Western Conference teams battle it out on the hardcourt Wednesday, as the Thunder take on the Suns at PHX Arena.
Both teams are underperforming but it makes for an intriguing online betting matchup on Wednesday at 9:00 pm.
Our online sportsbook has odds for the NBA feature, which sees Phoenix trying to stay above .500.
Suns Needs To Relax
Relaxing while playing professional basketball is easier said than done, but it’s the key to success for the Phoenix Suns. They are in danger of repeating last season, where it relied on a big late-season comeback to start making noise.
The difference in 2021 is that there’s now expectations for the Suns to perform, and they’re not handling it. Despite having Chris Paul, the relatively inexperienced unit continues to lose games they could easily have won.
The Suns have lost four of their last five games, including back-to-back overtime losses to Denver.
Phoenix needs to start having fun, and seeing Devin Booker get visibly frustrated isn’t something you want after 15 games.
Following its game against Oklahoma City, Phoenix plays Golden State at home before going on a three-game road trip. Therefore, securing the win on Wednesday is important for this team’s psyche.
How To Bet On A Rebuilding Team
It’s not easy for online bettors to bet on teams during a rebuilding phase. Oklahoma City is clearly in a rebuilding phase after trading Paul and Steven Adams but how do we profit from this situation?
Just because they’re not an ideal team, doesn’t mean they can’t beat teams like Phoenix. Every man on the Thunder roster is competing for a spot in the team, including the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Not knowing if you’re going to be on the team next week is a big motivator for some players. If Oklahoma City can play carefree basketball, bettors can cash in throughout the remainder of the season.
Thunder Needs To Show Defensive Pride
Coming into this game having lost four consecutive games isn’t ideal, but it’s the defense that is the problem.
Oklahoma City gives up an average of 112.8 points per game.
If the Thunder wants to be competitive, they need to muscle up on defense and show some pride. It’s often about a lack of passion when it comes to defense because players want to inflate their scoring numbers. However, the Thunder needs to guard the rim with better efficiency.
The defensive statistics are made worse by the lack of scoring. OKC scores only 105.3 points per game, seven points less than it gives up. It’s not good enough, so the mindset needs to change.
The Better Situation?
It’s obvious to say Phoenix is in a better position this season, but it’s also in an extremely tough division.
Phoenix has both the Clippers and Lakers to compete with in the Pacific and we haven’t mentioned Golden State. Compare that with the Thunder, and their chances of having success this season isn’t too low.
Oklahoma City has the likes of Utah, Denver, and Portland to compete with, but the three aforementioned teams aren’t as classy as the two Los Angeles teams.
If the Thunder can get on a winning run, the Northwest division is up for grabs.
Thunder vs Suns Game Pick
We haven’t liked the way Phoenix has played in recent weeks, but being at home could be the difference.
If the Suns don’t start winning consistently, they could struggle this season. They need to notch wins before going on a road trip, and they will eye the Thunder as there for the taking.
Chris Paul faces his old team, so expect a heightened sense of importance from the seasoned pro.