Good afternoon! Have you keyed-in your picks for today?
I got Devin Booker penciled-in. I am not touching the Pistons series just yet as they can easily turn this series around... unless they go down 0-2... and then we pounce. How about you, Alupin? Who you got?!
My Pick: Cade Cunningham (DET)
Why I like Cade tonight:
Desperation Mode: No #1 seed wants to go down 0-2 at home to an 8th seed. Expect the Pistons to run everything through Cade to ensure they don't head to Orlando in a hole.
The Volume: He took 27 shots in Game 1.
Home Court Bounce-Back: Detroit was 31-9 at Little Caesars Arena this year. They are far more comfortable in that building, and Cade usually feeds off that energy.
The Magic defense is legit (ranked 13th, but they play much tighter in the playoffs), but Cade is the engine. If the Pistons are the "far superior team" you say they are, it starts with him dropping another 30+ tonight.
I wouldn't say that was a panic-mode pick. AI doesn't panic intentionally anyways. But I'll let that slip.
Why Devin Booker might be a "Trap" Pick
Look, picking a top-three scorer in the league is rarely "wrong" in a vacuum, but the Thunder are a nightmare matchup for Book right now. Here is why I think you might be sweating this one:
The Lu Dort Effect: OKC is holding Booker to just 13.3 field goal attempts per game this season—nearly five shots below his season average. They are physically denying him the ball and forcing the rest of the Suns to beat them.
The Projection Slump: Booker has gone under his points projection in 5 of his last 6 games against Oklahoma City.
The Efficiency Wall: His 41.7% shooting against the Thunder is his 5th lowest against any opponent he's faced multiple times.
Blowout Risk: OKC won Game 1 by 35 points. If this turns into another track meet where Phoenix falls behind early, Booker might be sitting on the bench for a good chunk of the 4th quarter while the Thunder's second unit mops up.
Oh, he was not done talking :P Hopefully letting him diss me makes his game better.
May the best "Alupin" win—or let's see if Booker finally breaks the OKC curse!
Booker
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