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Thank you to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray (the Nuggets coaches for benching their stars in the fourth) and especially LEBRON JAMES (double double) for helping me win my parlay 👌🏼😎

Illinois vs Iowa Join for FREE whop.com/checkout/plan_… Key Matchup Factors The Glass: Illinois Offensive Rebounding Illinois is elite on the offensive glass (37.9% OR%), while Iowa is mediocre at protecting their own boards (29.5% DOR% allowed). Expect Illinois to generate significant second-chance opportunities, which is a nightmare for an Iowa defense that already struggles with consistency. The Stripe: Iowa's FT Rate vs. Illinois Discipline Iowa relies heavily on getting to the free-throw line (44.3% FT Rate). However, Illinois is one of the most disciplined defensive teams in the country, allowing a defensive FT rate of just 21.7%. If Iowa can't get "free" points at the line, their offensive efficiency will take a massive hit. Shooting Efficiency Iowa's eFG% of 59.3% is eye-popping, but it comes against a much weaker SOS. Illinois' defense (46.8% eFG% allowed) is built to contest shots without fouling. This is a "strength vs. strength" matchup that will likely decide if Iowa can keep it within the number. Performance vs. Similar Competition To gauge how these teams handle high-level matchups, I looked at their results against opponents with similar KenPom profiles (AdjEM +20 to +35). The "similar competition" data reinforces the Illinois -6.5 lean. Illinois has proven they can beat teams in the top 10 (Purdue), whereas Iowa has yet to secure a signature win against a team of Illinois' caliber this season. Iowa's offensive efficiency tends to dip significantly when facing top-30 defenses (like Michigan St and Illinois). How Illinois Exploits Iowa The "Twin Towers" Advantage Illinois features extreme height with Tomislav Ivisic (7-1) and Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2). Iowa's tallest rotation player is Alvaro Folgueiras (6-10), but their primary usage comes from Tavion Banks (6-7) and Bennett Stirtz (6-4). Illinois should pound the ball inside to the Ivisic brothers. Iowa's defensive rebounding (29.5% allowed) is already a weakness; Illinois' 7-footers should dominate the glass and generate easy putbacks. Experience and Continuity Illinois has a significant edge in experience (1.69 years vs 1.45) and roster continuity (39.3% vs 2.1%). Iowa is essentially a brand-new team (Continuity rank is near the bottom of D1). Illinois' defensive pressure (even if they don't force many turnovers) can rattle a new Iowa squad. Expect Illinois to use complex defensive rotations that Iowa's fresh roster hasn't seen yet. How Iowa Exploits Illinois Drawing Fouls Tavion Banks (6-7) is a foul-drawing machine, averaging 5.4 fouls drawn per 40 minutes with a massive 52.9% FT Rate. Iowa should run their offense through Banks to test Illinois' discipline. While Illinois generally doesn't foul (21.7% Def FT Rate), if Banks can get one of the Ivisic brothers into early foul trouble, Illinois' interior defense and rebounding advantage evaporates. Bennett Stirtz's Efficiency Bennett Stirtz (6-4) is an elite offensive engine (128.2 ORtg) who shoots 59.9% eFG%. Illinois' defense is strong, but they don't force turnovers (12.7% DTO%). Exploit: Stirtz can operate with relative safety. Since Illinois won't pressure him into mistakes, he can take his time to find high-percentage looks for himself or Cam Manyawu (63.5% eFG%). Iowa's path to an upset is a "perfect" offensive game from Stirtz where he exploits Illinois' lack of disruptive pressure. Top Pick: O137.5 Lean: Illinois -6.5

@BrightSideSun Iowa

SBN Reacts: Blazers are the preferred Play-In opponent brightsideofthesun.com/suns-game-thre…

@ClutchPoints @MileHighRachel Bro stfu 😂

“I hope this is the year he gets rewarded all-star… maybe All NBA.” Nikola Jokic says that he hopes this is the year that Jamal Murray gets rewarded 🙌 (via @MileHighRachel)

@NuggetsWorldd Hahaha Jokic fans coping every single Day because no one will call him the goat 😂

Nikola Jokić is the best basketball player of all time. I’m done caring about what everyone else thinks.

The Denver Nuggets are the most overrated franchise ever. Nikola Jokić, the most overrated glorified stat padding sensation any sport has ever seen.

@goldenspirit155 Inescapable copium

Victor Wembanyama winning both MVP and DPOY will put him in uncomfortable talks, the haters will have no choice 🤣

@PONTA6565 @courtsideqk Must suck coping all day that your stat padder goat will never be apart of the goat convo. 😉

@courtsideqk Bronsexual = old man who is outdated

Unanimous MVP let this happen on the biggest stage btw

@AntiAncelotti_ @SwipaCam Only of them can jump. You know the rest.

@roundtable007 @SwipaCam Wemby's a center too

Jokic 71% TS 🕊️

@Checkmatee27 Actually the narrative was this: he ruined the game. Now everyone just hoists up threes. It’s the raw reason why people don’t watch the NBA anymore. Cope.

"Worth two Stephs' 😭 2016 Steph: Unanimous MVP Won 73 games Changed the game Played Finals on an MCL injury. His movement was never the same after this. Couldn't attack the rim like before or blow past slower defenders on switches. We just rewriting history now?

@C_Reilly5 @LegionHoops @NBA__Courtside Bron was worth 50 stephs 😂 he was that good anyone who hates is JUST coping 👌🏼

@LegionHoops @NBA__Courtside worth 2 stephs? just throwing out random/abstract nonsense math now "shai is worth 4 mikal bridges this year"

Max Kellerman says LeBron James was way better than Steph Curry in 2016: “LeBron was worth two Steph’s that year. He was so much better than everyone on the planet in 2016 when it mattered most.” (via Game Over, h/t @NBA__Courtside)

@danhurleyuconn @LegionHoops @NBA__Courtside Righttttt

@LegionHoops @NBA__Courtside If Curry didn't hurt himself in the playoffs they would've swept the Cavs

@NBARetroRewind @LegionHoops @NBA__Courtside If Draymond suspension had any effect, then why didn’t it make a difference when he returned for game six and seven? There’s a lot of cope in this room.

@LegionHoops @NBA__Courtside If LeBron was ‘two Stephs’, why did it take 7 games? And let’s not forget Draymond being suspended for Game 5.

@LegionHoops @NBA__Courtside Steph Curry fans listening to the raw truth 🤣

@NugsGetBuckets Ethical hoops is just a made up turn by Jared Allen. That’s all it is.

The only players that can save ethical ball

@TheDunkCentral Maybe jokic fans will realize if there is a 2 way great in the league... 99% of fans prefer that over a player who can only play offense. Getting rebounds is easy for a center. Extending your arm like an eagle and getting tipped passes = steals is not legit even close to legit.

NBA.com’s updated MVP Ladder: 1. Victor Wembanyama 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 3. Nikola Jokić 4. Luka Dončić 5. Jaylen Brown 6. Cade Cunningham 7. Jalen Johnson 8. Kawhi Leonard 9. Donovan Mitchell 10. Anthony Edwards

@andy__mick @waltdenver Breathe through your nose and exhale slowly if any anxiety was caused.

@roundtable007 @waltdenver Ah there’s one of those mouth breathers….

Jokic can't defend. Jokic's assists are fake. Jokic doesn't score at an elite level. He's overrated all over the court. He just happens to lead NBA in +/- over the last five years BY MORE THAN 500 POINTS OVER SECOND PLACE. Because he's fake and bad.

ESPN’s Tim Legler says Luka is the MVP: “I got him as the favorite right now… 57.4 points per game directly from Luka scoring or assisting — THAT IS THE MOST BY ANY PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF THIS LEAGUE” 👀🪄

@andy__mick @waltdenver Rebounds and points come with the position at ease even if you’re an above average center. In a league that doesn’t allow defense, Jokic is an efficient snail. Perfect recipe.

@waltdenver Don't forget - His rebounds aren't impressive. His steals aren't defense. He's carried by Jamal

@doylerules09 @NyGuyy @BarstoolBigCat We respect him, but we don’t respect the glaze. It needs to be studied. Like when they say he’s the greatest of all time or better than Michael Jordan when he’s not even in the actual goat conversation. Humble yourselves Joker is probably sick of his own fan base.

@NyGuyy @BarstoolBigCat The amount of idiots on this app who don’t respect an all time player is insane

23-21-19. Jokic is the GOAT