NBA Picks: April 3rd 2011
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Pick: New Jersey Nets +11
Since starting the month of March with 5 straight wins, the Nets have dropped 9 of their last 10. Their recent funk, however, isn’t enough to keep me off them here. Over the last few weeks, New Jersey has a win over Boston and it has played Chicago, Orlando and Atlanta to within 11 points or less. In other words, the Nets have gotten up for the big boys. They should especially be motivated in this spot following a forgettable performance at Philadelphia Friday. Deron Williams had a miserable game with four points in 23 minutes. Expect his competitiveness to drive him to a much better performance in this one. New Jersey is an impressive 14-6 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season. It is only losing these contests by an average of 3.6 points. In addition, the Nets are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog of 11.0 points or more. We’ll take the points.

Pick: Indiana Pacers +5
4 of the L5 meetings in this series have been decided by 5 points or less. With both teams fighting hard to secure playoff spots, I expect another close game in which the points will come in handy. Consider that the road team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings and the underdog is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings. Also, the Hornets are a lousy 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite. The loss of leading scorer David West really hurts New Orleans. Plus, Chris Paul is struggling right now, averaging 8.7 points on 30.3 percent shooting in his last three games. Take the Pacers and the points. -Dave Price

Pick: Houston Rockets -5.5
Houston will play with a greater sense of urgency and desperation this evening as it continues to push for a playoff spot. Atlanta is in already and will be feeling fat and happy after a win over Boston. Houston is 12-2 SU and 11-3 ATS in its last 14 home games in this series. The Rockets are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5 points and 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Eastern Conference. The Hawks are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 vs. the NBA Southwest division and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5 points. Take the Rockets. -Jeff Alexander (Handicapperspicks.com)

NBA Picks: March 30th 2011
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Pick: Golden State Warriors +11
would take double digits points with almost any team that is playing MEM. Yes the Grizz have been good at home ATS but not often have they had to lay this high of a number. GS has been playing well covering 2 of last 3 including a near win last night at OKC. Usually a back to back is not a team you want to put a play on but this young GS team is pretty good in back to back games ATS going 8-7 on the season. MEM Grizzlies are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 games as a favorite of 11.0 or greater. way too many pts take GS for our Free Sports Pick for today. -Craig Trapp

Pick: Houston Rockets +3
The Sixers lost an OT back breaker to Sacramento on Sunday at the Wachovia Center, then turned around and defeated Chicago Monday both SU & ATS as a double digit UNDERDOG in Chicago. Think the sports-betting public is confused? Back in February Philadelphia defeated Houston 114-105. Now we have sweet REVENGE for the visitors who will find some technical data favoring their chances. The UNDERDOG in the series is a red hot 13-3 ATS, while the road team corresponds with a majestic 13-3 ATS anchor. Further, the Rockets have earned in Philly covering 7 of the last 9. Good Luck. -Brad Diamond

Pick: Dallas Mavericks -5.5
The Clippers are 29-45 straight up this year. Los Angeles is 13-40 ATS their last 53 games vs. NBA Southwest teams. The Clippers are 4-10 ATS their 14 games vs. Western Conference teams. The Clippers are 0-5 ATS their last 5 home games and they are 1-6 ATS their last 7 games overall. Dallas is 52-21 straight up this year. The Mavericks are 11-5 ATS their last 16 road games. Dallas is 16-5 ATS vs. NBA Pacific teams. The Mavericks are 28-8-1 ATS their last 30 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Dallas is 5-0 ATS their last 5 meetings with the Clippers. PLAY ON DALLAS -Tom Freese

Pick: Sacramento Kings +12
Denver keeps winning so oddsmakers keep pushing the numbers up on this young team. They face a young, hungry Sacramento Kings team that is undervalued, with the Kings 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. They are also 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Sacramento is on a 3-0 SU/ATS run despite being an underdog in every game! And the Kings are 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings with Denver. Play the Kings. -Jim Fiest (Handicapperspicks.com)

NBA Picks: March 29th 2011
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Pick: Houston Rockets -6.5
At 7 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Houston Rockets minus the points over New Jersey. The Nets will not make the playoffs again this season, but the future is bright with new ownership, a new arena on the horizon, and a spectacular young point guard (Deron Williams) in the fold after the mid-season trade which wrested him away from the Jazz. Williams seems to really like playing in New Jersey, so the Nets are hopeful they can sign him to a long-term extension down the road. Unfortunately for the Nets, Williams is banged-up right now and, though he’s been cleared to play tonight, he will remain in street clothes, and instead play tomorrow night vs. the rival Knicks. So, look for Jordan Farmar to make another start at point guard. Although he’s put up some decent numbers in Williams’ absence, he’s not the talent that Williams is, and that’s one reason to fade New Jersey here. Houston is competing for the 8th, and final berth in the Western Conference playoffs, and it comes into this game off a loss at Miami on Sunday. But Houston had won five straight prior to that 6-point defeat, and there’s no shame in losing by six to the league’s #1 team (in terms of point differential) on the road. The Rockets have three tough games on deck vs. winning clubs, so this game tonight is one they know they must win — and they should, given they’re 94-56 ATS on the road off a road loss, and the Nets are 27-46 ATS off a double digit loss. Lay the points. Good luck, as always…Al McMordie.

Pick: Miami Heat -13
A visit to “The Q” by Prince James should produce an all out effort on his part as well as his teams, as the wound is still fresh. I know he prefers “King James” although I have never been a fan so to me it’s Prince. Enough about that, our concern in the end is always the same who will cover and why. These teams have met three times this season with the Heat easily handling the Cavs in two of the three (3-0 SU / 2-1 ATS) and should have little trouble here as they are gearing up for a post-season run. Miami is averaging 102 points per game versus teams that would normally only allow 99 points per game. On the defensive end of the floor the Heat are giving up 95.4 points per game to teams that average almost 100 points per game. Over their last five contests, the Heat have been perfect at 5-0 SU scoring 109 points per game on 50.4 percent shooting and holding opponents to 99 points on just 46 percent shooting from the field. Cleveland is 1-4 SU their last five games averaging 90.4 points per game while allowing their opponents to average 97 points per game. The Cavs are 9-21 ATS after having lost three of their last four games over the last 2 seasons. Cleveland is 14-26 ATS revenging a loss this season, 11-21 ATS revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points this season, 6-15 ATS revenging a loss versus opponent of 10 points or more this season, 7-18 ATS revenging a road loss this season and 7-15 ATS after a blowout loss by 15 points or more this season. A check of the database reveals a league-wide system that is active for tonight’s contest. Play AGAINST NBA teams off a home loss facing an opponent that is coming in off two or more consecutive wins at home. Playing against these teams has produced a record of 104-61 ATS for 63 percent winners the last three seasons. Lay the digits with the Heat as they roll past an overmatched Cavaliers squad on Tuesday night. -Robbie Gainous (Handicapperspicks.com)

NBA Picks: March 16th 2011
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Pick: Charlotte vs. Houston Over 200
True, the Bobcats are a little “offensively challenged.” However, this number is still very low, for a game involving the Rockets. The Rockets are off a (rare) low-scoring game vs. Phoenix on Monday, earning a 95-93 victory. Their previous five games averaged 217 combined points though, each producing a minimum of 207 combined points. For the season, Houston games are averaging a whopping 210.2 points. Note that the “over” is a profitable 8-3 in Houston’s last 11 games against teams with a losing record. The Bobcats, who are off an “upset” win at Toronto, have seen two of their last three games finish above the total. They’ve seen the “over” go 10-3 the last 13 times that they were off a SU win, when listed as an underdog. Consider the Over.  Be sure to visit our premium sports picks page to purchase Ben Burns expert NBA basketball picks today!

Pick: Dallas Mavericks -3.5
Golden St is 30-37 straight up this year. The Warriors are 3-7 ATS their last 10 games as home underdogs. Golden St is 2-5 ATS their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road win percentage of over 60%. The Warriors are 2-5 ATS their last 7 games as home dogs of 0.5 to 4.5 points. Dallas is 47-20 straight up this year. The Mavericks are 6-2 ATS their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Dallas is 13-5 ATS their last 18 Wednesday games. Dallas is 12-5 ATS when their opponent allows 100 or more points in their last game. The Mavs are 13-5 ATS vs. NBA Pacific teams. PLAY ON DALLAS – Tom Freese (Handicapperspicks.com)

NBA Picks: March 12th 2011
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Pick: Chicago Bulls -10
The Utah Jazz are reeling right now and have no chance of keeping this game close against the surging Chicago Bulls. The Bulls can grab a share of the Eastern Conference lead with a win over the Jazz on Saturday night. Not since Jordan and Pippen led the Bulls to their last title in 1998 has there been this much excitement in Chicago. The Bulls pulled within one-half game of conference-leading Boston after a 94-76 win over Atlanta on Friday, their fourth straight win overall and 10th in a row at home. The Jazz have dropped 10 of their last 13, including a 122-101 loss at Minnesota on Friday. It was the third-most points allowed this season by Utah, which gave up a season-worst 131 against New York on Monday. In the last seven games, the Jazz have allowed 111.3 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 50.4 percent from 3-point range. Chicago has been one of the best home teams in the league all season. The Bulls are 28-4 at home this year, winning by 10.0 points/game. The Jazz are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Utah is 9-25 ATS in their last 34 games overall. The Bulls are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games. Take Chicago and lay the points. -Black Widow

Pick: Houston Rockets +2
The Houston Rockets catch the San Antonio Spurs in a tough spot tonight. San Antonio will be playing their 3rd game in 4 days and their second of a back-to-back. The Spurs were able to squeak by Detroit and Sacramento at home, but they won’t be so fortunate tonight. The Houston Rockets come into this game on 3 days’ rest so they are clearly going to be the fresher team. The home team has won four straight in this series and I fully expect the Rockets to defend their home court tonight. The Rockets are playing their best basketball of the season right now. Houston is 7-2 SU & 7-2 ATS in their last nine games overall. The odds have been catching up to the Spurs of late as San Antonio is just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Spurs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference opponents. The Rockets are an offensive juggernaut this season, especially over the past month. Houston has scored 102 or more points in 13 of their last 14 games overall. They should not be an underdog at home considering how well they are playing and with the rest factor hugely in their favor. Bet Houston Saturday. -Jack Jones (Handicapperspicks.com)

NBA Picks: March 8th 2011
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Pick: Houston Rockets +5
The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets have each made strides toward contending for a Western Conference playoff berth, but both teams have plenty of work left. Phoenix lost for only the fifth time in 17 games and second time on a season-high, six-game road trip with Sunday’s 122-118 overtime defeat to Oklahoma City. That loss, though, was painful in more than just the standings as Frye dislocated his right shoulder in the fourth quarter after pulling down a career-high 15 rebounds. The forward/center, who hit two game-winning shots on the trip, is expected to miss two to three weeks and the Suns will surely miss him. Frye, was averaging 12.3 points and a career-high 6.6 rebounds this season, was one of seven players to score in double figures during a 123-116 victory in Houston on Nov. 22. Houston, however, enters this matchup having won seven of eight while averaging 110.9 points. The Rockets will hang within the number against the Suns, and the underdog outright win would not surprise me.

Pick: Miami Heat -8.5
Hey how about Le Brick James and the rest of the Miami Heat now playing the ‘Crying Game’ after Sunday’s loss to the Bulls (their third straight). Difficult spot for Portland who beat the Magic (Megabucks winner) last night in Orlando and now face a squad that is up against it. Trailblazers have now won six straight on the road but will be with Brandon Roy tonight and that will hurt as the Heat beats Portland at home for the first time in their last three tries. Take the HEAT! -Chip Chirimbes

Pick: Philadelphia 76ers +1.5
Indiana is 27-35 straight up this year. The Pacers are 2-5 ATS thwir last 7 games overall. Indiana is 3-9 ATS when playing with two days of rest. The Pacers are 1-4 ATS their last 5 home games and they are 2-6 ATS their last 8 games as home favorites 0.5 to 4.5 points. Philadelphia is 32-30 straight up this year. The Sixers are 6-1 ATS their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing record. Philadelphia is 22-8-2 ATS when playing with one day of rest. The Sixers are 7-3 ATS their last 10 road games. The Sixers are 21-10 ATS their last 32 games off an ATS WIN! PLAY ON PHILADELPHIA -Tom Freese (Handicapperspicks.com)