NHL Monday from the King 1/26

Quote Originally Posted by Phillyneffer:

....any thoughts on LA Kings as a Dog tomorrow....Cheers

Quote Originally Posted by Yebanpunk:

Analysis: Philadelphia 76ers @ Charlotte Hornets (Monday, Jan 26) The Stakes:A crucial Eastern Conference matchup with playoff seeding implications. The Philadelphia 76ers (24-20, 6th East) are looking to stop a two-game slide and regain momentum on the road. The Charlotte Hornets (18-28, 12th East) are riding a season-high three-game winning streak and are suddenly just 3.5 games back of the Play-In tournament, injecting this game with unexpected importance. The line favoring Charlotte by 3 points at home reflects their recent hot streak and Philadelphia's back-to-back fatigue. Philadelphia 76ers: Biggest Strength: Elite Star Duo & Offensive Firepower. Tyrese Maxey (29.9 PPG, 6.8 APG) is playing at an All-NBA level, and Joel Embiid (25.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG) is rounding into form. They can score in bunches against any defense. Key Player(s): Tyrese Maxey must navigate tired legs against Charlotte's guards. Joel Embiid's conditioning and energy level will be tested against Charlotte's athletic bigs. Current Form/Injury Watch: COOLING. Lost two straight at home to NYK and PHX. On a tough SEGABABA (second game of a back-to-back). Paul George (knee management) is playing but may be limited. Team is likely fatigued. Identity: A top-heavy, high-scoring team reliant on its superstar duo, capable of beating anyone but vulnerable to effort and consistency issues, especially when tired.  Charlotte Hornets: Biggest Strength: Explosive, Youthful Offense & Momentum. They have four players averaging 18+ PPG (Miller, Ball, Knueppel, Bridges). They play fast, shoot a ton of threes (41 attempts/game, 2nd), and are currently brimming with confidence. Key Player(s): LaMelo Ball (19.3 PPG, 7.6 APG) is the engine and barometer. After a horrible shooting night vs CLE, he responded well vs ORL. Brandon Miller (20.0 PPG) is a rising star and tough matchup. Current Form/Injury Watch: RED HOT. Three straight wins, averaging 120.7 PPG in that stretch. They are healthy, confident, and have had a day of rest. No key injuries. Identity: A fun, fast, offensive-minded team that lives and dies by the three-ball and transition play. Defense is an afterthought, but when their shots are falling, they can overwhelm anyone.  Embiid vs. Charlotte's Interior: Charlotte has no traditional answer for Embiid. Ryan Kalkbrenner is a shot-blocker but foul-prone. Moussa Diabate is athletic but undersized. If Embiid has the energy to dominate the paint, it changes everything. The LaMelo Bounce-Back: After a 1-15 stinker, Ball played well vs ORL. He will be highly motivated against Maxey in a marquee guard matchup. His playmaking is key to unlocking Charlotte's offense.  You'll find the full analysis and many other interesting things on my website: victorypicks.eu