Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
03-09-17 | Clippers v. Grizzlies -3 | Top | 114-98 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 1 m | Show |
The set-up: The 38-26 LA Clippers own a two-game lead over the 36-28 Memphis Grizzlies in the West. The Clippers currently own the No. 5 seed and Memphis the No. 6 seed. Both teams are struggling as they get set to square off tonight in Memphis, with the Clippers having lost five of eight and the Grizzlies having lost five of seven. LA Clippers: PG Chris Paul (17.3-5.1-9.4) returned to the court on Feb. 24 but the Clippers are just 3-4 since his return (they were 6-8 in the 14 games he missed). LA is coming off a bad loss at Minnesota, as the Clippers were out-rebounded 50-36 and outscored 62-40 in the paint, in a 107-91 loss. Paul had 10 assists but scored just seven points while being outplayed by counterpart Ricky Rubio (15 points & 12 assists). Sixth-man Jamal Crawford (12.3) had scored 44 points in his previous two games (both wins) but was 2 of 9 (0-3 on threes) with just seven points. Memphis. The Grizzlies come in on a three-game slide, hitting 'rock bottom' the last time out in a 122-109 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA's worst team. Memphis head coach David Fizdale shook up the starting lineup against the Nets by inserting guard Andrew Harrison and forward Brandan Wright in favor of standout defensive guard Tony Allen and forward JaMychal Green. It sure didn't work but Fizdale indicated he would give the lineup a couple of games to see how it fares because he feels the squad has been "a mediocre basketball team" since Jan. 1. "We're stale. Right now, we're 14-14 since January 1," Fizdale told reporters. Fizdale sure can't blame PG Mike Conley (20.1 & 6.2 APG), who is averaging 29 points over the last five games and has four 30-point outings in the past eight contests. The pick: Neither team is playing well but the belief here is that Memphis almost HAS to rebound off that 'ugly' home loss to the Nets. Make Memphis a 10* play. |
|||||||
03-08-17 | Wizards v. Nuggets -2 | Top | 123-113 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The 38-24 Washington Wizards continue their current five-game road trip tonight in Denver, after escaping with a 131-127 win last night in Phoenix, in the first game of the trip. The Nuggets beat the Kings on Monday but Nikola Jokic, who has emerged as a star in his second NBA season, missed Monday's win with an illness (he's listed as questionable here). Washington: The Wizards were the NBA's hottest team entering the All Star break, winning 18 of 21 prior to the break. Washington lost its first two games coming out of the break but after last night's win, has gone 4-1 since. The Wizards own a starting-five in which all players average in double digits. Guards Beal (22.9) and Wall (22.6-4.6-10.8) lead the way, while forwards Morris (14.5 & 6.6) and Porter (13.9& 6.6) nicely complement center Gortat (11.6 & 11.0). However, reserve scoring was a major issue and Washington addressed that in acquiring Brooklyn's Bojan Bogdanovic, who was the leading scorer at the Rio Olympics. Bogdanovic exploded for 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 115-114 win over the Magic and last night, matched his season high of 29 points. Bogdanovic has averaged 17.4 PPG since joining the Wizards. "I'm always happy to have another guy who can help us," John Wall said after the win over the Suns. "One thing Boogey does is he cuts to the basket and puts the ball on the floor. It gives us another weapon who can create for us, and that's big for us. He's coming in playing his role, being aggressive and making a lot of shots." Denver: Jokic posted four consecutive double-doubles — two were triple-doubles — prior to being sidelined by the illness. He made 13-of-15 shoots in a 31-point effort in Saturday's 112-102 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The 22-year-old is averaging 15.9 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent from the floor on the season. Wilson Chandler () stepped up with Jokic sidelined in Monday's win, scoring a career-best 36 points, while knocking down five three-pointers. Swingman Danilo Gallinari (17.7 PPG makes him the team-leader) had 18 points, falling just short of his sixth straight 20-point outing and is averaging 21.3 points during the stretch.
The pick: The Wizards are 22-6 over their last 28 games but this marks the second game (in a back-to-back situation) of a five-game road trip, one of two tough five-game trips in March. The Nuggets are playing for their playoff 'lives' (own the 8th spot but have a modest 1 1/2 game lead) and have won 10 of their past 13 home contests against the Wizards. Make Denver an 8* play. |
|||||||
03-08-17 | Kings +15 v. Spurs | Top | 104-114 | Win | 100 | 11 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The 25-38 Sacramento Kings visit San Antonio to face the 49-13 Spurs. What's the likelihood that the Kings will stand in the way of San Antonio reaching the 50-win plateau for the 18th consecutive season? Here's hint. It's a rhetorical question. FYI...The Spurs have had just one losing season (20-62 in 1996-97) in 28 years, while over that same 28-year span, Sacramento has had just eight winning seasons, all in an eight-year run from 1998-99 to 2005-06. Sacramento: The Kings won their first game after dealing Cousins but now the losses are beginning to pile up. "It's been tough, just trying to get used to each other," Kings PG Ty Lawson said a 108-96 loss at Denver on Monday. "This is five games we've lost in a row? We've got to get another one soon." Sacramento is close to falling out of the competition for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, as the Kings are now four games back of Denver, with three teams between them and the Nuggets. With the teams only two productive scorers gone (Cousins in a trade and Gay to an injury), Collison (13.7) is the only player averaging in double digits, not counting Evans and Hield, who are both at 13.2 PPG, but have played in just five and six games, respectively, for the Kings.San Antonio: No team roots for an injury to its competitors but when K.D. went down (out for four weeks or maybe longer) back on Feb. 28, the Spurs had to think, "here's our chance to steal the No. 1 seed." The Spurs have won eight straight games and All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard is fueling the Spurs' hot stretch. He's averaged 33.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.3 steals over his last four. Most observers have declared that the MVP race is between James Harden and Russell Westbrook but Leonard continues to force his way into the conversation. He has solidified his reputation as the NBA's top two-way player with his increase in scoring to 26.3 PPG, as he's produced 23, 30-point games this season. He scored 39 points and made a clutch lead-protecting block on Houston's James Harden in Monday's 112-110 victory. The pick: The Spurs win tonight but it should not go unnoticed that while the Spurs have won four straight since K.D.'s injury, those four wins have come by one and two points plus in two OT games. The Spurs haven't come close to covering! Make Sacramento an 8* play. |
|||||||
03-07-17 | Wizards v. Suns +4 | Top | 131-127 | Push | 0 | 12 h 29 m | Show |
The set-up: The 37-24 Washington Wizards have moved four games ahead of the Hawks in the Southeast Division and currently hold down the No. 3 seed in the East, plus are actually tied in the loss column with the second-seeded Celtics (Boston has played three more games than Washington, owning 40 wins to the Wizards' 37). The Wizards are in Phoenix tonight to take on the 21-42 Suns, who unlike the Lakers, seem to be 'sprinting to the finish line,' as opposed to 'tanking,' as long as we are "telling like it is!" Washington: The Wizards were the NBA's hottest team entering the All Star break, winning 18 of 21 prior to the break. Washington lost its first two games coming out of the break but ha gone 3-1 since. The Wizards own a starting-five in which all players average in double digits. Guards Beal (22.9) and Wall (22.6-4.6-10.8) lead the way, while forwards Morris (14.6 & 6.7) and Porter (14.1 & 6.6) nicely complement center Gortat (11.7 & 11.2). However, reserve scoring was a major issue and Washington addressed that in acquiring Brooklyn's Bojan Bogdanovic, who was the leading scorer at the Rio Olympics. Bogdanovic exploded for 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 115-114 win over the Magic and he's now averaging 15.5 PPG in his six games with Washington. Phoenix: While Bogdanovic is the only real change for Washington, the changes in Phoenix have been dramatic. The Suns seemed to be "mailing it in" after trading away P.J. Tucker and benching veterans Tyson Chandler (8.4 & 11.4) and Brandon Knight (11.0) in favor of younger players. However, it's turned out that the exact opposite has come to pass. The younger players are stepping up and proving they belong. Rookie PG Tyler Ulis, whose recent uptick in playing time has come at the expense of Knight, scored a season-high 20 points on Sunday and buried the winning three-pointer at the buzzer after a steal. 6-7 power forward Alan Williams has posted a double-double in three straight and four of the last five contests (he's averaging 13.8 & 11.6 in that span). Then there is 6-11 rookie Marquese Chriss, who recorded a season-high five blocks on Sunday and has averaged 12.1 PPG his last seven. The pick: The Wizards have an excellent backcourt but let's not dismiss the Suns' backcourt duo too quickly. Most NBA teams would love to send out guys like Bledsoe (21.2-4.9-6.4) and Booker (20.7) night-in and night-out. This game begins a brutal stretch for the Wizards, who have two five-game trips remaining. They also play five sets of back-to-backs in March, the first of which concludes tomorrow night at Denver. Meanwhile, the Suns have already beaten two Eastern clubs -- Charlotte and Boston -- on their current homestand and they are 13-9 against Eastern opponents on the season. Phoenix is an 8* play. |
|||||||
03-06-17 | Pacers v. Hornets -3.5 | Top | 88-100 | Win | 100 | 13 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The Pacers are 32-30 after Sunday's 97-96 win at Atlanta, leaving them with the No. 6 seed in the East. They travel to Charlotte tonight, to face a Hornets team which will be playing its first home game since Feb. 13, after going 3-4 on their longest trip of the season. Charlotte enters a stretch in which it will play nine of 12 at home. The Hornets are currently three games behind Detroit for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Indiana: Paul George (21.7 & 6.1) is the Pacers' main man but the All Star forward had averaged only 14.3 PPG (on 28.6 percent shooting) in a six-game span before breaking out against the Hawks on Sunday. George was 12-for-19 from the floor, en route to 34 points, his best total since Dec. 28. PG Jeff Teague, in his return to Atlanta where he spent seven seasons, added 16 points and six assists. Teague (15.3 & 8.0 APG) and 6-11 center Center Myles Turner (15.4 & 7.1) have been Indianas top-two supporting players all season but Turner had a string of 22 straight double-digit scoring efforts snapped when he was held to a season low-tying five points in 30 minutes (also just five rebounds). Charlotte: The Hornets' 112-102 win in Denver on Saturday, allowed them to return 3-4 (not 2-5) from their recent road trip. The win also came in the team's first game since losing red-hot center Frank Kaminsky III to a shoulder injury two nights earlier. Forward Johnny O'Bryant III stepped up with a career-high 15 points on 7-of-9 from the from, as he reportedly earned a second 10-day contract. "Johnny O'Bryant was great," head coach Steve Clifford told reporters. "It's a little bit difficult because he hasn't been here very long, but he hit a big shot and we were fairly organized when he was on the floor. He gave us a big lift." The pick: The Hornets had lost 12 times in a span of 13 games (Jan. 23-Feb. 23), averaging only 101.7 PPG. However, in the last five games (3-2), the Hornets are averaging 108.8 PPG. Seven points per game more is nothing to sneeze about, as Indiana improved to 4-1 in games decided by three points or fewer with Sunday's win. Charlotte last won consecutive games Jan. 18-21 when it posted three straight home wins. Those wins gave the Hornets a 23-21 record, but since then Charlotte is 4-14 and returns home in 11th place and three games out of the final playoff spot. However, the Pacers are off a one-point win on Sunday, which was just the team's third in 11 games. More importantly, Indiana is only 11-20 SU on teh road this season and isn't getting nearly enough points to back them here playing on consecutive nights. Charlotte is an 8* play. |
|||||||
03-05-17 | Pacers +3.5 v. Hawks | Top | 97-96 | Win | 100 | 11 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up; The 31-30 Indiana Pacers have lost eight of 10 and currently own the No. 6 seed in the East but are just a half-game ahead of the Bulls and 1 1/2 up on the Pistons. They visit Atlanta this afternoon to take on the 34-27 Hawks, who have slipped to fifth in the East, three games ahead of the Pacers. Indiana: There was talk around the trade deadline that the Pacers would move their best player, but Paul George (21.7 & 6.1) is still around. However, maybe all the distractions surrounding that talk has contributed to his slump, which has become very real. George is mired in a shooting slump that's lasted five games, as he's connecting on only 31.4 percent of his FG attempts while averaging just 13.6 points in that span, 8.1 points below his season average! Former Atlanta Hawks PG Jeff Teague will return to Philips Arena for the first time as a member of the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. The Hawks saw Teague as expendable and sent him to Indiana in a three-team deal that sent George Hill to Utah. Teague's had an very good season (15.3-4.2-8.1), joining George and the 6-11 Turner (15.5 & 7.2) as the 'heart' of this Indiana team in 2016-17. Atlanta:The Hawks had snapped a three-game losing streak with wins over Boston and Dallas but were ripped for 135 points and an NBA single-game record 25 three-pointers in a five-point loss at home to the Cavs on Friday. The Hawks have been getting much improved play recently from Tim Hardaway Jr. (13.4) plus the pickup of veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova (9.8 & 5.0 in about 21 minutes over five games) has also been a plus. Atlanta also will probably have a new backup PG for the game. The Hawks were expected to sign veteran Jose Calderon to a free-agent deal, as he has obtained a buyout from the Lakers and has changed his mind about going to Golden State. Millsap (18.0 & 7.8) and Howard (13.4 & 12.8) have been steady all season up front and the Hawks were right about Schroder (17.4 & 6.3 APG), who has replaced Teague without missing a beat. The pick: Atlanta has not done much at home this season, as the Hawks are is just slightly better at home (17-13) than they are on the road (17-14), something few teams can say (or want to say). It's hard to see George's shooting slump continuing much longer and I want the points. Indiana is a play. |
|||||||
03-04-17 | Pistons v. 76ers +5 | Top | 136-106 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The 29-32 Detroit Pistons are still holding onto the No. 8 seed in the East but they are just 1 1/2 games up on both the Heat and Bucks. They will be in Philadelphia tonight to take on the 23-38 76ers, who recently announced that Joel Embiid's season is over and that the team's top draft pick, Ben Simmons (league's overall No. 1 pick), would also be held out until next season (Simmons has not played at all this season). Detroit: The Pistons have been on a roller coaster as of late, following a 114-108 OT win against the Hornets bu scoring just 98 points in their next game, in a loss to the Celtics. The Pistons then scored 120 points (again in OT) in beating the Trail Blazers but once again 'crapped out' by scoring 86 points in a 23-point loss at New Orleans this past Wednesday. PG Reggie Jackson's (14.7 & 5.5 APG) struggles continued in the loss to New Orleans, as he was 4-of-16 overall in an eight-point effort. Backup Ish Smith (8.3 & 5.0 APG) also had eight points but in just 19 minutes off the bench. Head coach Stan Van Gundy has indicated he may give Smith the start over Jackson. "We haven't ruled it out -- I'm still thinking," Van Gundy said. "We've got to get better energy off the start of games." Smith started the first 21 games while Jackson was recovering from tendinitis in his left knee. He moved into a reserve role when Jackson returned, but outplayed Jackson in February. The Pistons have talent, as outside of Jackson and Smith, five other Detroit players average between 11.1 and 16.2 PPG. Philadelphia: The 76ers have not only lost Embiid (20.2 & 7.8) for the season but they've traded Nerlens Noel and Ersan Ilyasova. Stepping up has been rookie Dario Saric (11.4 & 6.2), who has averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds a game since the All-Star break. His nine double-doubles match Embiid's total for the most among first-year players.Justin Anderson, a second-year forward who was acquired from Dallas as part of a deal that cost the Sixers center/forward Nerlens Noel, made his first seven shots en route to an 8-of-12 performance against the Knicks,matching a career high with 19 points. The 105-102 home win snapped Philadelphia's three-game slide. The pick: The Pistons are a woeful 10-20 SU (11-119 ATS) on the road and all season have underachieved considering the team's talent (Van Gundy's fault?). Anyway, just why should they be laying points at Philly, where the 76ers are a money-making 23-9 ATS on the season? Philadelphia is a 10* play. |
|||||||
03-03-17 | Thunder v. Suns +4.5 | Top | 111-118 | Win | 100 | 12 h 19 m | Show |
The set-up: The 35-26 Oklahoma City Thunder lost 114-109 last night in Portland and now visit the 19-42 Phoenix Suns, who scored 120 points last night at home in beating the Hornets by 17 points. The Thunder are battling the Jazz for first-place in the Northwest Division (OKC currently trails by two games), while the Suns are going head-to-head with the Lakers (also 19-42), to see which team finishes with the West's worst record (will the loser actually WIN in that race?). Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook (31.4-10.6-10.1) just may match the Big O's triple-double season of 196-62 but his 45-point effort Thursday wasn't enough as the Thunder suffered a 114-109 road loss at Portland. He's now scored 40-plus in seven of the past 15 games. However, for OKC to seriously threaten in the postseason, the Thunder will need more than Westbrook. The team's second-leading scorer, Victor Oladipo (16.1), will sit out his fifth consecutive game tonight with a back issue, which is NOT good news. Center Kanter (14.4 & 6.9) did not miss as much time as was feared and returned four games ago. He's averaged 17.7 & 9.3 the last three, which is great news. The 'wild card' for OKC's playoff hopes could be the Chicago duo of Gibson and McDermott, which OKC recently acquired. Gibson's averaged 10.0 & 4.5 and McDermott 8.8 & 4.5 in their four games. Phoenix: The Suns ended a three-game slide by shooting a season-high 59.7 percent from the floor in Thursday's 120-103 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Six different players scored 14 or more points in a well-balanced offensive effort that also featured a defensive charge that held the Hornets to 12 fourth-quarter points. Defense is not something we see often from the Suns, who allow 112.6 PPG, ranking 29 of 30 NBA teams. The youthful but very talented backcourt duo of Bledsoe (21.2-5.0-6.4) and Booker (20.8) remain the Suns' core but center Tyson (8.4 & 11.4) and Knight (11.0), who was the first guard off the bench for most of the season, have both been benched. Neither has played at all in the last four games and the standout recently has been the 6-7 Williams, who in just under 24 minutes per game, has averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in these last four. Also, rookie power forward Marquese Chriss scored a team-best 17 points last night and has now reached double digits in four of the past five contests. Backup PG Tyler Ulis played 23 minutes last night, handing out a season-high eight assists wile scoring eight points. The pick: The Suns are playing loose and while I like the additions of Gibson and McDermott, I've never been much on either Westebrook or OKC. The Thunder are a poor road team (12-18 SU), so why play them as a road favorite? Make Phoenix an 8* play. |
|||||||
03-02-17 | Thunder +1 v. Blazers | Top | 109-114 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The 35-25 OKC Thunder are trying to catch the Utah Jazz in the Northwest and just beat the Jazz 109-106 Tuesday night at home, closing to within 1 1/2 games of Utah. They head to Portland tonight to take on the 24-35 Trail Blazers, who find themselves in a virtual three-way tie with the Kings and T-wolves (both are 25-36), 2 1/2 games back of the No. 8-seeded Denver Nuggets. Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook scored 43 points in the win over the Jazz plus added 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He now has 30 triple-doubles and can match Wilt Chamberlain (1967-68) for the second-most triple-doubles in a season (at 31) with his next one (note: The Big O had 41 in 1961-62). Westbrook (31.2-10.6-10.3) is hoping to join Oscar Robertson (1961-62) as the only players to average a triple-double for a season but one hopes, the bigger deal is improving the team's playoff position. To that end, OKC improved its bench with a trade last week that brought forwards Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott from Chicago. In three games, Gibson is averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 22.7 minutes off the bench. McDermott averages 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. If and when those guys play more, OKC will be the better for it.Portland: Tuesday's 120-113 OT loss in Detroit gave the Blazers a 1-3 record on their road trip. They are one of five teams with a chance to catch the 8th-seeded Nuggets for the West's final playoff spot. Portland was sloppy in its loss at Detroit, committing 24 turnovers. The starting backcourt of shooting guard CJ McCollum (six) and PG Damian Lillard (four) combined for 10. Lillard (26.0-5.0-5.8) and McCollum (23.3) are a dynamic backcourt duo but the team won't go anywhere if the team plays like it did at Detroit. The pick: There was a time when opposing teams dreaded coming to Portland but no longer. The blazers are just 14-13 SU & 12-15 ATS at home this season. OKC is a 10* play. |
|||||||
03-01-17 | Pacers +10 v. Spurs | Top | 99-100 | Win | 100 | 11 h 30 m | Show |
The set-up: The 31-29 Indiana Pacers are in San Antonio Wednesday night to face the 45-13 Spurs. The Pacers limped into the All-Star break on a six-game losing skid but have won two of three since getting back on the court, beating the Grizzlies and Rockets. The Spurs are finally back home after the annual Rodeo Road Trip, during which they went 6-2. “It was a good trip,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. “We had one bad night out of 11 or 12 days. I thought they maintained their focus really well, especially coming back off the break and playing the last couple of games. I thought we did a good job." Indiana: Surprisingly, Paul George is averaging just 11.3 PPG (down from a season mark of 21.7) on 11-of-36 shooting in three games since the All-Star break, while the Pacers are 2-1. Maybe that's good news, as others have contributed. Indiana was down 18-2 in the opening minutes at Houston on Monday before clawing back to earn a 117-108 win. Jeff Teague (15.5 & 7.2 APG) scored 25 points to lead the Pacers against Houston, while reserve Rodney Stuckey (9.1) had 17 of the 48 points scored by Indiana's bench. San Antonio: The Spurs have had two days off since winning 119-98 in LA against the Lakers on Sunday, adjusting to the team's return to Texas. In fact, this marks San Antonio's first home game since Feb. 4. The Spurs have to be happy that Pau Gasol () got back on the court in the team's last two games, after sitting out 15 games with a fractured finger. He looked good too, averaging 16 points in the two contests.The pick: There's an advantage to being on the road for most of February (San Antonio's annual Rodeo Road Trip), as the Spurs will play 12 of their 17 games in March at home and 16 of their final 24 regular-season games will be contested at the AT&T Center. However, the Spurs are a modest 14-11 ATS at home this season and the Pacers should expect George to break out of his current slump, anytime. How about tonight? Make the Pacers an 8* play. |
|||||||
03-01-17 | Knicks v. Magic -1 | Top | 101-90 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 0 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-36 Knicks are off back-to-back one-point games (a win and a loss) as they travel to Orlando to take on the 22-28 Magic. The Knicks have lost seven of nine overall, while the Magic have lost six of eight. New York: Carmelo Anthony nailed a jumper with 0.3 seconds left in Saturday's 110-109 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers but could not knock down an open three-pointer at the buzzer on Monday, as the Knicks dropped a 92-91 decision to the Toronto Raptors. It's been a uneasy time for Anthony (23.5 & 6.0) as of late and a season of frustration. However, but he is still playing heavy minutes (an average of 38.7 in three games since the All-Star break). The Knicks are promising they are not trying to lose and get a better draft position, something head coach Jeff Hornacek addressed before Monday's game.r New York is hoping Kristaps Porzingis (18.1 & 7.1), who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, will return soon, taking some of the scoring burden off of 'Melo. Orlando: Like New York, Orlando is not looking ahead to a playoff berth and signaled its intention to play small by trading away power forward Serge Ibaka for athletic wing Terrence Ross before the All-Star break. Ross, who is starting for Orlando after coming off the bench in Toronto, scored a team-high 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the team's 105-86 Saturday home win over the Hawks. The pick: The Magic have played more energetic basketball since the All-Star break, while the Knicks are a woeful 9-20 SU on the road this year. At this price, this is an excellent spot for the home team. Make Orlando an 8* play. |
|||||||
02-28-17 | Warriors -6.5 v. Wizards | Top | 108-112 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 42 m | Show |
The set-up: Washington had positioned itself for a run at Kevin Durant a few years ago, hoping he would look to "return home" as a free agent. It turns out, the Wizards never had a chance, as Durant spurned the Wizards and his former OKC coach (Scott Brooks) during his free-agency situation last July. Durant now returns to D.C. with the 50-9 Golden State Warriors to take on the 34-23 Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. Golden State: Durant (left pinkie) returned from a one-game absence to score 27 points in Monday's 119-108 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, a game in which Steph Curry shot 0 for 11 from three-point range."I forgot to adjust to the thickness of the air," Curry joked to reporters after the contest. "It happens but you have to find other ways to impact the game." It shows just how dominant this Warriors team is, as despite Curry's misfires, Golden St. won by double digits. The Warriors come to Washington having won 19 of their last 22 games. Golden St. ranks first in scoring (118.2 PPG) and in FG percentage (48.9%) plus third in three-point percentage (38.6). The Warriors allow 105.4 PPG ( to rank 13th but rank first in both opponents' FG (43.6) nd three-point (32.5) percentage! Washington: Th Wizards won 18 of 21 games prior to the All-Star break but are 0-2 since play resumed. They lost 120-112 at Philly on Friday and then had a streak of 23 consecutive games of 100 or more points halted by Utah, when the Jazz beat them 102-95 in Washington on Sunday. The loss to the Jazz was only the team's second in its last 21 home games. Washington owns a terrific starting-five (all five average in double figures), led by guards Wall (22.9-4.5-10.7) and Beal (22.6), but needs more production off the bench. The team is hoping the addition of Bogdanovic, who averaged 14.2 PPG in 55 games for the Nets, will add that needed bench scoring. The pick: Bogdanovic has averaged a modest 8.5 PPG in his two games with Washington but he is a proven scorer (it will take time). However, after a great run heading into the break, all of a sudden the Wizards need to beat the NBA's best team in order to avoid their first three-game losing streak since Nov. 11-16, when they fell to 2-8. I don't like their chances, as the Warriors have won six consecutive visits to Washington and have won 10 of their last 11 overall meetings with the Wizards. What's more, the Wizards are catching Curry off that 0 for 11 three-point performance last night. The last time he shoot so poorly was when he missed all 10 three-point attempts against the LA Lakers back on Nov. 4 and then set an NBA record with 13 three-pointers against the New Orleans Pelicans in Golden State's next game. In Golden State's win at Washington last year, he had 51 points and 11 three-pointers. OUCH! Golden St. is a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-27-17 | Raptors v. Knicks +3 | Top | 92-91 | Win | 100 | 8 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The 35-24 Toronto Raptors opened February 2-5 but have put together three straight wins (over Charlotte, Boston and Portland) as they head to Madison Square Garden tonight, to take on the 24-35 NY Knicks. The Knicks are coming off a 110-109 win over Philadelphia on Saturday, when Anthony bailed them out with a game-winning jumper with under one second to go, after the Knicks had blown a double digit lead. Toronto: The Raptors have won the last two of their three-game winning streak without the services of PG Kyle Lowry (22.8 & 6.9 APG), who has a sore wrist. All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan (27.7) has totaled of 76 points in those two games, while newly acquired forward Serge Ibaka has fit right in by averaging 16.5 and 8.5 rebounds in his first two contests with the team. DeRozan ws quicjk to add that there is little doubt that the defensive presence of Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker is making a difference. "I think it's obvious," he said in his postgame on-court interview with Sportsnet after Sunday's 112-106 win over the Trail Blazers. "What P.J. brings and what Serge brings, it makes a big difference." New York: 'Melo is hitting on all cylinders lately, averaging 28.4 points over his last seven games to push his season mark to 23.5 PPG (adds 6.0 RPG). However, the Knicks could be without second-leading scorer Kristaps Porzingis (18.1 & 7.1) for a second straight game, as he sat out the Philly win with an ankle injury. Despite all of New York's woes, the Knicks are still just four games out of a playoff spot. Derrick Rose, who like Anthony had trade rumors surrounding his name, has shot 53.4 percent over his last six games and is averaging 17.6 PPG and 4.4 APG on the season. The pick: Toronto is on a five-game winning streak against the Knicks, with four of those wins coming by double digits, but it's my belief that with the trade deadline passed, the Knicks will be a 'tough out' down the stretch, especially at MSG. Make the Knicks a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-26-17 | Suns +7 v. Bucks | Top | 96-100 | Win | 100 | 7 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-40 Phoenix Suns come off a 128-121 OT loss Friday at Chicago and continue to own the West's worst overall record (Lakers barely edge them out at 19-30). As for the 25-31 Milwaukee Bucks, they entered the All Star break on a three-game winning streak but saw that end Friday at home against the Jazz, falling 109-95 Phoenix; The Suns allowed 108 points in regulation to Chicago (a whopping 128 for the entire game) and only the woeful Nets allow more points game in and game out than Phoenix (112.7 PPG ranks 29th). The Suns own a terrific backcourt duo in PG Bledsoe (21.5-5.0-6.3) and Booker (21.2) plus the first guard off the bench is Brandon Knight (11.0), who was once a solid starter in this league. The 20-year-old Booker scored 27 points vs. the Bulls and has now scored 20 or more in 21 of his last 23 games but Knight was held out of Friday's game to give Tyler Ulis (3.2) more minutes. Ulis is auditioning to be the team’s backup PG and had six points to go along with four assists in 13 minutes. Center Tyson Chandler (8.4 & 11.4) also sat out to give Alex Len (7.5 & 6.4) extra time but the ex-Maryland player struggled in scoring four points and and grabbing seven rebounds in 35 minutes. Milwaukee: The Bucks took a huge hit when Jabari Parker (20.1 & 6.1) was lost for up to 12 months right before the All Star break with a torn ACL. Milwaukee is not out of the postseason discussion just yet, sitting two games back of No. 8 Detroit, although the red-hot Heat are a half-game in front of them, as well. However, Milwaukee badly needs to find some consistent scoring help from players other than Giannis Antetokounmpo (23.5-8.7-5.4), who is a true All Star. Michael Beasley (9.5 & 3.6) has come through by averaging 19.7 PPG in Milwaukee's last three contests but Greg Monroe (11.5 & 6.8) has been a season-long underachiever and Khris Middleton, last year's leading scorer at 18.2 PPG, has just returned to the court to average a modest 10.2 PPG in five games (hamstring injury had kept him all season). The pick: With all the Suns' problems, it's hard to trust Milwaukee as any kind of a favorite when only Antetokounmpo can be counted on to produce regularly. Yes, the Bucks won easily in Phoenix earlier this season (137-112) but the Suns have won 14 of the last 21 games against Bucks. Take the points and make Phoenix a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-25-17 | Pelicans v. Mavs | Top | 83-96 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 31 m | Show |
The set-up: The Anthony Davis-DeMarcus Cousins era opened with a thud, as the two stars combined for 56 points and 23 rebounds in their first game together, yet the 23-35 New Orleans Pelicans lost by 30 points in Thursday's home game with the Rockets. Adding insult to injury, the Rockets toyed with the Pelicans despite James Harden scoring just 13 points on 3 of 9shooting. The Pelicans look to regroup Saturday night in Dallas, where they will take on the 22-35 Mavericks. New Orleans: No one was predicting the Pelicans were ready to challenge the Warriors after they traded for Cousins but Thursday's result represented a cold reminder of just how much work New Orleans has in front of themselves. Cousins put it best. "For some reason, I guess people expected a championship," he told reporters afterward. "I know the reality of it. We've had one practice and a shootaround. This isn't something that is just going to happen overnight. Do we look good on paper? Yes. But being good on paper doesn't win games." Dallas: The Mavs returned frrom the break last night and lost 97-84 at Minnesota, their third straight loss and fifth in seven games. Dallas acquired center Nerlens Noel from the Philadelphia 76ers prior to Thursday's trading deadline and the expectation is that he will be available for Saturday's contest. The Mavericks expect Noel to be the starting center in the very near future, which would allow veteran Dirk Nowitzki to move back to his natural position of power forward. We'll see. To be sure, the 22 year-old Noel adds to a young nucleus that includes Harrison Barnes (24), Seth Curry (26) and rookie sensation Yogi Ferrell (23). The pick: New Orleans gave up three guards (Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway) in the deal for Cousins and the lack of backcourt players contributed to 20 turnovers against the Rockets. Expect things to improve greatly in this one. New Orleans won 111-104 win over the Mavericks back on Dec. 26 and I expect the first "W" of the Davis-Cousins era to come tonight. New Orleans is an 8* play. |
|||||||
02-25-17 | Hawks -2.5 v. Magic | Top | 86-105 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up: The 32-25 Atlanta Hawks have fallen 2 1/2 games back of the surging Washington Wizards in the Southeast and currently own the No. 5 seed in the East. They lost for the third time in four games Friday, shooting just 38 percent in a 108-90 home loss to the Heat. The 21-38 Orlando Magic were quiet on trade deadline day and continued their free fall that night by coughing up a lead in Thursday’s 112-103 home loss against Portland, their sixth loss in seven games. Atlanta: Dennis Schroder (17.5 & 6.3 APG) has replaced the traded Jeff Teague at PG without missing a beat but was suspended one game for being late in returning back from the break. He should be back in the lineup tonight, joining PF Millsap (18.0 & 7.8) and center Howard (13.4 & 12.8). Glenn Robinson Jr. (13.0) has really come on lately plus the Hawks added Ersan Ilyasova in a trade with the 76ers. He scored nine points in 16 minutes last night but has averaged 14.2 & 5.8 on the season and will help this team down the stretch. Orlando: The Magic traded Serge Ibaka to the Toronto Raptors for Terrence Ross but that surely didn't improve a team which is going nowhere, fast. Swingman Evan Fournier leads the team ins coring at 16.8 PPG and center Nikola Vucevic (14.1 & 10.0) is a solid player but the Magic's home record speaks for itself. Orlando is 9-19 SU in Amway Arena and 7-20-1 ATS. The pick: Schroder gets back in the lineup and the Hawks cruise past Orlando, just kike they have in two earlier meetings, winning 131-120 and 111-92. Atlanta is an 8* play. |
|||||||
02-24-17 | Celtics v. Raptors -3 | Top | 97-107 | Win | 100 | 12 h 10 m | Show |
incorrectly entered play....NOT a play! |
|||||||
02-24-17 | Wizards v. 76ers +8 | Top | 112-120 | Win | 100 | 11 h 11 m | Show |
The set-up: The 34-21 Washington Wizards opened the season 2-8 but slowly got things turned around. They then 'sprinted' to the All Star break on an 18-3 run, taking over the top spot in the Southeast Division and climbing to the East's No. 3 seed, just two back of the Celtics. Washington gets back on te heourt tonight in Philadelphia against the 21-35 76ers. Philly's record may not look very good but when one considers this team won just TEN times all of last season, it's been quite a turnaround for this franchise. The pick: Of course, rookie center Joel Embiid (20.2 & 7.8) has been the key to the team's turnaround but he sat out the last 11 games with a knee injury. He made it through a full practice on Wednesday but has yet to be cleared and likely will sit out the next two contests. However, the 76ers closed the first half of the season going 3-2 SU and 5-0 ATS heading into the break, all without Embiid. Note that Saric averaged 20.6 points on 52.6 percent shooting in those last five games, giving a window into why the 76ers moved Ilyasova. Love the way Washington is playing and picking up Bogdanovic is "just what the doctor ordered" but the 76ers are a money-making 20-9 ATS at home. Philly is a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-23-17 | Nuggets v. Kings +7 | Top | 100-116 | Win | 100 | 15 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-33 Sacramento Kings begin life without DeMarcus Cousins when they return from the All Star break to host the 25-31 Denver Nuggets. Cousins was traded to New Orleans with the Kings getting Buddy Hield (sixth overall pick of the 2016 draft) and Tyreke Evans (played his first four NBA seasons in Sacramento), Langston Galloway and a 2017 first-round draft pick. Denver: The Nuggets currently hold down the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot but five teams return from the break within 3 1/2 games of Denver, including the Kings and Pelicans. Injuries have left Denver shorthanded during parts of (most of?) February but the Nuggets were on an 11-8 run heading into the break and just may be getting healthy. Leading scorer Danilo Gallinari (17.2 points, groin injury), fellow forward Kenneth Faried (ankle) and point guard Emmanuel Mudiay (back) may return after missing the final four games before the break plus forward Wilson Chandler (illness) also should be back. Faried averages 9.9 & 8.0, Mudiay 11.8-3.5-4.2 and Chandler 15.6 & 6.7. 6-10 center Jokic (16.3 & 8.9) is quickly becoming the team's MVP, as he averaged 23.4 & 14.4 in the five games prior to the break. Speaking of the All Star break, second-year player Jamal Murray (8.9) scored 236points in the Rising Stars Challenge to earn MVP honors. Sacramento: The Kings can't replace Cousins' 27.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game but they won't miss his NBA-leading 17 technical fouls. Rudy Gay (18.7) has been lost for the season so that means PG Darren Collison leads Sacramento in scoring (13.7 PPG) and center Kosta Koufos is its leading rebounder (5.4 RPG). Cauley-Stein (5.8 & 2.7 in about 13 MPG) figures to get a heavy share of the 34 minutes per game Cousins averaged and Sacramento GM Vlade Divac has always loved Buddy Hield saying, "His work ethic is exactly what we want here." The pick: The Kings had won four straight before getting blasted 109-86 by the Warriors to close the first half and also own four straight wins over the Nuggets.The Nuggets are 10-18 SU on the road and now they come in at about a 'TD' favorite on the road?? I think not. Make Sacramento a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-19-17 | East v. West -6 | Top | 182-192 | Win | 100 | 19 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: The NBA's All Star weekend concludes with tonight's East vs. West All Star game from New Orleans. Brad Stevens (East) and Steve Kerr (West) are the coaches but as they noted, coaching is not an integral part of this game (exhibition?). Kerr will have the unique opportunity to put four of his players on the court at the same time, PG Curry, SG Thompson plus forwards Durant and Green. However, as most likely know, the 'drama' will be not if Kerr chooses to play his four Warriors at the same time but whether Kerr will put OKC's Russell Westbrook on the court with Durant. I think all know the history. The pick: The West won 196-173 last year and 163-158 the year before, as Westbrook walked away with MVP honors both times. In a game loaded with stars, the West stars will shine brighter again tonight and maybe Russell will once again walk away with that 'cherished' MVP trophy. The West is an 8* play. |
|||||||
02-16-17 | Celtics +1 v. Bulls | Top | 103-104 | Push | 0 | 12 h 33 m | Show |
The set-up: Two All Stars square off Thursday night as Isaiah Thomas (29.9 & 6.3 APG) leads the 37-19 Boston Celtics into Chicago to take on Jimmy Butler (24.4-6.3-4.9) and the 27-29 Bulls. Boston's PG looks to record a team-record 41st consecutive 20-point performance, as last night he scored 33 points in a 116-108 home win over Philly to match John Havlicek's franchise mark of 40 set back in 1971-72. Chicago swingman Butler, who had missed four of five games, scored 19 points and matched his season best of 12 assists in Tuesday's 105-94 victory over Toronto. Adding a little more suspense to the mix, the Celtics have been linked to Butler in trade speculation. Boston: Thomas' backcourt partner Avery Bradley (17.7 & 6.9) has been sidelined by an Achilles problem, missing 19 of Boston's last 20 games. He's out again tonight but led by Thomas' superb play, Boston has won 14 of the 19 games Bradley has missed, with the Celtics surging to a 4 1/2-game lead over Toronto in the Atlantic Division plus currently own the East's No. 2 seed, just 2 1/2 games back of the Cavs. Thomas has topped 25 points in 10 consecutive contests (averaging 33.9 PPG during that span) and has scored 35 or more on 14 occasions this season. After some early season injury issues, center Horford (14.8-6.7-5.0) and SF Crowder (14.0 & 5.7) have settled in to deliver Boston consistent efforts in support of Thomas' outstanding play. Chicago: The Bulls shook things up after missing last year's playoffs with Rose and Noah going to the Knicks and Gasol to the Spurs. However, the "new-look" Bulls (Wade and Rondo were the big additions) are sub-.500 and while they currently own the East's 7th-seed, they are uncomfortably only 1 1/2 games inside the playoff 'cut line.' Wade has averaged 19.1-5.2-3.8 and Rondo a very disappointing 6.6-5.2-6.5. Wade's wrist has kept him out of the last two games (three of the last four) and his availability for tonight's contest will be determined after Thursday's shootaround. Forward Nikola Mirotic (9.0 & 5.1) also has missed the last two contests with a back issue and appears unlikely to play on Thursday. The pick: The Bulls are barely hanging onto one of the last two playoff spots in the East plus find themselves surrounded by trade rumors involving not just Butler (the team's lone All Star) but power forward Taj Gibson and center Robin Lopez, as well. Meanwhile, the Celtics have won four straight and 11 of their last 12 games. Boston is a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-15-17 | Lakers v. Suns -4 | Top | 101-137 | Win | 100 | 12 h 27 m | Show |
The setup: The 19-38 LA Lakers will take on the only team in the West with a worse record than themselves, when they visit the 17-39 Suns tonight in Phoenix. However, the Lakers know well that they own a 10-game losing streak in Phoenix, as the Suns' streak of success matches the franchise's longest home winning streak against the Lakers.
LA Lakers: Nineteen wins seems modest but remember, last year's 17 wins set a franchise record for futility. LA is led by its backcourt which includes starters Russell (14.0 & 4.7 APG) and Young (14.0) plus leading scorer Williams (18.5) and Clarkson (13.6) coming off the bench. Luke Walton shook up his lineup by benching starting center Timofey Mozgov (7.4 & 4.9) and forward Luol Deng (7.7 & 5.4), inserting Tarik Black (6.1 & 5.5) in the middle and rookie Brandon Ingram (8.1 & 4.1) in Deng's spot in Friday's 122-114 at Milwaukee. That was the case again last night but LA scored just 96 points in a one-point home loss to the Kings. What's the next move? Maybe Walton will check with Magic? Phoenix: The Suns have dropped 10 of their past 12 games but do own a coveted young backcourt in Bledsoe (21.5-4.9-6.1) and Booker (21.1). Bledsoe scored 37 points in Monday's 110-108 loss to New Orleans Pelicans for his 11th 30-point outing of the campaign. He has scored in double digits in a career-best 42 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Phoenix player since Amar'e Stoudemire (51) in 2009-10. His 20-year-old-backcourt partner Booker has reached 20 points in 19 of his last 21, including 16 straight from Jan. 3 through Feb, 4. The pick: The Lakers allow 110.3 PPG to rank 27th and the Suns allow 112.6 PPG to rank 29th, so don't expect a defensive contest. However, 10 straight wins here at home over the Lakers is nothing to sneeze at and why would I want to step in front of that, considering all teh issues LA is dealing with in the front office? The Suns are a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-14-17 | Raptors v. Bulls +7 | Top | 94-105 | Win | 100 | 18 h 14 m | Show |
The set-up: The 32-23 Toronto Raptors head to Chicago having lost 10 of their last 14 games. Meanwhile, the Bulls return home off a 2-4 road trip in which they lost the final three games by an average of 25.7 PPG. The final loss of that trip, 117-89 at Minnesota on Sunday, leaves them at 26-29 and with the East No. 7 seed. However, the Bulls are just 1 1/2 games inside the playoff 'cut line!' |
|||||||
02-13-17 | 76ers v. Hornets -8 | Top | 105-99 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-34 Philadelphia 76ers' have a logjam at the center position, although the best of the bunch, Joel Embiid, has a more serious injury than originally thought. Then there is Jahil Okafor, who was held out of Philly's last game, as the team was contemplating a trade. The 76ers head to Charlotte to take on the 24-30 Hornets, who just made a move of their own at the center spot, trading away Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes to Milwaukee in exchange for Miles Plumlee (you tell me why?).
Philadelphia: The biggest recent news out of Philly is not that team team has reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2012-13 season but that GM Bryan Colangelo revealed on Saturday that Embiid (20.2 & 7.8) is dealing with a small meniscus tear in addition to the bone bruise that has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 27. "The MRI revealed obviously, what we thought it to be: a bone bruise," Colangelo told reporters. "There was also the recognition that there was a very minor meniscal tear. But it was not thought to be acute, and it was not thought to be the source of the pain, inflammation or symptoms. That is the case." Embiid is unlikely to see action until after the All-Star break, at the earliest.Okafor was held out Saturday (trade?), leaving Nerlens Noel and Richaun Holmes to hold down the center spot. However, the 76ers ended Miami's 13-game winning streak with a 117-109 victory, on the heels of pulling out a 112-111 win at Orlando on Thursday. Charlotte: The Hornets have lost nine of their last 10 and the team's promising 8-3 start to the 2016-17 season is a distant memory. All that said, despite going 4-14 since a Jan. 4 win over Oklahoma City, the Hornets trail eighth-place Detroit by only a single game in the Eastern Conference standings. Kemba Walker (22.3-4.1-5.4) is headed to his first All Star game but is in the midst of a shooting slump, connecting on only 28.4 percent from the floor in Charlotte's five February games. Backcourt partner Nicolas Batum (15.1-7.2-6.1) has tried to pick up the slack with 25 points and eight assists on Saturday. However, he had nothing good to say about the team's performance after the contest. "We’ve just got to go out there and compete and win games, that’s it," Batum told reporters. "Every meeting we talk about it, we know how to do it, it’s our job. Our job is to go out there and win games, compete and make our fans proud and make the city proud. That’s what we’ve got to do. ... We can’t keep losing games and say OK we’re going to be fine." Batum is right. The Hornets are not greater than the sum of their parts. The pick: The 76ers roll into Charlotte off back-to-back wins but without their best player and with trade rumors swirling. As for the Hornets, despite the team's poor play in 2017, a playoff spot is still there for the taking. The 76ers won 102-93 over the Hornets back on Jan. 13 in Philly but that victory snapped a six-game losing streak for t Shes in this series. Hornets repay the favor here at home. Charlotte is a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-12-17 | Pistons v. Raptors -6.5 | Top | 102-101 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The 25-29 Detroit Pistons are in Canada tonight to take on the 32-22 Toronto Raptors. The Pistons are off a 103-92 Friday home loss to the Spurs, after having started to trend in the right direction with four wins in the team's previous five games. In contrast, not much has gone right for the Raptors, who enter this contest off a 112-109 Wednesday loss at Minnesota, the team's ninth in its last 13 games. |
|||||||
02-11-17 | Heat v. 76ers +3.5 | Top | 109-117 | Win | 100 | 13 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-30 Miami Heat will go for the team's 14th consecutive win tonight in Philadelphia, up against the 19-34 76ers. A win would match the second-longest winning streak in Miami franchise history. The 76ers had lost seven of eight before a 112-111 victory over Orlando on Thursday but will once again play without star Joel Embiid (20.2 & 7.8), who has missed eight straight games with a knee injury.Miami: What an improbable run it has been for the Heat. Miami lost at Milwaukee back on Jan. 13th, the team's 10th loss in its previous 11 games and stood at 11-30. Thirteen straight victories have followed and the team which was once a "lottery lock," is now within a game of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Miami won seven straight games decided by single digits and is 5-0 on the road during the winning streak. PG Dragic (20.0 & 6.5 APG) and center Whiteside (16.9 & 13.9) are the two stars but six others average in double digits. However, Winslow (10.9 & 5.2) is out for the season, Richardson's (11.2) sprained left foot continues to keep him sidelined and Waiters (15.5) has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle (unclear if he will play here).
Philadelphia: T.J. McConnell (5.9 & 6.0 APG) was the hero Thursday (winning bucket in the final seconds) but rookie forward Dario Saric (10.3 & 5.7) is also becoming more and more involved, as the team awaits Embiid's return. He's scored at least 20 points in consecutive games for the first time in his young career in Philly's last two games and has averaged 15.5 PPG his last 11 contests. PF Ilyasova (15.3 & 5.9) has been terrific all season and McConnell has become a team leader, averaging 8.9 PPG and 7.9 APG the last 12 games. The pick: The Heat just keep winning but as noted above, they also are dealing with a number of key injuries. The 76ers were off last night while the Heat travel from Brooklyn, setting up a very live home dog. Make Philly a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-10-17 | Spurs -4.5 v. Pistons | Top | 103-92 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The 40-12 San Antonio Spurs are in the midst of their annual annual "Rodeo Road Trip," which this year takes them on an eight-game trek. They lost at Memphis on Monday on the first leg of the journey, then bounced back with a 111-103 victory at Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 25-28 Detroit Pistons come in off lopsided home wins over the 76ers and the Lakers but will not be able to get away with making just 9 of 38 or 23.7% of their triples (as they did in those two wins) against the Spurs and expect to win. San Antonio: SF Kawhi Leonard (25.5 & 5.9) sat out the Spurs' loss at Memphis due to a quadriceps injury but returned at Philadelphia to score 32 points. He has now scored in double digits in 81 consecutive games, the longest streak by a San Antonio player since Tim Duncan had a 91-game stretch over 2002-03." Leonard stands out as the team's best player these days, although PF Aldridge (17.4 & 7.9) is a solid No. 2. Then there is that San Antonio depth, with seven players chipping in between 6.5 and 11.7 PPG. It must be noted that Gasol (11.7 & 7.9) is the biggest contributor of that group and is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery to fix the fourth metacarpal in his left hand. He hasn't played since Jan. 17 (is expected to be back in late-Feb.) but the team is 8-3 in the 11 games he's missed. As expected, the 7-0 Dedmon is getting more time and in three of his last four games (averaging 25 minutes per in those contests), he's topped double digits in rebounds. Detroit: The Pistons are back to playing well at home, with seven wins in their last eight contests at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Center Andre Drummond (14.8 & 13.8) posted his 34th double-double of season in Wednesday's win over the Lakers with 24 points, 17 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals. Harris (16.4 & 5.1) and Morris (14.2 & 4.5) start in the frontcourt with Drummond, while PG Jackson (15.6 & 5.6 APG) and Pope (14.2) are the starting guards. The 6-10 Leuer (11.1 & 5.7( is a part-time starter and makes it six double digit scorers for Detroit, plus backup PG Ish Smith (8.2 & 5.0 APG) is a quality contributor. The pick: Despite some recent problems, the Pistons still rank 5th in points allowed (101.9 per) but they are not quite in San Antonio's class, as the Spurs allow 98.8 PPG (2nd) on 44.2% shooting (4th). Note that Detroit ranks 20th in opponents' FG percentage. The Spurs are 21-6 SU on the road this year and have won four straight in the series, including 109-99 and 104-87 wins in their last two visits to Detroit. Make San Antonio a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-09-17 | Jazz v. Mavs +3.5 | Top | 105-112 | Win | 100 | 12 h 50 m | Show |
complete analysis soon |
|||||||
02-08-17 | Clippers -1 v. Knicks | Top | 119-115 | Win | 100 | 20 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The 31-21 LA Clippers have seen Blake Griffin (21.6 & 8.8) return but they are just 1-5 since he got back on the court, despite Griffin averaging 23.5 & 8.3. Of course, PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7) remains out after he had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. He is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks, returning sometime around mid-March (hopefully). The Clippers will be in MSG to take on the 22-31 Knicks, who seem listless (that's being kind), while rumors regarding a Carmelo to Cleveland trade (or to any team for that matter), continue to swirl. LA Clippers: In fact, the Clippers are one of a few teams that have been mentioned in the trade rumors surrounding Anthony and sure look like they could use another player. The Clippers are now 2-7 since Paul was sidelined, dropping them to 4-12 without Paul in the lineup on the season. Head coach Doc Rivers is not one to panic and even after a 118-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday, he points out that Griffin posted his fifth career triple-double, and first of the season, with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high-tying 11 assists in that loss. NY Knicks: There's not much to say about the Knicks these days. Then again, head coach Jeff Hornacek seemingly has seen enough, after the Knicks lost at home to the pathetic Lakers, 121-107 on Monday. "You have to play for some pride," Hornacek said. "If you come out there and just play basketball, you're on the wrong level. These teams come in -- it's New York. You don't match their effort and energy, you're not going to win. Right from the start, the Lakers out-hustled us. They got offensive rebounds, got long balls that bounded around the free-throw line. They got them all."
The pick: The Clippers are struggling but it's hard to make the case the Knicks even care.The Clippers have won their last eight meetings with the Knicks, including four straight here in MSG. What changes tonight? Nothing. Make LA a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-07-17 | Blazers v. Mavs | Top | 114-113 | Win | 100 | 13 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The 22-30 Portland Trail Blazers will be in Dallas tonight to take on the 20-31 Dallas Mavericks. Both teams are chasing Denver, which at 23-28, currently owns the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Portland: The Blazers come into this game having lost two straight, 108-104 at home to the Mavs this past Friday and then 105-99 at OKC on Super Bowl Sunday. The loss to the Thunder was typical, as the Blazers have all too often failed to win tightly contested games (Portland is just 9-14 this season in games that are within three points in the final three minutes!). The Blazers do own one the NBA's best backcourts in PG Lillard (26.0-4.8-5.8) and SG McCollum (23.4) but consistent production from the rest of the lineup has been an issue.Dallas: The Mavs lost 110-87 last night in Denver but had won four straight and six of seven, prior to that. Recently, the insertion of PG Yogi Ferrell, an undrafted FA signed to a 10-day contract, into the starting lineup has sparked Dallas. Monday's game was Ferrell's fifth consecutive start (team is 4-1), as starting PG Deron Williams is out with a toe sprain. He had 15 points and five assists against the Nuggets and is averaging 17.2 PPG and 5.0 APG since joining Dallas. Ferrell had 32 points and nine three-pointers in Dallas' 108-104 victory in Portland on Friday. The owrd is that the Mavericks plan to sign him to a two-year contract. The pick: The Mavs are playing better ball than the Blazers recently (have won nine of 13) but are playing on back-to-back nights while the Blazers are looking for a some "instant revenge" from their Friday home loss to this team. I'm taking the points and making Portland a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-06-17 | Thunder v. Pacers -4.5 | Top | 90-93 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 1 m | Show |
The set-up: The 30-22 OKC Thunder are coming off a 105-99 home win over the Blazers on Super Bowl Sunday and tonight travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to face the 28-22 Indiana Pacers, who enter the game on a six-game winning streak after their 105-84 home win over the Pistons on Saturday.
Oklahoma City: Westbrook had 42 points in Suteday's win but no triple-double (just four rebounds and eight assists). OKC did get an excellent effort from Oladipo, who had 23 points and added 13 rebounds. However, the eam's other three starters combined for just 23 points, including 7 & 13 from Adams (12.1 & 7.9), who won't have Kanter (14.4 & 7.6) around for about two months. This is OKC's real issue, it's hard to compete with the NBA's elite with essentially a "one man team!" Outside of Westbrook (31.0-10.4-10.3), Oladipo (16.1) and the team's two-headed center duo (when Kanter is healthy), no other Thunder player averages as much as 7.0 PPG. Indiana: The Pacers will be seeking their seventh straight win, something they have not done in nearly two years! Indiana has a "main guy" like OKC in Paul George (22.6-6.1-3.3) but during the team's recent 13-4 overall run, the Pacers have been getting contributions from a multitude of players. PG Teague (15.7 & 8.2 APG) and center Turner (15.6 & 7.3) are an excellent outside-inside tandem plus five others contribute between 7.8 and 11.5 PPG. The pick: The bad news for Indiana is that the Pacers are just 3-7 in the second night of back-to-back games but the good news is that they have won their last two such games and OKC comes in 3-7 in the second half of back-to-back sets. I had taking OKC over Portland on Sunday and note that the are now 14-2 SU at home vs. Western Conference foes but they are just 11-9 in all venues against East teams so far this season. As for the Pacers, they are 19-6 SU at home and the price is right here to make Indiana a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-05-17 | Blazers v. Thunder -4 | Top | 99-105 | Win | 100 | 15 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The 22-29 Portland Trail Blazers travel to Oklahoma City on the afternoon of the Super Bowl to take on the 29-22 Thunder. Portland is in the midst of a six-team 'battle' for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, with those teams all within 3 1/2 games of each other. The Thunder trail the Jazz by three games in the Northwest Division and although they own the 7th seed overall, are safely a full six games up on the Nuggets, who currently own the No. 8 seed.
Portland: The Blazers are currently just a half-game behind the Nuggets and 1 1/2 games up on the 10th-seeded Mavs. Portland ranks eighth in scoring at 107.7 PPG, led by the dynamic backcourt duo of Lillard (25.9-4.8-5.8) and McCollum (23.5-3.6-3.7). However, the drop-off behind those two is significant, with a group of four players adding between 9.7 and 11.0 PPG. Center Mason Plumlee tops that group and is also the team's leading rebounder at 8.0 per game. Defense has been the team's Achilles' heel, ranking 26th by allowing 109.9 PPG. Oklahoma City: Everyone around the NBA knew that with K.D. off to Oakland, it would be the "Russell Westbrook Show" in OKC this season. He delivered his 25th triple-double in Friday's 114-102 win over the Grizzlies (38-13-12), as he continues his quest to average a triple-double on the season, ala the Big O. Westbrook is currently averaging 30.8-10.5-10.3, which all are team-highs (also leads OKC in steals at 1.6 per game). However, he just doesn't get enough help regularly, with Oladipo (15.9) the only other consistent scorer outside of the team's two-headed center duo of Adams (12.2 & 7.8) and Kanter (14.4 & 6.7). However, with his self-inflicted fractured right forearm back on Jan. 26th, Kanter took that equation off the table (he's expected be sidelined for up to two months). The pick: Defense has not been an OKC strength this season but they held to Grizzlies to just one basket in the final 3 1/2 minutes of Friday's game, turning a three-point deficit into a 12-point win by closing on a 15-0 run! Friday's win ended a three-game slide for OKC and the Thunder get a Portland team here playing its first road contest since Jan. 21. Portland is just 7-15 against winning opponents and will likely want to get this game out of the way quickly, to watch the Super Bowl. Make OKC a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-04-17 | Hornets +9 v. Jazz | Top | 98-105 | Win | 100 | 12 h 14 m | Show |
The set-up: The 23-27 Charlotte Hornets wrap up a three-game road trip tonight in Salt Lake City, taking on the 31-19 Utah Jazz. The Hornets have dropped the first two games of their trip (at Portland and Golden State) and hope to snap a six-game overall slide. For the Jazz, they are looking to wrap up a four-game homestand at 3-1, after beating the Bucks 104-88 on Wednesday. Charlotte: The Hornets got off to a solid start early in the season (opened 8-3) but that seems like a long time ago now, as Charlotte has dropped 13 of its last 17 games, overall. The Hornets just acquired center Miles Plumlee from the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, in exchange for centers Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert. I'm not sure how that makes much of a difference and why would they want the four-year, $50 million contract he signed last summer? Plumlee has played in just 32 games, averaging 2.6 & 1.7 in just under 10 minutes of playing time.Utah: Center Rudy Gobert (13.1 & 12.6) had a 26-point, 15-rebound effort in Utah's Wednesday win over the Bucks, for his 33rd double-double of the season. He felt as if he had done enough to make the All Star team but the Jazz will send only SF Hayward (21.8-5.7-3.5) to New Orleans on Feb. 19th. The Jazz own the NBA's stingiest defense, allowing a league-low 95.3 PPG, while holding opponents to just 43.5% from the floor (also ranks 1st). The pick: The Jazz have made a real name for themselves this season but along with that comes 'heavier' prices. The Hornets own an outstanding backcourt duo in Walker (22.9 & 5.5 APG) and Batum (14.9-7.3-6.0 plus own a host of credible role players. The Hornets are still "right in" the battle for that final playoff spot in the East. Take the points and make Charlotte a 10* play. |
|||||||
02-03-17 | Wolves +4.5 v. Pistons | Top | 108-116 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
The set-up: The 19-30 Minnesota Timberwolves have played much better as of late, although one couldn't prove it by their 125-97 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday. They now look to earn win No. 20 on the season with a visit to Detroit, where they will take on the 22-27 Pistons. Minnesota: The Timberwolves were a trendy pick as a playoff team in the Western Conference at the start of this season, with Tom Thibodeau hired over the summer to guide the young roster. Minnesota started very poorly but was recently beginning to turn things around before getting smoked by the Cavaliers this past Wednesday. "I thought the first half we played well enough where we’d have a chance to win," Thibodeau told reporters after his team went into the break down just 63-60. "But I also knew in the third quarter they’d come out and bring it. And then we didn’t respond." Minnesota can't let that 28-point loss kill their mojo, as they had gone 8-3 prior to Wednesday's loss. PG Ricky Rubio is supposedly on the trade block but the veteran has recently been making himself indispensable, as he delivered a double-double with 14 points and 13 assists in 38 minutes on Wednesday, his sixth double-double in the last 11 games. Rubio's increased scoring is taking some of the focus away from fellow guard Zach LaVine (18.9), who went 4-of-18 from the floor on Wednesday and has scored in single digits in three of the last seven games. Detroit: The Pistons were expected to take a step forward this season as well but Detroit is struggling to find any consistency. The Pistons snapped a three-game slide with one of their more impressive victories on Wednesday (a 118-98 rout of New Orleans), which began a stretch of five of six at home (Pistons are 13-10 SU & 12-11 ATS this season). The Pistons have six double digit scorers, including the starting backcourt of Jackson (16.6 & 5.4 APG) and Pope (14.9). The team's leading scorer is forward Harris (16.7 & 5.1), joined by center Drummond (14.6 & 13.7) plus forwards Morris (13.6 & 4.4) and Leuer (10.6 & 5.8).
The pick: While LaVine has struggled lately for Minnesota, the other two members of the team's "Big 3" have have had no such problems. Center Towns (23.0 & 11.9) and SF Wiggins (22.1 & 4.2) are the envy of most teams. However, Towns has not beaten the Pistons in his short NBA career in large part because Pistons center Andre Drummond has won the matchup of the talented young big men. The Pistons have defeated Minnesota in their last three meetings with Drummond averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Towns has posted averages of 18 points and 9.3 rebounds in those games. I expect that to change here and will make Minnesota an 8* play. |
|||||||
02-02-17 | Warriors -8 v. Clippers | Top | 133-120 | Win | 100 | 14 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The 42-7 Golden State Warriors own the league's best record, as well as the best road mark (20-4) of any team, as well. They will visit Staples Center tonight to take on the 31-18 LA Clippers, a team playing without PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7). However, PF Blake Griffin (21.1-8.7-4.7) has returned to play in the team's three last games, adding 29 & 8 in Wednesday's win in Phoenix (LA had lost the first two games of Blake's return).
Golden State: The Warriors rolled to a 126-111 win over the Charlotte Hornets last night, as Steph Curry (25.3-4.3-6.2) scored 39 points, hitting 11 of 15 from three-point range, and Klay Thompson (21.3) added 29. K.D. (26.1-8.4-4.8) added a modest 18 points (plus eight rebounds and eight assist), while Green (10.4-8.4-7.40 had a typical night (8-10-5). The Warriors own the league's best FG percentage (50.1%) plus defend better than anyone, holding opponents to a league-low 43.4% (quite a daily double). LA Clippers:Last night's win in Phoenix capped a 2-3 five-game road swing in which the Clippers went 2-3. LA continues to play without Paul, who has missed six games since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb on Jan. 18 (team is 2-4). Paul is not expected to return for another four to six weeks. It was good news that Griffin tied his season-high with 29 points, especially since center DeAndre Jordan (12.3 & 13.8) was ejected in the third-quarter for a flagrant-2 foul. "This is the best Blake we've seen (since his return) by far,"head coach Doc Rivers said. "He played in gears. He knew when to go, and he knew when not to go." Said Griffin, "I was proud how we stuck with it. With DJ going out and (Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe) having a fantastic game, I was proud of the way we stayed with it and dug it out at the end." The pick: Here's the bottom line. The Clippers haven't defeated the Warriors since recording a 100-86 decision back on Christmas Day in 2014. Since then, it's been nothing but misery for them, as the Warriors own eight straight wins over the Clippers, including the past four meetings at Staples. Golden State has an average margin of victory of more than 13 points in the past eight contests against the Clippers, averaging 117.5 PPG and shooting 49.9 percent during that stretch. Golden State rolled to a 144-98 romp at Oracle Arena in the teams' most recent meeting, this past Saturday. The Warriors shot 62 percent from the floor and made 17 three-pointers, with Curry scoring 43 points (in three quarters!). It was the most points allowed by the Clippers this season. The Warriors have won 11 of their last 12 contests overall and they are 8-1 against division opponents this season. Make Golden State an 8* play. |
|||||||
01-31-17 | Thunder +8.5 v. Spurs | Top | 94-108 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-20 OKC Thunder find themselves 1 1/2 games back of the Utah Jazz in the Northwest and in a battle with the 29-21 Grizzlies for the West's No. 6 seed. As for the 36-11 Spurs, they lead the Rockets by three games in the Southwest but like the rest of the NBA, trail the 41-7 Warriors for the best record in the West (or in the entire NBA, for that matter). Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook is averaging 30.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game, in his quest to become the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over an entire season. "He's a great player, and we have try our best to limit his touches and his catches and looks," said San Antonio guard Danny Green, who likely will get the defensive assignment on Tuesday. "We need to try to make one of their other players beat us." OKC's problem all season i has been production outside of Westbrook and now Enes Kanter (14.4 & 6.7) could miss two months after breaking his right forearm by punching a chair during a timeout in a win over Dallas on Friday. San Antonio: The Spurs come into this game off losses at New Orleans and at home to Mavs (??), having lost back-to-back games for the first time since falling to the LA Clippers on Nov. 5 and to the Houston Rockets on Nov. 9. The 105-101 Sunday loss to Dallas was San Antonio's sixth loss to a team with a sub-.500 record. The Spurs have lost only five times to opponents with winning records. The loss to the Mavs didn't sit well with All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard (25.4 & 5.7). "It doesn't matter who we lose to," Leonard told reporters. "It's always tough losing. We want to win every game. We've got another one coming up and we have to be prepared. We have to go in with the same mentality -- play defense first and let the offense come."
The pick: The Spurs and Thunder will meet for the first time this season, with the last "get together" being when the teams faced off in the 2016 playoffs, where the Thunder beat the Spurs twice in San Antonio to capture that Western Conference semifinal series (of course, KD was on OKC then!). However, it's hard to ignore that after matching the league record with a 40-1 SU home mark last season, the Spurs are "just" 16-6 SU at home this season, going 12-10 ATS. Take the points and make OKC a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-30-17 | Grizzlies -3.5 v. Suns | Top | 115-96 | Win | 100 | 14 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-21 Memphis Grizzlies will make the third stop on their current six-game road trip Monday night in Phoenix, to face the 15-32 Suns. Memphis will try to make it back-to-back triumphs in tonight's game, something it has done just once this month. the Grizzlies haven't won as many as three in a row since a six-game winning streak to open December. The Suns come the losers of three in a row, as defensed continue sto be an issue. The Suns rank 29th in points allowed (112.0 PPG) and have not held an opponent under 100 points in any of their last 10 contests. Memphis: The Grizzlies could not stop Damian Lillard in the fourth quarter of a 112-109 loss at Portland (Friday) to begin the trip but were able to win 102-95 in Utah on Saturday, aaginst the up-and-coming Jazz. PF Zach Randolph (14.1 & 8.4) has a season-high 28 points and added nine rebounds. "He was really disappointed with the loss the night before," Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale told reporters of Randolph. "He really wanted that game in Portland. I saw it on his face after the game and the things he said after the game. He was really upset. I expected him to come out and play really well (Saturday)." Randolph, center Marc Gasol (20.8 & 6.1) and PG Mike Conley (18.7-3.8-6.2) combined to score 69 points on 28-of-46 shooting in the win at Utah. "We really did a good job of moving the basketball tonight," Conley told reporters. "Really playing off one another, especially when one guy has it going. We didn’t go away from that. (Randolph) had so many opportunities down low early and just kept trying to exploit that as long as we could, and when they took that away we went to Marc and when they took that away we went to me. We were just trying to go down the line and find different areas to try and attack them." Phoenix: PG Bledsoe (21.4-5.0-6.3) scored a career-high 41 points on Saturday against Denver (besting his previous best of 40 set six days earlier) and is averaging 31.8 points in the last four contests. His backcourt mate, second-year Devin Booker (20.8) of Kentucky, is thriving on the offensive end as well and added points. He has now scored at least 20 points in each of his last 12 contests, averaging 26.7 PPG in that span. Let's also not forget center Tyson Chandler, who earlier this month broke the Phoenix franchise record with seven consecutive games with 15 or more rebounds. His current average (12.2) is his highest in 10 years and is well above the full-season record for a 16th-year NBA player. That mark is held by Moses Malone at 10.0 per game. The pick: One has to love the guard combo of Bledsoe and Booker plus Chandler's numbers speak for themselves but "oh those defensive woes." Phoenix surrendered an average of 125.0 PPG in back-to-back losses to the Denver Nuggets in the team's last two games, Thursday in Denver and back at home on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies rank 3rd in the NBA in points allowed ((99.6), opponents' FG percentage (43.7) and opponents' three-point shooting (34.1). Make Memphis an 8* play. |
|||||||
01-30-17 | Kings v. 76ers +2 | Top | 119-122 | Win | 100 | 5 h 20 m | Show |
The set-up: The 17-29 Sacramento Kings continue the team's eight-game road trip with a stop Monday night in Philadelphia, to take on the 19-28 76ers for a game rescheduled from its original date (Nov. 30), when condensation on the floor at the Wells Fargo Center made for an unsafe environment. The teams own similar records but while the 76ers rank 14th of 15 teams in the East and are five games out of the final playoff spot, the Kings are 10th in the West, just 2 1/2 games out of that final playoff spot. Sacramento: The Kings have won three of their last four, improving to 3-3 on their road trip which ends Tuesday in Houston. "Guys have been great lately," star forward DeMarcus Cousins told reporters after posting 35 points and 18 rebounds in Saturday's 109-106 win at Charlotte. "They are believing. Their confidence is high, which we need, and we're just on the right path and we feel it." The Kings recently lost the team's second-leading scorer, Rudy Gay (18.7), to a season ending injury so it was good news that four other players scored at least 13 points in Saturday's win. Cousins (28.1 & 10.5) was sure pleased to get the support. "We are realizing what is going to win us games and it's not iso(lation) basketball," he told reporters. "When we are making the defense work and getting the best shot for the team and just finding the open man, we are realizing that is working for us." Darren Collison (13.1 & 4.2 APG) led that quartet with 17 points and he is averaging 22.0 PPG on 59.5 percent shooting in the last three games.
Philadelphia: The 76ers won 10 of 13 games from Dec. 30 through Jan. 25 but lost 123-118 at home to teh Rockets and Sunday lost 121-108 in Chicago, the team's 12th straight defeat against the Bulls. Joel Embiid (knee) has missed four of the last five games, including not even making the trip to Chicago. However, the 76ers hope to have their star center back in the lineup when then they host the Kings. Embiid leads the team in scoring (20.2), rebounding (7.8) and blocked shots (2.45). Sixers backup center Jahlil Okafor (11.2 & 4.8) dressed but did not play Sunday against Chicago. He has been held out of 10 of the last 14 games, most recently because of a sore right knee. However, all five starters for Philadelphia scored at least 12 points in Sunday's loss, led by Ersan Ilyasova's 31. He's averaging 15.5 & 6.1 on the season. PG McConnell (5.6 & 6.0 APG) continued his impressive play with12 assists, giving him an average of 10.8 over the past five games. |
|||||||
01-29-17 | Warriors -8.5 v. Blazers | Top | 113-111 | Loss | -102 | 10 h 12 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-27 Portland Trail Blazers are in the middle of a five-game homestand and after Friday' 112-109 win over Memphis, have strung together three straight wins for the first time since Nov. 30-Dec. 5. However, the issue the Blazers face rtonight is that the Golden Stae warriors are coming to the Moda center with the league's best overall record (40-7), the league's best road record (19-4) and with the NBA's highest scoring offense (118.1 PPG), not to mention ranking No. 1 in the NBA in defensive efficiency (rank 1st in FG percentage against at 43.2%). Golden State: The Warriors hosted the Clippers last night and won, 144-98! "It's going great," Golden State head coach Steve Kerr told the Portland Tribune. "The record is good, but more importantly, we're making really good strides, improving all the time." Kerr added, "The first month of the season, we weren't close to that. Over the last month, we've really gotten better at that end. That's a great sign considering what we lost personnel-wise over the summer. Our defense has changed quite a bit. We had a couple of dominant centers in (Andrew) Bogut and (Festus) Ezeli. We don't get the shot-blocking from the center position now, but we get solid play from Zaza (Pachulia) and David West. We play a little faster defensively with (Kevin Durant) and Draymond (Green) and Klay (Thompson) and Andre (Iguodala), wings who do a lot of switching. It's been great to see the guys coming around and clicking together." OK Steve, we get it. Life is good when a coach can trot out Durant (26.1-8.3-4.7), Curry (25.0-4.3-6.1), Thompson (21.0) and Green (10.5-8.4-7.5). Portland: Damian Lillard (26.3-4.8-5.8) is the only player among the league's top dozen scorers not to make the All Star game and scored 15 of his 33 points in the final 6:25 against the Grizzlies. Lillard featured 13 straight Blazer points in a span of 2:40, giving Portland a 106-101 lead with 3:45 to play. "Dame carried us," Portland head coach Terry Stotts said. "It was good to see him have a stretch like that. He hasn't had one of those in a while. It was good to see the ball go through and have him carry the team like that. We don't win the game if he doesn't carry us offensively." Lillard's backcourt partner is McCollum (23.4), giving Portland's the league's second-highest scoring duo. However, the Blazers can't quite match up with the rest of the Warriors' lineup (like everyone else, we should note).
The pick: Curry showed no ill effects of a quad injury by piling up 43 points in just three quarters of action in last night's rout of the Clippers.The 144-point total is the second-highest of the season for Golden State. The Warriors have won the first three meetings this season against Portland and five straight overall, by an average of 25.3 points. The Warriors were able to rest their starters down the stretch in last night's rout of Clippers, so what changes here? Nothing. The Warriors are a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-29-17 | 76ers +6.5 v. Bulls | Top | 108-121 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The "new-look" Bulls were supposed to be better than last year when the team's 42-40 record missed the playoffs. However, they check in at 23-25 as they get set to host the 76ers, who after years of frustration, are beginning to show signs that "the Process" is working. Philly comes to Chicago 17-28 but having won 10 of their last 14 games.
Philadelphia: The 76ers won just 10 games last season, 18 the year before that and just 19 three seasons ago. The main man in the team's resurgence is Joel Embiid, who after missing the previous two seasons with foot issues, has averaged 20.2 PPG (on 46.6% shooting), 7.8 RPG and 2.45 BPG. Embiid's minutes have been carefully monitored and he didn't make this trip to the United Center, as he rests a sore knee. Forward Ersan Ilyasova (15.1 & 6.) has also been a key acquisition, who just had a streak of 25 straight games scoring in double figures end Friday night in Philly's 123-118 home loss against the Rockets. While those two have been the team's best performers all season, Philly's current 10-4 run began o back on Dec. 30th, when T.J. McConnell was promoted to starting PG. McConnell nearly had his fourth straight game with double-digit assists against the Rockets, with eight. He is averaging 10.5 assists over the past four games and produced 13 points - his best total this month - in the loss to the Rockets. "T.J. has been excellent," Embiid told the team's website. "I thought the past 10 games, 13 games, I think he's been our MVP just pushing the ball up the court, just sharing the ball. That's what point guards do, and I think he's been excellent." Chicago: The Bulls currently own the eighth and final playoff spot in the East but in losing their last two, have begun to criticize each other via post-game interviews and social media accounts. After watching a 10-point lead with three minutes left in the fourth quarter slip away against the Hawks, Wade and Butler went off on their young teammates in pos-tgame interview sessions. Rajon Rondo then fired back Thursday on his Instagram account, writing pointed words likely intended to criticize Wade and Butler. Following a team meeting Friday that essentially replaced the morning shootaround, the Bulls lost 100-88 at home to the Miami Heat that night and turned in another lackluster effort. Butler (24.4-6.5-4.7) and Wade (19.7-4.3-3.7) were benched to start the game, a punishment for their comments, and neither played all that well. Wade had 15 points but Butler was held to a season-low three points on 1-of-13 shooting. The pick: Obviously, I'd prefer the 76ers to have had Embiid for this one but Philly's playing with confidence while the Bulls are riddled with in-fighting and several players criticizing one another. Take the points with Philly and make them an 8* play. |
|||||||
01-28-17 | Grizzlies +7 v. Jazz | Top | 102-95 | Win | 100 | 13 h 49 m | Show |
The set-up: The 27-21 Memphis Grizzlies will be in Salt Lake City to face the 30-18 Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies are 10 games out in the Southwest and the Jazz lead the Northwest by 1 1/2 games. The Jazz currently own the West's no. 5 seed and while the Grizzlies are 7th, they are well inside the playoff 'cut line,' six games clear of the 9th-place Blazers. Memphis: Center Marc Gasol (20.8-6.1-4.2) is headed to the All Star game and comes in averaging 31 points over hios last six games, including scoring 32 twice and 42 points in his last three. PF Zach Randolph (13.8 & 8.3) asked for increased playing time and he's had sixth double-doubles in January and has averaged 14.9 & 9.9 this month. PG Conley (18.6 & 6.3 APG) is averaging career highs in both points and assists but failed to make the All Star game. He s the team's only other double digit scorer. Defense is still a staple for Memphis, which ranks third in points allowed (99.7), defensive shooting percentage (43.7) and three-point percentage (34.0). Utah: The Jazz saw Gordon Hayward earn an All Star bid, Utah's first in six seasons, Utah has an NBA All-Star on the roster. Hayward is in the midst of the best season of his seven-year career and is averaging 21.8 points (along with 5.7 RPG and 3.4 APG) after scoring 24 in Thursday's 96-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old's emergence as a big-time player is another prime reason why Utah is one of just six NBA teams to reach 30 victories. Center Rudy Gobert (12.8 & 12.6) has also played a vital role in Utah's rise this season but did not earn an NBA All-Star selection. He was snubbed despite leading the league in total blocks (124), blocks per game (2.6) and points per shot (1.87). He also ranks second in field goal percentage (66.1). Utah ranks 1st in points allowed (95.4) and second in FG percentage (43.3). The pick:I like what I see with the Jazz but the Grizzlies have won two of the previous three games this season, most recently beating the Jazz 88-79 on Jan. 8 behind 19 points and nine assists from Conley. Utah has often been under-priced this season but not here, in a meeting of excellent defensive teams. Take the points and make Memphis a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-27-17 | Kings v. Pacers -4 | Top | 111-115 | Push | 0 | 11 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-27 Sacramento Kings continue an eight-game road trip Friday night when they take on the 23-22 Indiana Pacers. The Kings stumbled badly by going 1-6 during their recent seven-game homestand but are 2-2 so far on their current trip, having won back-to-back games after the team's stunning 116-112 overtime win against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Indiana's standout SF Paul George was selected to his fourth All-Star game and then celebrated with a 32-point outing last night, as the Pacers picked up a 109-103 road victory at Minnesota last night, snapping a three-game losing streak. Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins (28.2 & 10.2) was named to his third straight All-Star contest Thursday and his career-best 28.2 PPG average ranks fifth in the NBA. Cousins has notched 10 consecutive double-doubles and has 25 on the season. However, the team's second-leading scorer, Rudy Gay (18.7), has been lost for the season, leaving the Kings with just one other double digit scorer in Collison (12.6). Sacramento has been a model of inconsistency this season, with the team's back-to-back wins following a stretch when the Kings had lost eight of nine.
Indiana: The Pacers know what inconsistency is all about as well, after snapping their three-game slide last night, which followed the team having won seven of eight. George carried the Pacers to a much-needed victory last night and head coach Nate McMillan added, "As Paul goes, it seems like the team goes. Not only did he do a solid job on the defensive end of the floor, I thought offensively he got a good rhythm and was knocking down some big shots for us." Joining George as solid contributors this season are 6-11 second-year PF Myles Turner (15.9 & 7.5) and PG Jeff Teague (15.6-4.2-8.1), who the Pacers acquired in an off-season trade from Atlanta. The pick: Indiana is 23-22 on the season but one thing which has been fairly consistent has been the team's play here at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. While the Pacers are 7-16 SU on the road, they are 16-6 SU at home. Yes, it's a back-to-back situation for Indiana but they catch the inconsistent Kings off their Wednesday upset of the Cavs. The Pacers just won in Sacramento (106-100 on Jan 18) and this time around a win should come more easily. Make Indiana at 10* play. |
|||||||
01-25-17 | Knicks v. Mavs -2.5 | Top | 95-103 | Win | 100 | 11 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-26 New York Knicks are in Dallas on Wednesday night to face the 15-29 Mavericks. The Mavericks just routed the Lakers by 49 points last Sunday, simultaneously setting a Dallas franchise record for the largest margin of victory and worst loss ever by the Lakers. The Mavs haven't played since while the Knicks come in after almost blowing another late lead Monday at Indiana. New York had lost three games by a total of six points in the previous week and squandered a 17-point lead against the Pacers, before Carmelo Anthony knocked down a go-ahead jumper and the defense held in the final seconds of a 109-103 triumph over the Pacers. NY Knicks: "It's a great feeling," Anthony told reporters after the game. "We should be proud of ourselves the way we were able to bounce back, come on the road and get a big win like this. Be up 17 and let them come back, but we sustained that lead, and to pull this one out on the road was big for us." However, New York is only 4-13 over its last 17 games and eight of those losses have come by seven or fewer points. "This a tough stretch for us with these close losses," Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters. "We were three over .500 at one point, and then we hit this stretch. Got some bad breaks, but you have to make your own breaks sometimes." Anthony (22.6 & 6.0), Porzingis (18.9 & 7.1) and Rose (18.1-4.0-4.5) can be counted on for New York but there's not much to speak of after that trio.Dallas: The Mavericks have won of four of their last six games and are coming off their best performance of the season in crushing the Lakers. "You know, that was a good feeling," Dallas shooting guard Wesley Matthews told reporters. "We came out and we played with the right mentality, the right demeanor, and shots were falling. And most importantly, we were playing good defense. Everybody contributed, and that was good to see." Dallas had seven players in double figures in the 122-73 blowout and ironically, the team's leading scorer Harrison Barnes (20.1) was the only first starter who failed to reach at least 10 points. The pick: The Mavericks are just 15-29 but they are 9-9 over their last 18. split their last 18 games overall. "Right now we are in a spot where we have to dig ourselves out a hole that we dug ourselves in earlier in the season," PG Deron Williams said. "We have to be more aggressive on both sides of the floor and get some more wins." They are hoping momentum from Sunday carries over into the finale of a three-game homestand in this one and I'm 'biting.' Make Dallas a 10* play |
|||||||
01-24-17 | Wolves +1.5 v. Suns | Top | 112-111 | Win | 100 | 12 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: The 16-28 Minnesota Timberwolves will be in Phoenix on Tuesday at Talking Stick Resort Arena, looking to complete their first season sweep of the 15-29 Suns in 13 years. Minnesota: Almost all expected the T-wolves to show marked improvement this season but that hasn't been the case. However, the Timberwolves were just 11-22 on New Year's Day, and have looked better lately, going 5-6 since. In fact, they will take a two-game winning streak into tonight's contest, looking to duplicate a three-game run they recorded earlier this month. Minnesota got a boost from an unlikely source in Sunday's 111-108 home win over Denver, when rookie guard Kris Dunn got a rare start and scored a season-high-tying 10 points, nine assists and also grabbed a season-best eight rebounds. Dunn, the No. 5 pick of the 2016 draft, was starting in place of Ricky Rubio (7.7 & 7.9 APG), who left the club over the weekend following the death of his grandmother. The veteran point guard is expected to return for Tuesday's game. Center Karl-Anthony Towns led the way against the Nuggets with a game-high 32 points which is no surprise, as he leads the team in scoring (22.5) and rebounding (12.0). Wiggins (21.8 & 4.2) and LaVine (19.4) join Towns to give Minnesota a trio of young stars, the envy of most teams. Phoenix: Speaking of young stars, the Suns' 20-year-old Devin Booker has shown brightly recently with nine straight games of 20-plus points (27.4 PPG), including back-to-back 39 point efforts in games in Mexico City (one against the Spurs!). He's averaging 20.5 PPG on the season, paired in the starting backcourt with Bledose (20.9-5.1-6.2) to form quite the dynamic duo (Bledsoe is averaging 24.2 points and 8.3 assists over the last nine games, coinciding with Booker's heroics). Center Tyson Chandler broke a 48-year-old franchise record in Saturday's 107-105 win at New York, recording his seventh consecutive game with 15 or more rebounds. He had only nine rebounds in Sunday's 115-103 win at Toronto but scored 16 points (he averages a modest 8.5 PPG on the season).
The pick: The Suns are on a 5-4 run, a big deal for a team that's 14 games under .500 but the Timberwolves beat the Suns 98-85 in Phoenix in November and repeated the result in a 115-108 victory in Minneapolis on Dec. 19th. I'm not ready to give up on Minnesota's playoff chances just yet, as the T-wolves are just 2 1/2 games back of the eighth spot with just less than a half-season remaining. For Minnesota to catch Denver (or any of the handful of teams slightly ahead of them at the moment), winning on the road against a team like the Suns is a must. Make Minnesota a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-23-17 | Thunder +6 v. Jazz | Top | 97-95 | Win | 100 | 14 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: the 25-19 OKC Thunder find themselves trailing the Utah Jazz by 3 1/2 games in the Northwest Division and also own just the West's No. 6 seed, tied with Memphis. The Thunder have a chance to make up some ground Monday night when they travel to Salt Lake City to face the 29-16 Utah Jazz. |
|||||||
01-21-17 | Bucks v. Heat -1.5 | Top | 97-109 | Win | 100 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The Milwaukee Bucks were routed 112-96 in Orlando last night and limp into Miami on a four-game slide and an overall record of 20-22. However, the Heat are suffering through one of the worst seasons in franchise history at 13-30.
Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo is a 22-year-old 6-11 multi-positional athlete known as "The Greek Freak." He was named an All-Star on Thursday, Milwaukees' first in 31 years and he joins only five other Bucks All-Star starters in franchise history: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bobby Dandridge, Brian Winters, Sidney Moncrief and Marques Johnson. He modest totals (for him) of 17 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, as the Bucks fell for the fourth straight time. Atetokounmpo (23.5-8.8-5.6) got a well-deserved starting spot for the All Star game but the Bucks' trouble has been that other than Jabari Parker (20.5 & 5.9), Antetokounmpo has had little help. Center Monroe (10.6 & 6.8) is doing a disappearing act so far this season and the team really misses Khris Middleton, who had surgery to repair a torn hamstring and is not expected to make his season debut until the middle of February (he led Milwaukee in scoring last year at 18.4 PPG). Miami: The Heat's poor record hurts the All Star candidacy of their two best players. PG Goran Dragic averages 19.4 PPG and 6.3 APG plus center Hassan Whiteside is having a career year, averaging 17.3 PPG and leading the league in rebounds (14.2). He is also averaging 2.1 blocks, which is tied for fifth in the league. Miami actually has six other players averaging in double figures, although Winslow was recently lost for the season with a shoulder injury. The pick: "We just have to find our way out of this slump," Parker said after Milwaukee's loss on Friday. "We'll find our way out of it. We need more enthusiasm. After the first quarter, we didn't have any momentum. We need to move on and win the next game." That sounds good but the Bucks are struggling. Meanwhile, Miami has shown some signs of life this week by beating the Houston Rockets 109-103 and the Dallas Mavericks 99-95 here at home. Let's also note that in two games against Miami this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging just 16.0 points. In 12 career games against Miami, his numbers are even more modest at 14.2 PPG. Miami is a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-20-17 | Bucks v. Magic +3.5 | Top | 96-112 | Win | 100 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-21 Milwaukee Bucks are in Orlando tonight to take on the 17-27 Magic. The Bucks are celebrating the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo was just named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter, while the Magic have lost nine of their past 11 games, as a season that started out with promise has quickly fallen apart.
Milwaukee: Antetokounmpo got a well-deserved starting spot for the All Star game. He scored 32 points with 11 rebounds, making 13 of 20 field goals, in the Bucks' 111-92 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. He's averaging 23.6 PPG (on 53.8 percent shooting) with 8.7 RPG and 5.6 APG (leads Milwaukee in all four categories). The Bucks' trouble has been that other than Jabari Parker (20.4 & 5.9), Antetokounmpo has had little help. Center Monroe (10.7 & 6.8) is doing a disappearing act so far this season and the team really misses Khris Middleton, who had surgery to repair a torn hamstring and is not expected to make his season debut until the middle of February (he led Milwaukee in scoring last yera at 18.4 PPG). Orlando: The Magic now sit at 17-27 and are beginning to lose contact with the 'playoff pack.' First-year Orlando coach Frank Vogel preaches discipline on the defensive end and ball movement on the offensive end, but the players are not buying 100 percent into the system. "We don't play the right way," center Nikola Vucevic told the Orlando Sentinel after the Magic's 118-98 loss at New Orleans. "We can play as hard as we want -- as long as we keep playing like this, this is how it's going to be. It's hard for certain guys to keep giving effort when you don't do the right things out there. We take bad shots. We play selfish. It's embarrassing. We've been losing to everybody by 20. It's bad, man." Three of the last six games have fit the description from Vucevic, lifeless efforts where the Magic were blown out and beaten pretty handily. The pick: Orlando was 1-5 on its just-completed six-game road trip, while allowing an average of 113.7 PPG but hopes a return home will help. The Magic open a three-game homestand on Friday against Milwaukee, who comes in on a three-game slide of its own. The Bucks have taken the first two meetings this season, including a 104-96 victory at Orlando on Nov. 27, but I expect a strong bounce-back from the Magic in this one. Orlando is an 8* play. |
|||||||
01-19-17 | Wolves v. Clippers -2 | Top | 104-101 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The underachieving 14-28 Minnesota Timberwolves will visit Staples Center Thursday night (second half of ESPN doubleheader) to take on the 29-14 LA Clippers, who currently won the NBA's longest active winning streak, at seven. However, the major story-line will be that the PG Chris Paul has now joined Blake Griffin on the sidelines due to injury (more later).
Minnesota: As for the Timberwolves, it seems as if this year's team just isn't going to jell under Tom Thibodeau, the former Chicago head coach. The Timberwolves were expected to be one of the up-and-coming clubs this season with their array of young talent and the addition of the defensive-minded Thibodeau but instead, the team has struggled playing .333 basketball! This, despite the presence of Towns (22.0 & 12.0), Wiggins (21.6 & 4.3) and LaVine (20.1). Inconsistency has plagued them, as they are tied with the Lakers (21st) in turnovers. LA Clippers: The Clippers lost Blake Griffin 41.2-8.8-4.7) after their Dec. 18 loss at Washington to right knee surgery and after winning two straight, lost six in a row. However, LA has since won seven in a row (), averaging 109.4 PPG. However, PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7-2.3 SPG) is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb suffered while trying to defend Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook in a 120-98 win over the Thunder on Monday. Head coach Doc Rivers, in typical coach-speak, said other players must step up. "We still have new guys -- Alan (Anderson) is new and Raymond (Felton) is new and Mo (Speights) and Brandon (Bass) -- this is a good opportunity for them to learn how to execute together," Rivers told the Los Angeles Times. "When everyone is back, when you get Chris and Blake back, if this group can execute, and then you put those two guys back on the floor, I think it makes us better in the long run. This is not the way you want to do it, but this is the way it's been presented." The pick: It seems hard to believe that the Clippers will be able to "maintain" with both Griffin and Paul (Clippers went 2-5 without Paul during his last absence) on the sidelines but in this first game without both, I expect emotion to carry them over a Minnesota team which just can't seem to "get it right!' The T-wolves own just five road wins In 20 games), allowing 106.9 PPG and with the pointspread 'deflated,' LA is a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-18-17 | Raptors -5 v. 76ers | Top | 89-94 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 34 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-13 Toronto Raptors own the East's second-best record and will play tonight in Philadelphia against the 76ers, who check in with a record almost the reverse of the Raptors, at 13-26. Toronto: The Raptors won 119-109 last night (Nets' 11th straight loss) behind 36 points from DeMar DeRozan (28.2-5.5-3.8) and a career-high 33 from Corey Joseph, who started alongside DeRozan in the backcourt while the Raptors rested Kyle Lowry, their starting point PG. Lowry (22.2-5.0-7.2), a Philadelphia native and Villanova product was held out due to an assortment of bumps and bruises, but is expected to be ready (and fresh) for his latest visit to his hometown. DeRozan also contributed 11 rebounds and six assists. Joseph (9.4 PPG) typically serves as Lowry's backup but enjoyed the best game of his career, connecting on 15-of-22 shots. Philadelphia: Thirteen wins may not seem like much but when one considers that Phily has had just 19, 18 and 10 wins over an entire season the last three years, 13 wins in the team's first 39 games is quite an improvement. No player has been more important to Philly's cause than rookie center Joel Embiid, who has almost single-handedly transformed the 76ers from a league laughingstock to a team that may have to be reckoned with in the next few years. Embiid heads into tonight's game leading all rookies inn scoring (19.7), rebounding (7.7) and blocked shots (2.4), all of which are also team highs. He has put up those numbers despite averaging only 25.3 MPG, as the 76ers are limiting Embiid, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, to no more than 28 minutes after he missed two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries.
The pick: It's hard to argue with Embiid's contributions or Philly's improvement but the fact is, the 76ers have not matched up well against Toronto's 'firepower.' Toronto ranks 3rd in scoring (111.5 PPG) on 47.2% shooting (4th), 39.0% on threes (2nd) and 81.4% from the FT line (3rd). Philly has lost and failed to cover the last six meetings between te theo teams going back to last season, including losing both games this season while allowing 122 and 123 points! Toronto's 123-114 win back on Dec. 14 was its seventh straight in Philadelphia. Make the Raptors a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-17-17 | Wolves +11 v. Spurs | Top | 114-122 | Win | 100 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-27 Minnesota Timberwolves had put together a three-game winning streak before suffering a 98-87 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday but head to San Antonio to take on the 31-9 Spurs, a team they haven't beaten in San Antonio since April 17, 2013. Minnesota: The T-wolves own the enviable trio of Wiggins (21.9 & 4.3), Towns (21.8 & 11.9) and LaVine (20.1). Shooting guard LaVine (hip) struggled in his return from a two-game injury absence and had just 11 points in 34 minutes in Sunday's loss to the Mavericks. LaVine admitted to feeling "a little tired, a little gassed" in the opening minutes but said the poor effort was due to his sub-par shooting and not rust. Center Karl-Anthony Towns had just 18 points and nine rebounds against Dallas, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive double-doubles. Most observers believed teh T-wolves would show marked improvement this season under new head coach Tom Thibodeau but the team's record says, that hasn't been the case. San Antonio: The Spurs are looking to bounce back from a rare loss, as Kawhi Leonard's (24.6 & 5.7) career-high 38-point performance in Mexico City was wasted Saturday against the Suns, when the Spurs let an 11-point third-quarter lead get away in a 108-105 loss. "I'm always trying to come down with a win. That's what matters to me and my squad. It was definitely disappointing to come out with a loss," Leonard said after that game. Aldridge (17.5 & 7.1) joins Leonard as San Antonio's new "Big 2" but that San Antonio depth is alive and well, as the Spurs have seven players contributing between 6.2 and 11.9 PPG.
The pick: The Spurs have only lost back-to-back contests just once this season and are 7-1 in games after a loss, winning those seven games by an average of 19.7 PPG. Yes, Minnesota is just 5-14 SU on the road this year but it is only being outscored by an average of 5.1 PPG. "We're still not there," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Sunday's loss to Dallas. "We went into camp with that idea of locking into daily improvement. Studying the team closely in the off-season, I knew there were a lot of areas we were short in. ... I like the direction we're moving in." I agree and will take the big points and make Minnesota a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-15-17 | Thunder -1.5 v. Kings | Top | 122-118 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-17 OKC Thunder will be in Sacramento tonight to take on the 16-23 Kings. Sacramento seemed to catch the Thunder off guard when they went with a small line-up back on Nov. 23., beating OKC 116-101. However, there was nothing small about DeMarcus Cousins' 36 points and 13 rebounds! Oklahoma City: The Thunder saw their three-game winning streak end in a 96-86 loss Friday at Minnesota. OKC shot 38.8 percent as a team (including a woeful 3 of 20 on threes!) and it took most (all?) of the luster off Westbrook's 19th triple-double of the season (21-11-12). Those 19 match his total from 80 games last season. No player has surpassed that mark since the NBA absorbed four teams after the ABA collapsed in 1976. Magic had 18 in 1982-83, a record that stood for 32 seasons until Westbrook broke it last year in his 80th game. Wilt had 31 for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967-68 before the NBA-ABA merger. Westbrook is averaging a triple-double for the season (30.8-10.7-10.5) Sacramento: Kings had nine TOs Friday in the first quarter and 21 overall, in losing 120-108 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Kings lost for the fifth time in their past six home games, falling to 1-4 on their current seven-game homestand and to 2-6 since a season-best four-game winning streak last month. Clearly, the Kings are not making the most of a seven-game homestand and against playoff contenders like the Clippers, Warriors and Cavs, they've lost by a combined 31 points. The pick: The Thunder are a playoff contender (although hardly a real threat to win the NBA title with Durant in Oakland) and should take care of the Kings without too much trouble. Make OKC a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-13-17 | Pistons v. Jazz -10 | Top | 77-110 | Win | 100 | 11 h 11 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-23 Detroit Pistons will continue their five-game road trip by playing tonight in Salt Lake City, up against the 24-16 Utah Jazz. The Pistons lost 127-107 last night in Oakland to the Warriors and limp into this contest having lost 10 of their last 14. Meanwhile, the Jazz come off a "statement win" Tuesday night, when they outplayed and outworked the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers in a 100-92 victory. The Jazz are tied with the Thunder atop the Northwest Division and with a win tonight, can move a season-best nine games over .500.
Detroit: The Pistons won their first game of the trip 125-124 in double-OT at Portland (the team's second straight one-point victory) but squandered an 18-point lead in a 100-94 setback at Sacramento on Tuesday. Last night, they were drubbed 127-107 by th Warriors. "We made too many defensive game-plan mistakes where we weren't doing what we were supposed to be doing and we didn't get back in transition and get matched up and we turned the ball over," Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. "When you don't do those three things against a team like that, you have no chance." A check of the league stats say Detroit ranks 5th in points allowed (100.9) but since the calendar has turned to 2017, the Pistons have allowed 117.2 PPG in starting January 3-3. Utah: When playing Utah, one better hold down the Jazz, as Utah ranks first in both points allowed (94.9 PPG) and opponents' FG percentage (36.9%). Six players scored in double figures against teh Cavs, including all five starters. PG Hill was one of them with 13 points and seven assists. The Jazz are a much better offensive team when's he's in the lineup. He's been back for three straight games now and when healthy (he's played just 12 games), contributes 18.2 PPG and 4.4 APG. SF Gordon Hayward and center Rudy Gobert are both playing like All Stars. Hayward is averaging a career-best 22.2 PPG, while Gobert is also averaging career highs in points (12.3), rebounds (12.3) and blocks (2.5). He's grabbed 10-plus rebounds in 25 straight games and has notched 27 double-doubles this season! The pick: I played against the Pistons last night with the Warriors and will go to the well against them tonight as well. Make Utah an 8* play. |
|||||||
01-12-17 | Pistons v. Warriors -13 | Top | 107-127 | Win | 100 | 14 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-22 Detroit Pistons continue their five-game road trip tonight in Oakland, taking on the league-best 33-6 Golden State Warriors. The Pistons won their first game of the trip 125-124 in double-OT at Portland (the team's second straight one-point victory) but squandered an 18-point lead in a 100-94 setback at Sacramento on Tuesday . "I could not find anything to get us out of it," Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. The Warriors allowed Miami's Hassan Whiteside to score 28 points and grab 20 rebounds on Tuesday but playing on their home court, were able to prevail in a 107-95 win.
Detroit: Center Andre Drummond had 14 poitst and 21 rebounds when the Pistons hosted the Warriors back on Dec. 23, in a 119-113 Golden State win. It was his fifth career double-double in seven matchups with Golden State. The rematch is tonight with Detroit's third game on a five-city trip. The Pistons have six players in double digtst (Ish Smith comes in at 8.3 PPG) but the team ranks 24th with just 100.1 PPG. Finding an offensive flow continues to be an issue, as for Detroit ranks in the bottom third of the league with an average of 21.1 assists (had only 14 in Tuesday's loss). "We gave them 13 threes and then our ball movement was just ridiculous in the second half," Van Gundy told reporters. "We would not pass. In the second half, they had 13 assists on 18 buckets and we had four assists on 16 buckets. We were playing everything one-on-one. We would not pass the ball. That is why we ended up where we are and we've got to learn from it." Golden State: The Warriors beat the Heat with Klay Thompson, as head coach Steve Kerr elected to rest Thompson, who had been battling an illness. Expect him back in the lineup tonight. Unlike Detroit, Golden State doesn't have any problems with ball movement and leads the league with an average of 31 assists while ranking No. 1 in PPG at 117.3 (also ranks No. 1 with a 49.8% FG percentage). PG Stephen Curry handed out nine assists on Tuesday and continued a trend of being more aggressive in looking for his offense with 24 points on 21 shots. Curry, who got off to a relatively slow start for a reigning two-time MVP while stepping back to help integrate Durant into the system, was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday and is averaging 30.2 points and 6.2 assists in the last five contests. The "Core Four" of Durant (26.0-8.7-4.6), Curry (24.7-4.4-5.9), Thompson (21.3) and Green (10.9-8.8-7.5) is just fine, thank you. The pick: Detroit handed the Warriors one of their nine regular-season losses in 2015-16 and while Golden State took the first meeting this season 119-113 on Dec. 23, it was a battle. It took 32 points by Kevin Durant, 25 by Stephen Curry and a 12-assist, 10-rebound double-double by Draymond Green for Golden State to scratch out the win. However, Golden State turned the ball over a season-high 23 times in that contest. Don't expect that to happen again and with Detroit struggling offensively, let em add that teh Warriors rank 2nd in defensive FG percentag (43.3%), including 32.6% on threes, which ranks 1st! Make Golden State a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-11-17 | Wizards v. Celtics -5.5 | Top | 108-117 | Win | 100 | 10 h 31 m | Show |
The set-up: The 19-18 Washington Wizards will head to TD Bank Center tonight for a game with the 23-15 Boston Celtics. Washington won its 10th straight home game Tuesday night (101-99 over the Bulls) and climbed above the .500 mark for the first time since it was 6-5 back on Nov. 24, 2015. Meanwhile, Boston's four-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday night in Toronto (Raptors won 114-106), as the Celtics missed a chance to inch past the Raptors into second place (via tiebreaker) in the East. Washington: Moving above the break-even point was a big deal for Washington,considering the Wizards opened the season 7-13 under new head coach Scott Brooks. Winning 12 of the team's last 17 games has Washington headed in the right direction. "It was a real big win to be over .500," forward Markieff Morris, acquired from Phoenix last February, told reporters. "We haven't been over .500 since I got here actually, so it just feels good." PG John Wall recorded the last two of his 26 points with 5.9 seconds left as the Wizards rallied from 18 points down against a short-handed Bulls team. Wall is averaging 23.2-4.4-10.3 on the season and SG Bradley Beal (22.1) scored 19 points to end a streak of four consecutive 20-point efforts and is averaging 23.8 during that span. That's quite a guard combo plus the team's entire starting frontcourt also averages in double digits. Forwards Porter (14.1 & 6.5) and Morris (13.2 & 5.9( surround center Gortat (11.5 & 11.9), who has posted eight consecutive double-digit rebounding efforts and is averaging 13.1 boards during that span. Boston: The Celtics have been led also season by their backcourt duo, as well. PG Isaiah Thomas (27.9 & 6.1 APG) scored 27 points against Toronto last night (his 22nd straight 20-point game!) but the Celtics gave up 68 points in the second half, blew a 16-point third quarter lead and lost, 114-106. SG Avery Bradley (18.0 & 7.0) could return after a two-game absence fighting an Achilles issue but center Tyler Zeller (4.1 & 2.9) is expected to sit out his sixth straight contest with a sinus infection. That will mean more time for Olynyk (7.9 & 4.0), who backs up FA center Horford (15.3-6.8-4.9).
The pick: Boston's loss to Toronto means the Celtics still haven't beaten a team with a better record yet this season but the Wizards don't own a better record than Boston in this one. The Celtics will be playing with revenge from a loss back in Washington on Nov. 9, when the Wizards spurted to a 26-point first quarter lead and Otto Porter's career night of 34 points and 14 rebounds led the Wizards to an easy 118-93 win. However, the Celtics played without the injured Al Horford and Jae Crowder that night. Of even more relevance, bothe teams playing the second of back-to-back games and while the Celtics are 5-3, winning five of their last six back ends of back-to-backs, the Wizards are just 1-6. Make Boston a 10* play. |
|||||||
01-08-17 | 76ers v. Nets -2 | Top | 105-95 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The 9-25 Philadelphia 76ers have inched ahead of the 8-27 Brooklyn Nets in the standings, as the Nets have dropped their last five games and 10 of their last 11. Meanwhile, the 76ers began this season with 18 losses in their first 22 games but after snapping an eight-game losing streak with an 11-point win over the Pelicans back Dec. 8., Philly has five wins during a stretch of 13 games. Philadelphia: One of those five wins was a 108-107 home win over the Nets back on Dec. 18, led by Joel Embiid's career-high 33-point performance. After sitting out two years due to foot injuries, Embiid is averaging 19.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 2.38 BPG. Through 34 games, the 76ers have six more wins than last season (team finished 10-72) and four more than 2014-15, which ended with 18 wins. Embiid is a significant reason for Philadelphia's improvement this season plus credit must also be given to Ersan Ilyasova, averaging 15.1 & 6.4, who was acquired Nov.1 by the 76ers in a trade with the Thunder. Brooklyn: The Nets are near the bottom of several offensive categories such as assists (20.8), FG percentage (44.0 percent), turnovers (17.2) and three-point percentage (33.7 percent) and combined with the league's worst scoring defense (114.3 PPG), have resulted in a 4-22 slide since Nov. 12, 10 of 11 losses since Dec. 14 and a current five-game losing streak. The Nets played their fifth game without PG Jeremy Lin (13.9 & 5.8 APG in 12 games, nine starts) in Friday's 116-108 home loss to the Cavs, who is rehabbing his second left hamstring injury. The Nets are 5-18 when Lin does not play and his absences have resulted in 14 different starting lineups with five different point guards, including Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored seven points in 17 minutes Friday.Center Brook Lopez (19.9 & 5.2) scored 17 points Friday, marking the season-high fourth straight game he was held under 20. The Nets are 1-13 when Lopez does not hit 20 and he is shooting 19 of 49 percent, including 4 of 18 from 3-point range in his last four games.
The pick: Sure, the Nets are a mess but Brooklyn found some positives off the bench on Friday, when guards Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead combined for 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. "Caris and Isaiah coming in and playing really important minutes against the world champions is really positive," Atkinson told reporters. "We don’t back down, especially at home." The 76ers are just 3-11 SU on the road this season and with this pointspread, almost have to win to cover. I won't say this very often the rest of 2017 but make the Nets an 8* play. |
|||||||
01-06-17 | Wolves v. Wizards -5 | Top | 105-112 | Win | 100 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Wizards had won nine of 12 games to reach .500 but lost 101-91 at Houston on Monday and then 113-105 to a 10-win Mavericks team the next night in Dallas, to enter tonight’s home game vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves at 16-18. The Timberwolves lost 93-91 at the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, falling to 11-24. Only the 11-25 Mavericks own a worse record in the West. Minnesota: The T-wolves’ latest setback came in the closing moments at Philly, as Robert Covington's jumper off an inbounds pass with 0.2 seconds remaining gave the 76ers the win. "We wanted the ball to go away from the basket. That didn't happen," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We needed some help on the curl, and we didn't get it." Thibodeau's defensive sermons have yet to sink in on this youthful but VERY talented team. What team doesn’t covert the trio of Wiggins (21.7 & 4.0), Towns (21.6 & 11.6) and LaVine (21.1)? Or for that matter, the 6-11 Gorgui Dieng, who in just his fourth season is averaging 10.4 & 7.9. However, Minnesota limps into Washington having lost five of seven, after falling behind by 26 points at Philadelphia, before coming all the way back to tie it with 1.6 seconds left but losing on a buzzer-beater 93-91. "That has been our biggest challenge, to be a 48-minute team," Thibodeau told reporters, "and we’re nowhere near that." He’s right about that! Washington: The Wizards’ starters play more minutes than any team in the league other than tonight’s opponent, the Timberwolves. Wall (23.5-4.5-10.0) and Beal (22.1) form a dynamic backcourt plus forwards Porter (14.1 & 6.6) and Morris (28.8 & 5.8) surround center Gortat (11.5 & 12.0), up front. However, like Minnesota, Washington is in the bottom third of the league in scoring defense (106.2 PPG ranks 23rd), while allowing opponents to shoot 46.9%, including 37.6% on threes (rank 26th in both categories). In fact, the Wizards allowed the lowly Mavericks to bury 17 three-pointers on Tuesday. "We got outworked. I haven’t said that a lot about this team, but we got outworked," Wizards coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "They were moving the ball, and we were hoping that they would miss and not doing a very good job of making them miss." The pick: The Timberwolves look great in spurts but struggle to put together 48 minutes representative of the talent level of the players. Meanwhile, the Wizards should be well-focused and not let their little “Texas two-step (or miss-step)” derail them. After all, Washington will take an eight-game home winning streak (also 8-0 ATS!) into this contest against a Minnesota team which has allowed at least 112 points in five of their last nine road games. Washington has reached triple digits in scoring during 17 of its last 21 games. Washington is an 8* play.
|
|||||||
01-05-17 | Thunder v. Rockets -9 | Top | 116-118 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: James Harden was a former teammate of Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City but now with Harden on the Rockets and Westbrook still on the Thunder (sans Durant), the two guards have established themselves as the early front-runners for league MVP honors. Westbrook leads the league with 16 triple-doubles and is averaging 30.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game. Harden has nine triple-doubles, after closing the month of December with a historic 53-point, 16-rebound and 17-assist performance against the New York Knicks on New Year's Eve. He comes in averaging 28.4 points and career highs in rebounds (8.2) and assists (11.9). Oklahoma City: Westbrook had 33 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists last night in a 123-112 loss at Charlotte, making just 10 of 31 shots. Also, he received a technical foul for throwing the ball in the direction of Tre Maddox in the first quarter and conking the referee in the side of the head (he said it was an accident and there’s little reason not to believe him). OKC’s problem is, that the Thunder get scoring from Oladipo (16.2) and the team's two-headed center (Adams and Kanter combine to average 25.8 & 13.9) but not much else. Defense has also been an issue, especially on the road where the Thunder are allowing 108.1 PPG. The loss in Charlotte was OKC’s third straight on the road, falling to 8-9 on the season. Houston: Harden was named Western Conference Player of the Month earlier this week, after leading the Rockets to a 15-2 record in December. Houston opened 2017 with a 101-91 home win over the Wizards on Monday and are now 27-9 (only the Warriors, Spurs and Cavs have better records in the entire NBA) plus also own the NBA’s best ATS record at 24-12. Harden is the prime reason why the Rockets have won five straight games and 16 of their last 18 but don’t forget about his backcourt partner, Patrick Beverley. He missed the season’s first 11 games but since he’s returned to the court, Houston has gone 18-4 over the last 25 games (Beverley has missed three games in that span but is expected back here). He’s the team's best perimeter defender and next to Harden, he’s the team MVP. However, Houston also has excellent balance (unlike OKC), with four others in double digits (note: center Capela is out until late-Jan. with a leg injury). The pick: These teams have met twice already this season, both times in OKC, with each team owning a three-point win. The Rockets get the Thunder in Houston tonight and while they haven’t played since Monday, the Thunder are playing back-to-back games and for the third time in the last four days. Houston is an 8* play.
|
|||||||
01-04-17 | Grizzlies v. Clippers +1 | Top | 106-115 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
The set-up: The Los Angeles Clippers won 109-98 on Monday, snapping their season-high six-game losing streak. The 23-14 Clippers now get set to host the 22-15 Memphis Grizzlies, who had won four of their last six before their humbling 116-102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Memphis: However, there was some good news on Tuesday for Memphis. Center Marc Gasol, who had tweaked his left ankle in Saturday's victory over the Sacramento Kings, returned and collected a team-high 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds against the Lakers. Then again, Gasol isn't a sure thing to play against the Clippers. "I expect to be out there," Gasol said. "We'll see how the ankle reacts after the game (Tuesday). Obviously, it feels a little weak. I'm not as explosive by any means." Gasol leads the team in scoring at 19.6 PPG (also adds 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists) but most feel as if PG Conley (18.4 & 5.4 APG) is the team’s most important player. However, how do those people explain the fact that Memphis was 7-2 when Conley missed nine straight games from Nov. 30 through Dec. 14 or that since he’s been back, the Grizzlies are just 3-5 in the eight games he’s played over the team’s last 10? LA Clippers: LA has been playing without PG Chris Paul (sore left hamstring) and PF Blake Griffin (right knee surgery). Paul (17.7-5.3-9.5) is listed as doubtful with the left hamstring injury that has caused him to miss six of the past seven games, while Griffin (21.2-8.8-4.7) has missed nine straight contests and isn't expected back for at least another 2-to-4 weeks. Without them, the Clippers have endured their worst stretch this year. Yes, they beat the suns but before that, the Clippers were pounded 114-88 by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday and 140-116 by the Houston Rockets on Friday. The pick: The Clippers were the best defensive team in the league in November but have since struggled and now rank ninth in scoring defense at 102.9 PPG. "I don't know what's been wrong," shooting guard J.J. Redick told reporters. "The frustrating part to me is that we were a top-five defense last year and have proven this year that we can be a top defense, and we've just been awful on that side of the ball." However, Gasol may not play here for Memphis in a back-to-back situation plus SF Chandler Parsons continues to struggle since getting back in the lineup after a long absence. He is averaging just 2.8 PPG on 8-of-32 over the past six games, after having two points on 1-of-6 shooting against the Lakers. I believe the worst is behind the Clippers and will make them a 10* play in this one.
|
|||||||
01-03-17 | Wizards v. Mavs +1 | Top | 105-113 | Win | 100 | 10 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: The Dallas Mavericks are getting healthier and enter 2017 with hopes of a turnaround. The Mavs opened the season 6-20 but after splitting their last eight games, are just 4 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the West (note: the bad news is, five teams sit between them and the 8th-place Kings). The 16-17 Washington Wizards come to Dallas tonight, just percentage points out of the East’s final playoff spot (Pacers and Bulls are 17-18). Washington: The Wizards saw their three-game winning streak snapped Monday night with a 101-91 loss at Houston and failed to move above .500 for the first time this season. However, Bradley Beal did return after missing one game with a sprained ankle to score a team-high 27. John Wall added 18 points and 12 assists, after averaging 24.3 points, an NBA-leading 13 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals in three games last week. Wall (23.4-4.5-10.1) and Beal (22.0) make a great backcourt duo when healthy. Throw in a starting frontcourt of forwards Porter (14.1 & 6.7) and Morris (12.8 & 5.9) plus center Gortat (11.5 & 11.8) and the Wizards should not be below .500! Dallas: "I felt like the last couple of weeks we've been playing .500 ball, which is OK," Dirk Nowitzki said about the team's recent 4-4 run. "It's a lot better than what we started off, and now we'll get more healthy and hopefully take another step. We've got to let it rip. We're all competitors, and Coach obviously is pushing us every day. The return of Nowitzki to the lineup is another reason for optimism. The league's sixth-leading career scorer has missed the majority of the season battling Achilles soreness, but Nowitzki has made the best of his limited court time lately. He has logged 70 minutes over his last four games and scored 45 points on 16-of-41 shooting (he’s at 11.8 & 5.1 on the season in nine games). Dallas is considering moving veteran center Andrew Bogut (3.5 & 9.9) to the bench but any move is predicated on power forward Dirk Nowitzki being able to stay healthy. Barnes (20.4 & 5.5) has turned out to be an excellent addition and Matthews is having abetter second season (15.8 PPG) for Dallas, after leaving Portland. The pick: The Wizards are a poor road team (3-11 SU & 5-9 ATS) and Dallas has beaten Washington in 11 of the past 12 meetings. Make Dallas an 8* play.
|
|||||||
01-02-17 | Hornets v. Bulls | Top | 111-118 | Loss | -110 | 18 h 1 m | Show |
The set-up: The 19-15 Charlotte Hornets are in Chicago to take on the 16-18 Bulls. The Hornets have won the last three in this series and after seeing his team drop eight of 11, Chicago head coach Fred Hoiberg may be sitting on the 'hottest' coaching seat in the NBA. Charlotte: The Hornets are at their when playing strong team defense but that wasn't the case in Saturday's 121-109 home loss to the Cavs. Cleveland made 50.6 percent from the floor and and had 71 first-half points. PG Kemba Walker (22.7-4.0-5.4) had 37 points on Saturday but it wasn't enough. However, Charlotte had won five of six prior to Saturday's setback, including a 103-91 home win over the Bulls back on Dec.23rd in which Walker scored 20 points and backcourt mate Nicolas Batum (14.7-7.6-5.9) recorded a triple-double. Six other Hornets are scoring between 9.0 and 11.0 PPG on the season. Chicago: Hoiberg tried to shake up the Bulls in the last two games by sitting veteran PG Rajon Rondo in favor of Michael Carter-Williams, beginning in the second half of Friday's 111-101 loss at Indiana and continuing throughout Saturday's 116-96 setback against the Milwaukee Bucks at home. Rondo (7.2-6.5-7.1) has been a huge under-achiever but since Williams has gotten back on the floor for the last four games, he has made just six of 27 shots! Butler's (24.6-6.6-4.3) an All Star but Wade (18.8-4.1-3.7) looks old and the "new-look" Bulls seem worse than last year's non-playoff team. The pick:The Bulls lack chemistry and are just a poor offensive team, scoring 100.5 PPG (23rd), while shooting 43.4% from the floor (28th), including 30.7% on threes (30th). Meanwhile, the Hornets are win-less in six games against the Eastern Conference's three top teams (after dropping a 121-115 loss to defending champion Cleveland on Saturday) but that leaves them 19-9 against the rest of the league. Charlotte is a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-30-16 | 76ers +11.5 v. Nuggets | Top | 124-122 | Win | 100 | 13 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The 7-24 Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a 100-83 loss at Utah on Thursday (Embiid was held out) and will conclude their four-game road trip (0-3 so far) in Denver against the 14-18 Nuggets, who are 5-2 since suffering a 20-point loss in Dallas back on Dec. 12.
Philadelphia: Embiid is showing why he was the No. 3 overall pick in 2014 out of Kansas (after sitting out his first two seasons), leading the team with 18.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 2.38 BPG (that ranks fourth in the league). However, he is still working on his stamina and sat out Thursday's game against the Jazz to rest his sore right foot. That gave third-string center Nerlens Noel a chance to play extended minutes and he delivered 14 points in 22 minutes. Ersan Ilyasova led the way for Philadelphia with 16 points in Thursday’s loss and Dario Saric matched Noel with 14. Philly is one of teh NBA's least productive offensive teams, averaging 98.2 PPG (27th) on 43.6 percent shooting (28th). Denver: A return to full health and a lineup change has been two keys to Denver's recent turnaround. Guard Gary Harris missed 16 games with a foot injury but his insertion into the starting lineup is making a difference (he's scored in double digits in six of Denver's last seven games) and so has the 6-10 Nikola Jokic. In fact, Jokic may be the biggest reason for Denver resurgence, as he's shooting 67 percent since returning from a left wrist sprain Dec. 7 and he has been the Nuggets' do-everything player. Denver is averaging 113.9 points over its last seven games and boasts six players averaging double figures in scoring, including power forward Nikola Jokic (12.0), who owns six double-doubles in his past 11 contests. SFs Gallinari (16.9) and Chandler (16.4 & 7.0) are the team's best scorers, with guard Barton (14.2) close behind. The pick: The Nuggets seem to be jelling but this is a pretty 'hefty' pointspread. The 76ers don't often win on te hed (or anywhere for that matter) but in their last visit to Denver (March 23rd of last season), they led the Nuggets by two before Emmanuel Mudiay hit an improbable shot near half-court at the buzzer, as the Nuggets walked off the floor with a 104-103 victory. I'm taking the big points and making Philly a 10* play. |
|||||||
12-28-16 | Bucks +4 v. Pistons | Top | 119-94 | Win | 100 | 11 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The Milwaukee Bucks began a four-game road trip Monday in Washington and gave away a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Wizards in a 107-102 loss, dropping them to 14-15. The road trip continues tonight in Detroit plus also includes stops at Minnesota and Chicago. The Pistons snapped a five-game losing streak on Monday, never trailing in a 105-90 win over the LBJ-less Cavaliers. Detroit returns home at 15-18 to host the Bucks, a team it has beaten four in a row.
Milwaukee: "We're going to learn and we're going to get better from this. It's not easy to win on the road. We put ourselves in a position to win. We just didn't close the door" said Bucks head coach Jason Kidd of the late meltdown against the Wizards.The Bucks were missing three players on Monday, forward Mirza Teletovic (concussion protocol), swingman Rashad Vaughn (sprained ankle) and guard Steve Novak (illness). However, teh bigger isue for Milwaukee has been getting production outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo (23.4-9.1-5.8) and Jabari Parker (19.9 & 5.7), as no other player is scoring in double figures. Detroit: The Pistons have played the NBA's two-best teams their last two games and Stan Van Gundy made a lineup change. Power forward Jon Leuer entered the starting-five and Tobias Harris became the sixth man. The Pistons were tied with the Golden State Warriors with under two minutes remaining before falling 119-113 on Friday and then came Monday's rout of the Cavs, albeit without LBJ. Harris (16.1) has thrived in his sixth-man role, averaging 23.5 PPG in the last two games plus the defense held Cleveland to 90 points, after allowing an avergae of 111.4 PPG during its five-game skid. Harris leads six double-digit Detroit scorers, with backup PG Ish Smith just missing out (9.2 PPG). The pick: The Pistons have won four in a row in this series but I don't want to make too much of an easy win over Cleveland, which played without LBJ. Detroit's defense has "lost its way" and I want no part of them as any kind of a favorite. Milwaukee is a 10* play. |
|||||||
12-26-16 | Pacers +1.5 v. Bulls | Top | 85-90 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The Pacers and Bulls meet for the third time this season on Monday night with the series even at one win apiece. The Pacers are 15-16 and the Bulls 14-16, with the Pacers currently holding down the East's eighth and final playoff spot and the Bulls sitting just a half-game back on Indiana. Indiana: The Pacers expect to welcome back veteran guard Rodney Stuckey, who has missed the past five games because of a sore left hamstring. Stuckey participated fully in practice Friday and Saturday. He is averaging 9.5 points a game and provides coach Nate McMillan with a dependable option off the bench. However, guard Monta Ellis will likely will remain sidelined because of soreness in his groin. He has averaged 9.7 points in 24 games (23 starts) this season. This is Paul George's (21.7-7.0-3.2) team but Jeff Teague (acquired from a trade with the Hawks) has played well at PG with 15.3 PPG and 7.3 APG plus the 6-11 Turner (15.9 & 7.3) has made excellent strides in his second season.The Pacers are below average in both scoring (104.5 PPG ranks 17th) and in defending, allowing 106.3 PPG (20th). Chicago: The "new-look" Bulls have not shown any consistency in the first half of the season, as they enter off three straight losses and losses in six of their past seven to drop to a season-worst two games below .500. Guard Michael Carter-Williams could return to the court for his fourth game of the season tonight. He has been out since injuring his left wrist and left knee Oct. 31 against Brooklyn. Carter-Williams averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 assists per game with the Milwaukee Bucks alst season and averaged 16.7 points as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013-14 and would boost the Bulls' backcourt depth behind Wade (19.2) and Rondo (7.8-6.5-7.2. Butler's (24.3-6.6-4.2) having an All Star season but this year's team is not better without Rose and Noah (both in New York) or Gasol (in San Antonio).
The pick: The Pacers are just 4-11 SU & ATS on the road but this Chicago team is in a funk, going 1-7 its last eight ATS. No reason to lay any amount of points with the Bulls these days. Indiana is an 8* play. |
|||||||
12-26-16 | Cavs v. Pistons -6 | Top | 90-106 | Win | 100 | 9 h 2 m | Show |
incorrectly entered pick |
|||||||
12-25-16 | Wolves v. Thunder -5 | Top | 100-112 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: The 9-20 Minnesota Timberwolves will be in OKC Christmas night to take on the 18-12 Thunder. The fact that the T-wolves landed a spot on the Christmas slate coming off a 29-53 record last year is a testament to the level the Timberwolves were expected to reach this season. However, Minnesota has struggled to reach its projected potential through its first 29 games. With Durant in Oakland, the Thunder are about where they were expected to be, so far. Minnesota: The Timberwolves have young talent that has been playing well individually in Anthony Towns (22.1 & 11.4), Wiggins (21.7 & 4.2) and LaVine (21.4) but head coach Tom Thibodeau is trying to teach his team to win consistently in the NBA. "There's stretches where we play well defensively. And you have to play well on both ends," Thibodeau said. "It's too hard to win in this league. Until we understand that, it's going to be up and down. We got to correct that." Minnesota missed out on a chance to post its first three-game winning streak of the season on Friday but despite Zach LaVine's career-best 40 points, the Timberwolves crumbled in the fourth quarter of a 109-105 home loss to Sacramento. Minnesota brought in Thibodeau to mold its young roster and he is trying hard to get them to understand that consistent effort on defense is the key to winning games.However, the effort against the Kings (Sacramento 52.5 percent from the floor and made 15 three-pointers), is happening too frequently. Oklahoma City: Westbrook used to share closing duties with Kevin Durant but this season he has been doing it on his own for the most part. That was the case Friday when the Thunder held on to beat the Boston Celtics 117-112 on the road behind 46 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists from Westbrook. It was his 14th triple double of the season and third straight game scoring more than 40 points. Westbrook leads the NBA in scoring (31.8) and is second in assists (10.8), plus averages 10.5 RPG. Of his 51 career triple doubles, six have come when he has poured in at least 40 points. Only Oscar Robertson (22) and Wilt Chamberlain (7) have more. The two-headed center duo of Kanter (12.8 & 6.1) and Adama (11.5 & 7.6) is effective but OKC needs Oladipo (16.1 & 4.5) to get back on the court (he's out indefinitely with a wrist injury and has now missed six games).
The pick: Thibodeau is a proven and has that wonderful young trio but something just isn't right. Lay the points and make OKC a 10* play. |
|||||||
12-25-16 | Celtics -2.5 v. Knicks | Top | 119-114 | Win | 100 | 4 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The 17-13 and 16-13 NY Knicks open the NBA's 5-game Christmas Day 'marathon' with a 12;05 ET tip-off at Madison Square Garden. These teams met in Boston back on Nov. 11 withe the Celtics rolling over the Knicks, 115-87. The Knicks are 22-28 on Christmas and the Celtics are 12-17. In seven Christmas Day meeting s between teh two teams, the Celtics are 4-3 against the Knicks.
Boston: The Celtics are 13-9 since Isaiah Thomas (27.0 & 6.3 APG) scored 29 points in the win over New York back on Nov. 11. However, Boston had a four-game winning streak stopped in a 117-112 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Thomas scored 15 points in a span of 4:33 in the fourth quarter as the Celtics eliminated a nine-point deficit. Boston held a four-point lead with 3:37 remaining but Thomas had one basket and the Celtics were outscored 17-6 the rest of the game.Thomas' backcourt partner Bradley is the team's second-leading scorer at 17.8 PPG and its leading rebounder at 7.3 per game. Center Horford (15.7-7.0-5.0) and SF Crowder (12.9 & 5.1) have been back on the court for awhile now, getting over early-season injury issues. NY Knicks: The Knicks are off a 106-95 home win over the Orlando Magic last Thursday, when six players scored in double figures. Anthony (22.5 & 6.0) and the 7-3 Porzingis (19.9 & 7.6) are New York's best players, with newcomers like Rose (16.8-4.0-4.7), Lee (10.0) and Noah (4.7 & 7.9) providing inconsistent levels of production. One of Porzingis' worst games this season occurred last month in Boston, when he shot 5-of-15 in a that 115-87 loss on Nov. 11. Carmelo Anthony was also ejected from that game and six technical fouls were whistled against the Knicks, who are eager for better results against their longtime rival. "It's going to be like a redemption game for us," Porzingis said. "We didn't play well (last month) and all the other stuff wasn't going our way, it was just a tough game for us. We want it. We want it especially at home. We want to redeem ourselves." The pick: The Knicks will be primed to win here and they are 11-4 SU & ATS at home this year. However, Celtics are a money-making 12-5-1 ATS on the road and have matched up well in this series lately, have won seven of the last eight meetings and three of the past four in Madison Square Garden. Make Boston an 8* play. |
|||||||
12-23-16 | Raptors -1.5 v. Jazz | Top | 104-98 | Win | 100 | 13 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-8 Toronto Raptors own the third-best road winning percentage (.750) in the NBA, behind San Antonio and Golden State. The Raptors have won five consecutive games outside of Canada by an average margin of 13.0 PPG and will visit Salt Lake City Friday night to take on the 18-12 Jazz, who after establishing themselves as contenders in the Western Conference with wins in 11 of 13 games, have suffered back-to-back losses, 104-74 at Golden St. and 94-93 at home to the Kings. Toronto: DeMar DeRozan (27.9-5.1-4.1) had a string of four straight games scoring 30 or more points come to an end when he was held to 15 on 6-of-20 shooting against Brooklyn on Tuesday but the Raptors still cruised to a 116-104 triumph. Toronto is displaying scoring options beyond DeRozan and point guard Kyle Lowry (21.2-4.6-7.4), who is averaging 22.8 points on 55.2 percent shooting, including 56 percent from beyond the arc in December. Ross (10.7), Patterson (7.6 & 5.8), Cory Joseph (8.9) and Powell (7.0) give the Raptors one of the best reserve units in the NBA plus let’s not forget starting center Valanciunas, averaging 12.3 & 9.8. The Raptors have scored at least 100 points in 15 consecutive games and ranks third in scoring (112.3 PPG) and second in FG percentage (47.9%). Utah: The Jazz were beaten at their own game when the Warriors showed off their defense in a 104-74 drubbing on Tuesday. They then squandered a 20-point lead and fell at home 94-93 to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. "We should have never been in that situation," Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward told reporters. "I think we've done this, what, four or five times now this season? This one finally came back to bite us. You can't keep blowing 20-point leads and win every single time. This one stings for sure." Utah is piecing together the backcourt due to various injuries and was without starting point guard George Hill (toe), starting shooting guard Rodney Hood (illness) and backup point guard Dante Exum (knee) on Tuesday. The Jazz are hoping to get Exum and Hood back quickly while Hill, who is averaging 20 points and 4.2 assists but missed the last 11 games, is back practicing and could be cleared to return on Friday. Defense has been the one constant, as Utah ranks first in points allowed (94.9 per) and opponents’ FG percentage (42.6%). The pick: Now here’s the rub. The Raptors have won 12 of their last 14 games and look for a sixth straight road win here. Toronto is 9-3 SU and 10-2 ATS on the road this season and is 6-1 against the NBA's top-10 defensive teams this season, averaging 111.4 points in those games. Make Toronto an 8* play.
|
|||||||
12-23-16 | Warriors -6.5 v. Pistons | Top | 119-113 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: The Warriors played in Brooklyn last night without forward Draymond Green, who returned to the Bay Area for the birth of his son. Golden State won 117-101 and heads to Detroit as owners of the NBA’s best record at 26-4. The Pistons lost 98-86 at home to the Grizzlies on Wednesday, the team's fourth straight loss, and host the league’s “super team” at 14-17 overall with head coach Stan Van Gundy considering some lineup changes (how can that be good?). Golden State: The Warriors didn’t Green against the hapless Nets, moving to 14-2 on the road but they are a much more modest 7-8-1 ATS. That said, Thursday night’s game was no cake walk, as the Warriors trailed by 16 points at halftime before outscoring the Nets 68-36 in the second half. All are familiar with the Golden State’s cast of characters, with the Warriors leading the NBA in both scoring (117.4 PPG) and shooting percentage (49.4%). Green's status for the Pistons' game is uncertain though coach Steve Kerr opined that it is possible Green will decide to travel since games in Detroit are viewed as home games by the Michigan native (injury report has him listed as probable). However, everybody expects the highly competitive Green to be back with the team in time for the Christmas Day showdown with the Cavaliers. Detroit: The Pistons actually viewed the team’s 98-86 loss to the Grizzlies as a sign of progress. the reason for that is, the team had allowed an aveggae of 113.3 PPG in its previous three losses. The defensive effort was better but the Pistons shot 36.1 percent from the floor and 26.1 percent from three-point range. "Our guys are just getting so frustrated offensively," Van Gundy said. "We definitely competed hard. There is no question about that. We just couldn't score." Van Gundy planned to make a lineup switch on Wednesday but a car accident postponed that move. Power forward Jon Leuer missed the morning shootaround after being involved in a 45-mile-per-hour collision in which his airbags deployed. Leuer suffered minor injuries but was able to play effectively that night, contributing 18 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes. He will likely replace either Marcus Morris or Tobias Harris in the lineup on Friday. Harris scored just seven points against the Grizzlies, the eighth consecutive game he has produced 15 points or less. Morris has shot 22.9 percent from the field over the last four games, including a 1-for-11 outing against the Grizzlies. The pick: Yes, it’s a back-to-back game situation for the Warriors but the Pistons are a mess right now. PG Jackson briefly departed the game against Memphis when his left knee developed soreness and that raised concerns for everyone as that same knee caused Jackson to miss the season's first 21 games. "I thought I felt something in there, so I wanted to make sure everything was good, then I got back out there," Jackson told reporters. The Pistons are now just 3-7 since PG Jackson's return to the lineup, something that was expected to be a plus. These Warriors lost just nine regular season games last season and one of those was a 113-95 victory by these Pistons over the Warriors last Jan. 16. here in Detroit. However, that win ended a nine-game losing streak in the series. Lay the points with the warriors and make them an 8* play.
|
|||||||
12-22-16 | Spurs v. Clippers +1.5 | Top | 101-106 | Win | 100 | 13 h 15 m | Show |
NOT A PLAY....ENTERED ACCIDENTALLY! |
|||||||
12-21-16 | Rockets -6 v. Suns | Top | 125-111 | Win | 100 | 11 h 12 m | Show |
The set-up: Houston found the going tough last night at home vs. San Antonio, as the Spurs held them to 100 points in a two-point San Antonio win, dropping the Rockets to 21-8. The Rockets head to Phoenix tonight to take on the 8-20 Suns, who own the Western Conference’s second-worst record, while ranking 28th in points allowed (113.1 PPG). Houston: The Rockets are shooting threes at a record-setting pace this season, having already attempted 1,128. They've made 423, which already is approaching some teams' season total from last year. As noted above, the Rockets got a lot more resistance in their 102-100 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. The Rockets had made at least 10 three-pointers in 27 consecutive games before getting harassed into 6-for-38 shooting from beyond the arc by the Spurs. However, Houston will get a chance to pad its already gaudy three-point-shooting numbers Wednesday night when they run into the suns, one of the league's weakest defensive teams in the NBA. The Rockets saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end.last night, as James Harden shot 1-for-11 from beyond the arc and Eric Gordon went 1-for-8. Phoenix: The Suns have dropped three straight contests (and four of their last five), after a 115-108 loss at Minnesota on Monday. Eric Bledsoe (20.0-5.3-5.3) continued his a strong season Monday, as his 27-point performance against Minnesota marked his ninth effort of 25 or more points this season. The backcourt foursome of Bledsoe, Brandon Knight (21 points), Devin Booker (18) and Leandro Barbosa (10 in 14 minutes) combined for 76 points against the Timberwolves in what proved to be a disappointing effort by the frontcourt. "One thing we know we need to get better at is our toughness," coach Earl Watson told reporters. "That's not a stat. We have to become more feisty because we are small on the perimeter." Booker (18.8) and Knight (12.9) j join Bledsoe in double figures but the only frontcourt player in double digits is SF Warren (15.5 & 3.9). The pick: The Rockets have won each of their last five visits to Phoenix. including 111-105 and 116-100 wins last season. Houston 12-4 ATS on the road this season and after a tough home loss to the Spurs last night, bounces back with a an easy win over the sad-sack Suns in this one. Houston is a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-20-16 | Jazz v. Warriors -11 | Top | 74-104 | Win | 100 | 27 h 39 m | Show |
full analysis by 12 pm et Tuesday |
|||||||
12-19-16 | Pistons +3 v. Bulls | Top | 82-113 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 21 m | Show |
The 14-14 Detroit Pistons are in Chicago to take on the 13-13 Bulls. The visiting Pistons are off back-to-back blowout losses by a combined 29 points, while the Bulls have lost three consecutive games and six of the past eight. Detroit: Pistons lead the Eastern Conference in scoring defense, allowing an average of 96.9 PPG (3rd-best in the NBA) but they surrendered 113.5 PPG in the last two losses. "We are not playing defense," PG Reggie Jackson told reporters. "That is what it comes down to. We have been a pretty good defensive team throughout the season. We just haven’t been good as of late. We got to figure it out and find a way to string together stops and compete for 48 minutes; understand that there are ups and downs in games and find a way to get wins." Jackson (14.2 & 4.8 APG) was one of the bright spots on Saturday with 19 points and 10 assists in his first double-double since returning to the lineup on Dec. 4. Jackson is one of seven players averaging in double figures, led by SF Harris (16.1 & 4.9) plus center Drummond (14.2 & 14.8). Backup PPG Ish Smith averages 9.4 & 5.9 APG. Chicago: The Bulls’ recent lethargy has prompted critics to ask whether players have tuned out second-year coach Fred Hoiberg. However, Bulls forward Taj Gibson said he and his teammates -- not Hoiberg -- deserved blame for the recent skid. "We're definitely buying into what Fred is telling us, but at the same time Fred isn't on the court," Gibson told the Chicago Sun-Times. "People want to forget that sometimes. We have to do a better job. He's coaching his tail off, and it's hard when you're trying everything possible. You've got to look at the roster. We've got a lot of young guys, man, and not that much experience." Butler (24.8-6.7-4.2) is a bonafide All-Star but Wade (19.5-4.2-3.6) is showing his age and Rondo (8.0-6.4-6.9) is no longer a dominant player. The set-up: The bottom line is these “new-look” Bulls, minus Rose, Gasol and Noah, are NOT a better team than last year. This game marks the second of four meetings between the teams. On Dec. 6 in Auburn Hills, Mich, the Pistons pulled away for a 102-91 win over the Bulls thanks to a team-high 22 points from forward Tobias Harris. The Pistons have fared better during the past few weeks away from home, winning five of their past seven road games.Take the points and make Detroit a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-17-16 | Blazers v. Warriors -13.5 | Top | 90-135 | Win | 100 | 20 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: The 13-15 Portland Trial Blazers haven’t had much recent luck at Oracle Arena but will give it “the old college try” again tonight, when they face the 23-4 Golden State Warriors. Portland: The Blazers’ backcourt duo of Lillard (27.7-4.6-6.0) and McCollum (22.4) is the league’s second-highest scoring duo next to Golden St.’s Durant and Curry and Lillard comes in on a bit of a roll. He'd already had three, 30-point games this month before exploding for 40, two off his season high, in Thursday's loss at Denver. The loss at the Nuggets dropped the Blazers to 5-11 on the road with games still to come against the Warriors and Sacramento Kings on this current road trip. Portland averages 110.1 PPG (4th) but allows 112.2 PPG (28th). Golden State: The Warriors will obviously test that poor Portland defense, as Golden State leads the NBA in both scoring (11.7.3 PPG) and FG percentage (49.4%). Duarnt (25.5-8.4-4.7), Curry (24.9-4.4-5.9), Thompson (21.7) and the do-everything Green (10.8-8.6-7.1) form the NBA’s best quartet, as the Warriors “play together,” as well as any team in the league (better than any team?). Golden State leads the NBA in assists average (31.4 per game) and has handed out at least 30 in 19 different games, going 18-1 in those contests. The Warriors became the first team this season to record assists on over 90 percent of its field goals when they finished with 41 on 45 field goals Thursday. "No one really holds the ball on this team," shooting guard Klay Thompson told reporters. "It’s nice because the ball's always moving. ... That’s the beauty of our team. No one cares about the numbers." The pick: The Warriors are struggling against the number as of late, going 9-2 in their last 11 games SU but just 3-8 ATS. However, Golden State has had Portland’s number here at home recently, having averaged a 16.8-point margin of victory in its four-game regular-season home run over Portland. Golden State has won the last three regular season meetings between the two teams, averaging 130.3 PPG. Lay it and make Golden State a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-16-16 | Mavs +12 v. Jazz | Top | 100-103 | Win | 100 | 15 h 48 m | Show |
The set-up: The 6-19 Dallas Mavericks own the worst record in the NBA (actually, they are tied with the 76ers for the worst record) and travel to Salt Lake City Friday night to take on the 16-10 Utah Jazz. The Jazz haven't made the postseason since 2012 but are currently occupying first place in the Northwest Division and are looking very much a Western Conference playoff squad. ax for the Mavs, not so much! Dallas: The Mavs remain without center Andrew Bogut (3.8 & 10.4) who is out with a knee injury and fill-in Salah Mejri went down with an ankle injury against the Pistons. "I hope nothing bad," Mejri told reporters. "We don't need another injured center. We had an X-ray and it didn't show anything bad. We'll see how it is and hope to be good." Injuries have been a season-long issue for the Mavericks, who are without point guard J.J. Barea (16.3 & 5.4 APG) for another month with a calf injury while power forward Dirk Nowitzki (12.2 & 6.4) is sidelined with an Achilles injury, indefinitely. Nowitzki has been out 17 games, Barea has been sidelined for 14 games and Bogut has been out for four contests. PG Deron Williams (12.5 & 6.5 APG also missed eight games with a calf strain earlier in the season. The lack of healthy players has made it tough for Dallas to generate positive momentum. Utah: The Jazz have been devoid of injuries themselves but SG Rodney Hood (16.1) returned from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury to score 25 points and match his season best of five three-pointers In Wednesday’s 109-89 win over the Thunder. Point guard George Hill (20.0 & 4.2 APG) will likely to sit out for the eighth consecutive game with a toe injury but is moving closer to a return. PF Derrick Favors (9.9 & 6.3) had four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes against the Thunder after missing the previous 13 games with a knee injury Alec Burks (13.3 LY) hasn’t played all season. However, the Jaz have powered through all the injuries led by Hayward (22.9-6.2-3.7) and a defense which ranks first in points allowed (95.2) and opponents’ FG percentage (42.8%). The pick: On paper this looks like a play on Utah but Dallas has won 10 of the last 13 games with Utah overall, plus the Mavs have been more competitive lately in going 6-4 ATS their last 10. This is a huge number for the Jazz to lay. Take the points and make Dallas an 8* play.
|
|||||||
12-15-16 | Blazers +1.5 v. Nuggets | Top | 120-132 | Loss | -108 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
The set-up: The 13-14 Portland Trail Blazers visit Denver to take on the 9-16 Nuggets, having already beaten them twice this season, 115-113 (OT) in Denver back on Oct. 29 and then 112-105 in Portland on Nov. 13. Portland: The Blazers got a much-needed 114-95 win against Oklahoma City on Tuesday, ending a four-game losing streak. Portland held Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook in check (20 points on 7 of 19 shooting), while shooting 53.8% from the floor as a team, a six players scored in double digits. That’s hardly typical, as all season, Portland’s dynamic backcourt duo of Lillard (27.3-4.7-5.8) and McCollum (22.4) have done the bulk of the scoring. Harkless (12.5-5.3) and Plumlee (10.4-7.2-4.3) are the only other Blazers averaging in double digits on the year. The Blazers (109.8 PPG ranks 6yh) can score on a nightly basis but stopping their opponents has been another story (111.4 PPG allowed ranks 28th of 30 teams). Denver: The Nuggets are back home after a 2-4 road trip in which they lost at 7-17 Brooklyn, 10-14 Washington and 6-19 Dallas. No loss was more disappointing than the 112-92 loss in Dallas to wrap up the six-game road trip, as the sad-sack Mavericks dominated Monday’s game by scoring 65 in the first half against a seemingly non-existent Denver defense. Dallas shot 58.7 percent prompting head coach Mike Malone to say, "Our one-on-one defense is pathetic right now. We don’t take pride in it. We allow guys just to back us down and score way too easy." Denver ranks 26th in points allowed (108.8) and 25th in opponents’ FG percentage (46.4%). The pick: No reason to expect Portland not to win here, just as the Blazers have done in their first two meetings with the Nuggets this season. The Nuggets have lost eight of their last 11 overall, and are just 3-7 SU at Pepsi Center on the season. Portland is a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-14-16 | Pistons v. Mavs +5 | Top | 95-85 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up: The 13-13 Pistons travel to Dallas in search of a win against the Mavericks, who check in with the NBA’s worst record at 6-18. However, the Mavericks are coming off arguably their best performance of the season, after beating Denver 112-92 on Monday in the opener of a quick two-game homestand. Six players scored in double figures, as Dallas scored a season-high in points in regulation and shot a season-high 58.4 percent. The Pistons sure can’t the same, as they suffered a 97-79 home loss to 6-18 Philadelphia on Sunday, as the 76ers opened the game on an 18-4 run and never looked back. The 76ers and Mavs are tied for the worst record in the NBA. Detroit: Stan Van Gundy experimented in the Philadelphia game by starting two PGs, Reggie Jackson (12.2 & 4.0 APG) and Ish Smith (9.9 & 6.1 APG, as starting SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (14.3) sat out with a knee injury. It didn’t work but Van Gundy hopes to try it again in an effort to manufacture more offense.The Pistons do need to improve offensively, as they rank 25th in scoring at 99.1 PPG. However, Detroit has made up for it on the defensive end of the court, ranking 2nd overall in points allows (96.1 per). Dallas: The Mavs have to be happy about the easy win over Denver, as it came with Dirk Nowitzki (12.2 & 6.4), Andrew Bogut (3.8 & 10.4) and J.J. Barea (16.3 & 5.4 APG) all out of the lineup. Wesley Matthews (16.5) scored a team-high 25 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals in 32 minutes. Matthews has posted at least 25 points five times in his last eight games. Rookie forward Dorian Finney-Smith, starting in place of Nowitzki, set or matched season highs in points (13), rebounds (nine), assists (three) and blocks (two) in 32 minutes. Justin Anderson and Seth Curry scored 11 and 10, respectively, off the bench. Harrison Barnes, the team’s leading scorer at 20.5 PPG, scored 18 and Deron Williams (12.3 & ) added 17 points. The pick: The Pistons have won their last two visits to Dallas after losing their previous six. Caldwell-Pope is expected back but I’m not convinced that means much. The Mavericks are showing signs of life after a dreadful 3-15 start, having split six games since. They look for their third victory in their last four games tonight against the Pistons and get it. This home dog is an 8* play.
|
|||||||
12-11-16 | Warriors -9 v. Wolves | Top | 116-108 | Loss | -110 | 19 h 19 m | Show |
The set-up: It’s been a rough start to the current season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have opened 6-17. Playing the Warriors is never good news and to make matters worse, Minnesota will host Golden State tonight, with the Warriors coming off just their fourth los of the season, having lost 110-89 last night in Memphis. Golden State: The Warriors are 20-4 but three of the team's four losses have come in blowouts. Golden St. opened the season losing by 29 points at home to the Spurs, lost at the Lakers by 20 back on Nov. 4 and then last night, lost by 21 in Memphis. Both Curry and Thompson shot 4 of 14 from the floor, while all five Memphis starters scored in double digits. Curry and Draymond Green had four turnovers apiece and combined for just four assists as Golden State finished with 15 in that category, far and away a season low for a team which entered averaging 32 APG. Golden State scored fewer than 90 points for the first time since March 19 of last year, at San Antonio Minnesota: Tom Thibodeau's team has talent but is very young and inexperienced. Things seemingly hit a low point in Minneapolis following Friday's 27-point blowout home loss to the Pistons. Players had some pretty strong words about their latest performance. "We didn't play with heart," point guard Ricky Rubio told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "It was a two-point game and suddenly it was a 25-point game. And it seems like we didn't care." Guard Zach LaVine echoed Rubio's sentiment. "We got blown out at home, and it's unacceptable," LaVine told the Star Tribune. "We've got to play as a team. We have to come out and give it all we've got. Because we have to get out of this hole. This is our job. Our passion. It's about us." Rubio averages 6.6 & 6.4 APG and LaVine (20.2), which gives Minnesota three, 20-point scorers, joining Wiggins (22.1) and Towns (21.4 & 10.4). The pick: Minnesota has too much talent to be 6-17 but while Thibodeau's strength has always been defense, this team allows 106.9 PPG (23) on 47.4% shooting (29th). That hardly spells good news when facing the leagues' highest-scoring (118.1 PPG) and best-shooting (49.9%) team, coming off an embarrassing loss. Golden State has won 15 of the last 17 meetings and makes it 16 of 18 here with plenty of room to spare. Golden St. is 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-10-16 | Bucks v. Wizards -4.5 | Top | 105-110 | Win | 100 | 11 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: The 11-10 Milwaukee Bucks head to Washington to take on the 8-13 Wizards, off a game Milwaukee center Greg Monroe called, "Just a total letdown, both ends. I can't even point to one thing!” The Bucks took a 20-point halftime lead Friday night at home against the Hawks but lost 114-110, as Atlanta scored 70 second-half points. The Wizards last played on Thursday and are coming off a 92-85 win over Denver that stands as their best performance on the defensive end this season, as they forced 29 turnovers and held the Nuggets to 33 points after halftime. Milwaukee: In Antetokounmpo (21.6-8.8-5.9) and Parker (19.6 & 5.8) the Bucks own a terrific young duo but the team does not have another double digit scorer. Monroe, a FA signing a couple of years ago, is becoming more and more of a disappointment, as this year his numbers are down to 9.4 & 6.8. The Bucks do defend the perimeter as well as any team, allowing 43.0% shooting overall , which includes 32..0% on threes (both figures are a league-best!). However, the team allows 102.4 PPG, which is fairly mediocre (12th). Washington: The Wizards own one of the NBA’s best backcourts in Wall (23.6-4.3-9.5) and Beal (21.6) but unlike Milwaukee, the team's three other starters all average in double digits, as well. The trio consists of forwards Porter (14.1 & 7.7) and Morris (13.0 & 5.6) plus center Gortat (11.1 & 11.8). Also unlike Milwaukee, Washington’s defense is not doing a good job, as opponents are shooting 46.4% from the floor (26th), including 37.4% (28th) on threes. The pick: The teams play a total of four times in just 30 days (including a home-and-home set Dec. 23 and Dec. 26), so they will be familiar foes this next month. Game 1 goes to Washington, as Milwaukee may just recover from last night’s blown loss quickly enough to handle Wall (had 52 points on Tuesday!) and Beal. Washington is a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-09-16 | Magic +6.5 v. Hornets | Top | 88-109 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: The 10-13 Orlando Magic are in Charlotte tonight to take on the 13-9 Hornets. The Magic are looking to bounce back from an ugly 1117-87 home loss to the Celtics on Wednesday, which occurred in the team's first game back after a five-game road trip which had seen them end that trip with three straight wins, including a 95-83 victory at the San Antonio Spurs. The Hornets opened 6-1 but then dropped six of eight, before righting the ship with five wins in their last seven. Orlando: Orlando went 4-1 on a five-game road trip that included a win at San Antonio but shot 37 percent from the field in a 117-87 home loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. "We just didn’t play the right way and we didn’t play our game, plus our defense was terrible," Magic center Bismack Biyombo (5.5 & 8.3)told reporters. "We can sit here and talk about this and that, but we didn’t play the way that we’ve been playing. We started holding onto the ball longer. I don’t think 'selfish' would be the right way to put it, but we didn’t trust the next guy. If you play like that, you are going to lose." Fournier (16.7) and PG Payton (10.7 & 5.3 APG) are a nice backcourt duo plus Ibaka (14.3 & 6.7) and Vucevic (12.4 & 11.3) form a nice one-two inside punch. However, Vucevic is questionable with an eye injury. He’s an important cog, recording a double-double in 10 of the last 12 games, while presenting a strong inside presence for a team which ranks 5th in point allowed (98.8 PPG). Charlotte: Charlotte forward Marvin Williams (10.0 & 6.0) sat out six games with a knee injury but returned on Wednesday and made his presence felt on the defensive end while adding 12 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes. “It felt good. I got a lot of energy," Williams told reporters. "I felt like I haven’t played in a long time, but once I got back out there, I feel like I had a pretty good rhythm, my conditioning felt fine, so I’m happy with the win." Walker (23.6-4.0-5.0) is having an excellent season and Batunm (13.5-7.;7-5.5) is proving to be one of the league’s most versatile players. Kaminsky (10.9 & 4.7) and Zeller (10.5 & 5.8) split time at center and if Williams can stay healthy, he and Kidd-Gilchrist (9.5-7.1), one of the league's best defenders, give Charlotte quality depth up front. The pick: This is not the best scheduling spot for Orlando, going back on the road after just one home following a five-game road trip but after a 6-1 start (5-2 ATS), the Hornets are only 6-8-1 ATS their last 15 games. Take the points and make the Magic a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-08-16 | Warriors -7 v. Jazz | Top | 106-99 | Push | 0 | 12 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The 19-3 Golden State Warriors have won 15 of their last 16 games after wiping the Staple Center floor in a 115-98 win last night over the Clippers, in what was supposed to be a showdown between two championship-caliber teams. The Warriors are averaging a whopping 130.5 PPG in December, as they visit Salt Lake City tonight to take on the 14-9 Utah Jazz. This will be a game between the NBA’s highest scoring team (Golden State averages 120.0 PPG) and its stingiest team, Utah allows 95.5 PPG. Golden State: The Warriors made short work of the Clippers and the team's “Big 3” has been virtually unstoppable the last four games. Thompson is averaging 31.3 points on 48.9 percent shooting, Curry is scoring 22.8 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting and dishing out 6.0 assists plus Durant is chipping in 23.8 points on 47.0 percent shooting and collecting 8.3 rebounds. Durant (26.5-8.4-4.8) and Curry (25.9-4.0-6.0) are the league’s highest scoring duo, Thompson (22.6) is well, Thompson (he gives the Warriors the league’s highest scoring trio, as well), plus which NBA team wouldn’t drool over the possibility of adding Draymond Green (10.7-8.4-7.3) to its roster? Golden State leads the NBA in FG percentage (50.2) and is the only team in the league shooting above 50 percent. The Warriors are also leading the NBA in assists (32.0 per game), proving superstars can play together. Utah: The vastly improved Utah Jazz are seeking a signature victory but will be missing their starting backcourt on Thursday. Point guard George Hill (20.0 & 4.2 APG) will sit out for the fourth straight game (toe) and SG Rodney Hood (15.7) will be sidelined with a hamstring injury. PF Derrick Favors (knee contusion) and SG Alec Burks (ankle rehabilitation) will also not play against the Warriors. However, Utah has won three straight and seven of its last eight. SF Gordon Hayward (23.1-6.4-3.9) is carrying the squad and his 28-point effort against Phoenix represented his ninth straight 20-point outing. Center Rudy Gobert (11.3 & 11.3) scored a career-best 22 points against the Suns for his third 20-point outing of the campaign and the big man has been in double digits on the boards in eight consecutive games. The pick: Staying with the Warriors is difficult enough, even when healthy. It’s hard to see how, even at home, the Jazz can trade scores with Golden State or be able to slow this team down. Golden State is 10-1 on the road with seven straight victories plus has dominated the series with Utah in recent seasons. The Warriors enter this game having win five straight and 11 of the last 12 against the Jazz. What’s even more scary is, this is the best Golden State team the Jazz will have faced. The Warriors are an 8* play.
|
|||||||
12-07-16 | Blazers +2 v. Bucks | Top | 107-115 | Loss | -110 | 19 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: The 12-10 Portland Trail Blazers will be in Milwaukee Wednesday night to take on the 10-9 Bucks. This marks the second of a five-game road trip for Portland, which will go for its fourth straight win. The Bucks saw their season-high four-game winning streak end on Monday when they blew a 13-point halftime lead Monday against San Antonio, falling 97-96. Portland: The Blazers lean heavily on the scoring prowess of PG Damian Lillard (27.9-4.9-5.6) and backcourt partner C. J. McCollum (22.0-3.8-3.7), the league’s second-highest scoring tandem behind a couple of unknowns named Durant and Curry. Portland’s 112-110 victory Monday at Chicago extended its winning streak to three games and was the team's fourth win in five games. "I thought this was a good way to start a trip," said Portland coach Terry Stotts. “Even though we gave up 110 points, I thought we were locked in for most of the game. We did a lot of good things defensively." Monday marked the return of Al-Farouq Aminu to the Blazers' lineup after he had missed 13 games with a calf injury. He scored three points on 1-for-3 shooting, with a block and a steal, in 17 minutes. Aminu averaged 10.2 & 6.1 last year and his return to health is important for a team in search of more scoring outside of Lillard and McCollum. SF Harkless (13.0 & 5.5) and Plumlee (10.1 & 7.) are the only others in double figures, although Crabbe (9.5) and Turner (9.1) are closing in on that mark. Milwaukee: The Bucks are also a team looking to find its identity behind young stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (22.4-8.7-5.4) and Jabari Parker (18.8 & 6.0). Milwaukee was seemingly in control against the Spurs but started to fall apart late in the second half and, despite a late surge, couldn't overcome San Antonio in the final moments. Coach Jason Kidd said the loss will help Milwaukee in the long run "You can also grow from losing," Kidd said. "Going through the experience of a close game, you can learn from your mistakes. We can learn a lot from our mistakes. Going down the stretch, (we need) to move the ball and make plays for one another to where someone gets a wide-open shot." The pick: I’m not buying Kidd’s assessment that the loss Monday to San Antonio was a “plus.” In fact, I look for a carry over of that disappointment tonight, as the high-scoring Trail Blazers (110.3 PPG ranks 5th in the league) outscore the Bucks, who have few if any options outside of Antetokounmpo and Parker. Portland is a 10* play.
|
|||||||
12-05-16 | Celtics v. Rockets -4.5 | Top | 106-107 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 30 m | Show |
The set-up: The 12-8 Boston Celtics are in Houston tonight up against the 13-7 Rockets. Both teams come in playing well, as Boston has won six of eight and are two games into a stretch of eight of 10 on the road. Speaking of the road, Houston has played a league-high 14 road games thus far, after completing its second five-game road trip of the season with a sparkling 4-1 record. Boston: The Celtics barely squeaked past the Philadelphia 76ers 107-106 to begin their road trip Saturday night behind another stellar performance from PG Isaiah Thomas, whose 37-point effort marked his fifth 30-point game this season. Thomas is averaging 26.3 PPG and 6.3 APG. Avery Bradley (17.7) supported Thomas' effort with 20 points of his own and he hauled in nine rebounds for the second straight game to bump his season average to 7.9, five more than his career mark. Free-agent center Al Horford (14.9-6.5-4.6) is back on the court and has now played in 10 games (Celtics are 7-3). He has averaged 16.7 points in seven wins and 10.7 in three losses. Houston: The Rockets capped their five-game road trip with an impressive 132-127 (2-OT) win at Golden St. on Thursday, followed by a 128-110 win at Denver the very next night. Seven players scored in double figures and Houston was 17-of-37 from three-point range at Denver, hitting their league-leading average in long-range attempts and bumping their percentage to 37.8, good for fifth in the NBA through Saturday. Houston ranks second with 114.4 PPG on 46.6% shooting (3rd). Harden (28.3-7.6-11.8) leads the way but four others are contributing between 12.1 and 16.4 PPG. Also, the return of Patrick Beverley (7.0-4.4-3.9), the team's best defensive player on the perimeter, has been huge. Houston is 7-2 in the games he’s started. The pick: The Celtics have beaten Western Conference foes the likes of the Mavs (4-15) and T-wolves (6-14) but are 0-5 SU & ATS against the other five Western Conference opponents they’ve faced. Boston is stepping way up in class here and Houston is a 10* play. |
|||||||
12-04-16 | Magic +7 v. Pistons | Top | 98-92 | Win | 100 | 16 h 47 m | Show |
The set up: Both teams are off wins here as the Pistons beat the Hawks 121-85 and the Magic beat the Sixers 105-88. While it was only the second win in the past seven games for Orlando, Detroit has won three in a row and five of its last six. The Pistons took the season's first meeting 108-82, here in Detroit, but were scant four-point favorites in that one. Orlando: The Magic are 8-12 on the season, 7-12 against the spread. This despite them averaging only 93.0 points per game, which is the second fewest in the entire NBA, ahead of only Dallas. While it was "only" Philadelphia, Friday marked perhaps one of the finer efforts of the season from this team as six players scored in double figures, led by Aaron Gordon's 20 points. They made 13 of 23 three-pointers for the game. Detroit: The Pistons are averaging 118 points per game in this three-game win streak of theirs and just beat the Hawks by 36 points. This team managed to sneak into the playoffs as an eight-seed last year and expectations are higher for Stan Van Gundy now. Playing without point guard Reggie Jackson, it was a bit of a slow start. But all Pistons now seem to be firing, so to speak, at least offensively. Jackson could play for the first time tonight. The pick: As hot as Detroit has been, I can't possibly envision them playing as well as they did against Atlanta. Nor do I see this hot shooting continuing. Orlando might not be much offensively, but defensively they "come to play" more often than not. Just one time in the last 10 games have they allowed 100 points. That makes taking the points attractive in this situation. Orlando is a 10* play |
|||||||
12-03-16 | Nets +9.5 v. Bucks | Top | 103-112 | Win | 100 | 8 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: The 5-13 Brooklyn Nets and 9-8 Milwaukee Bucks meet at the Bradley Center Saturday afternoon, less than 48 hours after the Bucks won 111-93 over the Nets at Barclays Center. As the two teams meet to play the back end of a home-and-home series Saturday afternoon, Milwaukee has won 13 of the last 17 meetings (dating back to Jan. 9, 2013), including the first two meetings of this season's series. Brooklyn: The Nets committed 17 turnovers in Thursday’s loss to Milwaukee, continuing a season-long problem for Kenny Atkinson’s team, the Nets first-year head coach The Nets are third in the league in turnovers this season, averaging 16.5 per game. The Nets had just suffered a big letdown after a double-overtime triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers in the previous game and Atkinson bemoaned Brooklyn's inability to put points on the board. "We couldn't pierce their defense," Atkinson told reporters. "They kept us in front and they would switch and keep you on the perimeter. ... They were tough to score against (Thursday)." The Nets are averaging 105.4 PPG which ranks 10th but it comes with some p[oor shooting. Brooklyn ranks 24th if FG percentage (43.5%), including 25th on threes (33.0%). The defense is a ‘nightmare,’ ranking last in points allowed (114.3 per) and second-to-last in opponents FG percentage (47.1%). Milwaukee: The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo had 23 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks in 30 minutes on Thursday, before taking a seat for the fourth quarter. The small forward is having a superb season, averaging 22.8-8.5-6.1 but only Jabari Parker (18.8 & 5.8) also scores in double digits for Milwaukee. However, Milwaukee does have a deep bench and against teams like this, it makes a difference. The pick: The problem here for Milwaukee is the big pointspread ,as the Bucks are only outscoring teams at home by about five points per game. In this quick turnaround, I’m “all over” the Nets to bounce back with a strong effort. Upset alert? Take the points and make the Nets an 8* play. |
|||||||
12-02-16 | Magic +2 v. 76ers | Top | 105-88 | Win | 100 | 10 h 29 m | Show |
The set-up: The 7-12 Orlando Magic lost 95-94 at Memphis last night, the team's fifth defeat in its last six games. They will look to break out of their slump tonight at Philadelphia. The 76ers are just 4-14 overall (4-8 at home) but come in well-rested, having not played since a 122-95 loss in Toronto this past Monday night. Orlando: The Magic were outscored 24-10 down the stretch by the Grizzlies, who erased an 84-71 deficit. "Everything about this loss is disappointing," head coach Frank Vogel told the Orlando Sentinel. The Magic had now lost four straight, three of those at home to sub-.500 teams, before winning Tuesday night in San Antonio. However, any momentum thy had from beating the Spurs is gone, after their collapse against Memphis. "It hurts, man," Magic guard/forward Evan Fournier told the Sentinel. "Hurts bad. They just played more aggressive than us the last five minutes. That's how they got back into the game." Fournier (17.9 PPG) has scored at least 25 points in three of the last five games. Center Nikola Vucevic (12.4 & 11.6) is beginning to get his game together after a slow start, averaging 17 points and 13.4 rebounds over the last five games while posting seven double-doubles in the past eight contests. PG Elfrid Payton (10.5-5.3 APG) had strung three solid games together, making 17-of-30 from the floor before scoring three on 1-of-8 shooting Thursday. Ibaka (14.4 & 6.8) makes it four Orlando players averaging in double digits. Philadelphia: The 76ers saw Wednesday's scheduled home game against Sacramento postponed because of moisture on the Wells Fargo Center floor. However, the team got some good news, as it was announced that rookie center Joel Embiid's minutes restriction was being increased from 24 to 28 per game. Embiid, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, missed two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries. He leads the Sixers (and all NBA rookies) in scoring (18.2), rebounding (7.8), blocked shots (2.4) and three-point percentage (.500). Nerlens Noel, who has yet to play this season following minor knee surgery in October, practiced on Wednesday with the Delaware 87ers, Philadelphia's NBA Development League team, then went through drills with the Sixers on Thursday. Philly needs more help, as veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova (13.0) is the only other player scoring more than 11 per game. The pick: It’s not a good sign to blow a lead like the Magic did last night but at this points, Orlando is the better team than Philadelphia and at this price, a win by Orlando ensures a cover. Orlando is a 10* play. |
|||||||
12-01-16 | Rockets v. Warriors -10 | Top | 132-127 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: The 11-7 Houston Rockets visit Oracle Arena in an attempt to snap the 16-2 Golden State Warriors’ 12-game winning streak. The Rockets and Warriors could be shooting for a record of most three-pointers made in a game. The Rockets enter this contest having made at least 10 three-pointers in 17 straight games. lifting them into a tie with Cleveland for the team lead at 13.8 made three-pointers per game. The Warriors owned the NBA perimeter last year and along the way, combined with Mavericks to set an NBA record for most three-pointers made in a game (39) back on March 25, 2016 (GSt. had 21 & Dal. 18). Could that record be in jeopardy in this one? Houston: The Rockets have increased their three-point attempts from 30.9 per game to 36.6 and their percentage of success from 34.7 to 37.8, under first-year head coach Mike D’Antoni. The team has embraced D'Antoni,’s up-tempo style, with James Harden (55), Eric Gordon (55) and Trevor Ariza (52) all ranking among the top-10 this season in three-pointers made, while Ryan Anderson (45) isn't far outside the group. Gordon, who is shooting more often from downtown (7.9 attempts per game, up from 6.5), Ariza, who has connected on a career-best 39.7 percent so far this season and Anderson is a 42.2 percent career three-point shooter who was signed to a four-year, $80 million deal in July. Of course there is Harden, who checks in with a line of 28.7-7.2-11.9. Golden State: The Warriors have opened the season a bit cold from beyond the arc, at least for them.They have attempted the same number as last season (31.6 per game) but their percentage of success has fallen from a league-best 41.6 percent to 38.4. Klay Thompson is a career 41.7-percent shooter on threes but has made only 36.5 percent this season. However, he began the season 11-for-53 (20.8 percent) through seven games but has since made 39 of 84 (46.4 percent) in his last 11 outings (all Golden St. wins). Durant (27.1-8.4-4.7) and Curry (26.6-4.1-5.9) are the highest scoring pair of teammates in the league, Thompson has his average up to 20.7 PPG and in Green (10.1-7.0-8.1), the Warriors own one of the NBA’s most complete and efficient players. The pick: Golden State took all three regular-season meetings in 2015-16 by an average of 12.3 PPG and the teams meet here for the first time since the Warriors beat the Rockets in five games in the opening round of last year’s playoffs. The Rockets come to Oakland from Salt Lake City, where on Tuesday night they allowed the Jazz, a team averaging 98.7 PPG on the season (to rank 25th), to score 120 points on 55.4 percent shooting. It’s scary to think how many points the well-rested Warriors (last played Monday) will score, as they check in as the NBA’s highest scoring team (117.6 PPG) and its best shooting team (50.2 percent). Golden State is a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-30-16 | Pacers +7.5 v. Blazers | Top | 109-131 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The 9-9 Indiana Pacers capped a four-game homestand by scoring 118 points in a rout of the Nets and then shocked the Clippers 91-70 in a defensive gem (Clippers were held to 31.4% shooting, including 4 of 24 on threes). They now open a five-game road trip in Portland, which won’t end until Dec. 9 in Dallas. The 9-10 Portland Trail Blazers will be taking the court off a 130-114 drubbing by the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Indiana: The Pacers’ back-to-back recent home wins were achieved without the services of star forward Paul George (20.8-6.9-3.5), who has missed six of the past seven games and will also sit out Wednesday's contest with ankle and back injuries. The two wins were encouraging to veterans like PG Jeff Teague (14.7 & 7.6 APG) and backup center Al Jefferson (7.0 & 4.4). "For us to be shorthanded and they had their full team, we go out there and do what we did (Sunday), that shows a lot," Jefferson told reporters. "Like I told my teammates, we showed we can do it now, so we can't take a step back. We've got to keep going." Portland: The Rockets scorched the Blazers with 56.1 percent shooting, including 47.2 percent (17 for 36) from three-point range. Portland owns the worst defensive efficiency rating in the NBA (109.80) and is giving up more points (113.7) than any team in the league other than Brooklyn (114.0). The Blazers are tired of talking about getting better at the defensive end. "We keep preaching it, but it's getting old," guard Allen Crabbe said. "At some point, it has to click. We keep telling ourselves we have to get better, but at some point, we have to get it going." Lillard (28.2) and McCollum (22.3) are the second-highest scoring duo in the NBA (next to Durant and Curry) but the team must improve defensively. The pick: The Blazers are one of the better offensive teams in the NBA (rank 3rd at 109.7 PPG) but they have trouble stopping anybody. Cleveland blitzed them for 137 points, Golden State for 127, Houston for 126 and 130, even Phoenix for 121. "We talked about not taking steps back," head coach Nate McMillan said. "We've played some good games, and then you can't recognize the team the next game. We need to build some momentum at this point in the season." I’m not buying into that and I’m taking the points and making the Pacers an 8* play. |
|||||||
11-29-16 | Pistons v. Hornets -3 | Top | 112-89 | Loss | -110 | 19 h 30 m | Show |
The set-up: The Charlotte Hornets followed up a season-worst four-skid (Nov. 19-25) with consecutive victories, 107-102 at home against the Knicks and 104-85 at Memphis to get them to 10-7 on the season. The Pistons come to Charlotte on Tuesday 8-10 overall but struggling badly on the road in the early going at 1-8 SU & ATS. Detroit: The Pistons have relied on a balanced approach this season, with six players averaging in double figures. Harris tops the list at 16.4 PPG, while center Andre Drummond is averaging 14.6 points and 13.4 rebounds. That “group of six” doesn’t include PG Reggie Jackson, although he is getting closer to a return from a knee issue. He participated in Monday's practice and it was Jackson's first 5-on-5 practice since receiving injections of platelet-rich plasma more than a month ago to help promote healing. "I've seen him for a couple weeks — he looks fine playing," head coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Stamina is going to be an issue. I don't think he can play 33 minutes a game right now. Whenever they tell me he's ready to go, and he tells me he's ready to go in his mind, then he'll go." Charlotte: The Hornets’ 19-point victory in Memphis represented the team’s second-largest winning margin of the campaign and the 85 points allowed was their fewest of the season. Elevens are currently wild for Charlotte, which ranks 11th in both points scored (107.2) and points allowed (102.3). Standout guard Kemba Walker (24.3-4.2-4.9) has 14, 20-point outings this season and is joined by five more double digit scorers, plus forwards Williams (9.9) and Kidd-Gilchrist (9.3) just miss that plateau. The pick: As noted above, road games have been a big issue for the Pistons this season and with three road games in the next four days, they must figure out quickly how to collect wins away from The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit ranks second overall in the NBA in points allowed (97.1 PPG) but on the road Detroit has allowed 105.0 PPG, one of the mains reasons it’s 1-8 SU & ATS. Meanwhile, Charlotte is 4-2 as a home favorite this year and should have little trouble covering this modest number. The Hornets are a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-28-16 | Thunder +1 v. Knicks | Top | 112-103 | Win | 100 | 18 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The 10-8 OKC Thunder come to Madison Square Garden Monday night to take on the 8-8 NY Knicks.Oklahoma City comes in after a 106-88 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday when Westbrook posted 17 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his second consecutive triple-double and seventh this season. It was also his 44th career triple-double, which ties him with Cleveland's LeBron James. The Knicks had a three-game winning streak snapped Saturday night in Charlotte, falling 107-102 to the Hornets but New York enters this game on a six-game winning streak in MSG. Oklahoma City: Westbrook is humming along in his ninth season with the Thunder, averaging 31.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 11.1 assist and has at least a few remembering the Big O averaging a triple-double for the entire season back in 1961-62 (30.8-12.5-11.4). However, OKC is far from a complete team with Oladipo (17.3) being its second-best scorer wit that guard duo joining OKC’s two-headed center combo of Kanter (11.9 & 5.8) and Adams (10.7 & 7.8) as the team's core. OKC allows 105.4 PPG (20th) and checks in 8-10 ATS, a reverse of its SU record. NY Knicks: The Knocks are 7-2 SU & ATS at home and come in on a six-game home winning streak. Its top-two scorers are Anthony and Porzingis, who both have played noticeably better at home than on the road. Anthony is averaging 24.4 PPG at home while slumping to 21.1 on the road. Porzingis is suffering through the same inconsistency while averaging 22 points on 51.4 percent shooting at home and 19.6 PPG on 45.9 percent shooting on the road. The team’s new PG, Derrick Rose, is the Knicks’ third double digit scorer at 15.9 PPG (also 4.2 RPG and 5.0 APG). The pick: New York has played well at home but its overall defense is worst than OKC’s, allowing 106.3 PPG (20th) and the Knicks can’t ‘bang’ on the boards up against Kanter and Adams. New York's other big offseason acquisition, center Joakim Noah, who played with Rose in Chicago, has struggled. He missed two games with flu-like symptoms but since his return against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Noah hasn't provided much offense with six points to back-to-back games against the Hornets. Noah has scored in double-figures only once this season and checks in averaging 4.1 PPG for the season. At the PG spot, I love Westbrook over Rose. OKC is a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-27-16 | Kings -3.5 v. Nets | Top | 122-105 | Win | 100 | 9 h 23 m | Show |
The set-up: Rick Adelman led the Kings to the postseason in all eight of his seasons coaching Sacramento but was fired after the 2005-06 season. The Kings haven’t made the playoffs since, entering this season on a 10-year playoff drought (just three times in that stretch has the team even won as many as 30 games!). Sacramento is currently 6-10, after the Rockets made 21 three-pointers in a 117-104 victory in Sacranto on Friday. The downward spiral of the Brooklyn Nets reached six straight losses on Friday in a 118-97 loss at Indiana. The Nets host the Kings on Sunday at 4-11 (7-7-1 ATS), including 3-4 SU at home (4-3 ATS). Sacramento: The Kings had posted impressive wins over Toronto and Oklahoma City before Friday's letdown and first-year head coach Dave Joerger sees improvement. "We're getting better," Joerger told reporters. "We've played some good teams. We've played better as of late. ... We're starting to find a nice mix of chemistry between guys that are playing together at different times." Center DeMarcus Cousins (27.8 & 9.8) remains the star and he turned in a remarkable stat line on Friday with a career-high five made three-pointers and five blocks to go with 32 points and nine rebounds. However, second-year center Willie Cauley-Stein (4.9 & 1.8 in about 12 1/2 MPG) is drifting out of the rotation and did not see the court in either of the last two games (Stein averaged 7.0 & 5.3 last year in about 21 minutes of PT). Brooklyn: the Nets are still learning to play with the pace and style new head coach Kenny Atkinson prefers on the offensive end and the defensive end remains a work in progress. The Nets are hoisting more three-pointers than ever before and from all positions. However, the Nets rank a modest 13th in scoring at 104.9 PPG and the team ranks 26th in three-point shooting at 32.5 percent. As for the team’s defense, well let’s just pardon the pun. Brooklyn allows the most points of any team in the league (113.5 PPG) and opponents are shooting 47.2 percent against them, the second-worst mark in the NBA. The pick: I am well aware that the Kings entered this season 51-146 (.259) SU on the road the last five seasons but the bottom line is, the Kings have to win some games away from home and the Nets should play the perfect foil. Sacramento is an 8* play. |
|||||||
11-26-16 | Wolves v. Warriors -14 | Top | 102-115 | Loss | -110 | 16 h 48 m | Show |
The set-up; Both the Warriors and Timberwolves played last night, Golden State winning 109-85 at Staples Center over the Lakers with Minnesota rallying from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit at Phoenix to overtake the Suns 98-85. "Our best fourth quarter of the year," gushed Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau afterward. "Things weren't going well in that game, but the fight was there and we just kept working the game and the game turned." As for the Warriors, it was just “another day at the office,” as Golden State won its 10th consecutive game. Minnesota: In Wiggins (24.0), Towns (21.3 & 9.4) and LaVine (18.6) the T-wolves own an impressive trio of their own but last night’s comeback may have extracted a toll on the Timberwolves. Wiggins wound up playing 41 of the 48 minutes and three other starters, including Towns, played at least 35. that figures to leave Minnesota in less-than-ideal shape Saturday night on the second night of a back-to-back. The youthful Timberwolves have responded well to the adversity of the NBA schedule this season, winning on the back half of a consecutive-nights sequence both times they have encountered it. However, neither of those wins have come at the expense of a team like the Warriors. Golden State: Durant (27.1-7.9-4.8), Curry (26.3 & 6.1 APG), Thompson (20.6) and Green (10.5-9.0-6.() give the Warriors an incredible “Core Four,” a group which is averaging 84.5 PPG. That group contributed 83 points last night, although none played more than 36 minutes. That said, the Warriors may have an incentive when they take the court Saturday and that is to “play better!” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr insisted to reporters afterward that "It was one of the worst basketball games I've seen in my life. We were awful, and they were awful. The people who bought tickets should get their money back, honestly." The pick: The Timberwolves won the most recent meeting with the Warriors, handing Golden State one of its nine losses last season, 124-117 in overtime on April 5 in Minnesota. However, the Warriors had won seven straight and 14 of 15 over Minnesota before that April matchup and they come into this one clicking on all cylinders while looking to win an 11th straight game. The Warriors have notched eight double-digit victories during their 10-game winning streak, won their last three games by an average of 34.7 PPG and have won their last five home games by an average of 20.6 PPG. Golden State is an 8* play. |
|||||||
11-25-16 | Warriors -12.5 v. Lakers | Top | 109-85 | Win | 100 | 21 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: Back on , the Lakers shocked the Warriors 117-97 at Staples Center back on Nov. 4th, with the Golden State responding to that embarrassment by going on a nine-game winning streak. The most recent of those nine wins came this past Wednesday at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors delivered some payback in a 149-106 rout of the short-handed Lakers. LA (8-8) played without starting point guard D'Angelo Russell (16.1-3.4-4.8), who is expected to be out two weeks with a sore left knee, and PF Julius Randle (13.3 & 8.1), who sat with a hip pointer. Golden State: The 149 points the Warriors hung on the Lakers are the most any team has scored so far this season. Stephen Curry (31), Kevin Durant (28) and Thompson (26) combined for 85 points and while Green has just five points, he added nine rebounds and 11 assists. The Warriors recorded a franchise-record 47 assists, for the game and scored 80 points in the first half. "It was a beautiful exhibition that (the Warriors) put on," Lakers head coach Luke Walton said. "As painful as this one was, that's the beauty of the NBA. You always have another chance to redeem yourself one or two days later.” The high-octane Warriors lead the league in scoring (119.2 PPG), shooting percentage (50.2%) and in assist (31.9 per). That’s a pretty sweet ‘trifecta.’ |
|||||||
11-25-16 | Spurs -2.5 v. Celtics | Top | 109-103 | Win | 100 | 11 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The San Antonio Spurs are off to a 12-3 start bur get lost in all the hoopla surround the Warriors’ “Super Team” (Golden State has won nine straight to reach 13-2) and the LA Clippers, who have the NBA’s best record at 14-2. However, the spurs do own the NBA’s only perfect road record (they’re 8-0) and will look to keep that alive with a Friday afternoon visit to the TD Garden in Boston to take on the 9-6 Celtics, who are a modest 4-2 at home. San Antonio: The Spurs 8-0 road start this season ties them with 2010-11 team for the best start away from home in franchise history. "It's a weird year," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "We've lost three in a row at home, and last year we lost one the whole year. Now we're undefeated on the road, so don't ask me. That's why they call it a game because you never know what's going to happen." San Antonio has won seven in a row overall buoyed by shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range and 84.0 percent from the FT line (both figures are No. 1 in the entire NBA). SF Leonard (25.1-6.3) is now unquestionably the team’s best player and Aldridge his No. 1 sidekick, averaging 18.6 & 6.9 playing PF. However, as always, the Spurs’ depth and overall balance is a key to the team's success. Boston: The Celtics return off a perfect 3-0 road trip and have won six of their last eight, the latest being a 111-92 victory at Brooklyn on Wednesday. Isaiah Thomas (team’s leading scorer at 26.2 PPG) scored 23 points and Boston improved to 5-1 with Al Horford, who has missed nine games due to a concussion. Horford has hit the ground running after his absence, averaging 18.3 & 7.3 in his three games back in the lineup, all Boston wins. SF Jae Crowder had his best effort versus the Nets since returning from an ankle injury three games ago, recording 15 points and five rebounds in just 22 minutes (he was Boston’s top frontcourt scorer last year at 14.2 PPG). Thomas has scored at least 20 points in all but one game but also has fallen into a bit of a shooting slump by hitting only 38.5 percent over his last seven contests. Avery Bradley is his backcourt partner (17.9 & 8.0) and he recorded 22 points, seven rebounds and five steals against Brooklyn. The pick: With both Horford (concussion) and Crowder (ankle) rejoining the team for the recently complete 3-0 road trip, spirits are back up in Boston. However, defeating Detroit, Minnesota and Brooklyn on the road is hardly a reason to make plans for the NBA Finals, as those teams are a combined 15-29 (.341). Beating the Spurs would be something to cheer about but the bottom line is that the Spurs are 37-9 against the Celtics since Feb. 11, 1992 and more recently have defeated the Celtics on nine straight occasions, including four in a row at Boston. San Antonio is an 8* play. |
|||||||
11-23-16 | Raptors +4 v. Rockets | Top | 115-102 | Win | 100 | 11 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors opened 7-2, looking every bit the part of a Eastern Conference title contender but Toronto will enter this game the night before Thanksgiving having lost four of five to fall to 8-6. The Rockets welcome Toronto to Toyota Center 9-5 overall, including owning a 4-1 home mark. Toronto: There was concern that the Raptors would struggle following the loss of center Bismack Biyombo during the offseason, as he helped anchor a team that finished 11th in defensive rating last season, before signing with the Orlando Magic. Well, his loss has been YUGE. The Raptors are still one of the better offensive teams in the NBA (rank 6th in both scoring at 108.1 PPG and FG percentage at 45.9) but the Raptors are a sieve on the defensive end. Despite averaging 113 points over their last five games, the Raptors lost for the fourth time during that stretch on Monday night when they fell 123-115 to the Clippers in Los Angeles. Toronto is 4-4 over its last eight games, a span in which each opponent has scored at least 102 points. DeRozan was leading the NBA in scoring until going 3-of-15 from the floor and finishing with 12 points in a 102-99 loss at Sacramento on Sunday (he’s now at 30.9 PPG). Fellow guard Lowry (19.9-5.5-7.2) has shot better lately but still makes only 39.3% fomn the floor, including 33.7 on threes. Houston: James Harden is running Mike D'Antoni's system to perfection. The All-Star guard is enjoying his best all-around season (28.6-7.8-12.4) and posted his fourth consecutive double-double with 28 points and 11 assists in a 99-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday. More good news has come Houston’s way with the return of guard Patrick Beverley. Beverley underwent left knee surgery during the preseason and his impact is so much greater than the 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game he provided last season. He is the team's best individual perimeter defender and his influence on that end of the court has been sorely missed. Beverley has played alongside of Harden the last three games (all wins), averaging 25 minutes and is 11-of-21 from the floor since his return (8.3 PPG). The pick: This marks Toronto’s fourth road game in six days (not good) but I am not a fan of teams overly dominated by one player like the Rockets (with Harden) or OKC (with Westbrook). Gordon is Houston’s second-leading scorer at 15.4 PPG and Anderson, now a starter at SF, checks in third at 12.2 PPG. However, Gordon is making just 40.7% from the floor and Anderson 38.4%. The Rockets can be had and I’m making Toronto a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-21-16 | Celtics -2 v. Wolves | Top | 99-93 | Win | 100 | 11 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: Al Horford's return, coupled with Jae Crowder return to the lineup as well, sparked the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. Horford scored 18 points (including the game-winning put-back with 1.3 seconds left) plus had 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals for in Saturday's 94-92 victory at Detroit (Crowder added 9 & 4 in 27 minutes). The 7-6 Celtics will visit the 4-8 Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night, who are coming off a 93-71 loss in Memphis victory on Saturday. Minnesota shot just 39.1 percent from the floor and was held below 92 points for the first time this season. Boston: With Horford, who has has been limited to four games because of a concussion and Crowder, who returned after missing seven games with an ankle injury, the Celtics are finally at full strength. Marcus Smart (10.6-4.3-3.3) and Kelly Olynyk (8.1 & 5.0) returned to the bench, which boosts the second unit. Starting guards Thomas (26.2-6.5 APG) and Bradley (17.9-8.5-3.3) will welcome the return of a healthy Horford (13.5-6.8-4.5 in four games TY) and Crowder (he was Boston’s top frontcourt scorer LY at 14.2 PPG). Minnesota: Saturday’s loss in Memphis on Saturday was ‘ugly,’ as Minnesota had 16 turnovers and was outrebounded 46-34. Andrew Wiggins (25.7 PPG), who had sparked the team offensively by averaging 33 points per game in his previous six games, was held to seven points on 2-of-11 shooting from the floor. The NBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year, Karl-Anthony Towns (21.8 & 8.5), was not happy with Minnesota losing and admonished his teammates for laughing and making noise in the showers after Saturday's loss, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I just didn’t like the way we played from a discipline standpoint," head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "The fouling crushed us. It’s hard to win like that." The pick: Minnesota not only has Wiggins and Towns but 3rd-year player Zach LaVine (19.1 PPG) comes close to giving this team three, 20-point scorers. However, in the case of the T-wolves, the whole is NOT equal to the sum of its parts. Boston is a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-19-16 | Warriors -8.5 v. Bucks | Top | 124-121 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: The season began for the Warriors with a shocking 129-120 home loss to the Spurs. Four wins in a row followed but then the upstart Lakers trounced the Warriors at Staple Center, 117-97. The NBA’s new “Super Team” seemed to playing without its ‘cape.’ However, since that loss in LA, the Warriors have won six in a row (are now 10-2), scoring 120.2 PPG and winning on average by 11.5 PPG in that stretch. Meanwhile, Jason Kidd’s Milwaukee team has lost four of its last five contests to fall to 5-6 and comes into the game looking to bounce back after a pair of ugly defeats at Atlanta and Miami earlier this week. Golden State: The Warriors used a 31-9 third quarter last night in Boston to subdue the Celtics 104-88. SG Klay Thompson scored 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting against Boston to raise his scoring average to 19.3 as he recovers from a slow start. It marked the first time this season that he has led the Warriors in scoring for a game. Thompson’s a terrific player but with KD (27.5-8.2-4.3) and Curry (26.9-6.1 APG) playing alongside of him, leading this team in scoring very often will likely not happen all that much. Few doubt that Draymond Green is one of the NBA’s top-15 players (top-10?) but he seems more than happy with his numbers, which are 10.9-9.7-7.0. Milwaukee: Jason Kidd arrived in Milwaukee for the 2014-15 season and led the team to a 41-41 record and a postseason appearance, after the team had won just 15 games the previous year. However, last year's team went only 33-49 and prospects this year are not looking all the bright, either. Other than the play of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, the Bucks don’t have another double digit scorer. Antetokounmpo is averaging career highs in points (21.1), rebounds (8.7), assists (5.4), blocks (2.2) and steals (1.7) per game and is the only player in the NBA averaging over 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Parker is averaging 18.7 & 6.5 on the season, including 20.8 points in eight games this month and is shooting 45 percent from the floor this season. Center Greg Monroe was signed a way from Detroit and while he had a decent season last year (15.3 & 8.8), he’s fallen off this year to 9.7 & 7.4. The pick: The Warriors lead the NBA in scoring (116.2 PPG) and shooting percentage (50.2%) and in going 6-1 SU on the road, see no drop-off in point production, averaging 115.4 PPG. Milwaukee averages only 110.7 PPG (13th) on 44.3% shooting (19th) and I see little hope of them trading points with the Warriors. Golden State is a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-18-16 | Warriors -7 v. Celtics | Top | 104-88 | Win | 100 | 13 h 53 m | Show |
The set-up: Kevin Durant was deciding where to spend the next years of his career last summer and the Celtics put on a big push to get the superstar. They brought their players and even Tom Brady to a meeting with Durant on Long Island, N.Y but he then spurned the Celtics and his his former team, leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have had a a pair of notable ‘hiccups’ (opening night at home against the Spurs and a road game at the Lakers) but all in all, this new ”Super team” looks pretty good, entering on a five-game winning streak with a 9-2 overall record. The Celtics check in at 6-5 and desperately need to get their top FA signee Al Horford (concussion) and the valuable Jae Crowder (ankle) healthy and back on the court. Golden State: The warriors were shocked 117-97 on the road against the Lakers back on Nov. 4 but have won five in a row since, averaging 123.4 PPG. They’ve recorded at least 30 assists and shot 50 percent or better in all five games of their streak, the first team since the 1990 Chicago Bulls to pull that off. Curry (27.9-6.0 APG) is averaging 33.6 points per game and Durant (27.9-8.0-4.1) 25.4 during the five-game streak, then of course there are Thompson (18.5) and Green (10.9-9.8-6.9) rounding out the best ”Core Four” in the NBA. Boston: The Celtics have a dynamic backcourt duo in Thomas (27.2-6.5 APG) and Bradley (18.5-8.7-3.5) but need to get key frontcourt players healthy. Al Horford has missed the last eight games and there is still no timetable for his return, while Crowder (14.2 & 5.1 LY) is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, after playing in just four games. Boston surrendered an average of 123 points during a three-game slide from Nov. 3 thru Nov. 9 but cut that number down to 93.8 in the last four contests (3-1 stretch), capped by a 90-83 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. The pick: Not sure how the Celtics a will be able to stay with the Warriors, who again lead the league in both scoring (117.4 PPG) and FG percentage (50.4%). The Warriors don’t ease up on the road either, as they enter averaging 117.3 PPG in away games this year. The TD Garden was rocking last Dec. 11, when Boston led by five with 2:07 left in regulation but then the Warriors rallied for a 124-119 double-overtime win against the Celtics, which gave Golden State a 24-0 record at the time. The Warriors have added Durant since that game plus the Celtics are a “walking wounded” team. Make the Warriors an 8* play. |
|||||||
11-17-16 | Blazers v. Rockets -3.5 | Top | 109-126 | Win | 100 | 10 h 12 m | Show |
The set-up: The 6-5 Houston Rockets lost 105-103 at home last night to the Thunder, led by Russell Westbrook’s 30 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. The Rockets return home to Toyota Center for a game tonight against the 7-5 Portland Trail Blazers, who feature one of the highest scoring guards in the NBA, as well. Blazers PG Damian Lillard ranks fifth in scoring at 29.8 PPG plus adds 5.0 RPG and 4.6 APG. Portland: McCollum (21.7) teams with Lillard to give Portland one of the NBA’s top-scoring backcourts but the Blazers have just one other double digit scorer and that’s SF Harkless at 11.2 PPG. Portland’s key deficiencies are defense and rebounding. Portland ranks 29th in allowing 111.2 PPG and 27th in defensive rating. The Bulls rolled over Portland on Tuesday night at Moda Center, winning 113-88. Chicago managed 19 offensive boards, par for the course with Portland ranking 29th in defensive rebounding rate at 72.3 percent. The Bulls finished plus-18 on the glass. Houston: James Harden is averaging 28.7 PPG and hadn't scored fewer than 24 this season but struggled through a 4-of-16 outing in Wednesday's 105-103 loss to Oklahoma City. "I still wasn't able to make a couple of passes," Harden told reporters afterward. "I missed shots. Normal game, just didn't make shots, especially down the stretch when we needed to. That was it." Houston has struggled with pace, scoring and shooting percentage in the fourth quarter this season and those issues were front and center in their loss last night. The Rockets had only 13 fourth-quarter points and were held scoreless between a dunk with 6:26 remaining and a three-pointer just prior to the buzzer. They missed nine consecutive shots during that stretch, adding to what has been a prevailing problem for an offense that oftentimes scores at will. "We have that problem a little bit," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said of holding the ball too long down the stretch of close games. "I thought we got good shots. It might not have been your classic move the ball, move the ball, move the ball but I thought we had some looks. The 3s they had looks at we had them and they made them and we missed them. Sometimes it just comes down to you've got to make shots and we just didn't do it." The pick: The bad news here for Portland is that Harden rarely has back-to-back poor performances and he should also be primed to out-duel Lillard. Houston also expects that Patrick Beverley will make his season debut tonight. Beverley underwent left knee surgery during the preseason but is set to return. Beverley’s impact is so much greater than the 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game he provided last season. He is the team's best individual perimeter defender and his influence on that end of the court has been sorely missed. The Rockets are a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-16-16 | Warriors -5.5 v. Raptors | Top | 127-121 | Win | 100 | 12 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors lost 121-117 last night in Cleveland to the Cavs and it’s “no rest for the weary,” as they return home Wednesday to take on the Golden State Warriors at Air Canada Center. Toronto fell to 7-3 with the loss, the second time this season Toronto has lost to the Cavs. The Warriors opened the season with that shocking 129-100 home loss to the Clippers but have rebounded nicely, entering this game at 8-2, after a four-game winning streak in which they outscored their opponents by a total of 68 points. Golden State: The Warriors suffered two 20-point defeats among their first six games but now are clicking better at both ends of the court. The quartet of Durant (27.7 & 7.9), Curry (27.2 & 5.9 APG), Thompson (18.8) and Green (10.9-10.1-7.1) gives Golden St. arguably four of the NBA’s top-15 players. However, at least so far, the Warriors bench has not been as prolific as it’s been the previous two seasons. The Warriors begin a four-game road trip with tonight’s game in Toronto, followed by visits to the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers in a six-day span. The four Eastern Conference teams have a combined record of 22-18. "The challenge gets bigger now," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "We're playing playoff teams on the road, East Coast and all of that. It's not going to be easy, but it's coming at a good time, and we're going to embrace it." Toronto: Another close loss to the Cavs doesn’t help the Raptors’ confidence (Cavs beat the Raptors 94-91 back on Oct. 28th in Toronto) but head coach Dwane Casey added, "It's good for us; it's not a measuring stick," Casey said. "I think we're still trying to get our rotations down as far as what we want to do in certain situations, who we want to guard, who can do what in certain situations. (We are) still trying to figure those things out a little bit. It's that part of the year. I'd rather go ahead and get these (games against) two of the best teams in the league in now and go from there." Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (33.2 PPG to lead the NBA) failed to score 30 points for only the second time this season when he was held to 26 last night but PG Lowry added 28 points and nine assist. However, while Lowry’s line of 18.4-5.3-7.0 looks good, he’s got to start shooting better (38.1% overall, including 30.1% on threes). The pick: As for facing the Warriors right after the Cavs Casey said, "The computer that spit out the schedule, I'm going to find it and break it!" He has a good point and to make matters worse, Toronto will be playing its fourth game in five days. The Warriors come in ranked first in the league in both scoring (116.4 PPG) and FG percentage (50.3%) plus the team's offensive output doesn’t drop off away from home, as they are averaging 115.4 PPG in five away games. Four of those have been wins and while the first two came by eight and six points, the last two have come by 23 and 24 points. Lay the small number and make Golden State a 10* play. |
|||||||
11-15-16 | Raptors +6.5 v. Cavs | Top | 117-121 | Win | 100 | 10 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: The Toronto Raptors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year’s Eastern Conference finals, four games to two. The trouble was, the Cavs’ four wins came by an average margin of 28.5 PPG. The teams had an early season meeting already this year, when the Cavs won 94-91 in Toronto back on Oct. 28. The rematch is tonight in Cleveland, with the Cavs checking in at 8-1 overall (5-1 at home) and the Raptors at 7-2, including 3-0 on the road. Toronto: Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan re-signed with Toronto in the off-season and has fulfilled every hope for eth franchise. He was named the Eastern Conference's Player of the Week Monday after averaging 34.7 points and shooting 54 percent from the floor during Toronto's 3-0 week. DeRozan leads the league in scoring, averaging 34.0 PPG. He is the first player to score at least 30 points in eight of his first nine games to start a season since Jordan did it during the 1986-87 season. DeRozan is doing it with a flurry of drives and mid-range jumpers and very few three-pointers. "He's playing at an All-Star level," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "Getting bumped, getting hit, still finishing the play. He's playing an old man's game with physicality. The game has slowed down for him and the key is he's converting those plays." However, PG Lowry may be averaging 17.3-5.3-6.8 but his shooting woes from last season (especially in the playoffs) are still dogging him. Lowry is connecting on just 37.5% of all shots, including only 28.6 percent on threes. Cleveland: The Cavs enter this contest with three, 20-point scorers. PG Irving (23.9 PPG) leads the way, followed by LBJ (22.9-8.9-9.1) and PF Love (20.6-10.0). However, it’s more than just the “Big 3,” as Cleveland has made at least 10 three-pointers in every game this season, breaking a record set by the Houston Rockets two years ago. While it's early, the Cavaliers are on pace to make more three-pointers than any team in history (currently averaging 13.2 three-pointers per game), although head coach Tyronn Lue still isn't completely happy. "I think we can shoot better," Lue said. "It's been sporadic." The pick: The Raptors lost all three games at Quicken Loans Arena last season (including three during the playoffs) but they come into this contest 3-0 SU and ATS on the road, scoring 113, 112 and 113 points in winning at Washington, OKC and Charlotte. Meanwhile, the Cavs may be 5-1 SU at home but they are just 1-4 ATS and I’m taking the points. Toronto is an 8* play. |