THE NBA SEASON IS UPON US! WHAT A GLORIOUS LIFE WE ALL LIVE! What makes the NBA so great, aside from the continuously improving talent, athleticism, and drama, is the fact that we get games daily. Had a bad night last night? Who cares? Today is a new day! Fantrax wants to help you win a bit of money, so we will be giving you NBA Player Prop Bets every week. We’ll shy away from keying in on any particular sportsbook, as we know odds vary, and so do props. We’ll focus on our projections, and allow you to find your best odds.
Player Props
Giannis Antetokounmpo, OVER 25 Points:
Giannis and the Bucks open their season against a 76ers team that has already taken a loss vs. the Boston Celtics, and it was an away game. Giannis will be fresh, and the team will still be missing Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, Joe Ingles, and Wesley Matthews. It’s safe to assume that Grayson Allen and Brook Lopez won’t score 30+ each, so Jrue Holiday and Giannis will need to carry the load. Last year, the Bucks were 4th in offensive rating and 4th in pace. The 76ers just allowed Boston to score 126 points, so I’m not anticipating a defensive brawl. Giannis, who averaged a shade under 30 PPG last year, will have a huge night, without much resistance.
P.J. Tucker, UNDER 8 Points:
Two nights ago vs. the Celtics, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris combined for 100 of the teams’ 117 points. Tucker, who rounded out the starting five, scored 6 points on 3-5 shooting. That’s not an indictment on Tucker’s offensive prowess (or lack thereof), but moreso, his role on this team. Tucker wasn’t signed to the Sixers to get buckets, he’s there to guard any team’s best player, provided they aren’t the Center or Point Guard. Tucker spent his night chasing around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, which relegated him to shooting open corner threes or pick-and-roll layups. He’ll have that same role tonight vs. the Bucks. And he’ll be tired as a dog trying to hold Giannis to under 30 points (and he’ll likely fail, see the above paragraph). Don’t expect much offense from Tucker. It ain’t his job.
LeBron James OVER 40 Points+Rebounds+Assists:
With one game in the books for the Lakers, I’ll admit I didn’t learn much. They didn’t bring Russ off the bench, which is probably smartest for his/team morale. They’re still learning the rotations that make sense for them. And they faced the defending champions, who had very little turnover. They were supposed to lose, and they did. But LeBron looked incredible. I know the Clippers were top 10 in defensive rating last year, and that was before they got Kawhi and Paul George back healthy, like they’ll have for this game. But, LeBron doesn’t have a bad matchup. He’s one of the five best players this league has ever seen, and he’s not slowing down. Opening night vs. the Warriors he had 31/14/8 on 12 of 25 shooting, and 35 minutes. There’s no doubt in my mind he won’t have some variation of 25+/10+/5+ against a worse team, that still has to figure out roles/rotations. When backed against a corner, LeBron takes on more, not less. I expect another high-usage night from Bron.
For more great analysis check out our full 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball Draft Kit!