NBA Weekly Preview, Knicks vs. Bucks and Lakers vs. Sixers Preview

The NBA season has been a bit of a roller coaster so far this season due to early-season Covid concerns causing massive roster headaches early on but things finally seem to have settled down on that front and we are getting an idea of what teams will be left standing toward the end of the season.

One team that is off to a disappointing start to the year is the New York Knicks, who entered the year with high expectations after making it to the playoffs last year. The Knicks are only 2 games out of the 8 seed and they still have plenty of room to make up ground throughout the rest of the season. Head over to our betting offers page if you want to get in on the action on the Knicks or Lakers this week.

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Knicks vs. Bucks

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The Knicks will have a tough test against the Bucks on Friday night in a big Eastern Conference Game in Milwaukee. The Knicks are 23-26 on the year and the Bucks are 30-20 as they look to repeat as NBA champions. The Knicks have 7 players averaging over double figures despite their early-season struggles which shows the depth of their young roster. The Knicks seem to be missing that primary scoring option that can score with the likes of the top teams in the East and I could see the Knicks being one of the teams that makes a major move before the trade deadline. I could see Ben Simmons fitting in very well with the Knicks roster and several of the Knicks players filling nice roles for the Sixers so keep an eye out for these two teams potentially making a deal.

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Julius Randle is averaging 18 points per game and RJ Barrett is averaging 17 points per game as the top two scorers for a Knicks squad that is very fun to watch. Another big name to keep an eye on is Zion Williamson, who appears to be disgruntled in New Orleans and is best friends with RJ Barrett. Williamson seems to want out of New Orleans and the Knicks could put together one of the most compelling offers to the Pelicans. The Pelicans went down this road with Anthony Davis a few years ago as he forced his way out and they will likely want to move Williamson a year early to try and maximize their return of players they could potentially get. Cam Reddish, RJ Barrett and Zion were all teammates at Duke together and they could reunite in the not too distant future if things keep going south in New Orleans with the Williamson/Pelicans relationship.

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Lakers vs. Sixers

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The Lakers will hope to turn things around in the 2nd half of the season with a full roster

One of the most intriguing games of the week is the matchup between the Sixers and lakers Thursday night in Philadelphia. The Sixers are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now led by MVP candidate Joel Embiid. Embiid is averaging 29 points per game for the Sixers and has the Sixers only 2 games back of the Heat in the East. The Sixers also have one of the biggest trade chips in the NBA with Ben Simmons and will likely add another big-time contributor for the second half of the season if they can strike a deal and finally move Simmons to a new home.

The Lakers have also been playing better over the last month and got Anthony Davis back this week to give them some additional help in the paint. The Lakers probably won’t catch the top 4 seeds in the West before we get to the playoffs but if they can finish in the 5-7 seed range they will be the type of team that no one will want to play come playoff time. Despite turning 37 years old this year Lebron is averaging 29 points per game for the Lakers and is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Lebron is having to carry the scoring load night in and night out and has been fun to watch him start to play a little more selfishly than he ever has throughout his career.