Progsport Basketball Prediction

This Houston team obviously knows its ambitions this season but probably not yet its limits. The priority objective: qualify for the playoffs. The secondary objective: pass the 1st round. The icing on the cake: playing in the Western Conference final. High goals... But in such a strong Western Conference the difference is made in the Play-offs. Besides, Houston is well placed to talk about it, 2nd in the regular season, and eliminated by 7th Golden State last year. Third in the West a few months later, H-Town won the last 3 duels: Bucks 115-122, Wizards 135-112 and Blazers 140-116. The Orlando Magic demonstrated their ability to achieve great things last year. Strengthened by the arrival of Desmond Bane in the rhythm, the Mickey Mouse franchise once again moved towards a positive record of 7 victories - 6 defeats. The consequence of a well-negotiated week for J. Mosley's men, winners of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half 115-112, of the New York Knicks 107-124 for the franchise's benchmark match this year in the NBA and finally ahead of the Brooklyn Nets 105-98. 

For our part. A bit like the start of the Chicago Bulls season, we don't believe in this Phoenix team. For several obvious reasons. The first because the departures of Durant and Beal are supposed to bring about a cycle of reconstruction. Secondly, this Western Conference is too demanding for a team like the Phoenix Suns. Finally thirdly, the calendar is nice. Over the last 4 games, the Suns beat the Clippers in crisis 115-102, 103-114 twice, the Pelicans 121-98 good last in the Western conference and Dallas penultimate 114-123, then Indiana 133-98 penultimate in the East. The Atlanta Hawks' performance is breathtaking, especially in context. Deprived of T.Young since the start of the season or almost, they are for the moment united and inspired. 5th in the Western Conference 7 wins - 5 losses, the Falcons have won some very good battles against Western franchises recently. In front of the Los Angeles Lakers 122-102 on November 9, a few days before starting this road trip to the West in the best way at the Clippers 102-105, on the floor of the Sacramento Kings 100-133, then in front of the Utah Jazz 122-132. 

New Orleans is the story of a resounding failure. Of a story that never really began between its jewel Zion Williamson, too fragile physically injured this evening, and a franchise whose choices are very often eccentric, misunderstood. New Orleans while waiting for better days is in 15th place in the Western Conference 2 wins - 10 losses. After having chained two victories in front of Charlotte 116-112 and Dallas 99-101, the Bayou franchise lost the next 4, notably the last in front of the Austin Reaves Lakers 31 points, 104-118. Bad luck for this New Orleans team because its opponent really has fangs. The Golden State Warriors 8th, 8 wins - 6 losses are playing hard. It plays hard. They just beat the San Antonio Spurs twice in the AT&T Center Arena. The first match at the end of a game controlled overall 120-125 marked by Stephen Curry's 46 points and the 2nd a little more bizarre but won 108-109 thanks in particular to the 49 points of... Stephen Curry you guessed it. 

The Utah Jazz 10th, 4 wins - 8 losses, already has a colossal gap on their first target in the West, Portland 9th, 6 wins - 6 losses. A huge gap. A gap justified by the fact that the Western Conference has too many teams “ready for the Play-offs”. Obviously for a Salt Lake City team now orphaned by its great American international pivot Walker Kessler who is injured, things are looking rather bad for them, beaten 48 hours ago at home against the Atlanta Hawks 122-132. The Chicago Bulls 8th in the East, 6 wins - 5 losses leaders of the Eastern Conference a few days ago, are now in 8th place. This is completely logical for the Bulls who are in overdrive, but who will now hope to secure a spot for the Play-in, or even the Play-offs. That said, barely 15% of the regular season has passed so far, but the Bulls must however find some bite, a good horn. Because for now Josh Giddey's teammates have lost their last 4 games in the NBA Bucks 126-110, Cavaliers 128-122, Spurs 117-121 and Pistons 124-113. 

The opposite hope for the Brooklyn Nets is found in some of the young men present on this roster for the Washington Wizards. Indeed, how can we miss the start of the XXL season 19 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists from Frenchman Alex Sarr for his 2nd year in the NBA. The perspective on him starts to change, what if, what if he had the shoulders to build something cool around him? Probably not this year however where Washington is in 15th place, only 1 victory on the clock ahead of Dallas 107-117 for no less than 10 consecutive defeats for the Wizards defeated 135-112 at the Rockets 2 days ago. The worst is yet to come. Do you think we're hitting rock bottom with Washington? Wait until you see the Brooklyn Nets deprived of many Draft rounds, unable to rebuild for the moment, obviously without the slightest idea. But above all the equipment raises questions... The workforce is very small, and only holds dal in terms of currency of exchange. Brooklyn is in 13th place with a record similar to its little friend in the Capital: 1 victory - 11 defeats. Brooklyn lost the last 4 games, but for the last 2 it was relatively committed after losses to the Raptors 109-119 and the Orlando Magic 105-98.