He has been criticized, if you noticed, every time touches the ball, he got booed by the crowd. Hopefully though, he has gotten over the mental issues that he has and that is why he is playing or at least embracing his new role as the 6th man and I do agree that it is benefiting him scoring more than 10 points. So that is a start, he still has this passing ability and his confidence is slowly getting there as we can see the old Ben, driving to the basket passing to open team mates and then his usual euro-australian step with the off hand. That is the Ben Simmons that we known when he was still in the Sixers uniform.

Anfernee Simons is really an important player for Trail Blazers now. In the absence of Lillard due to calf injury, Simons was making a really good contribution to the team. There have been so many games that he scored 20+ points. Lillard also has come back strong with nice performances. He made three double-doubles in his last three games.

Trail Blazers are one of the surprising teams so far as well. Because currently they are leading the Western Conference with 10 wins and 5 losses. We are still in very early phases of the regular season of course. Besides the most important part is going to be the playoffs. If they maintain a consistent effort then they might be one of the serious contenders for the championship who knows.

Simmons is gonna be a real good player in 2/3 years.  Young and an alpha dog already.  He will end up being a perennial all star one day.  That's the chances you take drafting a real young player.  You could end up striking gold with the later picks.  Wouldn't mind the Knicks snagging him.

Here are my picks for today's game and actually these 4 teams right now are my favorite to win this season, any of these teams make it to the finals I would be glad,

Philadelphia 76ers VS Milwaukee Bucks

The stake odds for this game are 1.95 for the 76ers, and 1.90 for the Bucks for this game the odds are pretty much close and the Bucks could be the one that has a huge advantage on odds but right now because of Bucks injuries, Jrue Holiday is questionable, while Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, and Wesley Matthews can not play until Nov 21, while for 76ers has James Harden, but still, Giannis Antetokounmpo is 100% can play for the Bucks, so for me, Milwaukee Bucks will win here,

New Orleans Pelicans VS Boston Celtics

The stake odds for this game are 2.11 for the Pelicans and 1.77 for the Celtics, Zion Williamson might not be in 100% form and is questionable if he can play for the Pelicans while Marcus Smart can not play for the Celtics, but me, I will still go with the Celtics,

Utah Jazz VS Phoenix Suns

The stake odds for this game are 1.91 for the Jazz and 1.94 for the Suns, Rudy Gay can not play for the Jazz Landry Shamet can not play for the Suns, and Chris Paul is questionable, so for me, the Utah Jazz is a wild team that has erupted this season and making great success plays, so for me, my pick is Utah Jazz,

Golden State Warriors VS New York Knicks

The stake odds for this game are 1.32 for the Warriors and 3.55 for the Knicks, While this is kind of one-sided and biased towards the Warriors but for me Warriors is on top so the Warriors from start to finish,

Quite a close game. Holiday is playing that makes the playing field even. Tyrese Maxey is injured but the game is still close. The sixers are on top by  5 points as this is writing with 2 minutes left in the game. This could still go anyway but the Sixers have the momentum. Joel Embiid is a monster right now, picking up the slack that Maxey and Harden have left because of their absence.

Edit: Philadelphia Sixers won 110 -102

Looks like we are seeing a different trend this season compared to where it was a few years ago. It just shows that teams are becoming more competitive like you said to the point that a team doesn't need an all-star to be a better team.

A few years ago, in order for a team to enter the playoffs or at least have a chance to be a title contender, you need to have at least 2 all-star players in your team. We are still at the beginning of the season, but we are seeing teams that don't have either an all-star player or a superstar player but currently at the top 8. Teams like Pacers, Wizards, Jazz and surprisingly the Kings are now at the top 8 on their corresponding conferences and the ones who has an all-star player are currently at the bottom. Sixers, Nets, Heat, Lakers, Warriors now at the bottom 8.

Well, we are still at the beginning of the season, and anything might change as they play more games. We might see those teams at the bottom to go to top 8 and vice-versa.

Yes, that's correct, and this is the season that looks unpredictable again. It's better. Last year was a good run too as the Warriors was not really expected to take the throne again. They are either underdogs or they are neglected to be a championship caliber during last year season.
But now, it's different. Young teams like the Jazz and Thunder are making big efforts to enter the playoffs.
I bet even the pro basketball analysts are having a hard time to predict who will be the champion this year. Even the Bucks are losing while the Celtics are consistent.

How about Booker putting up 49 in a 1 point loss to the Jazz tonight… He had a great night also getting 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Markkanen had a super efficient scoring night for the Jazz that was though to overcome. He shot 15-18 from the field which is pretty insane. I’m guessing that was probably the best shooting night he’s had in his career. A shame the Suns couldn’t pull this one out.

It was really a close game, and the bucks started strong but before that Giannis was blocked by Embiid, but yeah Joel Embiid has done it again, getting those needed plays for the team now that James Harden was absent due to injury, but the Bucks surely has many injuries that cut their progress in making a good team play,

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now the results for my picks on today's game,

Philadelphia 76ers VS Milwaukee Bucks SCORE 110 - 102 - LOST

It was a close game but the Bucks have started strong, but Joel Embiid has picked up the pace in the last struggle of the Bucks, and Bobby Portis has a double-double performance of 11 rebounds and 21 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo has a double-double performance aswell of 14 rebounds and 25 points but it was not enough with Joel Embiids double-double performance of 11 rebounds and 32 points,

New Orleans Pelicans VS Boston Celtics SCORE 109 - 117 - WIN

The Boston Celtics have done it from start to finish the Pelicans didn't make a lead pretty it was a one-sided game, nothing much to say but the Celtics have ruled the game even without Marcus Smarts

Utah Jazz VS Phoenix Suns SCORE 134 - 133 - WIN

Surely the newly formed Utah Jazz is really something to behold Malik Beasley has 27 points, while Lauri Markkanen did mostly the work making 38 points for the game, it was really a close game but the Utah Jazz has really surprised the Suns, for their unbelievable performance,

Golden State Warriors VS New York Knicks SCORE 111 - 101 - WIN

Pretty much the odds are really accurate it was no surprise for the Warriors to win over the Knicks, it was a good spread for the Warriors Klay Thompson has 20 points Andrew Wiggins also got 20, while Chef Curry has a double-double performance of 10 assists and 24 points,