NBA Picks: April 1st 2011
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Pick: Los Angeles Clippers +5
Fading the Phoenix Suns is the only move now late in the season. That’s because Phoenix as a team realizes that they are not going to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, and they have certainly been playing like it of late. Phoenix, loser of four in a row, could find itself eliminated from postseason contention by the end of Friday night as it faces the Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns would also be eliminated if they end up in a tie with Houston and Utah as well as Memphis, based on winning percentage in all games among the tied teams. While the Suns have packed it in, the Clippers continue to fight. “I’m trying to see who wants to compete, get coached and be developed,” coach Vinny Del Negro said following a 106-100 home loss to Dallas on Wednesday. “I’m trying to see what type of nucleus we have with our core guys and trying to continue to develop our young players.” Los Angeles is 8-6 over their last 14 games, and they have gotten a major boost from point guard Mo Williams since he was traded from Cleveland. Williams is averaging 17.1 points per game since the trade. The Clippers are fully healthy too which is a big reason for their recent success, with both Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon returning from injuries recently. Roll with L.A. Friday. -Jack Jones

Pick: Milwaukee Bucks +2.5
The Bucks have to get this one in order to hold onto any hope of sneaking into the playoffs. They are three games behind Indiana for the final playoff spot in the East, and they won’t go down without a fight. “This is probably do or die for us,” Andrew Bogut said. “This game is everything for us. Milwaukee has had its share of success against Indiana. The Bucks have won 6 of the last 7 meetings, including 3 in a row at Conseco Fieldhouse. Going to the numbers, we find the Bucks at 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games as a road underdog of 4.5 points or less. We also find the Pacers at 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite of 4.5 or fewer points. The Bucks are 6-2-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings in this series and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings at Indiana. The road team is 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and the underdog is 3-0-1 ATS in the last 4 meetings. Expect Milwaukee’s success against Indiana to continue this evening. Take the points. -Jimmy Boyd (Handicapperspicks.com)

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls
Free NBA Pick: Chicago Bulls (March 4th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
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At 8:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Chicago Bulls over the Memphis Grizzlies. In its last game, the Bulls were blown out, 116-92, as a 1-point home favorite, by the Atlanta Hawks. Thus, Chicago failed to cover the spread by 25 points! Off that big home loss, I look for Vinny Del Negro’s men to rebound here at home vs. the Memphis Grizzlies, as they fall into a super 34-8 ATS system. What we want to do is play on any NBA home team off a home game in which they failed to cover by 25+ points, if they’re matched up against a foe off exactly one win. NBA teams, off an embarassing game in front of their home fans, tend to play much better if their next game is also at home. With Memphis in off an upset win last night at New Orleans, we’ll fade the Grizzlies here at the United Center