Nets vs. Wizards Free NBA Betting Picks for Thursday (Archive)
Two struggling teams do battle out east as the Washington Wizards host the Brooklyn Nets. The Wizards have lost eight of their last ten games while Brooklyn has lost nine in a row. Somebody has to win tonight and the onus will be on the Nets who are thinking big picture while the Wizards continue to be a middle-of-the-pack franchise. Which team is the right NBA pick?
Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards
Thursday, February 10, 2022 – 07:30 PM EST at Capital One Arena
Wheels Have Fallen Off in Brooklyn
When the Nets beat the Lakers on Christmas day, they were the number one team in the Eastern Conference. That seems like a lifetime ago now with the current state of affairs. Kevin Durant did not play in that game although he did return to the lineup shortly after sustaining the current injury that has kept him out since January 15th. That stretch between Christmas and Durant's second injury was when the wheels started to fall off.
Since Durant's injury last month, the Nets have gone 2-10 with one of their two wins coming against Washington back on January 19th. If you listen to the narratives in the media, they'll blame Durant's injury, Kyrie Irving not being available for home games, and James Harden's mood.
If I were Brooklyn, I would trade Harden before the deadline for so many reasons that this column isn't big enough to get into them right now. I'll break it down like this; he's clearly out of shape, he's not happy in Brooklyn, he'll be 33 this summer and he's already played almost 900 regular season games plus 137 playoff games.
Let me be clear. If Harden is happy, they should keep him. When this guy is disinterested, he's already shown in the past that he can be one of the most unprofessional superstars in the league. As you might guess, all of this inner turmoil is certainly not making what's happening on the court much more complicated. That is why the Wizards, despite all of their issues, are -3 point favorites tonight at the NBA odds.
VIDEO PICKS: Watch BMR's Free Expert Sports Betting Picks of the Day
Wizards Franchise Can't Get Things Right
The Wizards started off the season looking real promising but that optimism was short lived. This is not a good basketball team and it's hard to figure out where they go from here. They have star guard Bradley Beal under contract for the next two seasons but it is far from a certainty that he signs another deal. If I'm Bradley Beal, I've done my time in Washington, I've made my money and now it's time to go somewhere where I can actually win something.
Of course, the Wizards will be hoping to change his mind but with the current product on the court, there doesn't seem to be much chance of that. The only reason that Beal isn't in trade rumors like Harden is that he chose to have season-ending surgery on his wrist a few days ago.
The only bright spot left for this team this season, in my opinion, is the continued development of Kyle Kuzma. While that might be a moral victory, with the number of bad contracts the Wizards notoriously give out on a regular basis, Kuzma's play is a highlight for them.
Spencer Dinwiddie is the opposite of a successful free agent signing and his lackluster play is one of the many reasons things have gone wrong for this team. Remember, Dinwiddie is the second-highest-paid player on the team and Davis Bertans is third. For an idea of how insane that is, Bertans is 14th on the roster in minutes per game.
When you add that to the fact that their most recent lottery pick Rui Hachimura looks like a bust since coming back from injury, things can't get much worse in Washington.
Under Has Value in This Spot
The Nets are +3 to a team that for all intents and purposes is worse than them so that might have some value here if you insist on playing a side. I need more than one possession if I’m taking Brooklyn or less than one possession if I'm laying points with Washington. In other words, I don't see any value in the current spread. The total however is much more interesting.
The total opened at 219 and has been steamed down to 217 which I like because I'm taking the over. If you go back to then the Nets were successful, they were ranked as high as 5th in the league in terms of defensive efficiency. Since Durant's injury, they're ranked last in the league in defense.
While I don't exactly trust the Wizards' offense, I do think at home against this terrible Brooklyn defense (at the moment) they can get enough points to help push this total over.
Also, since this is a home game, Kyrie will be available for Brooklyn. Although he's struggled with his shooting in the last couple of games, if ever there was a backcourt that he can light up, it would be this one. My official play is Under 217 (-108) at one of our best sportsbooks.
NBA Pick: Under 217 (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.