NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers VS New Orleans Pelicans Pick and Predictions 02/10/2023

Game: 10:10 PM ET,  Friday, February 10th, 2023

Venue:  Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

TV:  NBA League Pass

Cavaliers: 35-22, 4th place Eastern Conference

Pelicans: 29-27, 7th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread: Cavs -2.5, O/U 222.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Cavs -3, O/U 222.5

Fanduel: Point Spread: Cavs -3, O/U 222.5

Cavaliers: PG Darius Garland, SG Donovan Mitchell, SF Isaac Okoro, PF Evan Mobley, C Jarrett Allen

Pelicans: PG CJ McCollum, SG Brandon Ingram, SF Trey Murphy III, PF Herbert Jones, C Jonas Valanciunas

An NBA inter conference battle of potential playoff teams.  It is a great time to be the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference standings.  You just watched as the 5th spot (the Brooklyn Nets) collapsed and traded away their big time stars.  You also just watched as the Celticsw, Bucks, and 76ers above you mostly stood pat at the deadline outside of tiny, little, moves.  The future is yours if you can live up to having one of the best guard tandems and a young PF who could be a star if he improves in small ways during the second half of the season.  It is a terrible time to be in the 7th place of the Western Conference.  You just watched as the Lakers in 13th got MUCH better, The Suns in 6th place (just above you) got MUCH better, the Clippers in 5th place “may have” gotten better, and the Timberwolves (8th) and Warriors (9th) moved some pieces to focus on the finish line. The Pelicans need Zion to be healthy; anything else will leave them in the dust very soon.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 7 of their last 10 games.  They are on a 4-game winning record.  They won their last game against the lousy Detroit Pistons 113-85 for a big win ATS.  The Pistons are truly lousy… and since the two wins before that were against the Wizards and Pacers… The streak is highly suspect.  In the win over Detroit the Cavs got 20 points & 16 rebounds out of C Jarret Allen, plus 19 points & 8 rebounds out of PF Evan Mobley… The two star guards of Garland and Mitchell did not even play. It was too easy and the Pistons should be excused for the rest of the easy by the commissioner if they really are not even trying.

The New Orleans Pelicans have won 3 of their last 10 games.  All 3 wins have come in their last 3 games.  So they are on a 3-game winning streak, but don’t break your arm patting them on the back.  The recent improvement is no doubt because of the return of SF Brandon Ingram who allows every player on the roster to move down a notch in importance and responsibility.  Their last win was against the Atlanta Hawks (who once again failed to trade PF John Collins) 116-107.  In the win they got 30 points from SF Brandon Ingram.. 21 points from SG CJ McCollum (who was playing the point) and 16 points a piece from C Jonas Valanciunas and PF Trey Murphy III.  No one will mistake Trey Murphy for Zion Williamson… but they also will not mistake him for a Scrub.

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Our prediction for Friday, February 10th is…. Pelicans 131 - Cavs 111

Blow Out Alert.  The Pelicans are showing up healthy and ready to play.  The Cavs still have some questions about Garland and Mitchell.  It’s an easy call as it will get away from the Cavs early.

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The Pelicans are 2-0 versus the Cavs in New Orleans the last 3 seasons.

The Cavs are 6-1 ATS after a blowout win of 20 points or more this season.

Cavs: PF Evan Mobley.  The Cavs have a real solid backcourt and the Canter is top-notch and hustling.  That leaves the forwards to step up to get wins.  The forward most expected to make this all happen is Evan Mobley.  He played at USC, he was drafted very high.  It is time for him to put his stamp on games.

Pelicans:  SF/PF Trey Murphy III.  Tery is a guy that showed up for the Pels while both SF Brandon Ingram and PF Zion Willaimson took long spells on the injury list.  He did not get them wins… but he did have several impressive games.  Will he eventually make the turn to take one of those positions?.. No but he could be a great trade asset during the draft.

Cavs: JB “Bickering” Bickerstaff

Pels: Willie “let’s get healthy” Green