Free NBA Picks for Tonight 1/12

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….and the beat goes on.

Phew, bit of a scare with the streak today in the Bible belt. But all the prayers in the world couldn’t stop them, and the Warriors streak goes to 19-0.

But overshadowing all of this, was the announced retirement (end of season) of one of the games all time greats, Kobe Bryant. We all knew after the first few games, that he wasn’t the same, and this year would be his last, but it still had a sense of occasion hearing it from the man himself. What a career.

The only question left is, will he make it to the end of the year?

There’s not to many jobs in this world where you can tell everybody in the office that you are retiring, and then spend the rest of your year under-performing, and still being applauded every day you walk to your cubicle.

But he’s deserves all the applause he gets, and he’ll get a lot.

Let’s have a look at today’s NBA predictions….


Today’s BEST NBA Picks and Parlays

BEST PICKS OF THE DAY!

Cleveland WIN @ $1.14

Lakers WIN @ 1.94

Minnesota WIN @1.80


Cleveland are still sitting pretty on top of the Eastern Conference but the Pacers and Bulls are coming. Coming off some hard fought victories against the Hornets and Nets, the LeBron and Love chemistry keeps improving. And it gets better with Kyrie and Shump back in training. The sum of all those pieces will be good enough to go h2h against the Warriors. We have said it before and will say it again but the Wizards are the Eastern Conference version of the Rockets and don’t look to be getting any better. So disappointing coming from a playoff team last season who would be hoping to go better again, 4 losses in a row, mark down numbers 5.

The Best Pick: Cleveland WIN @ $1.14 – Still undefeated at home.

Feeling Lucky : Cleveland +11 @ $2.03  LeBron to bring on the pain for all the DeShawn Stevenson years.


LA Lakers at Philadelphia

RK TEAM OWN OPP DIFF
29 LA Lakers 97.1 106 -8.9
30 Philadelphia 90.8 102.8 -12

Believe it or not but the 76ers are favourites for tonight’s game against the Lakers. There would have to be some record there? A team that is 0-18, winless for the season, are favourites…….. I guess that says a lot about the Lakers also. Kobe full steam ahead on the farewell tour will visit his birth city Philadelphia for the last time and is about ready to put up a respectable line. Will Okafor make the Lakers regret passing on him on Draft Night? Lakers are already making it hard to watch for fans, if they drop this, Byron Scott will be looking for a new job.

The Best Bet : Lakers WIN @ 1.94 – These odds are too good against a team who is winless.

Feeling Lucky : First Basket/Winner – Kobe/Lakers @ 12.00 – for the family and friends.


Phoenix at Brooklyn

Phoenix Suns (-3.5) Brooklyn Nets (+3.5)

Points +/- Rank

RK TEAM OWN OPP DIFF
13 Phoenix 106.2 105.2 +1
26 Brooklyn 95.8 102.6 -6.8

Coming off a big win in Toronto, the Suns will look to continue the good play in game 2 of a 6 game long road-trip. They were well helped from the bench with big scores from Teletovic, Leuer and Warren and will need something again to keep the Nets at bay. The same can be said about Brooklyn who are coming into some form with a win against the Pistons. Lopez should dominate the paint with the veteran squad of JJ, JJ and Thad keeping the Suns honest. Will athleticism prevail? It will be a tough one for the Suns to let go with playoff spots up for grabs.

The Best Bet : Coin Flip – this game has warning signs all over it, Phoenix is good @ $1.62 but we have seen this script before. Road team has good win, falters the next.

Feeling Lucky : Phoenix 1-10 @$2.46 – if you go down the Suns path, make it a close one.


San Antonio (-3.5) Chicago Bulls (+3.5)

Points +/- Rank

RK TEAM OWN OPP DIFF
11 Orlando 101.9 100 +1.9
17 Minnesota 101.2 101.4 -0.2

The Orlando Magic are closing in on their biggest winning streak in 3 years, eyeing 4 in a row. Not quite the 19-0 that we saw last night, but still an improvement on what has been a very inconsistent season. A 110-91 victory over the Celtics in their last outing should give them a lot of confidence going into the game against the Twolves, who lost valiantly  107-99 to the Clippers. The Magic’s bench has been their key, outscoring opponents by 18.7 over the last 3 games. Ricky Rubio is expected to return after sitting for 3 with an ankle injury.
Andrew Wiggins scored 28 while Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and  12 rebounds in the teams first meeting this year.

The Best Bet : Minnesota WIN @1.80

Feeling Lucky : Minnesota 1-10 @2.54. If (when) they win, it won’t be by much.


Memphis at New Orleans

RK TEAM OWN OPP DIFF
21 Memphis 96.2 99.5 -3.3
27 New Orleans 101.5 108.9 -7.4

The Pelicans ended their 3 game winning streak a few days back, and since then have lost the last 2 (1101-87 Utah Jazz, 111,90 Clippers) to make it 4-13 for the season. But with Tyreke Evans (2nd leading scorer last season with 16.6 ppg and 6.6 apg) and Norris Cole (the guy who played for Heat) expected to make their season debuts, things just got a whole lot brighter. There’s only so much 4th year star Anthony Davis (23.9 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg)  can do to try and keep the season afloat himself.

“It can’t be done by one guy,” Hornets coach Alvin Gentry said. “I don’t know of a team in the league that has been able to do that. Even the great teams have other guys that contribute things that help you win games.”
In saying that, the Grizzlies have hit some form after a slow start, having won 7/10, and should get over the line here.

The Best Bet : Memphis WIN @1.89. Tyreke Evans is back, but it may take a game or 2 to be back to full impact. The Grizzlies will not see the best of the Pelicans here.

Feeling Lucky : Nope.


Dallas at Portland

Points +/- Rank

RK TEAM OWN OPP DIFF
13 Dallas 100.1 99.1 +1
17 Portland 100.8 100.9 -0.1

Dallas, over and over again you have broken my heart this year, and thinking about betting on a game you are involved in makes me shudder. You won 5 in a row, then lost 4 of the next 5, and with that, my trust (and bank) was broken.

Wesley Matthews prepares to face the team that turned their backs on him over the summer after he hit hit free-agency. A cruel way to end his tenure in Portland,  during a time in which he “felt disrespected” by Trailblazer’s management.

Dallas on the other hand, couldn’t pick up the phone fast enough, signing the disgruntled Matthews to a 4 year-70 million dollar contract. If that doesn’t make you want to impress your new team nothing will. We all dream of revenge on a boss who’s shafted us, he has the chance tonight.
The Trailblazers haven’t looked the same since losing Batum, Aldridge and Matthews over the summer, and given that Lillard is doubtful with an illness after 3 seasons with no DNP’s, this makes our decision an easy one. But as God is my witness, if you lose Dallas, we are done.

The Best Bet : Dallas WIN @1.89. Matthews plot of revenge will get them over the line, just…

Feeling Lucky : Dallas 1-10 @2.66.