This post is a little old, check out the latest NBA picks and parlays bets here.
Will be interesting to see how Chicago respond with Jimmy Butler calling out his own coach after the last loss against New York. Butler suggested coach Hoiberg is too laid back and needs to start going harder at the team. I honestly don’t believe the Bulls lost their last two due to the coach, but at the same time their defense this season is non-existent. We have gone with the Bulls tonight, it could be for the last time.
PG13 gets to take on the 2nd hottest team of the league in the Spurs. A loss tonight could put them from 2nd to 6th in the East. How good is it to have an Eastern Conference with competition.
Another game with a bit of spice will be the Thunder taking on the Clipper in LA. History has shown these two teams aren’t on the best of terms. Expect a bit of trash to be thrown around.
Enjoy the spreads…
Boston -5.5 @1.56
Atlanta WIN @1.28
Chicago -6.5 @$1.50
Houston WIN @$1.65
Tonight’s games below…
Sacramento at Washington
Points +/- Rank
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 22 | Sacramento | 104.6 | 107.4 | -2.8 |
| 23 | Washington | 101.5 | 105.8 | -4.3 |
The Say
In the last 7 games, the Kings have been within 10 points of their opponents, winning 4 of them. They shocked the neighbors of the north last night with an even output from all players in the rotation. And don’t look now but they are a game out of the top 8 in the West. John Wall kept the turnovers coming but did more than enough to get over the Hornets last game. With the East so competitive up the top, they are a good 4 games back from making noise. Important for both teams, we secretly like the Kings for Boogies’ sake.
Feeling Lucky: Sacramento +8.5 @1.46
Minnesota at Boston
Points +/- Rank
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 20 | Minnesota | 102.1 | 103.6 | -1.5 |
| 8 | Boston | 103 | 99.5 | +3.5 |
The Say
KG comes home, to his second home… Not quite the player he was in years gone (3.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg), but his job this year is not to dominate, it’s to teach the talented Wolves youngsters.
“They’re talented. I mean, super talented,” said Boston coach Brad Stevens. “I said this yesterday, they look like the young (Oklahoma City) team as far as when you start looking at Wiggins and (Karl-Anthony) Towns. Those are real building blocks.”
The Celtics are patchy at best, but showed what they could do when taking the Warriors into 2 overtimes, followed by a win away in Charlotte.
The Celtics have had some time off, and back at The TD Garden should get the job done..
Best Bet: Boston -5.5 @1.56.
Orlando at New York
Points +/- Rank
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 9 | Orlando | 100.7 | 98.3 | +2.4 |
| 18 | New York | 98.4 | 99 | -0.6 |
The Say
The Knicks defeated a Bulls team who were coming off 4 overtimes and no Gasol so they were always in a primed position to win the game. While in Orlando, to start off our Steph Curry competition, the Magic just came up short against a resurgent Hawks. The Magic were in town a week ago and were able to dismantle the Nets in Brooklyn so they are comfortable with the scenery. Kristaps will get another crack at the Vuch who had a day out in the previous matchup.
Best Bet: Orlando +7.5 @1.36
Portland at Atlanta
Points +/- Rank
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 19 | Portland | 101.3 | 102.1 | -0.8 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 101 | 100 | +1 |
The Say
Portland are on a mini slide since hitting the road and it doesn’t get any easier. As they make their up the East Coast, the next stop is Atlanta who themselves are back on track with two impressive away wins against Boston and Orlando. With no days rest, the game will be close but in the current form, the hawks should prevail back at home.
Best Bet: Atlanta WIN @1.28
Brooklyn at Chicago
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 28 | Brooklyn | 96.1 | 102.7 | -6.6 |
| 13 | Chicago | 100.3 | 99.3 | +1 |
The Say
Butler, Rose, Gasol, Mirotic. Hard to believe this lineup is only averaging 100 points per game, good enough for 20th in the league. Even more shocking is that they are 27th in efficiency. Maybe Jimmy Butler has a point that new coach Fred Hoiberg is a bit too chill. Pau Pau returns after being rested following their quadruple overtime game against the Pistons.
Best Bet: Chicago -6.5 @$1.50.
Charlotte at Houston
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 6 | Charlotte | 102.7 | 99 | +3.7 |
| 21 | Houston | 104.3 | 106 | -1.7 |
The Say
Dwight has finally found some form (albeit for 2 games) – averaging 19 points and 14.5 boards over the past two games. That form should continue against the small Charlotte line-up, who is without Al Jefferson (drug ban).
The Best Bet: Houston WIN @$1.65. Charlotte hasn’t beaten Houston in 5 years.
Indiana at San Antonio
Points +/- Rank
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 5 | Indiana | 103 | 98.5 | +4.5 |
| 2 | San Antonio | 102 | 88.9 | +13.1 |
The Say
If it was anybody other than the Spurs here our ears would be pricked up for the Pacers. The Spurs are at home (15-0 home record), and have the day’s rest. Loving the PG-13 show (26.2 ppg, 4.0 apg, 7.8 rpg) this year, but Popovich doesn’t disappoint the home crowd, and the Spurs will get the W here.
Feeling Lucky: Spurs -5.5 @1.56.
Phoenix at Utah
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 17 | Phoenix | 104.8 | 105.2 | -0.4 |
| 16 | Utah | 97 | 97.3 | -0.3 |
The Say
Pretty tempted with the +4.5 line here for Phoenix. The Jazz have won 3 of the last 10, and the Suns have won 4, not great form from either team. The only thing swaying our opinion here is the extra day’s rest, and the home court for Jazz, otherwise I’d be all over the Suns here.
Bledsoe and Knight are one of only 2 Western Conference back courts that are averaging at least 19.5. “We know what we have to do,” Bledsoe said. “(The Jazz are) in a tough spot in the eighth seed (in the Western Conference) and we’re trying to take it from them.”
No faith in the Jazz, but at home with some rest, we’ll give the Suns a generous line to stay within.
Best Bet: Phoenix +7.5 @1.59
Oklahoma at LA Clippers
| RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 107.7 | 99.6 | +8.1 |
| 12 | LA Clippers | 102.5 | 101.2 | +1.3 |
The Say
The Clippers really disappointed us yesterday, and made us look fools as our “Bet of the day”. Shame on us. Couldn’t even finish making the nightly cup of tea and it was game over courtesy of a 38-17 first quarter ass kicking from the Rockets. Dwight must have heard my comments about him the other day and decided to finally play like Tarzan, and look like Tarzan.
Chris Paul (16.8 ppg, 9.0 apg) and Russell Westbrook (25.1 ppg, 9.5 apg) will face off as 2 of the form guards, and also 2 of the angriest men in the league. Expect some fireworks.
Whatever happens here, it should be a game worth watching, but we’re going with the Thunder here, having won 7 of the last 8, when you’re hot you’re hot, and they’re…hot.
Best Bet: OKC -1.5 @1.91.
