Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Poole Prop for the Picking

The October 28 NBA slate isn’t exactly the biggest one, but we still have six games that will provide bettors with plenty of action. The headliner of tonight’s schedule features the Chicago Bulls hosting the New York Knicks in a battle between two teams that look like real players in the Eastern Conference. Later on, the Golden State Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies in what should be a fun Western Conference showdown. 

While many of you will flock to the sides and totals for these games, we don’t want anybody to miss out on any player props. With that in mind, here are our three favorite player prop picks for Thursday night.  

NBA player props for October 28

• Ball Over 0.5 Blocks (-115)
• Poole Over 3.5 Assists (+148)
• Robinson Over 7.5 Rebounds (-115)

Picks made on 10/28/2021 at 11:20 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Block Party Baller

Ball has been a great fit with Chicago thus far. The 24-year-old is averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game for the undefeated Bulls. However, Ball is also averaging 1.8 blocks per game. 

Ball has never averaged over a block per game in his entire career, but he is also playing more minutes than ever with Chicago. On top of that, Ball has always been an excellent defender, and appears to be more locked in than ever on that end. He’s going to have to be, with the Bulls having several question marks on the defensive end. 

Tonight, Ball faces a Knicks team that has a number of guards that like to attack the basket. Whether it’s Kemba Walker or Derrick Rose, New York will have players looking to drive all night, and Ball will be stuck guarding them on more than few occasions. With his defensive instincts and size, it’s just hard to envision him not coming up with a block or two in this game. 

Ball won’t average 1.8 blocks per game all season, but he should have plenty of games in which he records at least one. This game also happens to have a fairly low total at 215.0, suggesting some flex on D from these squads.

Pick: Lonzo Ball Over 0.5 Blocks (-115 at William Hill)

Heir Jordan

Poole had a lot of hype coming into the season and has largely delivered early on. So far, the 22-year-old is averaging 15.3 points and 4.3 assists per game, and the Warriors are really relying on him as the second source of offense next to Stephen Curry. 

Poole’s shooting percentages can definitely afford to go up, but that’s neither here nor there. What we’re looking for from the former Michigan Wolverine is assists. Last game, Poole had seven dimes in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, you can get plus-money if the combo guard records at least four against the Memphis Grizzlies. 

In addition to Memphis having the worst defensive rating in the league, Poole also has the 31st-highest usage rate in basketball. That’s a good combination when you’re looking for a player to make plays. The Grizzlies aren’t going to offer much resistance when Poole looks to attack the basket, where he’ll have plenty of opportunities to either kick to shooters or find somebody at the rim. 

This game might not ultimately go Over the total, but it does have the highest number at 229.5. In a game with a lot of expected points, it’s hard to pass up on this value when you know the opportunity will be there. 

Pick: Jordan Poole Over 3.5 Assists (+148 at FanDuel)

Money Makin' Mitch

Robinson has had a nice start to the year for the Knicks, averaging 8.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. The 23-year-old is, however, coming off a performance in which he had only six rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers, but that was a game that got out of hand and ultimately didn’t require the Knicks to have their foot on the gas down the stretch. 

Robinson has had at least nine rebounds in three of the four games New York has played this season, and he now enters a game where he should easily have at least eight. Only the Los Angeles Clippers have a lower rebound percentage than the Bulls this season, and Chicago has the fourth-worst defensive rebounding percentage, too. That’s especially important when considering that Robinson has the seventh-highest offensive rebounding percentage in basketball of players that average at least 20.0 minutes per game. 

Nikola Vucevic is a very good player and is especially brilliant on the offensive end, but he isn’t much of an athlete. It’s going to be difficult for him to keep Robinson from pulling down boards in this game. 

Overall, the only way this thing won’t hit is if Robinson can’t stay out of foul trouble. He has recorded at least five fouls in each of the last three games, so it’s definitely something of a concern. But this number is just too low to pass up right now. 

Pick: Mitchell Robinson Over 7.5 Rebounds (-115 at William Hill)

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