving: 25 points 4 assists

Claxton: 15 points 8 rebounds

Tatum: 25 points 

Odds @5 via Sportsbet

The post NBA Matchup Of The Day: Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics first appeared on The Mock Sports.

GAME BREAKDOWN:

Two top teams in the NBA Eastern Conference face off in an intense matchup in Ohio this morning. The 5th seeded Cavs led by Starting All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell play the 6th seeded Miami unit, led by the one and only Jimmy Butler. Earlier this season, Cavs smoked the Heat by 27 points, however, Bam Adebayo was the only decent player active for the game that day, so, that scoreline does not tell us much. 

The Cavs have been in some mediocre form as of late, however, they made a joke out of the injured Clippers team led by dominant performances by their front court duo (Garland & Mitchell).

However, the Cavs haven’t won back to back games since early January which is a slight concern. On the positive side I expect them to be fully healthy in tomorrow’s game (Bar Kevin Love) which means they should be ready to go and prove to the league they aren’t pretenders in this leagues race to get out of the East.

HEAT BREAKDOWN

Miami have finally picked up form, going 7-3 in their last 10. Led by Butler who is averaging 23ppg, 5rpg, and 2 steals a game over the 10 game span and Bam Adebayo also playing well, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds on the season. Butler’s health is questionable at this point in time but even if he is out tomorrow I would not put the red pen through Miami’s chances. Herro, Adebayo, Lowry and Oladipo have been great this season and there team chemistry is slowly improving. Miami need this win to help build their push for a top seed in the east.

CAVS BREAKDOWN: 

To get straight into this breakdown, Darius Garland I think will be the key to victory for the cavs today. Whether Butler plays or not, I assume Miami’s defensive gameplan will focus on the 1st option on the Cavs (Donovan Mitchell) which will leave alot of work on Mitchell’s plate this morning.

Garland has to just take Lowry back to school and outplay him and take advantage of his lack of lateral speed and just speed in general. If Garland cann create for his team mates this game, it will take alot of weight off Mitchell’s shoulders and allow Allen and Mobley to dominate the interior. I think Allen and Mobley will also dominate the interior on the defensive side of the floor and cause issues for Bam Adebayo to generate offense. Again even if Butler plays I see the Cavs having control of the interior however, if Jimmy buckets is there I think the perimeter will be dominated by Miami’s offense which may cause problems for Mitchell and Garland on the defensive end. 

THE VERDICT:

Who Wins?: I’ll take the Cavs here with a 1-10 margin ($2.70) and it could be more if Butler does not play.

Players to watch: Darius Garland (CAVS), Tyler Herro (HEAT)

Singles selections:

– Cavs head to head – $1.56 Odds

– Garland 30 pts+ast – $2.20 Odds

-Allen over 22.5 pts + reb – $1.90 Odds

The post NBA Matchup Of The Day: Miami Heat @ Cleveland Cavaliers first appeared on The Mock Sports.