NBA - 701 Indiana Pacers @ 702 New York Knicks
Projected Line: NY Knicks by 2 points
***DOUBLE DIME PLAY***
Indiana has been one of the disappointments of the season. They are playing without Danny Granger and their struggles have been just on offense, but they keep being one of the best defenses in the league. I know the Knicks are playing really well on this early season, but Indiana is a tough matchup for them and in their last game against Dallas at home, they were able to get something they were really needing: an easy win to give them confidence back. Indiana's defense was stellar against Dallas by leaving the Mavericks to just 18+16 points in the second half! But this time, the Pacers showed a big improvement on offense and the merit goes to their coach Jim Vogel, as he changed paths with his offensive game plan to generate more cutting and passing in the half court and apparently he knew it was going to work.
"With that last offense, we were thinking too much, the ball wasn't moving and staying on one side of the floor," Hill continued. "This offense demands the ball move from side to side and different ways we can post up people and different ways we can cut and be creative so you have to tip your hat to the coaching staff.
As the Knicks use a small lineup, they will have the same problems that they had in their last game in Memphis. They got pounded down low by the Grizzlies' frontcourt and the same may happen today against Indiana. Note that the Knicks are just #23 on defensive rebound rate with 71.9% and Indiana is a good offensive rebound team. Also with Tyson Chandler being the only good interior defensive player, the Knicks are allowed 65% FG at the rim! They are in the middle of the pack (#16) in defending post up plays and suddenly, Indiana's offense will have a clear edge over the Knicks today, especially down low.
The Knicks' offense has been red hot, with good shooting especially coming from screens and pick and roll plays from their guards plus Carmelo Anthony on his isolation plays. However, the Knicks are getting worse and worse on their ball movement, while raising the number of isolation plays. Note that the Knicks had just 17, 15, 17 and 18 assists on their last four games! The problem for them is that Indiana is an excellent defensive team, especially on the perimeter, where the Knicks are a top offensive team. The Pacers are #7 in defending pick and roll ball handler plays, #2 on spot up plays, #1 in off screens and #5 in transition defense!
The Knicks had a road trip with back to back tough games in San Antonio and Memphis and now with just one day off to rest, they will face the Pacers at home in an early game. Indiana is clearly being underrated on this game and with the adjustments made on their offense in their last game, I like them in here to cause a surprise today. I'm taking Indiana in here on a Double Dime Play!
Pick: 4 units (Double Dime Play) on 701 Indiana Pacers (+7,5) @ -115 / 1.95 on Bovada
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