Time for Nuggets, Suns to Shine?

However, going to the next level has always been tough for these teams, which is why the sportsbook is cautious.

Finding Gold With Nuggets

The Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the league, but that doesn’t always result in playoff success.

They went 53-29 and 34-7 at home, so they will be tough to beat with home-court advantage at Ball Arena.

However, there is always that niggling feeling that the Nuggets will let bettors down. They have been in this position before, with Nikola Jokic dominating and the team posting wins, but they lack that playoff drive.

The Nuggets will be heavily featured in our NBA picks, but they must dig deep and rise to another level. We’re hoping they will progress to the latter stages of the playoffs, with the likes of Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray improving their game.

After losing to the Rockets last week, which was followed by losses to the Suns and Jazz, coach Michael Malone fired a shot.

“If that’s how we’re going to play, we’ll be out in the first round,” Malone said. “When we don’t do our jobs, there’s accountability. And I speak the truth. I just called our team ‘soft,’ and I dared someone to challenge me. No one did, because we as a group were soft tonight. I’m not saying we are soft, but tonight, we were.”

Bettors will need to muster some courage when backing the Nuggets, but they’re a worthwhile wager in 2023.

Suns Soon to Get Hot

The Suns might have closed out the regular season with consecutive losses to the LA Lakers and Clippers, but they’re in a good position.

Our NBA predictions have them making a solid run during the playoffs, which kick off against the Los Angeles Clippers, so that will be a real test of their ability.

The Suns are -500 to win the series with online gambling markets, which is shorter than expected. The Clippers have a good team despite the injury to Paul George, but with all things being equal, the Suns should advance.

There is an obvious concern about Chris Paul’s lack of big-game success. He has yet to win a Game 7 during the NBA playoffs, and that statistic has to change if the Suns want a chance to win the title.

In their favor is a 28-13 record at home. They have a home-court advantage against the Clippers, so they will feel comfortable holding the fort at Footprint Center.

Bettors could feel disenfranchised with betting on the Suns during the playoffs, but the addition of Kevin Durant helps. He wasn’t able to win a chip with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brooklyn Nets, but he won with the Golden State Warriors.

Is he the man teams want to lead them to a championship? Not really, but he’s a dynamic scorer, and that makes the Suns a legitimate title hope.

Expect sports betting markets to trim their odds should they get past the Clippers without too much fuss.