All the fans of the best basketball in the world, the NBA, are anxious for the new season to start. Before the first jump between two that is scheduled for October 18, we can enjoy two weeks full of preseason games. Each of the teams will try to adjust the necessary pieces for their fight to be the champions this season.
This preseason will begin next Friday, September 30, 2022, in Saitama, Japan. The current NBA champions, Golden State Warriors will face the Washington Wizards. It will extend until Friday, October 14 when the preseason ends. In total there will be 70 preseason games that teams should take advantage of.
Since 2019, no NBA team visited Japan, when that time the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors played a game.
The two games to be played by the Warriors and Wizards will not be the only ones marking the NBA’s return outside North America; as, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks will face each other in the United Arab Emirates; bringing elite and top-level basketball to Abu Dhabi.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Trae Young, and Dejounte Murray; all of them All-Stars, will meet and bring excitement to one of the most spectacular pavilions in the world.
In addition to the 30 NBA teams, this preseason will include two foreign teams; Adelaide 36ers from Australia and Maccabi Ra’anana from Israel.
Maccabi will open the NBA preseason against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Climate Pledge, home of the Seattle Storm. Maccabi is based in Ra’anana and will play one more game on U.S. soil against Portland in Oregon.
The Australian team will also play two games, starting on October 2 against Phoenix Suns and on October 6 against Oklahoma City Thunder, having as opponent one of its most emblematic players, Josh Giddey, who was a player in the 36ers being the pick 6 of the 2021 Draft.
Although these are games that do not represent competition for the championship title, there will always be games to highlight where the favorite teams face each season. Some of those games are:
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies – October 01.
- Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers – October 03.
- Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat – October 06.
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. Miami Heat – October 07.
- Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – October 09.
- Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks – October 11.
- Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets – October 14.
Likewise, here is a preview of some of the most important games in this NBA preseason 2022 with their respective betting odds and free picks.
NBA Preseason Week 1: Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors – Info
When: Friday, September 30 at 06:00 am ET
Moneyline odds: Warriors -250 / Wizards +200
Draw Offs: –
The Golden State Warriors begin their road to defending their title won last season this preseason in their game against the Washington Wizards next Friday, September 30, 2022, at Saitama Stadium 2002, located in Japan.
It will be the Warriors’ first time outside of North America since 2017 when they played the Timberwolves in a pair of preseason games in China.
For the Warriors, these two games in Japan mark their first time on an NBA court since beating the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Finals last season.
Last season, the series between the Warriors and Wizards ended in a 1-1 tie, with the last game played on March 27, where the Wizards took the win with a score of 123-115.
This was undoubtedly one of the best wins for the Wizards last season, as they had a terrible record of 35 wins and 47 losses and finished in fourth place in the Southeast Division, 18 games out of first place.
For this first game, which the Warriors will practically play at home because of the large fan base they have in this Asian country, our pick is a win for the Golden State Warriors.
Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Pick: Golden State Warriors
NBA Preseason Week 1: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Info
When: Saturday, October 01 at 06:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Bucks -220 / Grizzlies +180
Draw Offs: –
The NBA leaves no respite or rest for anyone and the second preseason game to be played will be one of the great duels between teams that are called to fight to be at the top of the podium this season, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies, which will play this Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Fiserv Forum, home of the Bucks.
Four months after their season came to an abrupt end with a Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Milwaukee Bucks come into this season opener with the firm conviction of repeating the feat of two seasons ago, when they were champions after a 50-year wait.
The Bucks finished the previous season with an excellent 51-31 record, overcoming a series of injuries throughout the regular season to win the Central Division title for the fourth consecutive year.
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On the other hand, the Taylor Jenkins-coached Memphis Grizzlies were the big surprise of last season, being the second-best team in the West and coming very close to the Conference Finals.
The third season is usually the moment of explosion for point guards in the NBA and that is precisely what happened with Ja Morant in 2021-22. The Grizzlies player reached an unparalleled level at the age of 23, even becoming an MVP candidate in several stretches of the Regular Season.
The injury to Jaren Jackson Jr, which will keep him sidelined until at least December, will force the Grizzlies to take an important step forward.
Not having JJJ is not something new for the team fortunately, a circumstance that has made it common for unexpected names to emerge and end up making a difference. On the other hand, one of the strengths of the current Memphis project lies in its great commitment to the development of young players.
The Bucks need to step up their game from the beginning of the preseason to make it clear to the rest of the teams that they are once again clear favorites to win the championship title.
That is why our selection for this game is a Milwaukee Bucks victory.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies Betting Pick: Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Preseason Week 1: Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets – Info
When: Sunday, October 02 at 01:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Celtics -260 / Hornets +220
Draw Offs: –
The NBA is fascinated after last season confirmed the return to the highest competitive level of two of the best teams in the league, the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, and precisely the Celtics will start their preseason this Sunday, October 02, 2022, facing the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden, their home.
The Boston Celtics seem to be back to being that fearsome team that won many championships throughout the history of the NBA, since last season they managed to surprise by beating the inspired Miami Heat in the Conference Finals to advance to the finals against the Warriors.
In this new season, the Celtics had the addition of up to 6 new players, Malcolm Brogdon, Danilo Gallinari, JD Davison, Mfiondu Kabengele, Bruno Caboclo, and Noah Vonleh.
If the Celtics can focus and move forward after the bombshell of Ime Udoka, who was suspended for violating team policies for the entire season, with the recent addition of Brogdon and the natural growth of both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, we are confident they can be a finalist again this season.
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On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets had a very good end of the season, even though they could not reach the Playoffs, since, after several seasons without being able to fight to be in the next phase, they managed to reach the Play-In of the previous season, where they lost to the Atlanta Hawks with a score of 132-103.
The Hornets have a roster full of talent, but very young and, we will see if, in this second year, coach Steve Clifford can better mesh the pieces for his team to be one of the participants in the playoffs.
For this game, we do not doubt that the Boston Celtics will take the victory.
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