Jimmy Boyd
4* Memphis -5.5
Power Play Wins
Miami -4
Chris Jordan
100♦ Celtics -5.5
LPW Sports Forecast
7 Units La Clippers/Memphis Over 203
RAS
Quinnipiac +2
Bruce Marshall
76ers at Jazz
Pick: 76ers -1.5
We're not convinced that last Wednesday's 2-point win at Toronto (courtesy of a last-second tip-in by Al Jefferson) is any sort of a "buy" signal for the Jazz, which had lost and failed to cover 9 of its last 11 before crossing the border. And there's a chance Utah could be a bit shorthanded if Andrei Kirilenko (back) and Paul Millsap (left knee) are compromised or unable to participate, as was case in that recent contest vs. the Raptors. Philly heading in the opposite direction lately with 16 wins in its last 22 games thru March 10, although HC Doug Collins is a bit concerned with recent defensive lapses that are illustrated by the Sixers allowing 100 points or more in a season-high five straight games, with foes hitting 49.5% from floor, entering last Friday's game vs. Boston. Note that Philly had little trouble with the Jazz when Jerry Sloan and Deron Williams were still in the Utah fold, winning handily by 11 at Wells Fargo Center back on Jan. 22, and Sixers a solid 20-12 vs. line on road thru March 11. Play Sixers
Jeff Benton
25 Dime Philadelphia
Classic case of two teams going in opposite directions. Philadelphia, despite getting drubbed 102-74 at Milwaukee on Saturday – which followed Friday’s three-point home win over the Celtics – is 17-7 in its last 24 games, a hot streak that fittingly dates back to an 11-point home win over the Jazz back on Jan. 22. Meanwhile, Utah is 7-20 in its last 27, including three ugly road losses last week at New York (131-109), Minnesota (122-101) and Chicago (118-100).
The 76ers, who started the season 5-18 on the road, has since won seven of 10 away from Philly. The Jazz are 1-7 SU and 0-8 ATS in their last eight home games, and they needed overtime to beat Sacramento for that one victory.
Another reason to like Philly tonight: Prior to their last two contests when they scored 89 and 74 points, the 76ers’ offense had been humming, putting up 108.9 ppg. That’s significant because Utah has basically stopped playing defense – they’ve allowed 100 points or more 19 times during their 7-20 slump, including 113.4 ppg in the last five.
Finally, the 76ers have been outstanding lately when coming off a loss, winning six in a row after a defeat and going 21-7-1 ATS after their last 29 losses (including six consecutive spread-covers following a double-digit loss). Philadelphia is on additional ATS runs of 22-10-1 against the Western Conference, 7-1 versus Northwest Division teams, 5-1 as a road favorite, 5-0 as a road chalk of less than five points and 20-6-1 after one day of rest. Conversely, the Jazz are in pointspread slides of 9-26 overall, 5-17 at home, 1-4 as an underdog and 1-6 against Atlantic Division squads.
Bottom line: The Jazz can’t be trusted at all right now, while the 76ers’ ability to bounce back from a bad outing has been very impressive. Throw in the fact that Philadelphia is favored despite being nine games under .500 on the road tells me all I need to know about the current state of each of these organizations.
Teddy Covers
76ers
Thunder
Al DeMarco
5 Dime NJ Nets
Andy Fanelli
50 Dime Orlando Magic
Derek Mancini
40 Dime Miami Heat
Joel Tyson
20 Dime Memphis Grizzlies
Trace Adams
500♦ New Orleans Hornets
Chuck O'Brien
40 Dime Magic / Lakers Under
Craig Davis
25 Dime Teaser Spurs & Magic
The Duke's Sports
Philadelphia (-2) for 2.5 Units
The Jazz have struggled following the departure of HC Jerry Sloan and PG Deron Williams. Utah's new HC Corbin is 3-10 SU while his team hardly resembles the gritty and defensively sound team it was not long ago. The Jazz have given up 108 ppg under Corbin. And we don't expect the Jazz to improve tonight; after all, they're playing in their third game in four days after coming off an extended road trip -- not a good situation. The Sixers, however, should respond well off a dismal effort at Milwaukee on Saturday. Philadelphia is 21-7-1 ATS off a SU loss, 20-6-1 ATS on 1 day of rest, and 8-1 ATS after allowing 100+ points; moreover, they're 6-0 ATS off a loss of 10+ points which indicate their resilience and resourcefulness under HC Collins. The Jazz are becoming quite predictable working their offense through Jefferson as new PG Devin Harris is limited in play arsenal. We'll go with the more offensively balanced and defensively sound 76ers.
Mike Lineback
Hornets
Magic
JB Sports
3* Memphis
Tim Trushel
20* Nuggets / Hornets Under
Erin Rynning
Nuggets / Hornets Under
David Malinsky
4* GOLDEN STATE over SACRAMENTO
The Kings do not fit the favorite’s role from any direction here. As their time in Sacramento appears to be winding down the home court advantage is shrinking – they have gone just 1-8 SU here since February 1st. The current run without Tyreke Evans is 2-11 over the last 13 games, 3-17 for the full season without him, and 5-25 the L2 years when he has not been able to go. And instead of back-to-back nights for the Warriors being a problem it could actually be a plus in terms of playing rhythm. So it is easy to get in the game here.
Golden State had an easy time of it vs. Minnesota on Sunday, so much so that 11 different players saw at least 8:35 of court time, so there is no fatigue for this short trip – if anything after beating Orlando on Friday, and then whipping the Timberwolves, it is a hungry and confident team that will be a tough out the remainder of the season. And if not for the 1-8 slide in games in which David Lee did not play they would be right in the thick of the playoff hunt. Lee played a major part in ending Kevin Love’s double-double streak last night, and now can cause problems for DeMarcus Cousins.
The Kings may have taken the Warriors to O.T. in the past two meetings, but that was with Evans scoring 50 points, dishing out 12 assists, and grabbing 13 rebounds. It is an entirely different matchup without him, especially with Beno Udrih not likely to be near 100 percent even if he can go tonight, having missed the last three games with the flu, and that means a prime opportunity for Golden State guards Monta Ellis (64 points in the two earlier wins over the Kings) and Stephen Curry (46 points, 18 assists and 13 rebounds in the last two games) to control this flow.