Setting The Pick: Three Questions For The First-Round Matchups

The play-in winners will be determined by Friday, but the betting lines for the other four series are already available on FanDuel. 

Sometimes it’s an advantage to bet immediately when the lines open. 

Sometimes you’re better waiting until tip-off to gather the most information before placing your wager. 

I’m going to breakdown the top-line numbers for each matchup and go through my three most compelling questions for each series: 

(4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

PHI -178 TOR +150

1) Which version of James Harden will show up? 

All the pressure this series falls on Harden and General Manager Daryl Morey. The Sixers front office held firm on Ben Simmons all season when he refused to play for the organization. Then opportunity knocked at the trade deadline, and Morey pushed his chips all-in to chase a ring. 

Harden’s a former MVP. At his best, he was arguably the most unguardable isolation player in the league. 

But if the current version of Harden is what they get this series, Philly will be in trouble. 

On one hand, his numbers relative to league average remain elite. 

He finished the season averaging 22.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 10.3 assists. 

On the other, his scoring has dropped to 19.6 points over his last ten, shooting 37.2 per cent from the field. 

Comparing his career regular-season numbers versus his playoff stats, it’s a similar story. 

He has averaged more minutes in the playoffs yet registered fewer points, rebounds, assists and shooting efficiency in those 25 playoff games. 

2) Is Fred VanVleet healthy enough to return to pre-All-Star Weekend form? 

Raptors fans have to be dreaming about the possibility of the current All-NBA version Pascal Siakam playing alongside Freddy All-Star. 

FVV has