Miami, Los Angeles (LAC) Back Themselves into a Corner

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Everyone’s Cheering For Pacers Over Heat Now
It was one thing when the hyperbole surrounding the Pacers-Heat matchup boiled over and we had to read a bunch of ballyhoo about how the upstarts from Indiana were going to somehow dethrone the crownless kings of Miami in Pro Basketball betting. When Bosh went out, that hyperbole seemed to gain some credibility by accident. After the Game 2 victory by the Pacers, and Dwyane Wade’s continued douchebaggery, the scales are officially even in this series.

Wade thought he was fouled during a fast break and instead of just shutting his mouth and playing through, he glared at the ref and then decided to smash Pacers guard Darren Collison from behind shortly afterwards. For the record, Collison was completely defenseless and couldn’t have seen Wade coming. I’m shocked that Wade wasn’t suspended (Note to all you haters, the league can definitely afford having Wade suspended for one game. Stop saying that they can’t).

That kind of crap has a nasty habit of pushing an opponent in to an extra gear, and with the Pacers returning to the comforts of home, this series is going to be a nail biter. Why else would the oddsmakers post a line of Miami -1.0 on this game? They fear the unruly and deep Pacers as much as the Heat do right now.

Indiana poses the problem that Miami fears the most: incredible depth. It says something when a team boasting two of the greatest players ever gets bested by a squad that doesn’t have anyone reach twenty points. David West led Indiana with a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards, while three other players scored in double digits.

The Heat will always get the requisite 50-points out of their LBJ-Wade combo. Sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s less, but without Bosh they don’t have that extra gear. On Tuesday night’s effort, no other Heat player scored more than 5 points. Criticize Bosh all you want, but he’s someone that they miss dearly on the scoreboard and on the court in general.

With Bosh out, LeBron has to play more power-forward than he’s used to. Don’t get me wrong – he’s great wherever he plays, but he’s most dangerous as a guard or as an unstoppable wing player. Miami needs LeBron out on the perimeter where he stretches defenses, but without Bosh (who rebounds pretty well for a wussy), the Heat need LeBron to rebound more than he would like. If James grabs 15 boards, he’s a lot less effective than when he’s dishing out 15 assists.

Most of the long term metrics measure against the Pacers. They’re just 15-18 ATS at home this season, and while they went 2-0 ATS against Orlando (sans Dwight Howard) in their own house, that doesn’t say much. However, with the extra vitriol from Wade’s antics and the momentum in hand, Indiana has the depth and rebounding prowess to give Miami even more frustrations in this series.

Furious Free Pick: Indiana Pacers +1.0 over Miami

Spurs Still Have Tricks Up Their Sleeves Against Clippers
Anybody else think that Tim Duncan wants a fifth ring? After dropping 26 points and hauling down 10 rebounds in the Spurs’ 15th consecutive victory, it’s become blatantly clear that San Antonio is the team to beat in the West. If Blake Griffin was fully healthy, he may have played better. But that’s sheer speculation.

Blake is still young, and so is the rest of his team. Aside from Derrick Rose, there is probably no point guard in the game more aptly suited for keeping up with Chris Paul than Tony Parker. Paul was limited to just 6 points though he chipped in 10 helpers.

The thing about betting on this game is that it’s as much about veterans versus youth as it is about the numbers. Sure, it’s easy to say that Manu, Duncan and Tony have “been here before”, but that doesn’t mean Griffin and Paul don’t want to win just as badly.

What’s probably most telling about Game 2 is that San Antonio is an unreal 24-8-1 ATS at home. They’re also one of the hottest betting teams in the playoffs with a 8-1-1 ATS record over their last 10 games. Money sounds safe with Pop right?

Well I’m not so sure. If we know anything about the Clippers with Paul, it’s that they are resilient. You can probably excuse their Game 1 lapse in effort due to fatigue over going seven games against a tough, physical Memphis team. The Clippers can chew away at big leads with deft three point shooting and though San Antonio probably walks out of Game 2 with a win, that line is just way too big for my liking.

The Clippers know what they’re up against now. They won’t come into Game 2 as flat as they were on Tuesday night. At least, that’s what I’m banking on. The number on this game is just too big to warrant a wager on the steady Spurs.

Furious Free Pick: L.A. Clippers +11.0 cover against San Antonio

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Chicago, Atlanta and Denver on the Brink of Elimination

Hoops Game 6 Action

This was supposed to be a second round playoff preview, but since we don’t have any matchups set for the semis in either conference here’s a rundown of the Thursday Game 6’s which I expect to put a close on the quarterfinals in NBA playoff betting. As usual, home team in caps. As I write this on a Wednesday morning, betting lines aren’t posted yet but that doesn’t matter. All the numbers will be tight on these games.

THURSDAY GAME 6 PLAYOFF PICKS

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS over Chicago Bulls
The Bulls without Rose lack the thorns to really keep this up in the gauntlet of NBA playoff betting. I am generally one of those people that doesn’t mind that Carlos Boozer has made the money he has, because he shows up sometimes in games like Tuesday night’s brutal Game 5. Boozer notched 19 points and 13 rebounds to push his team to victory.

But he wasn’t the catalyst and never really is. As an overpaid third banana, Boozer is a fair compliment to Rose but without him he’s horribly unreliable. Without Noah and Rose, Game 5 should have been it for the Bulls and I doubt they have anything left in the tank to pull off another “upset” in Game 6.

I most certainly don’t foresee the Sixers throwing up another lame duck like they did on Tuesday. The Sixers are a solid bet in these playoffs. They’re 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 quarterfinals games. With a deep roster that can match Chicago’s bench, and out perform it, I expect the Sixers to roll through to the second round where a very quick squash from Miami probably awaits them.

BOSTON CELTICS over Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta has been chastised by heaps of fans for not having the requisite heart that Boston perennially shows in the playoffs. Well, it was hard to measure just how good they were without their true starting five on the court. That’s why Al Horford’s ubiquitous return from injury in Game 5 was so compelling.

Horford led the Hawks with 19 points and 10 rebounds while shutting down the dynamic Rondo on the final possession of the game in a one-on-one defensive matchup. A lot has been said about Josh Smith’s erratic play and Joe Johnson’s contract, but Horford is the real center of this team (despite not actually being a center). His mere presence allowed the Hawks’ starters to all post double-digits in points while two of them (Horford and Smith) picked up double-doubles.

The Hawks could post a big problem for the Celtics with Horford because he restores balance to the team and Jeff Teague is one of those players that acts like he’s a legend. It’s scary because sometimes he produces in big moments, like in Game 5 which should technically go a long way in making this a bet on game for the Hawks who are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games and 10-4 ATS and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 quarterfinals games.

So why leverage a bet on Boston? Well for one, they’re 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games after a straight up defeat, and are an unshakeable 8-0 ATS in their last 8 home games when playing a team with a bad road record. They’re also 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 home stands overall.

I will say it again and again: the Hawks are one veteran center (Chris Kaman, anyone?) from becoming an absolute tour-de-force. Until they convince themselves that Horford is actually a power-forward and Josh Smith is a great swingman, they’re fooling themselves.

Boston doesn’t have that identity crisis. They know who they are, especially when playing at home.

L.A. Lakers over DENVER NUGGETS
If you’re banking on Denver upsetting the Lakers again like they did in Game 5, then you’re pretty much hoping JaValle McGee shows a modicum of consistency in his production. Good luck with that. McGee came off the bench and wowed the Lakers crowd with 21-points, most of which came off some sweet dunks. He’s averaged 10.4 points per game in this series, with stat lines of 21, 8, 16, 5 and 2 points in those games. So yeah, I’m not exactly envisioning McGee recreating his stunning Game 5 play.

What I’m also not counting on is Andrew Bynum vanishing in the fourth quarter and Pau Gasol being silenced by Kenneth Faried for a full game. Kobe Bryant said it best when he said that he can’t bail the Lakers out of games like that. He needs the rest of his team to step up, and that they will after the spanking Denver gave them at home.

If you want some juicy trends for this game, then here they are. The Lakers are 4-0 ATS following a straight up loss and 5-1 ATS after losing against the betting line. While the Nuggets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games, this is a closeout game for the aging Lakers who need to put this series away so they can get to business and rally a big one against Oklahoma City. Bet on that being the case Thursday night when they put the deep Denver Nuggets into an even deeper sleep.

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Home Court Should Help New York Bounce Back

Hoops Playoff Picks

At this point last season, we were basking in the greatest season Pro Basketball betting ever provided. Then the lockout happened and everyone started not to “love this game”. Boy how things changed quickly. The 2011-12 season has continued to provide surprise after surprise and the playoffs are proving to be a post season mine field for the betting community.

I’m going to help you navigate through the thick of things with some not-so-popular picks for three Game 3’s coming at you this week. The home team is in CAPS, as always. Best of luck.

NEW YORK KNICKS +4.5 over Miami Heat
So we can all agree that Amar’e Stoudemire is the dumbest person in the world right now, right? My two cents on this are this: you have to exercise more control in a heated playoff matchup against a team that boasts two of the best to ever play the game. However, I won’t fault a guy like Amar’e for acting in a fit of passion when teammate Tyson Chandler didn’t do so publicly. You like to see that kind of fight in your players, especially one scrutinized as much as Stoudemire.

Without Stoudemire, the Knicks are even more injury depleted than usual. Jeremy Lin is still a couple games from returning, and he was skinned alive by Miami during the regular season anyways. Iman Shumpert, their best perimeter defender, tore his ACL. Baron Davis has a bad back.

Despite all the harrowing highs and lows of the season, the Knicks were a steady bet at home going 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games at Madison Square Garden. They’re also 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a dog. Every other metric I have on this game, however, basically tells me to go ahead and mortgage my future on the Heat except for one: the intangible and massive affect the Knicks crowd can have on the game.

Carmelo is still one of the best pure scorers in the game and Chandler has poured on his offense as much as his defense. You’ll be surprised at just how much the Knicks won’t miss Amar’e with Chandler playing the way he has despite the flu.

The Heat do an insatiable job of generating vitriol, and though they profess to bathe in it, they don’t exactly thrive against it. Especially in the playoffs. This is the game where Novak’s long balls find the twine. This is the game Melo takes over. And this is probably the game where LeBron can’t seem to rise up against a crowd that will pour piss all over his shoes for four straight quarters. Considering how badly the Knicks lost in the first pair of games, the tight line should be an indicator of just how big an affect the crowd can have on this game and I’m willing to bank on it at least once in this series.

Oklahoma City Thunder +3.0 over DALLAS MAVERICKS
There’s just not enough response from Dallas on the court to the antics of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, who combined for 55 points in Game 2. Westbrook is making a mockery of a completely overpowered Jason Kidd in this series so far, and while the Thunder have been an unfortunate 0-2 ATS in their first two games of this series, they’ve walked out with wins at home and that’s the most important part.

Dallas is missing a huge contingent of what made them really competitive last season. They miss DeShawn Stevenson’s sheer lunacy. The combination of Delonte West and Shawn Marion isn’t exasperating defenses enough for Jason Terry to come off the bench and be effective. And everything Dirk is doing in this series is being answered by Kevin Durant on the scoreboard.

This is a kill switch game for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They know it. Dallas knows it. The Thunder have owned Dallas this year, going 5-1 SU in their 6 matchups overall including playoffs since the season began. If you want to dance with Dallas and Dirk in this one, it’s not a bad idea because the Mavs are 5-1 ATS in those matchups.

But the line will be marginalized with the Mavericks playing host. Dallas didn’t do a great job of defending home court against the line this season at just 17-16 ATS, and finished the regular season 3-5 ATS in their final 8 games although the majority of those were road games. They tend to perform better at home, but they’re just missing too many of the cogs that made them champions last year. I can’t trust them even at home as favorites. I just can’t do it. Oklahoma City is in kill mode.

Los Angeles Lakers over DENVER NUGGETS (Friday, May 4th)
I really like the Nuggets, but they don’t have an answer for Bynum who is proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the future at center for the Lakers over Dwight Howard. Don’t underestimate how much Bynum’s affection for wearing a Lakers uniform and living in a city like Los Angeles has affected his performance. He’s auditioning to keep his current role and be a cornerstone for the Lakers over the next ten seasons, which is something he hasn’t exactly proven over the length of his tenure there.

Bynum not only defied the odds by staying healthy this year and playing 60-of-66 games, he was truly dominant, racking up 11.8 boards and averaging 1.9 blocks a game. He’s found ways to be excessively effective either on defense or on the scoreboard and Denver simply doesn’t have the manpower to stop him.

The Lakers have taken a strong lead in this series after going 2-0 SU but have split both games 1-1 ATS against Denver in betting terms. What Denver’s great at is providing balance, but Bynum is neutralizing their big men. Denver will probably be tight dogs in this game, but the Lakers are just getting it done and Kobe Bryant’s brilliance in these games pushes Bynum, the Lakers and (inexplicably) Mike Brown in to a 3-0 lead for the series.

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Thursday’s Your Last Chance to Bet NBA Regular Season

2012 Basketball Regular Season Finale:

It’s been a short and bumpy ride in this wondrous 66-game Pro Basketball betting season that gave away more surprises than any of us expected. I mean the Spurs aren’t just the best team in the league right now; they’re also one of the best bets in all of basketball going 35-20-3 ATS this season. From Linsanity, to Lob City to the absolute mess that was the Dwight Howard Saga, this season has been giving like no other ever will again.

The regular season will come to a not-so-simple end on Thursday night, with a few playoff spots hanging in the balance. All the playoff teams are locked as of right now, but there are some seeds that could get shuffled.

As is always the case, HOME TEAM in caps, and check the board Thursday morning for the game lines. Good luck!

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES over Orlando Magic
In the simple span of one shortened season, Dwight Howard went from a fan favorite to one of the most despised athletes of this generation. There literally isn’t enough room for me to levy a proper opinion on the attempted coach killer.

For degenerates, his back surgery will keep him out of the playoffs, making Orlando a +10000 longshot to win the NBA title. When this team gets hot, however, they can put up points, and have posted two wins over Philadelphia and other victories over Cleveland and Detroit to go 4-6 SU over their last 10 games. That shouldn’t inspire anyone.

This becomes a quickly one sided battle without Dwight Howard. The Magic are just 5-5 ATS as of Wednesday afternoon and are getting some unusually soft lines because of his absence. Even though the Grizzlies are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games, they’re a matchup nightmare for Orlando with two dominant big men in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Orlando is essentially just playing out the season, while Memphis is in a race to finish fourth in the West with the Lob City Floppers, so don’t count out this sleeping giant.

Dallas Mavericks over ATLANTA HAWKS
To be absolutely honest, I hate betting on both of these teams. If anything, I’ve been betting wildly against the Hawks for the past two months and their erratic play has led to me having fits. The inexplicable Hawks are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games and an even harder-to-explain 7-3 SU over that run.

The defending champs haven’t been exactly inspiring either. With an even 5-5 SU record and a 4-6 ATS split over their last 10 games, the Mavericks need a win to try and avoid Oklahoma City, which will come after them with a vengeance in the playoffs.

This matchup has always had a fairly tight line, but Dallas has won the season series 2-0 SU and ATS and picked up a win their last time in the Dirty Dirty with a 109-91 throttling on a -5.0 point line for the visitors. Expect more of the same. There is nothing about this Hawks team that should encourage trust with your hard earned money.

SACRAMENTO KINGS over Los Angeles Lakers
The seven game suspension that Metta has to serve seriously elbow bashes their playoff chances in the ear. The Lakers are an outside shot to win Kobe his sixth title this year at +1200 but without World Peace I just don’t see it. And I don’t even see a win against the line over Sacramento coming.

The Lakers continue to be one of the most difficult bets in the league and are just 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games. The tight schedule, playoff race and grueling physical play of this season’s game is wreaking just as much havoc on the sportsbook. Case in point are the Kings, who are an atrocious 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games.

So why take the Kings? I just think the Lakers are going to rest their players enough to ride into the playoffs. The last thing this team needs is a strange injury with reckless roughnecks like Boobie Cousins trying to finish their season on a high note. The Kings have won their last two games against the spread, and will get a very big line in their final home game of the year so ride the point cushion as Kobe and Mike Brown scramble to figure out how to replace World Peace for the first round.

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Pro Basketball Free Picks for April 19 and April 20

Hoops Free Picks

The Pro Basketball playoffs are just around the corner.  It’s a perfect time for Basketball odds handicappers to get a few wagers down on a couple of games this Thursday and this Friday.

Tweaking the betting strategy and building the bankroll before the playoffs is always a good thing.  Chicago takes on Miami on April 19 in a battle that’s sure to help gamblers do exactly that.  Then, later on that night, Los Angeles’ other team battles scorching Phoenix.  On Friday, New York travels to Cleveland in hopes of securing a playoff spot while the purple and gold championship winning team for L.A. takes on rival San Antonio in the Great State of Texas.

Keep reading for analysis and free picks for all four games!

 

NBA Free Picks

Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat

When:  April 19 at 8:00 pm EST

Potential Odds:  Miami -2.5, Total 185

 

Analysis:  The Bulls are proving to be an exceptionally deep team.  Even with Derrick Rose on the bench, Chi-Town has managed to go 6 and 4 straight up in their last 10 games.  Against the betting spread, things haven’t been, shall we say, as Rosy.  Chicago is 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games.

Versus Miami, D-Rose should play.  Last year’s MVP is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the hapless Charlotte Bobcats, where he figures to sit.  That extra day of rest should be all that Rose needs in order to suit up against the Heat, whom the Bulls are battling for the 1 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  If Rose does play, then consider backing Chi-Town on the moneyline in this game. 

The Heat has won three in a row, but D-Wade, Joel Anthony, Ronny Turiaf and Shane Battier are all suffering through nagging injuries.  Not only that, but the last time that these two teams clashed, D-Rose went 1 out of 13 from the field, 0 and 3 from behind the three-point line, scored a lousy 2 points and the Bulls still won 96 to 86 in overtime. 

There’s no way that Rose plays that badly again.  I’m with Chicago.

Pick:  Chicago Bulls

 

Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns

When:  April 19 at 10:30 pm EST

Potential Odds:  Phoenix -1.5, Total 198

Analysis:  The Suns have gone 7 and 3 straight-up in their last 10 games.  That’s impressive, but what’s more impressive is the fact that Phoenix has gone 7 and 3 ATS in their last 10 games.

Unfortunately for the Suns, they take on Oklahoma City on April 18 before tackling the Clippers on April 19.  Oklahoma City figures to run the Suns ragged and Phoenix did just beat Portland 125 to 107 on April 16.  That’s a lot of running and gunning from 38 year old point guard Steve Nash who played over 25 minutes against Portland and who will most likely have to play more than 30 minutes against OKC PG Russell Westbrook on Wednesday since the Suns are fighting for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Unless Chris Paul gets hurt on April 18 versus the Denver Nuggets, he figures to do a number on Nash who’s going to be tired after trying to keep up with Westbrook.  That’s really the biggest reason to back the Clippers in this contest.  Okay, the fact that the Clipps have won 6 out of their last 7 straight-up and have gone 5 and 2 ATS in those 7 games is another reason to back Los Angeles.

If LAC ends up as the favorite, make an online sportsbook wager on them to cover the spread.  If they end up as the dog, back them on the moneyline.  Phoenix shouldn’t have enough in the tank to challenge Paul, Blake Griffin, and the rest of the Clippers on Thursday night.

Pick:  Los Angeles Clippers 

 

New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers

When:  April 20 at 7:30 pm EST

Potential Odds:  New York -8, Total 192

Analysis:  Cleveland is a much better team this season than they were last season.  Well, maybe not much better, but they’re decent enough to have racked up a better record in the NBA than Washington, Charlotte, Golden State, Sacramento and New Orleans.  Against the Knicks on Friday, the Cavs don’t figure to put up much of a fight.

Both Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin won’t suit up for the game, but NYK shouldn’t have any issues.  They’re a much better team than Cleveland and more efficient without Amar’e and JL.  When the offense goes through ‘Melo, the Knicks are more of a team.  The starting five that the Knicks will have on the court this Friday night:  Baron Davis at the point, Iman Shumpert at the two-guard, Tyson Chandler at center, and Carmelo Anthony and Landry Fields at the forward positions, should have no trouble taking it to Cleveland.

All five of NYK’s starting five understands their roles.  ‘Melo is the scorer; Fields and Chandler support ‘Melo upfront, Baron dishes the rock, Shumpert takes his shots.  From the bench, J.R. Smith provides needed scoring and defense.  The new starting five, and Smith, has led to a 6 and 4 straight-up record for the Knicks in their last 5 games.

The last time that these two teams played, NYK easily covered an 11 point spread in a 91 to 75 victory.  Kyrie Iving, Cleveland’s best player, most likely won’t suit up on Friday.  New York should roll.

Pick:  New York Knicks

 

Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs

When:  April 20 at 9:30 pm EST

Potential Odds:  San Antonio -3, Total 197  

Analysis:  The Lakers have played more than admirably with Kobe Bryant on the bench.  The Kobester hasn’t been playing because of a busted shin.  Even without Kobe, the Lake Show has won four games in a row, all with Bryant on the bench, and is 3 and 1 against the betting spread in those 4 games.

Point-guard Ramon Sessions has finally gotten into the flow of the Lakers’ offense.  Sessions has scored in double-figures in 9 of L.A.’s last 10 contests and didn’t dish less than 5 assists in any of those 10 games.  Andrew Bynum has racked up a double-double in 4 out of the Lakers last 5 contests while Pau Gasol has grabbed 10 boards and scored 10 points in 8 out of the Lakers last 10.

San Antonio has lost only 16 games this season.  They’ve gone 8 and 10 straight-up in their last 10 and have won 3 in a row.  They’ve also covered in their last 3, but the Spurs play Los Angeles on Tuesday night in L.A. before taking on Sacramento and then battling L.A. at home on Friday night.

The Spurs’ had serious trouble handling the Lakers’ frontline on April 11 when Bynum grabbed 30 boards, Gasol went for 21 and 12 and Metta World Peach scored 26 and grabbed 16 boards.  The Lakers’ frontline could dominate again on both Tuesday night (make sure to check the stats before betting on this April 20 game) and Friday night.

Barring injuries, I like the Lakers to win this contest straight up on the moneyline.

Pick:  L.A. Lakers

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L.A., Chicago, and Oklahoma City Best Bets for Pro Basketball Championship

2012 Pro Basketball Futures

Los Angeles, Chicago, and Oklahoma City are the best bets to win this year’s Pro Basketball championship.  All three teams are offering Basketball betting odds in the Futures book to take home the trophy and all three are deserving of consideration from online basketball handicappers. 

Out of the three, both Chicago and Oklahoma City are favorites in their respective conferences while Los Angeles is a sweet +1000 choice in the sportsbook.  Although many sports gamblers look down at making bets in the futures book, big overlay odds on legitimate contenders to win championships are often times found in the futures.

See below for odds and analysis on the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and Oklahoma City Thunders’ chances of winning the NBA Championship this season.

 

NBA Championship Futures

Top Pick:  Los Angeles Lakers +1000

Analysis:  The Lakers appear to be hitting their stride.  Metta World Peace is finally healthy, the team has won 8 out of their last 10 games going into Tuesday’s matchup versus the San Antonio Spurs, and Kobe Bryant is hurt.  Yeah, that’s right.  The Lakers are kicking ass with one of the Top 5 greatest ballers in the history of the sport sitting on the bench with a shin issue.

How are the Lakers doing it?  First, they radically solved their early season point-guard issues.  By trading for Ramon Sessions, the Lake Show added one of the best young point-guards in the league to their already stacked squad.  Versus Phoenix on April 7, Sessions scored 11 points and dished 9 assists.  Two days later, versus New Orleans on April 9, Sessions dropped 17, dished 6 assists and grabbed 6 boards.  On April 11 versus San Antonio, Sessions scored 10 and dished 5, then, versus the defending champion Dallas Mavericks on April 15, Sessions scored 22 points and had 5 assists.

Ramon Sessions has proven to be exactly what the Lakers needed at the PG position.  He’s adding points to his already terrific passing, making the Lakers tough in the backcourt even with Bryant on the bench. 

The second thing that the Lakers have done is become a cohesive unit along the frontline.  A healthy Metta World Peace is essential to the Lakers success in the frontcourt.  His return to full strength has allowed Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol to both flourish.  Bynum is averaging 19 points and 12 boards per game.  Gasol has racked up a double-double in 8 out of the Lakers’ last 10 games before April 17.
Once Kobe returns, L.A. figures to be even better.  Kobe Bryant brings his teammates together, he doesn’t push them apart.  The Lakers will need Bryant’s leadership come playoff time and unless Andrew Bynum totally goes off of the rails, the Lakers have a great shot of upsetting San Antonio and Oklahoma City, the two teams that sit ahead of them in the Western Conference Standings.

At amazingly overlaid odds of +1000, the Los Angeles Lakers have to be considered for a wager to win the NBA Championship in the futures book.

 

Second Pick:  Chicago Bulls +350

Granted, with about 5 games left the Bulls could end up losing the 1 seed to the Miami Heat.  I don’t think so, though.  Chicago, like the L.A. Lakers, has been playing exceptionally well without the heart and soul of their team, Derrick Rose, suiting up and tossing in three-point shots.  Rose has missed quite a few games this season for “Da Bulls”, yet here they are, sitting on a 46 and 15 record. 

The Bulls are just an incredibly deep team.  Everybody plays on Chicago.  Everybody.  Luol Deng and Rose sat out Chicago’s game on April 16, but all of the 10 players who suited up saw action.  Even Jimmy Butler got some playing time by taking the court for 4 minutes and 54 seconds.  Butler even tossed in a deuce.

Chicago has won 6 out of their last 10 games with Rose missing a ton of action.  Once he returns the team figures to be very difficult to handle in the Eastern Conference.  The frontcourt of Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer is fantastic.  The backcourt of Richard Hamilton and C.J. Watson, filling in for Rose, has been terrific.  Watson scored 17 and grabbed 8 boards versus Washington on April 16.  Hamilton had 22 points, 5 assists and 5 boards.  John Lucas is a good back-up to Rose and Watson while Kyle Korver and Taj Gibson give the Bulls a couple of frontline players that can score and rebound off of the bench.

The Bulls’ depth is one of the reasons that they are the preferred team to back, out of the two favorites, to win the NBA Championship.  The other reason to consider backing Chi-Town in the futures is their defense.  Chicago’s D is currently ranked second in the NBA.  It allows a 42.5% success rate from the field and is ranked first in the offensive rebounding category.

With a strong D, a healthy Derrick Rose, and arguably the best defense in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls are a viable candidate to win this season’s NBA Championship.

 

Third Pick:  Oklahoma City Thunder +350

It’s surprising that the online sports book betting odds on the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Championship are at +350.  I’d think that the odds would be around +300 or, maybe, even +250.

The Thunder is actually tied with San Antonio as of April 17 for the top seed in the Western Conference.  Even without the top seed, it’s going to be awfully difficult to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The team has the classic NBA Championship winning profile.  OKC has two of the best players in the NBA starting for them, point-guard Russell Westbrook, who’s averaging 24 points, 4 boards and 5 assists per game, and the awesome Kevin Durant, who is averaging 28 points, 8 boards, and about 4 assists per game.

Westbrook and Durant aren’t the only reasons that the Thunder is a co-favorite with Chicago to win the title in the futures book.  Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka add toughness to the frontline while Thebo Sefolosha is a nice compliment to Westbrook in the backcourt.  When Sefolosha sits, the Thunder sends James Harden to the hardwood.  Harden averages 16 points and 4 boards per game.  He’s essential to OKC’s success.

The key for Oklahoma City will be whether or not they can step up their defensive pressure during the playoffs.  The Thunder has one of the best offenses in the NBA, as a team they shoot 47% from the field, 36% from the arc, and score an impressive 103 points per game, but the Thunder’s D can be lacking at times.  OKC allows 96.4 points per game.  That might bite them in the playoffs when the exceptional defensive teams, like San Antonio, the Lakers, and the Bulls, usually step up their game.  Oklahoma City should still be considered one of the favorites to win the NBA Championship and they’re certainly more preferred in the futures book than the San Antonio Spurs who appear long in the tooth so to speak, but unless OKC’s defense steps up in the playoffs, things could go south for them.

Still, the offense is powerful and players like Perkins and veteran point-guard Derek Fisher will add some much needed experience once the playoffs roll around.  Oklahoma City is a legit contender to win the 2012 NBA Championship.   

 

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Something’s Brewing in La-La Land

Pro Basketball Free Picks:

With just a handful of matchups left in the NBA betting regular seasons, this 66-game gauntlet of a season is finally coming to a close. That gives us barely two weeks to prepare for the playoff betting onslaught. This Friday, three teams are trying to hold onto their post-season dreams and so I’m previewing these games.

As is the case, my editor asks for these Wednesday morning so keep an eye on these matchups when they appear on the board Friday morning. All news and stats are relevant as of right now, and the home team is in CAPS. Best of luck.

NEW YORK KNICKS over Washington Wizards
The Knicks have gone through a roller coaster this year, and the ride isn’t over as they attempt to fend off the Milwaukee Bucks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They could conceivably end up seventh in the conference with Philly falling apart, and though I’d love to use the old adage “their fate is in their hands”, the Heat, Celtics, Clippers and Hawks might have something to say about that. Those are four of their final eight opponents in the regular season.

For all the wonder and splendor this team enjoyed before injuries stunted the Amare and Jeremy Lin runs, it’s kind of crazy to think that the Knicks are a redux of the Denver Nuggets. Building your team around a strong center (exchange Nene for Chandler) and a bunch of support players around J.R. Smith and Carmelo is exactly how Denver was structured. They even have the veteran guard, instead using the carcass of Baron Davis in place of Chauncey Billups.

This team has gone a pretty bleak 6-4 SU and ATS over the past 10 games and the oddsmakers are having a much easier time grading them as a one-man army around Melo. The difference is that Chandler’s rebounding efforts are giving the Knicks second chances they might not deserve. So against any defensive team, the Knicks are going to be rough bets.

Too bad the Wizards don’t play defense. Washington is just 5-5 ATS in their last ten games, and Wall will have more trouble with Iman Shurpert than you’d think. Washington stands to get a bloated line here, but I’m not going to be scared of it. The Knicks are 18-11 ATS at home this season and there isn’t a player on the Wizards’ roster which can stop Melo for four full quarters. If you’re nervous of the back door cover here, go with the Wizards, but I’m banking on the Big Apple Boppers (ok, fine, nobody calls them that).

Denver Nuggets over LOS ANGELES LAKERS
For the cover. Lost in the shuffle of the always intriguing Western Conference playoff race are the Nuggets, who have gone an unhealthy 5-5 SU and ATS over their past 10 games. The Nuggets have a slew of big bodies to throw at Gasol and Bynum, and while none of them can stop them from producing, they can give Denver balance on both ends of the floor.

Frankly, the Lakers have been a stay away play for almost the entire second half. Need proof? Fine. They’re 6-4 SU in their last 10 games with losses to Houston, OKC, Memphis and Phoenix. Two of those losses are excusable, but what’s nauseating from a Basketball gambling standpoint is their 1-9 ATS record over that run.

Denver desperately needs this game with Utah and Phoenix breathing down their throats for the final playoff spot out west, and with Kobe resting an injured shin, the Lakers are probably going to coast into a top-5 playoff spot and be happy with it.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS over Dallas Mavericks
Portland isn’t really mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they are pragmatically. They gave up on the season at the mid-point, and it’s hard to blame them. They will probably still have a top-7 draft pick to concern themselves with courtesy of New Jersey. At just 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games, they’re not really a great bet momentum wise.

However, Dallas is going to get a big number in this game and I doubt they can cover it. They’re just 5-5 SU and ATS over their last 10 games and have been pushed into overtime twice by Portland this season. To put it simply, the Blazers find ways to give the defending champions fits on the floor.

If Dallas is anything above -5.5 point favorites, I’d take the home team. If the oddsmakers play it smart and shrink the line to -4.5 or less, then Dallas is a better bet statistically. Just because Portland has basically forfeited a playoff run this season doesn’t mean they’re just slinking away into the shadows. They always play Dallas tough and Friday night at home won’t be an exception.

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Time To Ride New York Again

Hoops Free Picks

Get ready for another great weekend of pro basketball betting! As is always the case, the home team is in CAPS and the game lines won’t be released till the night before/morning of game day.

Oklahoma City Thunder over INDIANA PACERS (Friday, April 6th)
The Pacers were my favorite under-the-radar betting pick in the NBA for the last few years (along with the strangely undervalued Milwaukee Bucks) but that has drastically changed. Thank Indiana’s sudden rise to definitive underdog status in the Eastern Conference because the handicappers aren’t falling asleep on their games anymore. Despite a stiff 7-3 SU record over their last 10 games which includes wins over Miami and Lob City, the Pacers are still just 5-5 ATS.

The truth is that the Pacers can keep games close and have good defensive matchups against Oklahoma City’s biggest weapons. Indiana severely struggles against teams like San Antonio and Orlando that have a size advantage…which happens to be OKC’s most glaring weakness.

Still Durant and Westbrook have been muscling past teams with a 7-3 SU streak of their own, along with a nice 6-4 ATS record. It’s not that much better than Indiana’s spread record, and the Pacers have home court advantage. I’d side with Indiana on a line of -5.5 or above against them. Anything less than that and you have to stick with the likely favored Thunder.

Houston Rockets over LOS ANGELES LAKERS (Saturday, April 7th)
Ramon Sessions has made a huge difference as the new point man for the Lakers, but that hasn’t made them a great team to bet on. In fact, it’s made them a horrible team to bet on. The Lakers are a league worst 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games. Yikes.

Houston hasn’t played that well in the past couple of weeks, going just 4-6 SU and 6-4 ATS but they’re a matchup nightmare for the Lakers since they have size and perimeter scoring to match. They outdueled the Lakers 107-104 in late March, so expect them to be confident heading into this game. The Lakers always get bloated home lines so I’m inclined to stay with Houston no matter what the betting line is. The bigger the better, quite frankly.

NEW YORK KNICKS over Chicago Bulls (Sunday, April 8th)
No Jeremy Lin. No Derrick Rose. NBC must be thrilled that this is their marquee game for Sunday.

While Rose has been recovering and resting due to a strained groin, the Bulls have been excessively competitive and are finding alternate scoring options late in games. Unfortunately it’s not having the desired results and two big losses to Houston and OKC are showing that this team needs Rose back desperately.

The Knicks will be without Lin unless they make it to the Eastern Conference Championship, and if the playoffs started today the team they’d be facing is Chicago. They’re an admirable 7-3 SU and ATS in their last 10 games but consistency isn’t really their bag of chips.

In all honesty, this has been a crazy season for the New York Knicks. They were great without Melo. They haven’t been bad without Amare. Lin came on like a raging bull and then cooled off drastically before having knee surgery. What I like is that through it all they’ve gone 17-11 ATS at home this year.

Chicago will be favored in this game, and if Rose plays then just ride shotgun with him. If he remains out, however, I really like the Knicks with a good point cushion against a Bulls team that is starting to wear down without the reigning MVP leading the way. The bookies are undervaluing New York, especially since J.R. Smith and Carmelo have proven they can win with the two of them doing the majority of the grunt work. It’s like Denver all over again for these two, and I’m not betting against it for now.

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The Rich Get Richer

Pro Basketball Trading Deadline Winners and Losers:

The Pro Basketball trade deadline has come and gone and the futures impact is already being felt.  Teams that were going off at double-digit odds just a couple of months ago are now going off at less than +600 in one futures book.  Teams that were going off at big odds in the futures just a few months ago are now going off, or should be going off, at even bigger odds now.

The reason why underdogs are going off at higher odds than they were just about a couple of weeks ago is because the trades that occurred in the NBA last week have led to the rich getting richer and the poor, well, getting richer…down the road.  The mighty have set themselves up for the here and now while the non-mighty are planning for next season.  As everybody knows, when it comes to major sports leagues, the only thing that really exists is the here and now. 

That fact will definitely play out in the sportsbooks as oddsmakers digest all of the moves that occurred at the NBA Trade Deadline.

 

NBA Trade Deadline:  Winners and Losers

Biggest Winner:  Los Angeles Lakers

Talk about the rich getting even richer, right?  The Lakers pulled off a miracle by trading for C Jordan Hill, PG Ramon Sessions, SG Christian Eyenga, and the right to switch 2013 first-round draft picks with the Miami Heat.  Sweet?  Absolutely.  But, the biggest miracle that GM Mitch Kupchak pulled off last week was keeping Pau Gasol.  Gasol is a huge part of the Lakers’ offense and being able to keep him on the frontline with Andrew Bynum is a massive plus.

The Lakers keep Gasol, get the point-guard they coveted in Sessions, found a back-up for Andrew Bynum in Hill, and scored a young shooting guard with a ton of potential in Eyenga.  What did it take for Kupchak to pull all of it off?  They had to part with SF Luke Walton, past his prime PG Derek Fisher, and their two first round draft picks in 2012.  A lot of my peers are questioning the wisdom of parting with the draft picks. 

Guess what?  There is no way that those two first round draft picks would produce players like Sessions and Hill.  The Lakers have taken a huge step towards becoming the Kings of the NBA again.  I mean, there’s still a dude named Kobe Bryant who plays for them.  Sessions has dished 11 assists and scored 17 points in his first two games with the Lake Show.  Wait until he gets comfortable.

The Lakers suddenly became the favorites, in my mind, to win the whole thing.

NBA Championship Odds:  +550
Odds Should Be:  +250

Big Winner:  Los Angeles Clippers

We’ve become a basketball town in La La Land with the Clippers continuing to pull off amazing trades.  The Clipps have a shot to boat all over the Lakers in the Western Conference Playoffs because they gave up practically nothing for a great guard in Nick Young.

What did a team with Kenyon Martin backing up Blake Griffin and Chris Paul at the point have to do in order to get a 26 year old, 6’ 7” 210 lb shooting guard who averages over 16 points per game?  Eight year veteran Brian Cook, who averages 2 points per game, and, maybe, a future draft pick.  Young will score because CP3 will find a way to get him the ball.  It’s going to be tough to double Griffin because he can pass it to Young or Paul for easy jumpers.

The Clippers, surprisingly, took another step towards…uh, dare I say it?  I think I will.  The Clippers could win an NBA title this season.

NBA Championship Odds:  +1500
Odds Should Be:  +800

Winner

Golden State Warriors:  The Warriors got a legitimate center in Andrew Bogut, a very good veteran player in SF Richard Jefferson, and the San Antonio Spurs first-round pick.  They also got rid of SG Monta Ellis, who, in my opinion, was keeping them from becoming a real NBA team, SG Stephen Jackson, who is an Ellis wannabe, useless C Kwame Brown, and C Ekpe Udoh.  Udoh has upside, but Bogut is good right now.

NBA Championship Odds:  +15000
Odds Should Be:  +12000

Neither Winners Nor Losers

Minnesota Timberwolves:  Glass full?  They didn’t lose Michael Beasley.  Glass empty?  They didn’t move Beasley for a point-guard to replace the injured Ricky Rubio.

NBA Championship Odds:  +20000

San Antonio Spurs:  I’m not a fan of SG Stephen Jackson and the Spurs did have to give up Jefferson and a first-round pick to get him, but they won a championship with Jackson on the bench.  Pop will motivate SJ.

NBA Championship Odds:  +1000

Cleveland Cavaliers:  They did get a first-round pick for trading Sessions to the Lakers and Walton will work hard for his new team.  Plus, Sessions had no place on Cleveland’s squad because starting point-guard Kyrie Irving is the bomb.

NBA Championship Odds:  +15500

Indiana Pacers:  They parted with a 2012 second-round pick for Leandro Barbosa.  Barbosa still has the ability to be instant offense off the bench meaning that the Pacers made a good deal.

NBA Championship Odds:  +5500

Boston Celtics:  They didn’t move Rondo.  What’s wrong with that?  Nothing really.  Of course, by not moving Rondo, they didn’t plan for the future, but who cares? 

NBA Championship Odds:  +1000

New Jersey Nets:  SF Gerald Wallace, who they got from the Denver Nuggets, is a good player, and all they gave up was C Mehmet Okur, SF Shawne Williams, and a future first round pick.  Of course, they’ve still got to deal with Deron Williams possibly leaving them this off-season.  So, there’s that, right?

NBA Championship Odds:  +8000

Washington Wizards:  They got C Nene Hilario from Denver for C Javale “In My Own Mind I’m the Next Kareem” McGee, which was a great move.  Then, unfortunately, they traded SG Nick Young to the Clippers.  So, PG John Wall will be happy some days and not so happy other days.

NBA Championship Odds:  +20000

Milwaukee Bucks:  SG Monta Ellis will really help them in the scoring department but the success of this trade really rests on C Ekpe Udoh.  If Udoh develops into one of the better centers in the league, then the Bucks are going to look like geniuses for unloading SG Stephen Jackson and essentially trading Bogut for Udoh.

NBA Championship Odds:  +9250

 

NBA Trade Deadline Losers

All losers are big losers.  That’s a fact, not a statement.  Everybody on the list below is a loser.

Portland Trailblazers:  They traded C Marcus Camby and SF Gerald Wallace for PG Jonny Flynn, Okur, and C Hasheem Thabeet.  They also fired their coach, Nate McMillan.

NBA Championship Odds:  +2000
Odds Should Be:  +7500

 

Orlando Magic:  The Magic have a huge headache in Dwight Howard.  Sure, now they got a shot to keep Howard but all signs point to Dwight wanting out of Mickey’s House.  What will it cost the Magic to keep Howard anyhow?  And, after Howard, does Orlando have anything else?  No, they don’t. 

NBA Championship Odds:  +2500
Odds Should Be:  +4000

Denver Nuggets:  Why would you trade a 13 point and 7 boards per game guy in Nene for C Javale McGee?  I’m not sure.  Ask the Nuggets.  Sure, McGee has potential, but he’s also full of himself and is immature.  Then again, the City of Denver is probably thinking football with Peyton Manning going to the Broncos, anyhow.  So, they’ll let the Nuggets bonehead move slide.

NBA Championship Odds:  +3000
Odds Should Be:  +5500

 

Houston Rockets:  They traded C Jordan Hill to the Lakers for PG Derek Fisher.  Fisher has already bought out his contract and is no longer with the Rockets.  They also lost PG Jonny Flynn, C Hasheem Thabeet and a future second-round pick.  They did pick up C Marcus Camby, but Camby’s been in the league for 15 years.  This season, he’s averaging an unhealthy 3.9 points per game.

NBA Championship Odds:  +3000
Odds Should Be:  +6000

 

Potential to be Big Winners:  The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder are in the running to sign PG Derek Fisher.  Although Fisher is definitely past his prime, he’d be awesome with either team.  Plus, the man has ice in his veins and having guys like that on your bench is never a bad thing.

Fish will add leadership to either team.  He’s well-respected and would make either the Heat or the Thunder even bigger favorites to win the NBA Championship then they already are.

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NBA Free Picks: NYK vs Boston, Miami vs L.A. and Chicago vs Philly

NBA Free Picks: NYK vs Boston, Miami vs L.A. and Chicago vs Phill

The basketball sportsbook should be alive with action this Sunday.  There are three marquee matchups in the NBA on March 4 when New York takes on Boston, Miami battles Los Angeles and Chicago steps onto the court to take on Philadelphia.

Miami has been the best team in the league so far this season but nothing is assured when they take a flight to the West Coast to battle the Lakers.  Before Miami steps onto the court, a big time rival game takes place between suddenly tough to handle New York and showing their age Boston.  Then, after the Miami vs. L.A. throw down, Chi-Town takes on Midwest foe Philadelphia.

 

New York Knicks at Boston Celtics

When:  March 4 at 1:00 pm EST

TV:  ABC

Potential Betting Line:  Boston -5.5

Analysis:  Now that the Jeremy Lin stuff has somewhat subsided, the Knicks have come back down to earth.  Sure, there are going to be a lot of haters who blame the Knicks going 2 and 3 straight up in their last 5 games on Carmelo Anthony.  Some basketball experts set it up before ‘Melo’s return from injury by proclaiming that it “would happen”, unless ‘Melo “changed this and that”.  Never mind that wonder boy JL has been a turnover machine:  8 versus Toronto on 2/14, 9 versus New Orleans on 2/17, 7 versus Dallas on 2/17 and 8, to only 3 assists, versus Miami on 2/23.  The kid is still learning.

But, at least, even with Lin’s turnover issues, the Knicks have found a way to cover spreads.  Going into the Feb. 29th contest versus the Cavs, New York is 3 and 3 ATS in its last 6 games.  Boston was a horrible 1 and 9 ATS in its last 10 games going into its Feb. 29th battle versus Milwaukee.  Then again, there’s a huge caveat to that 1 and 9 against the spread record.  The Celtics played 6 out of those 10 games on the road.  3 out of the 6 road games were against Chicago, Dallas and Oklahoma City, 3 of the top teams in the NBA.  Boston starts a 4 game home stand on Wednesday.  The Knick game occurs on Sunday, making it the 3rd game during the 4 game home stand. 

The Celtics shouldn’t have any issues covering the spread against still overvalued NYK this Sunday.  Rajon Rondo, Boston’s point-guard, is averaging 1.6 steals per game.  Rondo should force the turnover prone Lin to the bench before halftime, and my gut tells me that Wonder Boy stays there for most of the second half, like he did when facing Miami.

I’m with Boston.

Pick:  Boston Celtics

 

Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers

When:  March 4 at 3:30 pm EST

TV:  ABC

Potential Betting Line:  Los Angeles Lakers -2

Analysis:  Yes, Miami has been the best team in the NBA this season.  Their record of 27 and 7 is mighty strong, but ATS wise the Heat haven’t been all that great.  Miami is only 18 and 16 against the spread overall this season, 9 and 8 ATS both away and at home. Another factor to consider, if you’re thinking about backing the Heat with a basketball odds wager in their Sunday contest against the Lake Show, is that Miami plays the Lakers in the 3rd game of a 3 game road trip.  The Heat is, however, 8 and 2 ATS in their last 10 games going into their Thursday night, March 1st contest, versus the Portland Trailblazers.

The problem with L.A. is that they are the Jekyll and Hyde of the NBA.  The Lakers haven’t really done much to warrant any sort of backing, with dollars at least, since they are 16 and 18 ATS overall.  Ah, but those awesome sports betting caveats!  The main caveat for the Lakers is that they are 5 and 13 ATS on the road this season and an incredible 11 and 5 ATS at home.  They take on LeBron and Co. at home on Sunday. 

Such a strong home trend should not be taken lightly.  It’s obvious that Kobe’s team plays much better at Staples Center than they do on the road.  If this were the Heat’s first road contest, I’d probably take the 2 to 3 points (my prediction is that basketball betting odds makers will have to make the Lakers the favorites because of their home against the spread record), but this game will be Miami’s 3rd straight road contest.  Because of that, I have to back L.A. to hand the Heat a rare loss straight up but a not so rare loss against the spread. 

Pick:  Los Angeles Lakers

 

Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76’ers

When:  March 4 at 7:00 pm EST

Betting Line:  Chicago -2.5

Analysis:  The truth is that since Chicago is 28 and 8 and the Heat is 27 and 7, the Bulls and Heat have the same record as of Feb. 29th.  The Bulls are a much safer team to back ATS because, for one, they aren’t receiving nearly the hype that Miami is receiving, therefore, Basketball betting handicappers usually get to back the Bulls while working with reasonable spreads.

Another reason to like Chicago is that they are 13 and 7 ATS on the road.  That’s a darn good road record against the spread and one of the reasons that Chicago is a solid team to back versus the 76’ers this Sunday….at least on paper.

Philly is 12 and 7 ATS at home and they beat the Bulls 98 to 82 the last time the two teams met.  Not only that, but Philly takes on Chi-Town after Chi-Town will have played San Antonio and Cleveland on the road.  The 76’ers could surprise the Bulls in this game straight up.  So, if the sportsbook shows Philadelphia at +120 on the moneyline to beat Chicago, bettors should definitely consider backing them.

In any case, the advantages for Philadelphia are many in this Sunday game:  they took it to Chicago in the last contest between these two, an excellent home record ATS, Chicago will be playing in their 3rd straight road game, etc.  I’m not going against those advantages.  I see the Philadelphia 76’ers covering the spread against the Chicago Bulls and possibly beating Chicago straight up.

Pick:  Philadelphia 76’ers

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

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