This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Klay Thompson should have been allowed to go for Kobe Bryant's 81 points. One of the many narratives that's been prominent regarding the Warriors this season revolves around Steve Kerr not going for 73 wins, managing minutes and putting his team in the best possible position to win another NBA championship.
All things considered, Klay Thompson played 29 minutes in his remarkable 60-point game. By playing eight more minutes and feeding Thompson -- let's say, 12-to-15 more shots -- Kobe's 81 points would have undoubtedly been in reach, and Thompson would have been in the same general vicinity of his 34.0 minutes per game average.
The oft-argued but what if Klay Thompson got injured in a blowout? will come up, but the better question is: What if Klay Thompson scored, I don't know, 100 points?
Last week: 1-2 (11-8-1)
The streak came to an end, which is completely normal when it comes to betting the NBA, or any sport for that matter. Those who actually put down my bets do so at their own risk, but if you are the spiteful type, you have the right to harass me on Twitter (@jasonrubin91) for being so damn confident about the Bulls last week.
Quote I regret from last week: "The youthful Lakes are getting better, but on the second game of a back-to-back, against a Bulls team who seems to get better every quarter, this challenge poses a little too much for LA."
The Lakers won 96-90. Julius Randle played and grabbed 20 rebounds. I've never been more wrong this season.
On to this week:
Cavs at Knicks (+7.5)
The Knicks are playing respectable basketball and will host the Cavs as 7.5-point underdogs at Madison Square Garden, where they are 9-3 this season and are riding a four-game win streak. J.R. Smith (knee) has been ruled out for the contest, and given Derrick Rose's back spasms, I'd find it surprising if he saw any playing time for New York. Let's call that a wash, but it also should give Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony more usage, while Brandon Jennings (can't shoot, can pass) some more minutes.
A win streak. A buzzing Madison Square Garden. A lot of Porzingis. Knicks should cover this spread -- take those points and pray Kevin Love does not drop another 34-point quarter.
The Pick: Knicks (+7.5)
Lakers at Rockets (-12)
The Rockets are 14-7 on the season and 14-7 ATS. Only the Raptors have a better ATS record this year (14-6-1). While the 12-point spread is a lot -- and last week I was confident that the Lakers would fall to the Bulls -- we cannot ignore James Harden's pure dominance a current top-3 player in the game.
D'Angelo Russell has been cleared for on-court workouts but will not travel to Houston. The Rockets are at home, and Luke Walton is entering his experimental phase as a head coach. He started Metta World Peace against the Jazz, which was interesting to say the least.
The Pick: Rockets (-12)
