Wizards vs. Nets NBA Odds, Preview and Prediction (Archive)
The retooled Washington Wizards take the court against the high-powered Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are favored by NBA odds, but who is the right NBA pick?
Washington Wizards vs. Brooklyn Nets
Monday, October 25, 2021 – 07:30 PM EDT at Barclays Center
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards made significant roster changes this offseason. The Wizards traded Russell Westbrook for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. They made a splash in the free agency market signing dynamic point guard Spencer Dinwiddie. These moves were made to better support last year’s NBA scoring champion, Bradley Beal.
So far the moves have paid dividends. The Wizards have started 2-0, including a thrilling one-point overtime victory against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
Spencer Dinwiddie is currently leading the team in scoring averaging 23.5 points per game in only 30 minutes per game. Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell have loved the freedom of their new roles in this free-flowing Wizards offense. Kuzma is averaging 18.5 and an astonishing 13 rebounds per game. and Harrell is averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per game.
Daniel Gafford was a sneaky addition for the Wizards at the trading deadline last year. He is centering a defense that has greatly improved. It is only two games, yet the defense is quicker to the ball and more coherent. The Wizards are only giving up 108.5 points per game. Last year the Wizards were 30th in the league in points per game allowed at 118.5.
Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Shepherd deserves credit for shoring up the defense and making a strong push to keep Bradley Beal in Washington.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets came out flat and lost by 23 points opening night against the Milwaukee Bucks. They then traveled to Philadelphia where they pulled out a squeaker, beating the Philadelphia 76ers by 6 points. The Nets finished the game on a 12-0 run which allowed them to steal a victory in a game in which they had been trailing for the first 44 minutes.
Kevin Durant is already in midseason MVP form. James Harden is still struggling to play himself into shape. Nets head coach Steve Nash is also struggling with the rotation. Certain lineup combinations he features using big men Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge can be too slow for the fast-paced nature of the current NBA game.
Patty Mills has been a strong addition and will be even more important come playoff time. Cam Thomas will provide a scoring punch next to Mills off the bench, but he is only in his third game as a pro and will take time for him to grow into his role as an NBA scorer.
The Nets had an offseason embroiled in controversy as the third star Kyrie Irving refused to get vaccinated and therefore cannot play in the team’s home games. The Nets told Kyrie he will not be allowed to be a part-time player, so he is not traveling with the team until this issue is resolved.
With the season starting and the Nets’ clear stance on the issue, however, I no longer think this is lingering over the team. They are prepared to go forward with the players that they have.
Key Matchup
No one in the league can stop Kevin Durant, so the key to slowing down this Nets high-powered offense has to slow down James Harden.
Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have a chance to show why they were such smart additions and they will draw the majority of this assignment. KCP is a little quicker. Kuzma has the length to prevent Harden from simply shooting whenever he gets the ball.
Regardless, Harden is an elite scorer and once he gets his rhythm going he can potentially produce over 30 points on any night.
It will be incumbent on Kuzma and Caldwell-Pope to ensure that Harden’s slow start this season continues for at least one more game if the Wizards are to win.
Best Bet
The Brooklyn Nets are a bit overvalued here at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks. They are still creating chemistry and James Harden is adjusting to the rule changes that send him to the free-throw line far less often.
The Wizards have a nice balance of offense and defense now, rather than just being the offensive juggernaut that they were last year. This game will be much closer than the NBA odds suggest. Take the points. Take the Wizards.
NBA Pick: Washington Wizards +7.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline 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.