We have 12-games on Wednesday’s NBA slate of games and boy oh boy, what a fun slate we have on our hands. There are a LOT of great props and plays to look at when you look at games like San Antonio/Charlotte and their lack of defense, Houston/Atlanta and their frantic paces. LaMelo Ball is not playing for Charlotte, so looking at props from guys on their team might be very profitable. How about a rookie in Orlando playing in his first professional game? Let’s dive into today’s plays.

 

Underdog NBA Top Picks October 19

Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets – OVER 15.5 points

The Hornets are reeling to open up the year but you know what, Gordon Hayward is entering the 2022-’23 campaign healthy. This is seemingly the first time in a while we can say that. That said, LaMelo Ball is hurt, Miles Bridges is no longer on the team, and James Bouknight has a lot going on outside of the basketball court. The Hornets NEED Hayward to help lead this team.

Without Ball and Bridges on the floor last year, Hayward had a very robust 22.3% usage rate and per 36 minutes last year, Hayward averaged nearly 20 points per game without Ball. He’s an elite playmaker when he’s going right and will be asked to do so without LaMelo Ball. The Spurs have gutted their team and the match-up Hayward is going to have everywhere is fantastic. In seven games without LaMelo Ball last year, Hayward hit this mark in six of them including, wait for it, 41 against the Spurs.

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic – OVER 15.5 points

I feel like this is a number we should take and run as FAST as we can. If you look at how things played out during the preseason, the first pick of the 2022 NBA draft, Paolo Banchero, was the real deal. Outside his first preseason game, Banchero scored 15-plus points in his final four outings. He hadn’t topped 27 minutes in any of those games either and there’s nothing suggesting he won’t play 30 or more here.

Banchero was very good at getting to the foul line during the preseason shooting 21-of-22 across five games. He’s going to step into the fire immediately as the team's number one option and in a decent spot. Detroit didn’t exactly do much to bolster their 24th-ranked defense from a year ago. The defenders Detroit is going to throw at him consist of Bojan Bogdanovic, Saddiq Bey, Kevin Knox, and Isaiah Livers. Advantage Banchero. I love the over here.

 

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