“Play it Safe” Picks:
Tonight’s 7 NBA Games:
Indiana @ Atlanta
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
8 | Indiana | 102.9 | 100.1 | +2.8 |
9 | Atlanta | 102.2 | 99.6 | +2.6 |
The Say
Indiana just beat the Hawks comfortably 4 games ago at home so in Atlanta the scores will be a little closer. Nothing much can split these teams from points +/- rankings. The Pacers will need a big game from Hill and the rookie Turner to limit Horford and Millsap.
Best Bet: Indiana +10.5 @1.41.
Feeling Lucky: Atlanta -4.5 @1.85.
Miami @ Charlotte
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
14 | Miami | 96.0 | 95.8 | +0.2 |
12 | Charlotte | 101.7 | 101.2 | +0.5 |
The Say
Another tough game to pick. Miami we know don’t like the road games and haven’t seen home for some time and Charlotte are just coming off beating the Cavs without 2 or their best 3 players. The Heat have the better team on paper but is never a good thing on the road, especially with the Hornets home record.
Best Bet: Miami +7.5 @1.43.
Feeling Lucky: Charlotte WIN @1.61.
LA Clippers @ Orlando
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
7 | LA Clippers | 104.3 | 100.5 | +3.8 |
19 | Orlando | 99.3 | 100.7 | -1.4 |
The Say
The Clippers just came back from an East road trip winning 3 out of 5 (loses to Cavs and Raptors) while Orlando are 2-14 in their last 16 games. The Magic still have a positive home record but the recent loses against Hornets and 76ers does do them well. LA have the 2 best players on the court and should dig deep for the win.
Best Bet: LA Clippers WIN @1.54.
Feeling Lucky: Over 205.5 @1.92.
Philadelphia @ Washington
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
30 | Philadelphia | 94.8 | 105.4 | -10.6 |
23 | Washington | 102.6 | 105.6 | -3.0 |
The Say
The 76ers really did our tips a mischief the other night with a terrible loss to the Hawks…weren’t even close. The Wizards were gallant in defeat against the all-conquering Warriors. Wall put up a huge line but was super-seeded by Steph Curry’s 51 points. Wizards to bounce back.
Best Bet: Washington -2.5 @1.32.
Feeling Lucky: Washington 11+ @2.10.
Sacramento @ Brooklyn
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
20 | Sacramento | 106.6 | 108.1 | -1.5 |
28 | Brooklyn | 95.6 | 103.2 | -7.6 |
The Say
Sacramento are rolling with highs and lows, including a 5 game winning streak that has turned into 1 win from the last 6, while surrendering 114.5 over that 6 game stretch. There is no doubt of their ability to score, and there is also no doubt of their lack of ability to defend, and that’s why the over total line is consistently intriguing.
The Nets have lost 10 of the last 11, and that kind of form is not worthy of any confidence. The other issue that the Nets face is a horrible lack of depth, which is an area in which the Kings, with Casspi and Collison, are thriving.
The Kings will get over the line here, but they struggle at the Barclays Centre, and it will be close.
Best Bet: Sacramento WIN @1.39.
Feeling Lucky: Sacramento 1-10 @2.39.
Boston @ Cleveland
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
6 | Boston | 104.6 | 100.3 | +4.3 |
4 | Cleveland | 102.3 | 96.7 | +5.6 |
The Say
Boston have won 10 of their last 13, and the meet the Cavs for the first time since being swept in last years playoffs. This should be interesting. With Lebron, Love and Kyrie, the Cavs are always dangerous, and at home you’d be silly to bet against them, even as well as the Celtics are playing.
Shouldn’t be a blowout, but may be a reality check for the men in green.
Best Bet: Cleveland WIN @1.33.
Feeling Lucky: Under 210.5 @1.91.
Memphis @ New York
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
18 | Memphis | 97.7 | 99.0 | -1.3 |
21 | New York | 99.3 | 101.3 | -2.0 |
The Say
The Grizzlies Jekyll and Hyde ways have now steadied into what is now, a dominant basketball team. The Knicks will face Gasol again, the man that tore them apart last month, while trying to avoid a 6th straight loss in the match-up.
Memphis has gone from averaging a conference low 95.9 ppg, to now average 105.8 over the last 9. Somebody put something in the water over in Memphis, and it must have been some high quality H2O.
While everything is coming up Milhouse for the Grizzlies, the Knicks are doing their best effort to impersonate a winning team, while never actually getting over the line.
Did anybody realise that Vince Carter is still out there? Keep gettin’ them cheques Vince.
Best Bet: Memphis -3.5 @1.91.
Feeling Lucky: Memphis 1-10 @2.44.
Chicago @ Denver
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
13 | Chicago | 101.4 | 101.1 | +0.3 |
24 | Denver | 100.1 | 103.6 | -3.5 |
The Say
Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol are both questionable. Dunleavy, Mirotic and Noah are already out.Time to step up D Rose (and E’Twaun Moore…). With the team that the Bulls may be putting out, it’s really not worth a tip in any way, shape or form. Next…
Best Bet: Denver WIN @2.02.
Feeling Lucky: Run for the hills.
Milwaukee @ Utah
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
26 | Milwaukee | 98.2 | 103.3 | -5.1 |
11 | Utah | 97.6 | 96.4 | +1.2 |
The Say
Gordon Hayward and the slow tempo Jazz have the third least points allowed in the league. Expect them to win their 5th in a row as they push for the playoffs, with some exceptionally boring basketball.
Best Bet: Utah/Utah @$1.65.
Feeling Lucky: Utah 11+ @$2.40.
San Antonio @ Dallas
Points +/- Rank
RK | TEAM | OWN | OPP | DIFF |
1 | San Antonio | 104.6 | 91.3 | +13.3 |
16 | Dallas | 100.4 | 100.9 | -0.5 |
The Say
San Antonio can thank the Warriors for helping them fly under the radar this season. The Spurs can match the best 50 game start in franchise history but they’re still number 2 in the West…
Best Bet: Spurs WIN @$1.35.
Feeling Lucky: Spurs -7.5 @$2.02.
This is an out of date post, here are the latest free NBA expert picks.