SPORTS ADVISORS
WORLD SERIES
Philadelphia (7-2) at N.Y. Yankees (7-2)
Back in the World Series for the second straight year, the Phillies send Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22 ERA) to the Yankee Stadium mound while New York hands the ball to ace CC Sabathia (22-8, 3.17) in a Game 1 pitching matchup of ex-teammates and former Cy Young winners.
Philadelphia punched its second straight ticket to the Fall Classic with last Wednesday’s 10-4 home rout of the Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, the second time in as many years that the Phillies beat Los Angeles in five games to advance to the World Series. Last year, the Phillies won their first world title since 1980 by beating the Rays in five games in the World Series. Meanwhile, New York needed six games to dispose of the Angels in the American League Championship Series, clinching its 40th A.L. pennant and its first since 2003 with Sunday’s 5-2 home win.
Philadelphia, which knocked out the Rockies 3-1 in the best-of-5 National League Divisional Series, is 18-5 in its last 23 playoff contests, including 6-2 on the road (3-1 this year). Additionally, the defending champs are on positive runs of 6-1 overall, 10-3 as an underdog (8-3 as a road pup), 37-14 after an off day, 5-1 on Wednesday and 36-16 against left-handed starters. However, Philly has dropped nine of 12 interleague games, all against the A.L. East.
The Yankees swept the Twins in the ALDS and have won all five of their postseason home games this month. New York, which finished with baseball’s best regular-season record, sports impressive runs of 48-19 overall, 41-10 in the Bronx, 40-12 as a favorite, 43-14 on Wednesday, 37-14 against left-handed starters, 51-20 at home versus southpaws, 5-0 in interleague play (all against the N.L. East) and 58-25 when hosting National League opponents. Additionally, Joe Girardi’s club has won seven straight playoff games as a favorite and eight of 10 at home in the World Series. However, the 26-time world champs came up short in their last two World Series appearances, losing to the Diamondbacks in 2001 and the Marlins in 2003.
Philadelphia went to the Bronx in late May and took two of three in a weekend interleague series. The Phillies won 7-3 and 4-3, with the Yankees rallying for a 5-4 victory in the middle game of the set, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth off Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge. Prior to this year, New York had been 7-3 in interleague play against the Phillies going back to 1999, and the visitor has won six of the last eight meetings.
Lee is 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA in three playoff starts, all Philadelphia wins. He gave up just four runs (two earned) in 24 1/3 innings with three walks against 20 strikeouts. Since joining the Phillies in late July, Lee is 9-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 15 starts, including 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA in eight road efforts. The Phillies are 11-4 behind last year’s A.L. Cy Young winner (6-2 on the road).
Lee faced the Yankees twice this season with Cleveland. He gave up one run on six hits in a 10-2 victory in the Bronx on April 16, but six weeks later he lost 3-1 at home, yielding all three runs on nine hits in six innings. For his career, Lee is 4-4 with a 5.02 ERA in nine starts against New York (3-2 with a 4.94 ERA in five games at both new and old Yankee Stadium).
Like his former Indians teammate, Sabathia was flat-out dominant in the opening rounds of this postseason, going 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA. He gave up one earned run in each game over a total of 22 2/3 innings – including a pair of eight-inning efforts against the Angels in the ALCS – and like Lee, he had a 20-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the playoffs.
Eliminate an awful regular-season finale against Tampa Bay (nine runs, five earned, in 2 2/3 innings of a 13-4 loss) and Sabathia has delivered 13 consecutive quality starts while posting a 1.52 ERA (16 earned runs allowed in 95 innings). Even with the bad outing at Tampa, New York is 14-1 in Sabathia’s last 15 trips the hill, all multiple-run victories. Additionally, with the hefty lefty starting, the Yankees are on runs of 9-0 at home and 10-1 against winning clubs.
Sabathia was on the mound on May 24 when the Yankees lost 4-3 to the Phillies. He didn’t factor in the decision, though, giving up three runs on five hits in seven innings. With the Brewers, Sabathia faced the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS last year, getting rocked for five runs on six hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings, losing 5-2. Prior to that, he faced Philadelphia twice in interleague play with the Indians – once in 2002, once in 2007 -- going 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA, meaning the Phillies are 3-1 all-time when facing Sabathia.
All three Yankees-Phillies games in New York back in May stayed under the total, and the under is 7-1 the past eight meetings overall and 4-0 in the last four in the Bronx.
As a team, Philadelphia carries “over” trends of 18-6-2 overall, 6-1-1 in the playoffs, 13-3 on the road, 4-0 after an off day, 5-1-1 in the opening game of a series and 5-2 as an underdog. However, the under is 9-2-1 in the Phillies’ last 12 interleague road games, 3-1-1 in their last five against the A.L. East and 9-4-1 in their last 14 as an underdog in interleague action.
New York is on a slew of “under” streaks, including 6-2-1 overall, 10-1-1 at home, 15-4-2 after a victory, 16-6 in interleague play, 15-6 versus the N.L. East, 7-3-1 against left-handed starters, 5-0 on Wednesday, 5-1-1 after an off day, 6-0 in World Series home games and 7-1-1 when Sabathia pitches at Yankee Stadium.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES and UNDER
NBA
Philadelphia at Orlando
The Magic begin their quest for a return trip to the NBA Finals when they open the season by hosting the 76ers at Amway Arena.
Philadelphia went 41-41 last year (36-44-2 ATS), but that was good enough for a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division and a second straight trip to the playoffs. However, as was the case in 2007, the 76ers got bounced in the first round in six games, this time losing to Orlando. Although Philadelphia went 4-2 ATS in the six-game series loss to the Magic, they finished the regular season in a 1-6 SU and ATS funk.
Orlando’s second-ever NBA Finals appearance was a brief one, as it lost to the Lakers in five games (1-4 ATS). The Magic did roll to the Southeast Division title and No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 59-23 regular-season mark (49-32-1 ATS), winning 32 of 41 home games. However, Stan Van Gundy’s squad failed to cover in five of its last six regular-season contests.
In addition to eliminating Philadelphia in six games in the playoffs, the Magic went 3-0 SU and ATS against the Sixers in the regular season, and Orlando has won and covered four straight regular-season matchups. Additionally, the Magic are 5-0 (4-1 ATS) in the last five regular-season clashes at Amway Arena.
The Sixers lost five of their final six regular-season road games last season both SU and ATS, the only win coming in a meaningless regular-season finale at Cleveland, a 111-110 overtime triumph with LeBron James and several Cavs starters sitting out. Meanwhile, the Magic went 7-1 ATS in their last eight Eastern Conference playoff games, but have failed to cover in 13 of 19 against Atlantic Division foes and five of seven on Wednesday.
The under was 4-1 in the final five games of last year’s Sixers-Magic playoff series. Also, the under is on runs of 15-7 in Orlando’s last 22 home games and 7-2 in its last nine on Wednesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO and UNDER
New Orleans at San Antonio
Two Southwest Division rivals with NBA championship aspirations get together for the first of four times this year, with the Hornets visiting the Spurs at A&T Center.
After a solid 49-33 regular season (35-45-2 ATS), New Orleans got dumped in the first round of the playoffs last year by the Nuggets, losing the best-of-seven series in five games. The one victory was a two-point nail-bitter, while the four defeats came by point margins of 39, 15, 58 and 21 points. Including the playoffs, the Hornets went 3-10 SU and ATS to end last season.
San Antonio was 54-28 (40-40-2 ATS) in the regular season last year, edging the Rockets by one game in the Southwest race. However, the Spurs failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000, getting upended by the Mavericks in five games (1-4 ATS). Gregg Popovich’s squad won nine of its last 13 regular-season games, including the last four in a row, but including the playoffs, the Spurs closed the season in a 7-15 ATS slump.
The home team swept last year’s four-game season series, but the Hornets went 3-1 ATS. Including a 2008 playoff series, the host has won 12 of the last 13 meetings (11-2 ATS). San Antonio is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings at AT&T Center, and the favorite has cashed in eight of the last 11 in this rivalry.
Including the playoffs, the Hornets failed to cover in five of their last six road games and five of their last seven on Wednesday. San Antonio enters this season in ATS ruts of 3-10 overall, 3-10 at home, 3-11 on Wednesday and 1-7 against division rivals.
The under is 17-7 in New Orleans’ last 24 contests overall, 18-7 in its last 25 against Southwest Division foes and 6-2 in the last eight meetings in this rivalry. However, the Spurs carry “over” trends of 5-1 overall, 5-0 at home and 4-1 on Wednesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO
Utah at Denver
The Nuggets play their first meaningful basketball game since getting bounced by the eventual-champion Lakers in last year’s playoffs, as they host Northwest Division rival Utah at the Pepsi Center.
Denver (54-28, 44-37-1 ATS last year) tied with the Blazers for the Northwest title last year, but won a tiebreaker to earn the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets rolled over the Hornets and Mavericks in the first two rounds, going 8-2 SU and 10-0 ATS, before losing to Los Angeles in six games in the conference finals. Before ending the year with losses of 103-94 and 119-92 to the Lakers, Denver had started the postseason 10-4 SU and 13-1 ATS, with the four losses coming by 2, 2, 2 and 6 points.
Utah (48-34, 39-43 ATS) finished just six games behind Denver in the Northwest, but barely held off Phoenix for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth. However, the Jazz didn’t hang around long, losing to the Lakers in five games (3-2 ATS). Including the postseason, Utah lost 11 of its final 14 games while going 7-16 ATS in its last 23.
The home team swept last year’s four-game season series, but the Nuggets got the cash in each contest. The host is 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS in the last six meetings, including Utah’s 98-94 victory as an eight-point home favorite in last year’s season-opener for both teams. The favorite is 22-10-1 ATS in the last 33 head-to-head matchups.
In addition to its 7-16 overall ATS drought, Utah has failed to cover in 10 of its last 14 on the road and each of its last four on Wednesday. Denver went 8-2 ATS in its 10 playoff home games last spring and enters this year on a 21-7 ATS run overall.
The over is on runs of 9-1 for the Jazz on the road, 7-2 for the Jazz on Wednesday, 5-2 for the Jazz against the Northwest Division and 4-1 for Denver at home. Also, four of the last five series meetings in Denver have hurdled the total, but the under is 4-1 in the last five clashes overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DENVER and OVER
DUNKEL
Philadelphia at NY Yankees
The Yankees open the World Series looking to build on their 10-1 record in C.C. Sabathia's last 11 home starts. New York is the pick (-160) according to Dunkel, which has the Yankees favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-160)
Game 951-952: Philadelphia at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Lee) 16.779; NY Yankees (Sabathia) 17.316
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-160); 8
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-160); Over
NBA
Sacramento at Oklahoma City
The Kings look to build on their 17-5 ATS record in their last 22 games as an underdog between 5 and 10 1/2 points. Sacramento is the pick (+7 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Thunder favored by only 3 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (+7 1/2)
Game 701-702: Philadelphia at Orlando
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 118.081; Orlando 126.053
Dunkel Line & Total: Orlando by 8; 191
Vegas Line & Total: Orlando by 9 1/2; 196
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+9 1/2); Under
Game 703-704: Indiana at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 116.253; Atlanta 124.750
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 8 1/2; 216 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 6 1/2; 209 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-6 1/2); Over
Game 705-706: Cleveland at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 127.688; Toronto 117.728
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 10; 184 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 5 1/2; 191
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-5 1/2); Under
Game 707-708: Charlotte at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 111.551; Boston 124.156
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 12 1/2; 183 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Boston by 10 1/2; 185
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-10 1/2); Under
Game 709-710: New York at Miami
Dunkel Ratings: New York 116.930; Miami 121.073
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 4; 213 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 6; 208 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New York (+6); Over
Game 711-712: Detroit at Memphis
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 119.195; Memphis 115.031
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 4; 195 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit by 2 1/2; 191
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-2 1/2); Over
Game 713-714: Sacramento at Oklahoma City
Dunkel Ratings: Sacramento 108.006; Oklahoma City 111.556
Dunkel Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 3 1/2; 210
Vegas Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 7 1/2; 205
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (+7 1/2); Over
Game 715-716: New Orleans at San Antonio
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 114.043; San Antonio 121.533
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 7 1/2; 192 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 8 1/2; 186 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (+8 1/2); Over
Game 717-718: New Jersey at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 113.453; Minnesota 116.966
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 3 1/2; 199 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 2; 198
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-2); Over
Game 719-720: Utah at Denver
Dunkel Ratings: Utah 120.316; Denver 123.458
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 3; 216 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 6 1/2; 209 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Utah (+6 1/2); Over
Game 721-722: Houston at Golden State
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 116.757; Golden State 124.653
Dunkel Line & Total: Golden State by 8; 210
Vegas Line & Total: Golden State by 6 1/2; 216 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (-6 1/2); Under
Game 723-724: Phoenix at LA Clippers
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 115.713; LA Clippers 117.802
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Clippers by 2; 215 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 1; 223
Dunkel Pick: LA Clippers (-1); Under
NHL
Nashville at Minnesota
The Predators look to take advantage of a Minnesota team that is 0-5 in its last 5 games when playing with 1 day of rest. Nashville is the pick (+140) according to Dunkel, which has the Predators favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: Nashville (+140)
Game 51-52: St. Louis at Carolina
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis 11.157; Carolina 10.249
Dunkel Line & Total: St. Louis by 1; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Carolina (-125); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (+115); Under
Game 53-54: Buffalo at New Jersey
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 13.617; New Jersey 12.907
Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: New Jersey (-125); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+115); Under
Game 55-56: NY Rangers at NY Islanders
Dunkel Ratings: NY Rangers 11.616; NY Islanders 10.996
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 57-58: Phoenix at Columbus
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 11.072; Columbus 10.840
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Columbus (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (+125); Under
Game 59-60: Montreal at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 11.342; Pittsburgh 11.955
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-190); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-190); Over
Game 61-62: Ottawa at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Ottawa 10.760; Florida 10.506
Dunkel Line & Total: Ottawa by 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Ottawa (-130); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Ottawa (-130); Over
Game 63-64: Nashville at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 11.430; Minnesota 10.826
Dunkel Line & Total: Nashville by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota (-150); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Nashville (+140); Under
Game 65-66: Toronto at Dallas
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 10.398; Dallas 11.916
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 1 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas (-200); 6
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-200); Under
Game 67-68: Colorado at Calgary
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 13.330; Calgary 12.371
Dunkel Line & Total: Colorado by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Calgary (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+165); Over
Game 69-70: Los Angeles at San Jose
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 12.775; San Jose 13.379
Dunkel Line & Total: San Jose by 1/2; 7
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-175); 6
Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-175); Over
Terron Chapman
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic
Play: Philadelphia 76ers +8.5
The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic will begin their respective seasons with a meeting at Amway Arena in Orlando Wednesday evening. The 76ers will be under the leadership of new head coach Eddie Jordan, while the Magic look to begin their defense of last year's Eastern Conference championship.
The Magic will begin their defense however with some key pieces missing from last season's squad. Forward Rashard Lewis will miss the opener due to a suspension. The Magic failed to re-sign versatile forward Hedo Turkoglu who left for Toronto. That leaves the Magic without two instrumental pieces from last year's team for Wednesday's opener. The Magic did sign forward Vince Carter to replace Turkoglu. But Carter in my opinion is a downgrade from Turkoglu whose ball-handling and rebounding were key to the Magic's success.
The 76ers on the other hand begin the season flying under the radar so to speak as all the talk in the eastern conference has to do with the big three (Orlando, Boston, Cleveland). But the Sixers I think are gonna be a problem for teams this season. Eddie Jordan is an upgrade at head coach and while it will take some time for the Sixers to get acclimated in his Princeton motion-style offense, they still have the athletes to compete on a nightly basis. The return of forward Elton Brand who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury will bolster a starting lineup that loses point guard Andre Miller who left for Portland. 23 year-old Lou Williams will take over for Miller at the point.
Without Lewis and Turkoglu on the wings, the Sixers actually have an advantage at the forward positions. I expect an inspired performance from Samuel Dalembert whom the Sixers reportedley tried to trade in the off-season. He gets the task of trying to slow down Dwight Howard. The Magic will take the floor with a lot of pressure Wednesday night at they look to duplicate last season's success. Look for the 76ers to take advantage of that with an inspired performance, take the points. Play on the Philadelphia 76ers for 1 unit.
Marc Lawrence
Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets
Prediction: Utah Jazz
When the Jazz open the 2009 NBA season against the Nuggets in Denver Wednesday night they will do so knowing they are 5-0 SU and ATS in road openers the last five years. In addition, NBA road dogs in season openers that won 48 or more games last year are 11-6 SU and 12-5 ATS when facing a division foe. Take the points with this live dog tonight.
Scott Spreitzer
New York Knicks at Miami Heat
Prediction: Miami Heat
When a team or organization says, "wait 'til next year," they usually say it at the end of a disappointing season. But by spending very little money and not upgrading in the off-season, it has become obvious that the NY Knicks are basically writing off this season. They spent very little money because they're waiting for next off-season's free-agent bonanza, when several NBA "studs" including Lebron James could be up for grabs. One of those potential free agents is Miami superstar Dwyane Wade. The veteran guard averaged over 42 ppg against the Knicks last season, leading the Heat to a 2-1 series win. He should have little trouble dominating the Knicks again. And I also look for a big early season from Michael Beasley, who has acted like an idiot off the court for the most part. He says his questionable actions are behind him. He gets a chance to prove his point against an out-manned opponent, right out of the blocks. The Heat covered six of their last eight as a home favorite, and they finished last season on a 4-1 ATS run as a favorite in a line range that includes tonight's number. Look for the Heat to hammer the hapless Knicks on Wednesday. I'm laying the points with Miami.
DAVE COKIN
DETROIT PISTONS / MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
TAKE: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
I'm not at all high on the perennially pathetic Memphis Grizzlies. But I see the Detroit Pistons as a team in serious decline this year and I doubt we'll be seeing them as road chalk against anyone once the numbers catch up as to how far they've dropped. Memphis has a good shot to win their home opener, and I;m going to side with the Grizzlies plus the points for tonight's free opinion.
JIM FEIST
PHOENIX SUNS / LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
TAKE: PHOENIX SUNS
Phoenix may have lost Shaq in the offseason, creating a lot of headlines, but there is still plenty of talent on this team in Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire Jason Richardson and Barbosa off the bench. They are fresh and ready to run, their style, and catch a break here against a rebuiling Clipper team playing the second of a back to back spot, battling the Lakers last night. LA has problems with No. 1 pick Blake Griffin out several weeks. Play the Phoenix Suns!
Jimmy Moore
Phoenix @ Columbus
Pick: Columbus -140
The Bluejackets are coming off of a 1-3 road trip and their defense was horrible in all 4 games. They will be very focused on playing better in their own zone and they catch the Coyotes in the middle of a long east coast road trip. A perfect combination for a Columbus win.
BIG AL
New Orleans Hornets at San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio has a lot of new faces on the roster as they look to make one more championship push. Side with the Spurs on Wednesday at home vs. the New Orleans Hornets.
Our Wednesday night NBA selection is on the San Antonio Spurs at home in the AT&T Center minus the points over the New Orleans Hornets.
Although San Antonio has to integrate a lot of new players into its system (e.g., DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff), head coach Gregg Popovich took the unusual step this summer of thinning out the team's playbook. So what used to be a much more difficult process for "newbies" became a heckuva' lot easier. Essentially Popovich is just going to trust his veteran newcomers (Blair notwithstanding) to just go play basketball as they've been doing their entire lives.
The Spurs also will have a healthy Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili back in the fold tonight, though I expect Manu's minutes to be limited given the Spurs have to play at Chicago on Monday. But with Jefferson now on the team, Popovich has the luxury of resting "Super-Manu" whenever the need arises.
New Orleans also made a good move this offseason when it traded Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor. Though Chandler was bereft of any great offensive moves other than throwing down a dunk off a Chris Paul alley-oop, Chandler was one of the better defenders on Duncan. I expect Timmy to abuse Okafor tonight, especially since Okafor missed the entire preseason with an injury.
In the past, New Orleans' defensive strategy vs. San Antone was to pack the lane, and force the Spurs to beat them with outside jumpers. Unfortunately, that strategy was not made easier with the Okafor/Chandler trade, nor with the additions of McDyess and Jefferson, who are both solid offensive players. Jefferson, especially, will be able to break down New Orleans' defense. Take the Spurs.
Pick: Spurs -8½
Dominic Fazzini
New York at MIAMI -6
I improved to 12-6 on my last 18 complimentary selections with my winning play Tuesday on the Celtics, and I'm not stopping there!
The Knicks are coming off a train-wreck 32-50 season, and they didn't improve themselves in any way during the offseason.
They are a bad defensive team, and they lack a real top-notch scoring threat on offense. Not a very good combination.
Heat star Dwyane Wade can expect more help this season from second-year forward Michael Beasley, who is coming off a tumultuous offseason during which he went to rehab, and center Jermaine O'Neal, who is determined to get back to his All-Star form after being limited by knee injuries the past few years.
Besides being better offensively, Miami can actually defend, which will pay off big tonight against the hapless Knicks. Take the Heat to cover at home in their season opener.
3♦ MIAMI
Stephen Nover
Detroit at MEMPHIS
Forget what you perceive about the Detroit Pistons. They aren't a hard-nosed, physical defensive club anymore.
The Pistons have only six returning players from last season. They are a made over team with a new coach, John Kuester.
This is important because the oddsmaker hasn't caught on yet that Kuester's Pistons are an offensive club not a defensive one anymore.
Kuester came from the Cavaliers. He was the assistant who helped turn Cleveland into an elite power by upgrading its offense. Kuester is a guru when it comes to getting the most out of an offense.
Look for Detroit's scoring to be up this year and its defense to be down. There was evidence of this in preseson. The Pistons surrendered an average of 106.5 points in their last seven exhibition games.
Detroit and Memphis met in a preseason matchup less than two weeks ago and the Grizzlies won, 115-94. That's a combined 209 points.
The Grizzlies didn't add ball hogs Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson to play defense. While Iverson is doubtful because of a hamstring injury, Randolph will be in the lineup fighting to hoist up shots along with O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay.
Memphis has improved its offensive rebounding, too, finishing third in the category during preseason.
3♦ PISTONS-GRIZZLIES OVER
Bobby Maxwell
Sacramento at OKLAHOMA CITY -7'
Opening night of NBA action on Tuesday and I handed you an underdog winner that not only covered the number but got the outright win as the Wizards shocked the Mavericks in Dallas. Tonight I've got another NBA winner for you as I go with Oklahoma City at home taking on Sacramento.
Oklahoma City looks like it just might be getting it together and maybe march toward a .500 season. The Thunder have a dynamic trio in Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook and I’m very confident laying the chalk with them tonight.
Those three averaged 57 points a game last year to go with 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Durant averaged 25.3 points a game and this team won 23 games last year. They’ve added guard Shaun Livingston and drafted James Harden out of Arizona State, who looks like he’s going to be a scorer in this league.
These are two bad defensive teams meeting tonight, the worst two ranked teams on defense last year in the Western Conference. Sacramento might have some offensive trouble as well tonight as Kevin Martin is questionable and Francisco Garcia is out for the opener.
Oklahoma City won the last two meetings last year (1-1 ATS) and they have improved their team in the offseason while the Kings are just plain bad and going to be bad again.
These two teams tend to light up the scoreboard when they hook up, but I’m playing the Thunder in this one to cover the number with ease. Look for a 15-point blowout win.
4♦ OKLAHOMA CITY
Sports Gambling Hotline
Philadelphia at NY YANKEES
Tuesday comp play winner on Boston last night outright at Cleveland, now 48-40-4 the last 92 days with our comp plays.
Game One of the World Series tonight, and we will stick with the pitching to shut down the hitting.
There is no arguing what Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia have done this postseason, and while the Phillies had success against CC last season in the playoffs when he was with Milwaukee, just have to remember that the Brewers overused Sabathia down the stretch, and he was flat-out gassed.
That is not the case this season, and we fully expect CC and Cliff Lee to put up a bunch of goose eggs on the board.
13 of the last 16 World Series games have held UNDER the posted total, and New York is on a 10-1-1 UNDER run their last 12 games played in the Bronx.
This is the time of year when good pitching stops good hitting, and it will hold true again tonight.
Play on the LOW.
4♦ UNDER
Jr Tips
Hornets at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs may have acquired the right pieces for another championship run to help their star center Tim Duncan. The Spurs open their season tonight and host a New Orleans Hornets team that's also looking to bounce back from a first-round playoff exit. The Spurs acquired forward Richard Jefferson from Milwaukee in June for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto. San Antonio also signed veterans Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff in the offseason to bolster its frontcourt along with Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair. San Antonio's Manu Ginobili's injury woes are in the past as he is back and Tony Parker is healthy. While Hornets point guard Chris Paul looks to follow up what was arguably his best season, New Orleans is not among the favorites to come out of the West after its first-round playoff exit to Denver in the spring. Paul, who finished fifth in last season's MVP voting, won't have Tyson Chandler to pass to this season after the Hornets traded the center to Charlotte for Emeka Okafor. Adding Emeka who averaged 13.2 points and was fifth in the NBA with 10.1 rebounds in 2008-09. Third-year forward Julian Wright will likely move into the starting lineup in place of Peja Stojakovic, whose chronic back problems limited him to 61 games last season and All-Star forward David West scored a career-best 21.0 points per game with 8.5 rebounds in 2008-09. New Orleans has lost three straight and nine of 10 in San Antonio and they face a San Antonio team that is stacked this year from the starting 5 throughout the bench. San Antonio players and their fans will be excited about this year. They will have no trouble beating the Hornets who have limited shooters around Chris Paul and they won"t be able to keep up with this explosive San Antonio team.
TAKE SAN ANTONIO -8.5
Frank Jordan
Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees
Play: New York Yankees
This World Series game one pits the last two AL Cy Young award winners who were once teammates in Cleveland. Now they go head to head on the biggest stage in the sport. Cliff Lee has pitched three times this post season allowing just 2 earned runs and went at least 7 innings in each start. CC Sabathia has pitched in three games and won all three allowing just one run in each start. Look for a great pitchers duel with a key HR late from the Yankees to put them over the top to take game one. Play NY Yankees