Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Free Pick: Sacramento +2.5 (March 31st 2010 – Jack Jones)
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost 16 straight games, and should not be favored over Sacramento Wednesday. “Just go out there and continue to play hard,” Kevin Love said following Tuesday’s practice. “It seems like I say the same thing every time but that’s really it. Keep your head up, keep battling, bite your lip, grit your teeth, just go out there and get it done.” Well if they keep saying it all the time, and they aren’t getting the job done, then this is a clear sign that the Timberwolves don’t have what it takes mentally to go out there and get it done. It’s also a sign that they just continue going through the motions, knowing that this is a lost season. Tyreke Evans returned to the line-up last night for the Sacramento Kings and this is a completely different team with him out on the floor, running the show. Evans had 29 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds in a 114-100 win over the Timberwolves earlier this month. He has to be licking his chops at another chance to play Minnesota tonight as he looks to cement his spot as the Rookie of the Year. Sacramento has won 5 of the last 6 meetings in this series. Minnesota is 5-21 ATS versus teams who average 7 or less steals/game on the season this season, losing in these spots by 15.4 PPG. Take the Kings.
New York Knicks vs. Portland Trailblazers
Free Pick: Over 200 (March 31st 2010 – Doc’s Sports)
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Free NBA Pick for Wednesday from Doc’s Sports (15-7 current run and 33-17 long-term run and Doc’s has three strong plays on the board for Wednesday, including a 5-Unit NBA Totals Game of the Week as they look to extend their 10-2 NBA totals run) – #525 Take New York/Portland OVER 200 (10 p.m. EST, Wednesday) The Knicks have really been pushing the pace lately and we just think that the sky is the limit on how many points Portland can score tonight. The Knicks have allowed an average of 109 PPG in their last five contests and none of those games went into OT, as one might expect with defensive numbers that bad. Although not the most explosive offensive team in the league, the Blazers do average 98 PPG at home and they have shown the ability to score well against tempo-pushing, bad defensive clubs. We expect them to have a really good night offensively and we think the Knicks will be able to put up some points tonight and we would probably lean towards them on the line too since we think they should get close to 100 as well. When the Knicks play the Western Conference the totals always tend to be high and 10 of their last 14 meetings with Western Conference teams have gone over the posted number.
Washington Wizards vs. Houston Rockets
Free NBA Pick: Washington +7 (March 30th 2010 – Jack Jones)
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Houston is deflated right now, knowing that their chance of making the postseason have gone out the window. Washington is obviously struggling right now, but it’s not like they haven’t been competitive during their dreadful 15-game losing streak. Usually a road team that has lost 15 straight would be a heavier underdog than 7 points to a team with a .500 record like Houston. This is a trap, and we’re not biting as we’ll side with the underdog Wizards who will be much more motivated heading into this one, trying to end their skid. The Rockets are 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
This play also falls under a system that is 79-46 (63%) ATS since 1996. It tells us to bet on road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (WASHINGTON) – after 8 or more consecutive losses. These teams tend to be great to back when they get on these long losing streaks, because there becomes overwhelming value against the spread. Houston has a plethora of injuries right now as well with Shane Battier, Jared Jeffries, Kevin Martin and David Andersen all watching from the sidelines. Take the Wizards.
New Orleans Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Free Pick: Lakers -5.5 (March 29th 2010 – Jack Jones)
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The life has been sucked out of the Hornets as we near the end of the season. New Orleans knows they have no shot of making the playoffs, and they have started to quit competing on a nightly basis because of it. New Orleans is 3-12 SU & 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games overall. Chris Paul has returned, but the Hornets’ coaching staff isn’t going to push him considering there’s no need to chance re-injury when they have no chance to make the postseason. Not only is this team losing of late, but their last 6 losses have all come by double-digits. So they really haven’t even been all that competitive. The Lakers have won 8 of their last 9 games overall and they are trying to clinch the #1 seed in the Western Conference with a couple more victories. This play also falls under a system that is 50-15 (77%) over the last 5 seasons. It tells us to bet on road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (LA LAKERS) – after a road game where both teams score 100 or more points, second half of the season. Bet the Lakers.
San Antonio Spurs vs. New Jersey Nets
Free Pick: New Jersey +8 (March 29th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
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At 7:30 pm, our complimentary selection is on the New Jersey Nets + the points over San Antonio. Last night, we cashed a big High Roller selection on the Spurs over Boston (we’re now 5-0 our last 5 High Rollers), but the Spurs were in one of their best roles on Sunday (they were on the road, playing with revenge); tonight, they’re in one of their worst. And that is to play AGAINST San Antonio if it is playing without rest, and is PK or Favored off back-to-back wins. Since 2005, the Spurs have been very poor in this situation. With San Antone off back-to-back BIG wins over Cleveland and Boston, look for the Spurs to stumble a bit vs. the league’s worst team, New Jersey. And, of course, it certainly wouldn’t hurt if Gregg Popovich decided later in the day to rest Timmy Duncan (this is one of only a few “back-to-backs” left on San Antonio’s schedule, which Coach Pop likes to utilize to rest Timmy). That would make our pointspread, here, look even more attractive. So, this is also a play where it makes sense to get down earlier, rather than later. Good luck, as always…Al McMordie.
Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons
Free Pick: Detroit -2 (March 28th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
At 6:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Detroit Pistons minus the points over Chicago. Detroit comes into this Sunday evening game off seven straight losses, but this is a perfect spot to step in and take the home team. Earlier this season, Chicago routed Detroit 120-87, and the Bulls have won the last six meetings overall. But Detroit has been installed as a 2-point home favorite here, and that number is key, as we note that, since 1990, NBA home favorites of -2 or more points, are a solid 31-10 ATS if they’re playing with revenge from a 25-point (or worse) defeat, and are off a SU/ATS loss, while their opponent is off a SU/ATS win. With Chicago in off a blowout win over New Jersey last night, and Detroit off (coincidentally) to a loss to that same New Jersey team on Friday, we’ll play on Detroit here as the small home favorite. Good luck, as always…Big Al McMordie.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Free Pick: Pittsburgh PL (March 28th 2010 – Nick Parsons)
Both teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back; for a number of different reasons I expect the Penguins to smoke the Leafs today: No doubt about it, Toronto has been playing much better of late; its won nine of its last twelve. It’s coming off a hard fought come from behind 3-2 victory over the Rangers. Jonas Gustavson has been a major reason for Toronto’s turn around, however J. S. Giguere is scheduled in net today. On the other side of the rink: The Pens stopped a three-game slide yesterday with a dominating 4-1 victory over the Flyers which was the first game of a six-game home stand. With that victory, Pittsburgh moves into a tie for first in the Atlantic with New Jersey; however the Pens have one fewer victory and are currently in fourth in the Eastern Conference; it goes without saying that every point from here on out down the stretch is crucial for this club. Captain Sidney Crosby will be looking to break out of a seven-game goal-scoring drought.
Bottom line: Pittsburgh lost to Toronto at home back on the 9th of January, 4-1, so will also be looking to avenge that embarrassing effort. But, more than anything, Pittsburgh needs wins to end the season. It needs to enter the playoffs on a high if it expects to defend its title. A dominating performance in front of the home town crowd against a team that played less than 24 hours previous is a good way to start that process; I’ll lay the 1 1/2 here for the + $.
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