The best chance the Wizards have of salvaging their season is through the incorporation of Dwight Howard into their rotation. With his debut on Friday, we’ll be able to see what it looks like when John Wall has a legitimate rim-running, above-the-rim athlete as a pick-and-roll partner. Howard can set hard screens to free up Beal on the perimeter. He has untapped passing ability, so maybe a little high-low action from the elbow with cutters like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Otto Porter? The possibilities are endless! Or maybe Dwight can come back in time to play his usual role of the fall guy for a failed season? Kyle Cash breaks down the chances of the Wiz beating OKC and gives his NBA pick.

Anthony Davis is a once-in-a-generation talent. There’s hardly any dispute surrounding that. But he’s also a once-in-a-generation glass skeleton; it’s impossible that a man this big and strong can get this many ticky-tack injuries. He looked like he was operating at 80% capacity in last night’s bout versus the defending champions, and 80% isn’t going to cut it for a team who’s 4th best player is E’Twaun Moore. What can we expect out of Davis tonight versus Dame and the Blazer? Cash gives his prediction.

What Indiana lacks in style they make up for in competency. Nate McMillan’s team ranks in the top-10 in the NBA in Offensive Rating, Defensive Rating, and Boring as Shit rating. The Pacers are the perfect control test team; they are perfectly balanced. They are too talented and professional to lose to bad teams but lack the talent to take on the league’s elite. Most betting sites have Pacers -5.5 and their efficiency should mean an easy cover, right?

Coach Nick Nurse hasn’t proven the ability to game plan for the 76ers but they have bodies to throw at guys defensively. Ibaka is a stout defender, while Anunoby and Siakam are long enough and athletic enough to be a problem. Not much needs to be said about that new pair of baseball gloves from San Antonio. If Toronto watches the tape from the Hawks game and decides to sag off of Fultz and Simmons, the onus will be on them to knock down shots or find other ways to score. This will allow Raptors to help on Embiid on the block. Will the Raptors use the tools available and can bettors count on Nurse to be disciplined for 48 and cover the -6.5 most betting sites are dangling?

Los Angeles currently sits in the bottom-10 of both offensive and defensive rating, and it’s unclear whether the main culprit is scheme, personnel, chemistry, or all of the above. I’m going to go with D. All of the above. Final answer. LeBron-led teams have struggled on defense over the last couple of seasons as the King has realized his energy is best saved for offense, but that end isn’t clicking yet either. Who will win this pick’em game outright and earn the right to say they are a 3-4 team? Kyle Cash has his NBA pick!

Kyle Cash is dubious of the Mavericks’ ability to generate offense. They still rank 12th in Offensive Rating, but that number is slowly on the decline, and Utah’s defensive front is about as daunting as they come. The Jazz have multiple bodies to throw on Luka (Joe Ingles, Alec Burks, Jae Crowder) to attempt to mitigate his playmaking and put a lock on the head of Dallas’ offense. If the Mavericks can’t get out in transition, and that means getting some rebounds, I doubt their half-court offense is going to be able to outpace the Jazz, and this might get ugly quick. Is that enough to make the Utah Jazz today’s NBA pick at +4.5? Kyle Cash gives his final score prediction!

Damian Lillard is currently doing that thing he does where he’s completely unstoppable, and Portland is thriving because of it. Even with C.J. McCollum shaking off the summer rust, the Trail Blazers have started the season 3-1 and sit in 4th in the Western Conference standings. Roster continuity tends to lend itself to early season success as other teams integrate rookies and new acquisitions, but Nik Stauskas seems to fit like a glove. The Heat are another team with many of the same parts and the spread reflects that being only 1.5 to Portland. Kyle Cash looks at who will come out ahead as he offers his NBA pick.

I spoke briefly about my love for Luka Doncic’s Dad-bod, so let me introduce to you John Wall’s new body a.k.a The Divorced Dad-bod. Bradley Beal spent the summer putting on sympathy weight for his pregnant wife; John Wall looks like he became impregnated himself, and his game and the team has suffered for it. Does this added… personnel make the Wizards overvalued by sportsbooks this year?

The Thunder are currently the worst offense in the league. With the absence of Westbrook for 2 of those games, we can go ahead and give them a pass, and let’s assume their season starts tonight. Last season, the Thunder ranked inside the top-10 in both Offensive and Defensive efficiency. Will that team show up against the Celtics?

This ain’t your Grandfather’s Dallas Mavericks team; this team scores a ton! They are coming into this game with the 4th best Offensive Efficiency in the league, and versus a team like Atlanta that likes to push the tempo (2nd in the NBA in pace), the Mavericks will be able to play fast and loose. Who benefits more from this style of play tonight? Kyle Cash has the NBA pick.