MR EAST
NCAAB MONDAY PLAY OF THE DAY
SYRACUSE @ NOTRE DAME
3 UNITS: NOTRE DANE +4
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been lethal on their homecourt where they have posted a 61-4 straight up mark in their last 65, and already this year they are 12-1. They knocked off a potent West Virginia team, and getting points on their homecourt is chock full of value. The Irish have really benefitted from the play of Tim Abromaitis who went from nothing to 15ppg. The Cuse is tough, and Wesley Johnson has emerged as one of the top players in the Big East, and is a handful. This one is all about holding serve on the homecourt, something the Irish have made a habit to, and have won straight up in 2 of the 3 during the streak when posted as a home dog. I'll go with Notre Dame in this one.
Chris Jordan
600♦ Philadelphia 76ers
200♦ Syracuse
BRANDON LANG
25 DIME - LOS ANGELES LAKERS - One thing about the Lakers, they love statement games.
And tonight facing the team they met in last years NBA finals, this is as good statement game as you can ask for.
You throw in a team lacking confidence and playing their 8th road game out of 11 in the new year and this could get ugly.
Let me start with the Lakers, who since their two sluggish home wins on the 29th over Golden State and new years day over Sacramento, this team at home has been lethal.
A 35 point win over the Mavs, followed by a 9 point win over the Rockets, then an 18 point win over the Buck,s ending with a 40 point win over the Clippers last game out.
All systems go with the Lakers tonight as they will send the struggling Magic on their way to yet another road loss.
Orlando starts off the new year with a nice win on the road over Minnesota. They follow that up with back to back road losses to the Bulls and the Pacers.
After 3 days off to regroup, they fall at home to the Raptors and with 2 days to rally his team and get them to refocus, they lose at the gun toting Wizards by 7.
Ok, finally they show up at home to beat the Hawks and then start their road trip with a nice win over the Kings but again, they can't handle success.
They roll into Denver, and get drilled by 18 and here is where my problem with this Magic team starts.
With 2 days to get his team turned around, to get their attention, to sit them down and put his foot down and say the inconsistent play stops here and we need to start playing like we care, what do the Magic do?
They go into Portland and face the Blazers without leading scorer Brandon Roy and get torched 102-87 in a game they were never in.
Where most coaches are able to get their teams attention with 2 or 3 days after a loss, I feel deep down Stan Van Gundy's act with this Magic team is wearing thin, just as his act wore thin with the Miami Heat.
For a reference, see Shaq's take on Van Gundy as a coach.
I dare say it, but I really believe good old Stan has lost his team and the nail in the coffin might be tonight.
You have 3 days after a road loss to the Bulls to rally your team and you lose by 7 to the 14-26 Pacers.
You have 2 days after a home loss to the Raptors to rally your team and lose to the 13-26 Wizards by 7.
You have 2 days after your road loss to the Nuggets to rally your team and lose to the Roy-less Blazers by 15.
Now you have 3 days at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey and the Hollywood scene to rally your team for the red hot Lakers
tonight.
This may sound crazy but maybe in a warped way the Magic are trying to get Van Gundy fired with their poor play because with as much talent as they have, is there any other explanation?
I mean, it's either that or they really do miss Hedo Turkoglu and I'm sorry but I just can't buy into that.
Either way, the struggling Magic are going down and down big to LA tonight.
FREE SELECTION - KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Don Wallace Sports
Lakers -6.5 over Orlando
JB Sports
2* Mavs +5
CAL SPORTS
4* Rockets Over
3* Suns Over
Teddy Covers
Spurs
Phi/Mn under
Niagra
Sportsbetsnow
1 Unit Sacramento +6.5
DAVID MALINSKY
4* Portland +1
4* Charlotte Under 197
4* St Joseph -8
UNDERDOG
Orlando Magic
Teddy June
10* Kansas St.
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: Oklahoma City +6
Atlanta Under 194.5
Golden State Under 219.5
Pitbull
20 units Grizzlies ML -135
20 units Houston -6.5
15 units Minnesota Under 206
10 units Charlotte -6.5
10 units Lakers -6
Fantasy Sports Gametime
1000* Play Kansas State (-2) over Texas (BIG XII GOY)
Kansas State has covered the spread in 8 of the last 9 games and they have also covered the spread in 5 consecutive home games this season. Kansas State has covered the spread in 11 of the last 14 games coming off a game where both teams scored 80 points or more and they are averaging over 85 points a game at home this season. Texas has lost 11 of the last 12 games against the spread coming off a conference win and they have also lost 14 of the last 19 games against the spread when playing in the month of January.
Rocketman
Sacramento is 15-24 overall this year while Charlotte comes in with a 19-19 overall record this season. The Bobcats have won 4 in a row and 7 of their last 8 games overall while Sacramento has lost 3 in a row and 8 of their last 9 games overall. Bobcats have really started clicking now since Stephen Jackson has had some playing time with his new teammates and the team adjusted accordingly. Sacramento is 18-35 ATS since 1996 and 6-18 ATS last 3 years against Southeast Division opponents. Charlotte is 8-1 ATS this year after a non-conference game. Charlotte is 25-11 ATS last 3 years after a win by 10 points or more. Charlotte is 13-4 ATS this year against poor defensive teams allowing 99 points per game or more. Sacramento is 3-15 SU on the road this year while Charlotte is 16-4 SU at home this season. Charlotte has the stingiest defense in the league allowing only 90.4 points per game overall this year at home. Charlotte is 4-0 ATS at home vs Sacramento since 1996. We'll play Charlotte for 5 units today!