Welcome to another edition of NBA Pick ‘Em Weekly 6. Another week has come and gone and the NBA has not become any less strange. The Pacers, Magic, Cavaliers and Hawks are in a five-way tie for second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Philadelphia 76ers. In the West, Teams like the Suns, Pelicans and Jazz occupy three of the top five spaces. Meanwhile, presumed up and coming teams like the Mavericks and Nuggets sit in a five-way tie for last with a 2 and 4 record.

We may have turned the calendar into 2021 but clearly, the residue of 2020 still lingers in the NBA. Let’s see what this week has in store.

Lakers/Grizzlies and Bulls/Blazers

The defending champion Lakers are on a roll to start the season. They’re in a three-way tie for the first spot in the Western Conference and have only dropped games to the Trail Blazers and Clippers. As this article is written, they’re on a three-game winning streak. I don’t see the Grizzlies as the team that is going to be the interrupting factor. There’s a chance the Lakers go into this game with a touch of complacency but I think there’s little chance they don’t come away with another win.

The Bulls/Blazers matchup comes down to the fact that Portland should beat Chicago. The Blazers are simply the better team coming from the better conference.

Celtics/Heat and Clipper/Warriors

The Celtics have played themselves to a .571 record so far this season. Other than their losses to the Nets (95-123 on December 25th) and their win against the Grizzlies (126-107 on December 27th) all of the margins have been negligible. I think the Heat are a better-equipped team to win those tough, grind it out games and that’s exactly what I expect to see in this matchup. The fact that so far, the Celtics have split the season series with the aimless Detroit Pistons in close games doesn’t bolster my confidence. Even though Miami has started a little slow this season, I’m taking Miami over Boston on Wednesday for NBA Pick ‘Em Weekly 6.

That the Golden State Warriors have managed to start the season with a .500 record without Klay Thompson is a testament to that organization. Especially in a Western Conference where nearly every team is eyeing the playoffs this season. The Clippers’ recent and continuing drama has distracted some fans from the fact that they’re a good team that got better in the offseason. The Clippers should take this game.

76ers/Nets and Mavericks/Nuggets

Sure, the ‘6ers are on a bit of a roll but I don’t expect to see it last. The Nets still have KD and Kyrie and I simply don’t think Philly has the tools to stop either of those guys if they get on a run. Both are teams looking for their identity going forward and the Nets are closer to finding theirs

The Mavs/Nuggets matchup was a difficult one for me to call as both teams are off to slow starts. With Jamal Murray having finally shown up for the season dropping 36 points in the Nuggets win over the Timberwolves yesterday and Doncic dealing with an injury I’ve got the Nuggets with the edge here.

Follow me on Twitter @auxiliarythings as I dive head-first into my first season of fantasy basketball. I’m in my first ever fantasy basketball league with fellow rookie fantasy basketball writer Parker Ainsworth. Follow him here at Belly Up Fantasy sports as he chronicles his rookie year. Check out my podcast @HCHunnies where Taylor and I will also be discussing our fantasy seasons. And of course, the Belly Up Sports team has you covered for all your general NBA entertainment and information.