NBA Picks 3/1 – Brooklyn at New York Nets

NBA Picks 3/1 – Brooklyn at New York Nets

by Thomas Quaynor – NBA analyst for Wannamakeabet.com

We have a ‘Battle for New York’ tonight as the Brooklyn Nets (34-27) take on the New York Knicks (36-27)  at Madison Square Garden. New York is a 7 point favorite and the total is 225.5. This is the fourth and final meeting between these teams, Brooklyn won the first 2 meetings at home, 112-85, in November and 122-115 last month, while New York won the last matchup, 124-106, at home on February 13th.  New York had lost 9 straight games to Brooklyn prior to that win. New York currently sits in 5th place in the East, while Brooklyn is one game behind them in 6th.

THE SKINNY ON BOTH TEAM: A 2016 NATIONAL CHAMPION VILLANOVA WILDCATS REUNION?

The New York Knicks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA as they’ve won 6 straight and 8 of their last 9. The win streak started after they traded for versatile swingman Josh Hart. Hart’s defense, athleticism, rebounding and three-point shooting has provided a spark for the Knicks as they were considered underachievers before the win streak. The Knicks are led by All-Star Julius Randle (25.1ppg, 10.5rebs, 4.1asts) and guard Jalen Brunson (23.6ppg, 6.2asts) who they signed as a free agent in the offseason.

After being one of Luka Doncic’s “little helpers” in Dallas for the past few years, Brunson has established himself as one of the top guards in the NBA with the Knicks. Brunson and Hart were also college teammates at Villanova for two seasons where the won they 2016 national championship. The Knicks have also gotten a boost from center Mitchell Robinson, who has recorded a double-double in each of his last three games since returning from injury. 

The Brooklyn Nets sent shock waves through the NBA when they traded the superstar duo of Kyrie Irving (to Dallas) and Kevin Durant (to Phoenix) at the trade deadline. Both of them signed with the Nets in July/2019 in hopes of winning multiple NBA championships.

Almost four years later, all Brooklyn got was one playoff series win, an assortment of injuries and off the court drama! Despite trading away two all-world talents, Brooklyn did get back some very good pieces that may help speed up the rebuild in Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddle. Bridges has the most potential of all the newcomers and has averaged 23.8ppg, 5.3rebs, 1.3stls in the 6 games he’s played for Brooklyn, he scored a career-high 45 points in a win against the Miami Heat on February 15th. Bridges was also on the 2016 Villanova Wildcats championship team with Brunson and Hart. Maybe their former coach Jay Wright will make an appearance at this game! 

New York has won 6 in a row, while Brooklyn has lost 3 in a row and 5 of 6, New York shouldn’t have much of a problem tonight…Lay the 6, take New York!