Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

Free NBA Picks New York Knicks: Season-Long Handicapping and Specialization 3/8/2024

by Spencer Toth - 3/8/2024

Free NBA picks New York Knicks vs Orlando Magic Paolo Banchero

You’ve found the right place for all your New York Knicks betting needs, as Doc’s Sports will be breaking down every single Knicks game, and giving out your best bets in the process. We will not always favor the Knicks, but by using in-depth knowledge on the squad, and the league as a whole, we will be able to churn a consistent profit throughout the season.

On Tuesday night, the Knicks suffered another defeat, losing to the Atlanta Hawks 116-100. Trae Young was on the bench, allowing Jalen Johnson to explode for 26 points, the second most in his career. The Knicks were forced to roll with an 8-man rotation, since they are still missing their 4 best players due to injury. No disrespect to Miles McBride. However, when a player of his caliber is putting 46+ minutes in back-to-back games, there are serious problems for the Knicks.

From a betting perspective, we went 0-3. We incorrectly assumed Brunson would be suiting up, and got burned thanks to a late scratch, losing our spread bet. Additionally, we took a shot with Dejounte Murray Over 7.5 assists, and 10+ assists, both of which missed after he finished with 6.

Doc’s Sports offers NBA picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

Tonight, the Knicks (36-26) host the Orlando Magic (37-26) in a crucial matchup that will go a long way in determining playoff seeding. There are 20 games left in the season. And with just two and a half games separating 4th and 8th in the East, there is still plenty to play for down the stretch. Orlando is coming into this one having won 5 straight games, as their fully healthy lineup has been able to take care of inferior opposition. However, not all 5-game win streaks are built equal. Orlando took down the Wizards, Pistons, Hornets, Nets, and Jazz, all of which are in the bottom 5 of their respective conferences. Orlando still had to go out there and get the job done, and they will be filled with confidence when they head to Madison Square Garden tonight. Orlando is led by Paolo Banchero’s 22.9 PPG, 5.2 Assists, and 6.8 Rebounds, all of which are team highs. The second-year player and former ROY has shown great development compared to his rookie year, and it appears the Magic franchise is in good hands. Banchero has the size of a forward, but the handles of a guard, making him a very tough matchup for any NBA defender. His ability to draw fouls and keep his head up when cutting to the basket is what has made him such a good leader in Orlando. While Banchero and Franz Wagner have been the offensive cornerstones for Orlando, their 23rd-ranked defense hasn’t been what has vaulted them to 4th place. Orlando is searching for their first top 5 finish since 2011 thanks to their stellar defensive unit. They have the 4th ranked defense, and there are really no holes in that side of their game. They take care of business on the defensive glass, they generate plenty of steals, and are able to limit points in transition.

Across the court, the Knicks are an absolute mess. After starting the year off 32-17, the Knicks have lost 9 of their last 13 games and are in serious danger of slipping into the play-in tournament. A healthy Knicks lineup is still more than capable of competing with the league’s best, but this current iteration of their squad isn’t even capable of competing against bottom half teams. Julius Randle still has no return date, although it’s expected he’ll be back late in the regular season. OG Anunoby is now considered day-to-day, while Mitchell Robinson is still unlikely to return in the regular season. Jalen Brunson has also been dealing with several injuries. And while he’s been able to avoid anything major, it’s obvious he’s playing through injuries, and the offensive workload is catching up to him.

One positive of having the entire starting lineup injured, while still sitting in a playoff spot, is that it’s allowed the Knicks to see what their bench is made of. If their starters can come back in time, the Knicks will suddenly have a potent starting lineup, and a seasoned second unit that has already been through it all just a month before the playoffs begin. Donte DiVincenzo, Precious Achiuwa, and Miles McBride will all have roles to play in the postseason, and all these extra minutes they’ve been afforded could pay huge dividends down the stretch.

However, at this current moment, the Knicks are struggling. Their defense has evaporated, and in close games on the offensive end, New York is turning to players who have never had to deal with substantial NBA pressure. Despite the discrepancy in health, and fact Orlando is 8-2 in their last 10 while the Knicks are 3-7, the Magic are just 1.5-point favorites tonight. There is absolutely no way this spread is justified. Orlando has proven they can take care of business against bottom half teams, and the current Knicks lineup falls directly into that category. Brunson is questionable once again tonight, but Orlando will be able to pick up a win regardless of his status. The Magic’s suffocating defense combined with both teams' slow pace of play will almost certainly see the Knicks, if not both of these teams, stay in double digits when the final horn sounds. There is no reason to even consider touching the Knicks at this line, and I will be unloading the clip on the Magic for the first bet of the evening.

For the second bet of the night we will look to the Under. Even though the 206-point total is one of the lowest this year, I’m still confident this game will be staying under. New York has no one to turn to when the shot clock starts ticking down, and they will fully know the only chance they have in this one is to match Orlando’s defensive effort. The Knicks defense has been inconsistent, but when they are at their best, they have the potential to keep this one close. It’s a low total, but nothing about these two teams screams anything close to a shootout.

Pick: Orlando Magic (-1.5) 5 Units

Pick: Magic vs Knicks Under 206 1 Unit

2023-24 Season record:

ML Record: 10-4

Spread Record: 19-15

Total Record: 12-10

Player Props Record: 16-30

Total: 57-59

Down 2.2 Units

Get NBA picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent NBA Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers