February 23, 2025 Game of the Day
Knicks at Celtics
The NBA has a great game for us to start the Sunday. Knicks will be going to Boston to take on the Celtics in their 3rd game of the regular season between the two. The Celtics have taken both of the previous games to this point.
The teams are within 3 games of each other for the second spot in the east behind the Cavaliers. With the Celtics coming in at 8-2 in their last 10 and the Knicks at 7-2 in that same span, so it has been relatively even in the past few weeks before the All-star game. The Celtics have won 4 in a row and will be looking to extend that at home.
The Knicks may come into the game even more shorthanded than the usual Mitchell Robinson (who is getting very close to return and I couldn’t be more excited to see play), with Josh Hart and OG Anunoby both listed as game time decisions at the time of writing. If they can get at least one back, they will be able to handle the wing play of the Celtics much better.
Today’s Pick
The Suns go up to the north to take on the Raptors in a game that might have minimal viewership for anyone other than their fans. The Raptors are coming in a little less healthy than the Suns, and the Suns are coming off a bad loss that they will need to redeem this next game.
Kevin Durant will most likely have Scottie Barnes guarding him, which should be a very fun matchup to see. Scottie has shown his defense can be a problem for others. This will be a matchup that I think will decide the game. Whoever has the better +/- between these two, the game will go in their favor. And I just trust in KD to get this win for the Suns who are badly needing to stay in the playoff push.
February 22, 2025 Game of the Day Recap
Tennessee 77 – Texas A&M 69
This was such a great game to start a good slate of college basketball for the day. Chaz Lanier showed why he is not only one of the best scorers in the SEC, but in all of college basketball. As I had predicted, the Volunteers needed to play a full 40 minutes of offense, and not play from as far behind this game. Other than the first 6 points of the game, Tennessee looked as if they did exactly that. Stayed with them on offense and put the pressure on them on defense.
Lanier had 6 three’s in the first half in lieu to 8 for the game. As mentioned before, he also had a poster dunk in between that barrage of three’s. He finished the game with 30 points on an extremely efficient 8-13 at the arc. He is THE BEST shooter in college basketball. With a mixture of his range, consistency, quick release, and size, he may be the hardest shooter in college basketball to guard.
I predicted in yesterday’s blog that Felix Okpara would make some huge plays and may be the focal point for the victory. That ended up coming short as he came away with 4 points. He also came away with 7 rebounds, but I am not happy at all with how the team rebounded. Tennessee got outworked on the glass and that could have cost them with second chance points. Thankfully, they escaped it with a win. If they can get a grip on defensive rebounds, and continue to play a full 40 minutes on both sides of the court, Volunteer fans could be in for a very fun March.
I might be the only one in the country that feels this way, but Will Taylor IV for Texas A&M pisses me right off. First of all, he seems to get every call even though he initiates the contact. He shot 4-19 from the field and 0-9 from 3 this game. Yet, with all the calls, he scores 18 points, with 10 of those coming from free throws. I think this is absolutely ridiculous and it makes me laugh how bad he is with people guarding him. Texas A&M stock in March will go down if he continues to play this way and take up that many shots with his inefficiency.
Chaz Lanier: 30 points, 5 rebounds, 10-18 FG, 8-13 3P
Will Taylor IV: 18 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 4-19 FG, 0-9 3P
Yesterday’s Pick
Missouri at Arkansas
Missouri -1.5 (Miss)
Missouri came out the gates looking a little slow, which at first confused me. They just played amazing against the 2nd best team in the country (at the time), and then this is how they start the next game?! It did pick it up before the first half was over, and the Tigers went into the break with the lead.
Then, the game then flipped on its head and Arkansas came out with some fire in the second half. They know they need to win out, in order to make the tournament and there’s nothing scarier than a hungry Calipari team in March. Arkansas takes the win with a final score of 92-85.
*There was supposed to be a Jase Richardson piece out later today, but that will be added to the Coen Carr story later this week*