Jeff Alexander
1 UNIT Spurs/Thunder UNDER 189
Oklahoma City has failed to reach the century mark in 8 straight games and the result has been a 6-2 unders run. I don't think they can get there against a Spurs team allowing just 93.4 ppg on the season. Here's the kicker: Plays Under on Road teams where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points (SAN ANTONIO) - in a game involving two average offensive teams (92-98 PPG) after 42+ games, after a close win by 3 points or less are 23-6 the last 5 seasons. San Antonio is also 24-10 UNDER in a road game where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points over the last 2 seasons, with the average score totaling 182.2 points in these games. Bet the Under.
Karl Garrett
San Antonio -5 at OKLAHOMA CITY
With the Mavs staying inside the number yesterday, the G-Man is on a 5-1 comp play run the last 6 days.
Tonight, lay the points with the Spurs as they take care of business on the road against Oklahoma City.
While Okie City is no longer the pushover they were at the start of the season, I just don't think they are catching enough points against the powerful Spurs this Monday night.
The Thunder has dropped their last pair of games, and catch the Spurs on a 4-1 run both straight up, and against the spread.
San Antonio has also been getting it done on the road, as their 9-4-1 spread mark suggests, and the Spurs have also been getting it done when favored, as their 7-1 spread mark suggests.
Finally, San Antone has won 8 of the last 9 series meetings, going 5-2-1 against the spread in those tilts.
G-Man laying the small road wood with the Spurs.
5♦ SAN ANTONIO
Tom Freese
Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Hornets
Play: New Orleans Hornets
New Orleans is 16-5 ATS as home favorites of 4.5 or less points and they are 21-10 ATS off a double digit loss. The Hornets are 4-1 ATS their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing road record and they are 7-3 ATS their last 10 games with the Rockets. Houston is 6-14 ATS their last 20 games when playing with one day of rest and they are 1-4 ATS their last 5 Monday games. The Rockets are 1-4 ATS vs. Western Conference foes and they are 1-5 ATS vs. Southeast Division teams. PLAY ON NEW ORLEANS -
Scott Rickenbach
Portland Trail Blazers @ Memphis Grizzlies
PICK: Portland Trail Blazers
Monday’s pick looks like a particularly strong situation! It doesn't get much better than this set-up. The Grizzlies are coming off of an upset win at Detroit yesterday as a nearly double digit dog! As for the Blazers, they come into this game off of an embarrassing 18 point loss at Atlanta.
The Trail Blazers just didn't have the energy or the focus necessary to compete with the Hawks yesterday and, as you would expect, they will most certainly bring that effort today! That's because Portland will be very hungry to bounce back from that disappointing loss at Atlanta! The set-up is beautiful as the Blazers got blown out yesterday while the Grizzlies had to 'hang on for dear life' yesterday as they held off a major Pistons rally. This leaves the Blazers as the much fresher and hungrier team Monday and, because they're on the road, the points to lay here are very manageable! Consider a small play on Portland minus the points on Monday night.
Spartan
NOH / HOU Under 182.5
Saturday night the Rockets got a healthy dose of stout defense by their rivals the Spurs dropping a hard fought 88-85 ballgame. Don't get me wrong, the Rockets do play respectable defense being currently the 7th ranked defensive squad in the league but they also realize the difference between truly great teams and title contenders lies in commitment on the defensive end. Tonight they meet the Hornets who are currently 4th in the league in defense. The last time these two got together they came in 17 points under the number. I'm looking for some solid work tonight on defense by both teams and suggest playing the Rockets and Hornets to come in under the total of 182.5.
Dwayne Bryant
MEM +6 vs POR
4th game in 6 days and second roadie in as many nights for the Blazers, who got pounded in Atlanta yesterday. The Blazers are just 1-7 SU in their last 8 road games, and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite of 5 to 10.5 points.Portland beat Memphis in this season's only meeting, but it was only a 4-point home win as an 11.5-point favorite. The Blazers have won 3 straight in Memphis, but the margins of victory have been just 1, 3, and 6 points. I can't expect much more than that considering how poorly Portland is playing on the road and how competitive Memphis has been lately.Memphis is coming off a big upset win at Detroit yesterday. Memphis has now covered 6 of their last 7 games and they're 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600. The Grizzlies are also 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog.Both teams played yesterday. The Blazers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games playing without rest, while Memphis is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games when playing without rest.Should be a tight one. I'll grab the points with Memphis.
Tommy the Swami
NOH / HOU Under 182.5
The Hornets are using defense, rebounding, and a slow down tempo to mask their injuries. This style of play is a big factor in them falling Under in 7 of their last 10 games.Rockets playing great defense which has caused them to go Under in 5 straight games. Both teams will have their playoff faces on as they try and hang on to their playoff seeds. This is a very hard nosed defensive series , with 5 of the last 6 staying Under the total.
Vernon Croy
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Play: Under 187
The Spurs are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA with opponents averaging 93.4 ppg against them this season and just 89.8 ppg over their last 5 games. The last time these teams played back in December the final total was 213 but both teams shot over 51% from the field and that will simply not happen tonight because this Spurs team has improved a lot defensively since that game. The total average score for the Thunder in their last 3 home games was just 172.3 ppg and that was against Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia who are not as good defensively as the Spurs. The Spurs just held a good Houston team to 85 points in their last road game and the O/U is 1-8 for the Thunder in their last 9 games as a home dog of +3.5 to +6.0 points. The O/U is 0-6 for the Thunder in their last 6 home games against a team that has a road winning record above .600 and the O/U is 0-6 for the Spurs in their last 6 road games against a team with a home winning record below .400. The O/U is 2-9 for the Spurs in their last 11 road games against a team with a losing record and the O/U is 3-9 for the Spurs in their last 12 road games as a favorite of -5.0 to -10.5 points. Take the Under as my NBA Free Play for Monday night.
Ben Burns
Washington Capitals at Atlanta Thrashers
Prediction: Atlanta Thrashers
Given how well they've been playing lately (5 straight wins) I believe that we're getting solid value with the Thrashers tonight. While they did lose both games at Washington, the Thrashers won 7-4 in the lone meeting here at Atlanta. Including that result, the Thrashers are 10-5 the last 15 times that they were a host in this series. Consider backing the home dog.
Larry Ness
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs won a huge game over the second-place Rockets in Houston on Saturday. Tony Parker (21.2-6.7 APG) scored 28 points (including San Antonio's final nine), as the Spurs beat the Rockets, 88-85. The Spurs now lead the Rockets by 2 1/2 games in the division and four games in the loss column. San Antonio hopes to finish a quick two-game road trip with a win tonight in Oklahoma City vs the Thunder. Oklahoma City is opening a three-game homestand, coming off a 106-95 loss in Phoenix on Saturday. Thunder star Kevin Durant (25.9-4.8) returned from a seven-game absence due to an ankle injury to post a team-high 22 points. Russell Westbrook's (15.9-4.8-5.0) 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists were overshadowed by his eight turnovers. Surprisingly, the Thunder went 5-2 without Durant in their lineup. Oklahoma City is just 13-20 at home this season, while the Spurs are 21-12 on the road, having won two straight and eight of their past nine meetings (anywhere) with the Oklahoma City/Seattle franchise. Finley (9.8) totaled 17 points and hit five three-pointers for the second straight game for the Spurs, while Tim Duncan (20.0-10.7) had his fourth consecutive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Spurs are the league's top three-point shooting team (40.0), led by Bonner (47.1 percent), Finely (44.9 percent) and Mason (43.1). Parker makes just 34.0 percent from three-point land but shoots 49.0 percent overall plus 80.7 percent on free throws. Tonight's game will be head coach Gregg Popovich's 1,000th as an NBA coach (24th to do so). Expect the Spurs to help him celebrate the milestone with a victory. Lay it with the Spurs.
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EZWINNER'S FREE SELECTION
Game: Houston Rockets @ Net Orleans Hornets
(507) Houston Rockets (+3.5)
The Rockets are coming off of a loss against the Spurs,
but Houston is a solid 13-3 against the spread after failing
to cover the spread in their previous game. The Hornets
have not faired well lately in this role as they are only 1-5
against the spread in their last six games as a home favorite
of 4.5 points or less. Look for Yao and Scola to dominate the
paint in this one. Take the points with the Rockets.
2009 Free Selections Record 42-32 (56.8%)
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Today's Free Pick is San Antonio -5