The 2021-2022 NBA regular season begins on Tuesday, October 19 with perhaps the best possible matchup, as this year’s favorite to win the NBA title, the Brooklyn Nets, visit last year’s champion, the Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets have Kevin Durant and James Harden, while the Bucks feature Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. One player that will not be in action in this game is Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving who is unable to play due to the vaccine mandate. Let’s look at the game between the Nets and Bucks and NBA picks.
This NBA matchup between the Nets and Bucks takes place on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Fiserv Forum. The game will be broadcast live on TNT. We'll have NBA odds available at BookMaker.eu for this and every game on Tuesday’s NBA slate.
NBA Betting Lines at BookMaker.eu
Brooklyn Nets -1
Milwaukee Bucks +1
Total 240.5
Odds Analysis
This is a revenge game for the Nets, as they were eliminated by the Bucks in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals. The Nets are getting a ton of respect from the oddsmakers, as they are listed as a road favorite against the defending champs. The Bucks have won six of the last ten meetings in this series and they are 5-5 ATS with seven of the ten going under the total. Milwaukee has won seven of the last ten at home in this series, with the last five going under the total.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are favored to win the 2021-2022 NBA title, but they are not the defending champs and James Harden reminded everyone of that fact. “We’re not the target. The defending champions are the targets,” Harden said to the media, “They won last year. We’re trying to catch them.”
Brooklyn has a talented roster but they will definitely miss having Irving on the court. Giannis Antetokounmpo said everyone can have their own opinion on the vaccine. “I think everybody’s entitled to their own opinion. But Kyrie’s a great player.”
Milwaukee Bucks
It is amazing that the Bucks are not getting more respect as the defending champions. Can you remember the last time a defending champ opened at home and was listed as an underdog unless there were injury issues? The Bucks have the best player in the league in Giannis and they basically have the same team that won the title a year ago. The Bucks did make a nice pickup in getting Rodney Hood and he should provide some added offense. The Bucks are extremely well coached and there is no reason to expect a decline this season and in fact, they may be better than they were a year ago.
This opener against the Nets is technically a revenge game for the Nets but the Bucks could be playing with a chip on their shoulder considering they are not getting any respect. The value is definitely on Milwaukee.
Nets vs. Bucks Picks
Two things stand out to me when looking at this game. First, the Bucks are not getting enough respect, as they are the defending champs and at home. I also think that the Nets may miss Irving more than some people think. Second, the total on this game is extremely high. I know that the Nets are not a team that plays much defense, but Milwaukee can play some defense and did you notice the trends on this total? The last five meetings at Milwaukee went under the total.
I think two plays are worth making in this opener, so I’ll take the Bucks and the game under the total.
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