Free Picks for Friday, February 3rd, 2017, from some of the nations best and worst handicappers
Ken Thomson
Davidson -2
Time for Coach Mc Killop's Wildcats to step up and give the fans and take care of Biz!! Davidson has won 4 of 5 including a home win vs. VCU. If the Cats shoot it like they did that night they roll the Rams!!
Jim Feist
Mavs vs. Blazers
Play: Mavs +4½
Dallas has its offense clicking, scoring 105, 104 and 113 the last three games, all wins. That's part of a 6-1 spread run, and a 5-1 SU/ATS run. Portland is home but a weak defensive team at #26 in points allowed. The Blazers are 7-17 ATS following a straight up win. The Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings, 6-2 ATS at Portland.
Jesse Schule
Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings
Play: Sacramento Kings -4.5
The Kings are coming off a tough stretch, playing their last eight games on the road. They are coming off back to back losses, but had won three of four prior to that, including an upset win over the defending champs in Cleveland. They are back home to host the cellar dwelling Phoenix Suns, who have lost five straight, with four of those losses coming at home. The Kings have won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams, covering the spread in all six of those wins. The Suns opened the season with a 113-94 home loss to Sacramento. The Kings built an early lead, out-scoring Phoenix 57-38 in the first half, and never looked back. DeMarcus Cousins has averaged over 30 points per game in his last five, and he should be primed for a big game at home tonight. He scored 29 points, helping the Kings win 116-94 the last time the Suns played at Sacramento.
LV Traders
St. Peter's at Monmouth
Pick: St. Peter's
Monmouth will have revenge on its mind but Saint Peter's matches-up well with the Hawks. The Peacocks are defensively oriented and will once again focus on taking the Hawks out of their up-tempo flow. Once in half-court sets, it's an even game. The key is knocking down a few shots and getting back on defense. John Dunne's team has been a pleasant surprise in the MAAC and expect another competitive effort tonight.
Vernon Croy
Houston (-6) over Chicago
This pick falls into one of my top NBA systems and I have the Rockets winning big at home Friday night. The Rockets are the second highest scoring team in the NBA, averaging 114.3 ppg this season, while shooting 48.6% as a team, which ranks 5th in the NBA. The Rockets are the 8th best defensive rebounding team in the NBA and now face a Bulls team averaging the 23rd most ppg in the NBA at 101.6. The Bulls are one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA, knocking down just 43.6% as a team, which ranks 29th, and now they face the No. 2 offensive team in the NBA on the road. The Bulls have averaged just 99.9 ppg on the road this season and that won't help matters against a Rockets team averaging 115.3 ppg at home. The Rockets have had a much tougher strength of schedule than the Bulls this season, and I have them winning by 18 points at home Friday. Play Houston ATS with confidence.
Jason Sharpe
Saint Peter's (+7) over Monmouth
Saint Peter's is playing some excellent basketball of late and I think they should be able to keep this thing close here. The Peacocks come into this game tied for 2nd place at 8-4 overall in the MAAC, with 3 of their 4 conference losses coming by just 4 points or less. They've already beaten Monmouth in their head-to-head battle earlier this season, and this game here won't be much like a road game either as these two schools are only about one hour apart.
Scott Rickenbach
Mavs vs. Blazers
Play: Over 206
The posted total on this game has been dropping this morning but the reason is that the Mavericks have a long-term reputation as an "under team" this season. This is offering up extra line value on the "over" with this total because the Mavs scoring was kept down earlier this season due to a lot of injury issues. As Dallas has gotten healthier, their scoring has increased. The Mavericks are particularly hot coming into this game as Dallas has scored 103 points or more in 6 of its last 7 games. The Trail Blazers, at home, should certainly match them point for point in this game. Portland is averaging 114 points per game in their last 5 games. Before holding Charlotte to 98 points in their most recent game, the Blazers had given up 109 points or more in 5 of their last 7 home games! Dallas is allowing an average of 103 points per game in their road games this season. Only 1 of the Mavs last 5 games played away from Dallas has stayed under the total. The over is 6-2 this season in Trail Blazers games when they are off of 2 days of rest. Also, the over is 13-7 in their February games the past 2 years. With fresh legs for the Blazers and them dictating the pace on their home floor, look for this one to get well past the posted number.
Brad Diamond
Pennsylvania vs. Harvard
Play: Harvard -6
Realize the Quakers are overdue in the Ivies going 0-3 SU thus far. But, their 1-4 SU in the last five times out on the floor. Granted frosh Brodeur (15.3) has helped pick up the offensive load but, can’t trust this situation overall with the Crimson in a “must” win for the Ivy flag. Harvard is 11-5 with a nice 11-2 SU streak of late, and that’s after losing in a “letdown” affair versus Columbia. So, with the home-standing Crimson 6-1-1 ATS in the Ivies and 6-2 ATS versus Penn of late, lay the points!
David Banks
Dallas @ Portland
Pick: Dallas +5.5
Portland looks to continue making its move on Denver for the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings when the Trail Blazers host Dallas on Friday night. The two teams have met twice thus far this season with each team grabbing a win. Ironically, it has been the visiting team that has claimed the victories. Portland hopes to end that on Friday with another big night from leading scorer Damian Lillard (26.2 ppg).
In the first matchup between the two teams, Lillard erupted for 42 points leading Portland to a 105-95 win. Lillard and his backcourt mate C.J. McCollum (23.5 ppg) account for nearly 50 points a game for the Trail Blazers, the NBA’s eighth-best scoring team. Seven-foot Mason Plumlee continues to improve and averages 11.2 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. It is up front where Portland is not as talented as other teams around the league.
The Mavericks (17-30) are in much the same situation as Portland. Center Andrew Bogut has been bothered by injuries that have forced him out of the lineup recently. Veteran Dirk Nowitzki has actually played some at center as Dallas has moved to a smaller lineup. Harrison Barnes leads Dallas with 20.4 points per game. Point guard Deron Williams will miss games on Monday and Wednesday and, hopefully, will be ready to go on Friday night. Williams averages 13.5 points and a team-best 7.1 assists per game. With the smaller lineup, the Mavericks have won three of their last four games.
Jimmy Boyd
Wolves vs. Pistons
Play: Pistons -4½
I'm jumping on Detroit as a short home favorite against the Timberwolves tonight. The Pistons played one of their better games in a while in a 118-98 home victory over the Pelicans and I look for them to carry over that momentum against Minnesota. Detroit also played well the previous game, losing by just 4-points in a cover at Boston. Minnesota on the other hand is off a 97-125 loss at Cleveland, where they got annihilated in the 2nd half. The Timberwolves have failed to cover in 5 of their last 6 and I think they struggle to show up here. After this road slate, Minnesota will enjoy a 6-game home stand.
It's also worth pointing out that the Pistons have won each of the last 3 meetings, including a 117-90 blowout win at Minnesota earlier this season (12/9). A big part of that success is that Drummond has been able to get the best of Towns. The Timberwolves are also just 7-16 on the road this season. Minnesota is also 6-17 ATS in their last 23 off a blowout loss by 20 or more points and the Pistons are 18-5 ATS in their last 23 home games with a total of 210 or more.
Larry Ness
Lakers vs. Celtics
Pick: Celtics -11
Remember when a Lakers/Celtics game used to mean something? About this for a stat? The Celtics and Lakers are tied for the most regular-season victories in NBA history with 3,252 apiece! These two legendary franchises last met in an NBA Final back in the 2009-10 season (Lakers won). However, one wonders when (if) we'll get a rematch? The Celtics are clearly trending in the right direction under Brad Stevens but the team has advanced past the first round just twice in five playoff appearances in the last six years.
As for the Lakers, after seasons of 57, 41 and 45 wins following that 2009-10 championship year, this once-proud franchise has won just 27, 21 and 17 games these least three season. Luke Walton was brought in (from Golden State where he was Kerr's assistant) to turn things around and while LA has matched its win total from last year at 17-35, the team's record is better than only the 15-34 Suns (just barely) in the Western Conference.
Some think Boston PG Isaiah Thomas is wedging his name into the MVP race and tonight he looks to help lead the Celtics to their sixth consecutive victory. Hr ranks second in the NBA in scoring at 29.7 PPG (also hands out APG) and was just named Eastern Conference Player of the Month (Jan.), after averaging 32.9PPG. Thomas was given up on by both Sacramento and Phoenix, before emerging as a star in Boston. Thomas is averaging 36.2 points during the club's five-game winning streak, scoring 37 or more four times. He has a solid chance of surpassing the team record set by Larry Bird (29.9 PPG) during the 1987-88 campaign and becoming the first player in franchise history to average 30 points in a season.
LA Lakers: Los Angeles is hoping that the hiring of franchise legend Magic Johnson as an advisor, who will be involved in "all areas of basketball and business," as announced by co-owner Jeanie Buss, will serve notice that the team is tired of its dismal record over the last 3 1/2 seasons. Doese hiring of Magic mean "the end of the road" for Jim Buss the executive vice president of basketball operations and Jeanie's brother?
The Lakers limp into Boston having lost 11 consecutive road games, after dropping a 116-108 decision to host Washington on Thursday. It was the team's ninth loss in its last 11 overall games. The Lakers are 5-22 on the road, getting outscored on average, 112.0-to-99.3 PPG. There likely won't be any "Beat L.A." chants from the crowd at the TD Center but that's exactly what Boston will do.
Zack Cimini
Indiana vs. Brooklyn
Play: Indiana -7
The Pacers look to continue momentum of a four game win streak as they travel to Brooklyn Friday. Indiana has won eleven of their last fifteen thanks to Nate McMillan's proper lineup adjustments. Former starter Monta Ellis now comes off the bench with equally important young forward Glenn Robinson III. On a nightly basis teams typically count on a sixth man spark in the form of a guard, but the Pacers do so with big man Al Jefferson. Jefferson's averaging 8.6 points per game in just under fifteen minutes. While the Pacers lost game two this year in Brooklyn as six point favorites, this is a team with newfound chemistry from the starting five to the first five off the bench. Steep road favorites have poured it on in Brooklyn but don't be surprised if the Pacers impress at a more advanced level than the Spurs/Rockets/Warriors recent triumphs.
Wunderdog
Memphis @ Oklahoma City
Pick: Memphis Pk
While Russell Westbrook has had an MVP type season to date, the Oklahoma City Thunder just can't be a one horse team. He was at a loss for words after a 28-point loss at home to Chicago. The Thunder are reeling as they have now dropped three straight games by a total of 58 points. They have to regroup quickly to take on a defensive-minded Memphis team, which may serve to add to their woes. Westbrook has taken the burden of offense upon himself, but the surrounding cast is going to be challenged to an even greater extent vs. a team that plays 48 minutes of solid defense. The Grizzlies have found some offense of their own in their last three games, averaging 112 points per game, and have not allowed any of the three opponents to reach the 100-point mark.
Steve Janus
Raptors vs. Magic
Play: Magic +5½
Play Against - Any team (TORONTO) - revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a home favorite, off a cover where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog. This system is 201-128 (61%) against the the spread since 1996.