Game 4.5: And All That Jazz

The Utah Jazz looked really good in Game 3. The Jazz ahead 2-1 and playing Game 4 at home, it is easy to pick against the Thunder especially they have at least two players (Westbrook and George) available. But... if the Thunder steals Game 4, that tips the balance a great deal. And so while I run a risk of losing George, I am not picking in this series today.

The Timberwolves are still expected to lose this round even if they win Game 4. The Rockets are that good. My pick: Jimmy Butler.


For Tuesday, I pick Hassan Whiteside. He has increased his minutes and ball touches lately. That’s good for DTTF (we’re calling any variation of this game generically as DTTF hehe). The Sixers are finishing them off in Game 5.

The same can be said of the Warriors with the Spurs. If you haven’t picked LaMarcus Aldridge (in spite of all our urgings towards the Texas homecook meal), you should. Otherwise, nothing else to see here.

The Bucks@Celtics Game 5 will be interesting to watch. Even 2-2. It will be holiday here in Australia, so I am preparing a pack or two of popcorn.

Good luck with your picks!

Comments

  1. You are fortunate to still have Jimmy Butler left. Makes today's decision much easier. For me, I've going with Paul George instead of Russell Westbrook. I could also pick Andrew Wiggins and play it safe, but I'm near the bottom of the standings. Playing it safe isn't going to be my strategy. I have a good feeling about the Utah Jazz. They play a great brand of defense. Oklahoma City has never heard of defense.

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    1. I think it’s too early. Most of the top10% have picked carelessly, so there’s still time to cope. I’d say Conference Finals is the time to make riskier picks.

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    2. Perhaps it's too early, but I believe in the Jazz and don't really feel good about the Thunder. Worst case scenario I lose a guy who makes it to the second round but not further than that. Oklahoma City would get obliterated by Houston anyways. So is it really that much of a risk? I say no!

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    3. I don't think it's too early. I've been epically unfortunate with my picks. Here's a recap:
      Aldridge for 17PRA
      Butler for 21PRA
      Dragic for 27PRA
      Beal for 14PRA
      Towns for 15PRA
      McCollum for 26PRA
      Giannis for 30PRA
      Lillard for 30PRA
      Wall for 47PRA

      Wall was great. Everyone else didn't help much. I'm gonna be a bit more aggressive with my picks and go for it!

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  2. Yeah, Butler makes it an easy pick day for ya. Whiteside is scary though. You've braver than I. I'm not touching him no matter what in any game this Postseason.

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    1. I'm going with Dwayne Wade instead. Not much safer, but he doesn't have many years left in him. Might as well pick him while you can. He might be extra motivated to give it everything he has left.

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    2. That should read Dwyane Wade, of course

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    3. Everybody watch the wires. If Wade gets to start, he’s the better pick.

      Whiteside should be fine. The 1st two games, we can wipe those off the board. He was not part of the O, and he had no use without Embiid

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  3. I will not complain, as I was wishing for a more unpredictable series this season, so DTTF would be much more interesting. But this is the first day I have many many doubts on who to pick. I considered Paul George too, and I would feel good picking him instead. I also think Utah have more chances to advance. And I even would prefer the Jazz in the next round as personal choice. I like this Utah team, even without a superstar. But I don't see OKC losing 4 straight games. And if I am wrong and OKC advances, they don't have too many good players to pick from. So I will play it safe and pick my original first option for today in Wiggins. For game5 if OKC loses tonight, it will be an easy choice. It's true that for game6 we will have LeBron or Oladipo in the mix too, but I hope we will have some 7game series.

    For tomorrow nothing interesting from San Antonio, and I think it's probable we will have a couple of single game nights with the Celtics and Bucks, so better to wait for game5 result. Best option from Miami for me is Goran Dragic, hoping for a big game to avoid elimination

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  4. Looks like OKC can't get it together (middle 4th quarter now). My strategy was to hold off using anyone in this series till game 4 since I had a feeling UTA could pull the upset but now I got a tough decision on wed. Do I go Butler or Rus? I'm glad I used PG13 tonight

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    1. I made previous comment above ^. I'm leaning toward westbrook because J Butler has not been scoring at a high clip this series mainly because they have many scoring options. I think their is a high ceiling for Westbrook in a do or die game

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    2. PG13 tonight and westbrook next game is the perfect strategy. Mine are reversed and hopefully will also be good.

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  5. 4/26 there could possibly be only one game to pick from which is a Bucks player. I was hoping that the Utah and OKC game 5 move to Thursday instead.

    Tonight, I want to pick Middleton. But, if the schedule remains unchanged I have to pick a Heat player besides Dragic which I have picked already. Or I can take Rudy Gay.

    For Wednesday, it’s a tougher decision I had Oladipo prepicked and Beal for Friday. Now, it’s Westbrook since OKC is facing elimination. Hopefully, the schedule gets adjusted by one day to make our picks easier.

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  6. Ah, discussions. I missed those.

    Funny thing in g4 in Utah, if you picked from OKC, no matter who, because PG and RW both got a 40. If you picked from Utah and chose between Gobert and Rubio like I did, no matter who, because both got a 27.

    Of course a pick from OKC was the better choice, more PRA and OKC lost and is on the brink of elimination. I am now banking on Westbrook winning the game singlehandedly with a triple double from hell, but in the end it doesn´t matter what he is going to get because everybody is going to pick him. Then in g6 we will hurry with George (if Cleveland doesn´t lose at home so we all have to pick LeBron). I do not want to think about OKC winning g5 and g6.

    Tonight I had really no viable pick left. I already picked Giannis and Kris from the Bucks, I don´t want to touch the Celtics, I already picked Aldridge (not trusting Gay) and Dragic (not trusting Wade, he is only good in every second game), but then I realized that Embiid is playing, that means Whiteside is playing, that should translate in at least a double-double. Let´s hope so.

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  7. First dud of the game for me. Whiteside 7 PRA. Unlucky number

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