SPORTS WAGERS
Oklahoma +111 over Oregon
Oregon pulled off its most impressive win of the tournament by defeating defending champion Duke, 82-68 as a 3½-point choice. The Ducks managed to hit 43.5% of all three-pointers from behind the arc while holding Duke to just 31.5% in the same facet. Considering the charted woes of the Ducks’ all season long in this capacity and the potency of Duke’s offense, the Ducks did not play to form. They were favored to win but not because of their three-point shooting for and against. While we take nothing away from Oregon, we do take plenty away from the conference they play in and will once again come after them. Oregon is now going up against a team that makes a living off the three-ball.
The Oklahoma Sooners score 80.5 points per game and own the second-ranked three-point field goal percentage in the country at 42.6%. That does not bode well for the Ducks, as they still remain among the worst in defending the three-ball in America, as opponents are still hitting 35.6% on the year. Oklahoma also enters on an impressive note, defeating Texas A&M 77-63 in their Sweet 16 game. Reaction is playing a key role in the early going. Oregon put the wood to a defending champion while Oklahoma has been skating by against marginal competition and for the most part had to bank on their elaborate offensive schematics to pull away in the late stages of their varying tournament matches. Oklahoma also laid waste to a team that many perceived as a fluke. Lots of Sooners’ supporters saw Texas A&M as the benefactors of luck, not a proficient basketball team that authored one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. If this contest boils down to a shootout, that works in our favor too, as OU is more accustomed to high scoring barnburners. Finally, we mentioned how better the Sooners have been when they have balanced scoring and they didn’t need us to figure that out. Oklahoma's Buddy Hield had a subpar game against the Aggies by his standards (he scored just 17) but all five starters scored in double figures and the Sooners rolled to a 14-point win. That complicates things for the Ducks in their preparation for the Sooners. Keep the points, as this contest is in the Sooners’ sweet spot.
Teddy Covers
Boston vs. Phoenix
Pick: Phoenix
Remember when the Suns were playing 76ers level basketball for the better part of three months; true bottom feeders? That was then, this is now!
Phoenix has gotten healthier, with Brandon Knight back as their starting point guard, dishing out 17 assists with only three turnovers in his last three ballgames. Knight is expected back on the floor here after unexpectedly missing last night’s game with a stomach virus – he’ll be fresh on the second night of back-2-backs.
Even after their bad loss in Sacramento last night, the Suns are 5-6 SU in their last eleven games, their best stretch of basketball since November. But the markets lag, and the Suns season numbers are terrible, despite their dramatically improved play of late. Even the quotes out of this locker room sound completely different since malcontent Markieff Morris was dealt to Washington before the trading deadline; a team that’s taking pride in their play down the stretch.
Emerging wing Devin Booker, following last night’s loss: “Personally, it was one of the worst games I've had this year. was evident with all the turnovers I had. I feel like that's why we started off so bad. But I'll take this one. That's what's good about the NBA. We play again tomorrow night." And the blowout nature of the loss in Sacramento ensured that Phoenix will be relatively fresh for the second night of back-2-backs here – only one player reached 30 minutes of court time last night.
Jae Crowder is not a household name. He’s not an All Star. But he is the Celtics most important player other than point guard Isaiah Thomas – their glue guy, their energy guy and their top wing defender. Since Crowder hurt his ankle, the Celtics are 3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS. But all three wins come with an asterisk. They couldn’t put away Philly or Orlando, letting those two bottom feeders hang around. And then they got the Raptors on a night where Kyle Lowry was sitting.
Crowder is one of those guys who impact on the floor is far greater than his impact against the pointspread. And with much bigger matchups against the Clippers and Blazers on tap in their next two games on this West Coast swing, I’m not convinced the Celtics bring their ‘A’ game (or anything close) here.
Michael Alexander
Boston vs. Phoenix
Play: Boston -9
The Celtics have won three straight and have a firm grip on a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, tied for fourth with Miami with 10 games remaining. Phoenix has alternated wins and losses in its last six games after Friday's 116-94 loss in Sacramento and has the NBA's third-worst record behind Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston won the first meeting in the two-game season series 117-103 on Jan. 15 as Kelly Olynyk led seven players in double figures with 21 points. Boston is also 8-1 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Alex Smart
Bulls vs. Magic
Play:Magic +5
Chicago Bulls were unceremoniously swept in a home-and-home set against the inconsistent NY Knicks in their last two outings. Those events sounded some alarm bells among NBA watchers this week including myself. HC Fred Hoibergs buddy buddy camaraderie with his players, isn't paying dividends at the moment, and the team looks flat, and unmotivated and are currently exhausted as they prepare to paly their 8th game in 14 days. The Bulls biggest problems have come because of lazy defensive work ethic in transition, which has the Bulls allowing an average of 107.5 points in their last 26 games. I believe Chicago's flow is being hampered by Jimmy Butlers nagging knee injury and a key injury to Pau Gasol . These unfortunate circumstances has left the team, limping and rudderless, and at the moment no matter how badly they need wins , it will still be difficult beating a Orlando team that has matched up well against them in recent meetings. The Magic who have won 4 straight at home in this series, smashed the Bulls 102-89 here on March 2, and Im betting that even if the Bulls pull of a win here in revenge it wont come easily.
Brad Wilton
Saturday comp play winner is the Ducks to quack their way past the Sooners and move onto Houston for next Saturday's Final Four.
Pre-tournament, a lot of pundits said that the committee made a mistake by seeding the Pac 12 rep Ducks with one of the four #1 seeds. Well...you can see that Dana Altman's team has lived up to their seeding heading into today's action, and playing in Pacific 12-friendly Anaheim, the Ducks figure to have a large majority of fans in the seats at the Honda Center.
Oregon has held all three of their tourney foes to now more than 68 points, as the defense has realy stepped up. The entry from Eugene has now covered 4 of their last 5 when favored, and 7 of their last 9 overall - all as the favorite.
Look for Dillon Brooks who was/wasn't chastised by Coach K. at the end of the Ducks last win over Duke to outperform Oklahoma stud Buddy Hield in this one, and for the Ducks to advance.
Oregon the call, y'all!
3* OREGON
Jeff Benton
Your Saturday freebie is the Hawks in their near-pick contest at the Pistons.
Both teams gathering some steam right now as we head down the stretch to the postseason.
Hawks are winners of 7 of 8 straight up have also covered in 6 of their last 7 games contested.
Pistons, winners of 5 straight sport a 3-1-1 spread mark in those 5 wins!
Yes, Detroit is at home, but they have not been able to figure out how to beat Atlanta that often, as the Hawks have won and covered both series meetings this year, including a 118-114 win at this venue earlier this month.
Overall, the Hawks have copped 5 of the last 7 series meetings off the Pistons both straight up and against the spread.
Will put my eggs in the Hawks basket tonight to notch another series win and cover.
2* ATLANTA
Scott Delaney
Since the Cleveland Cavaliers can't seem to co-exist for 48 minutes, I'm taking the New York Knicks at home in this showdown between best buds.
Cleveland followed a 113-104 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday with a very loud thud in Brooklyn one night later in a 104-95 loss.
Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith shot a combined 14 for 46 (30.4 percent). The King, who has made far too many headlines for his actions off the court than he has on it, had 30 points on 13-of-16 shooting but was scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Nothing good has come from him or the Cavaliers since his social media habits became public and his comments about wanting to play with his best friends: Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade.
Cleveland just beat the Knicks in December, on its own court, but only by seven, 91-84. So how the Cavs, who might be playing worse now, are supposed to win by eight is beyond me.
Take the home pup.
3* KNICKS
Gabriel DuPont
Free play for tonight, as I look to improve on my 32-21 run with complimentary plays: Charlotte (-3) at MILWAUKEE
The STORYLINE in this game today - The Charlotte Hornets are in a place many would have imagined they would be. Well within range of home-court advantage for a first-round playoff series, this is a team that can still win the Southeast Division, as well. Tonight they'll dominate the Milwaukee Bucks.
The X-FACTOR in making this choice on this game - The sense of urgency has tohave kicked in for the Hornets, who dropped one game behind fourth-place Boston and fifth-place Miami in the Eastern Conference with last night's tough-luck 112-105 defeat to a hard-charging Detroit. The Hornets couldn't overcome a 26-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but put up a good fight. They can't afford a loss in this game and will be playing fired up.
BOTTOM LINE is - Because Charlotte takes on two teams that are well out of playoff contention over its next three games - including a home-and-home set against league-worst Philadelphia beginning Tuesday - look for the Hornets to dominate here. They're in on a 17-5 run while Milwaukee has lost four in a row.
4* HORNETS
Chris Jordan
No overnight line for this one, but I don't care.
I love the Portland Trail Blazers against the Phoenix Suns. We're talking blowout, in revenge.
Real quick, real simple. Reaching rock bottom, the Trail Blazers saw a rough spot during a hot streak through January and February when they suffered a blowout loss at Philadelphia. No way it happens again, and Portland hasn't forgotten what happen against the league-worst 76ers.
The Blazers have won 14 of 17 at home, and continue to roll there.
4* TRAIL BLAZERS
Bruce Marshall
Arizona +115
Though Philly is on an extended uptick as it makes a bold move to qualify for the playoffs, this might not be an easy test tonight at Gila River Arena. Host Arizona has won four of its last five at home, holding opponents to seven goals in that span. The Coyotes haven't allowed more than three in a game during a 6-3-1 stretch, with GK Mike Smith mostly sharp since returning to active duty. The Flyers' Steve Mason is 5-8 with a 2.95 GAA against the Coyotes in his career.