National Basketball Association

Basketball Experts Picks Challenge: Week 3 Picks

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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It’s Week 3 of our NBA basketball experts picks challenge. We’ve polled people from all over the NBA landscape to compete, with the winning organization receiving a donation to the charity of their choice.

Early in the NBA season, you’re going to get some wonky results. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors, for crying out loud! Stephen Curry didn’t hit a three-point shot for the first time almost two full seasons and Tyson Chandler leads the league in rebounding.

Our experts normalized a bit in Week 2, with Paul Coro and DeAntae Prince putting together a much more expert-like 4-1 record. Week 3 brings some interesting matchups and is a chance to create some space at the top, so let’s take a look at the matchups for FanSided’s Basketball Experts Picks Challenge!

Week 3 Matchups (total votes in quotes)

11/6 : Houston Rockets (12) at Washington Wizards (1)

There might not be a more disappointing team than the Wizards. Washington is 29th in 3P percentage (.272) and 27th in 3P percentage allowed (.378). In this day and age, good luck overcoming that. It doesn’t help that the Rockets are one of the most prolific 3P shooting groups in the league.

11/7: Denver Nuggets (1) at Memphis Grizzlies (12)

If you saw Will Barton taking more than 10 shots a game while hitting 50 percent from the field (and 57.1 percent from three), raise your hand. Now lower it, because you’re fibbing. The Nuggets start the week at 3-3, even with Emmanuel Mudiay struggling mightily. The Grizzlies are just getting Chandler Parsons back and will need time to integrate him into the offense.

11/8: Toronto Raptors (7) at Oklahoma City Thunder (6)

Russell Westbrook is both one of the most electric and infuriating players in basketball. It’s going to be scary if the Thunder can get a clear No. 2 option to emerge. Toronto is one injury away from being average. DeMar DeRozan is terrific, but he can’t overcome what the loss of Jonas Valanciunas would become. We got a glimpse of it last week, as the Raptors lost at home to the Kings.

11/9: Los Angeles Lakers (7) at Sacramento Kings (6)

The Lakers are 4-3, Brandon Ingram hasn’t found his game yet and the second group headed by Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson can outscore anyone. Sacramento is about to get Darren Collison back, which will be a nice complement to the Rudy Gay/DeMarcus Cousins offensive attack.

11/10: Utah Jazz (11) at Orlando Magic (2)

Before the season, many picked the Jazz to be the league’s most improved team. Then, they lost Gordon Hayward to injury and they had to worry about staying afloat. He missed just six games (Utah went 3-3) and in his return he scored 28 points (14-14 FT) in a win. The Magic have won three in a row to get back to .500, riding a balanced scoring attack that has six players averaging double digits, led by Evan Fournier‘s 18.2 points per game.

Who Are The Experts (name/outlet/charity):

Shane Young / BBALLBREAKDOWN / Boys & Girls Club of America

Paul Coro / Arizona Republic / Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix

Howard Beck / Bleacher Report / American Cancer Society

Chris Towers / CBS Sports / Women’s Fund Miami

Ian Levy / FanSided / National Children’s Cancer Society

Brett Pollakoff / Fox Sports / Animal Welfare Institute

Matt Moore / Hardwood Paroxysm / Bags of Fun

Seerat Sohi / Independent / UN Refugee Agency

Josh Eberley / NBA Hoop Mag / World Vision

Drew Garrison / SB Nation / PetSmart Charities

Sean Deveney / Sporting News / Cystic Fibrosis Foundation