PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS – 10/27/2019 FREE PICK & NBA BETTING PREDICTION

Neither Portland nor Dallas is mentioned among the Western Conference’s chief favorites but both have star duos.

The Blazers have an intriguing third guy who could push them over the top in 2020. Center Hassan Whiteside and his new team drop by Dallas for some Sunday night NBA action.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers have started 1–1 after losing a home game to Denver and defeating the Kings in Sacramento on Friday.

In those two games Hassan Whiteside has gone a combined 15/17 from the floor, scored 38 points, and grabbed 28 rebounds.

Whiteside came over to Portland in the offseason deal that involved Jimmy Butler going from the 76ers to the Heat. Miami gave up Josh Richardson and the Blazers parted ways with Maurice Harkless, who ended up in Los Angeles, and Myers Leonard, a fan favorite who’s now in Miami.

Whiteside is in the final year of that four-year $98 million deal he signed with Miami and some are bullish on what a move out of Miami, where he got himself in trouble off the court, and a fresh start could mean for him before hitting free-agency.

He’s certainly more talented than Leonard but from the outside it looks like the Blazers swapped a high-character, hardworking big for one who has been known to be lazy and moody. Don’t jump to conclusions on how this one ends up.

Of course, so far, it’s been so good for Whiteside and the Blazers. If the stellar play continues, Portland has a chance in the West. It may also get Jusuf Nurkic back at some point much later in the season.

The Bosnian Bear is rehabbing from that ugly broken leg he suffered toward the end of last season. A Whiteside/Nurkic combination in the middle would look pretty nice next to what the Blazers have in the backcourt.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs have started with a pair of wins and defeated the Wizards at home and the Pelicans on the road.

Luka Doncic has looked like he did when he was playing his best in his Rookie of the Year season and Kristaps Porzingis has been the added firepower Doncic was missing at his side last season.

Can they both stay healthy for an entire season? Dallas will need them to because the talent drops from there. I would imagine Rick Carlisle will manage both of their loads but this isn’t a back-to-back. The Mavs had Saturday off to travel back home and both should be in the lineup for this one.