Nick Parsons
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors Feb
Prediction: New York Knicks
With football now over, our focus here week in and week out has been the NBA. The only game on last weekends docket in the NBA was the All-Star Game but that was no problem as we cashed in right here for you with that one. We focused our attention here on a game where we expected to see some solid line value on the total. As weve seen though the years, there is very little focus on defense in the NBAs annual All-Star classic and we felt the over would hold value and it absolutely did for us. With that win taken care of we now go back to an old faithful play here and thats the Knicks. We rode the Knicks to victory three weeks ago here as they won outright as a dog at Indiana, and two weeks ago when they were a big dog at Portland and lost by just a point! Now well look to do the same with New York this Sunday as they should be catching a solid number of points at Toronto. In the write-up two weeks ago we mentioned that the Knicks were playing some of their best basketball of the season at the time of the writing. That had certainly been the case as, through February 3rd the Knicks had won six of their last eight games. One of the two losses in that stretch was at Philadelphia and the Knicks did get the cash in that game as they stayed inside the big number! The other loss came at home but it was against the mighty Lakers and New York fell just short of the cover. As weve mentioned in prior weeks write-ups, after a stretch where they suffered mostly losses, the Knicks made some adjustments to starters, playing time, and rotation. It appeared that New York head coach DAntoni was finally getting all the right pieces in place and had figured out the best way to match guys up. The Knicks have a solid frontcourt that was playing aggressively and had found out how well they could perform as a team when they play defense and rebound! That was the key to New York?s success because certainly the offense is there for the Knicks! New York has always had a high powered attack that has now been enhanced with DAntoni running the show. The pick-up of Al Harrington this season has also been big because the Knicks have seen major contributions from him. However, the real key of enhancement for this Knicks team is finally playing a little team defense and crashing the boards hard. After losing six straight games entering the All-Star break, most by very tight margins though, look for a big effort on Sunday at Toronto. Play ON the New York Knicks on Sunday and good luck from Nick "The BookieKiller" Parsons!
SPORTS ADVISORS
(12) Villanova (21-5, 13-9 ATS) at (24) Syracuse (19-7, 10-12 ATS)
Villanova looks to continue its strong play when it travels to the Carrier Dome for a Big East battle with inconsistent Syracuse.
The Wildcats have won seven of their last eight games, and they rebounded from the one defeat – a 93-72 loss at West Virginia on Feb. 13 – with Thursday’s 82-72 home victory over Rutgers. However, Villanova failed to cover as a hefty 16½-point home chalk, its second straight ATS setback after an 8-0 ATS run. Jay Wright’s team has been an offensive force of late, averaging 90.4 points per game on 49 percent shooting in its last five games, but it has also surrendered 85 ppg on 45.5 percent shooting during this stretch.
Syracuse has been idle since last Saturday, when it needed overtime to put away Georgetown, winning 98-94 and eking out the cash as a 3½-point home chalk. Despite that outcome, the Orange are mired in a 3-6 SU and ATS funk, and the SU winner has covered in each of the team’s last 11 games, all in Big East action.
Villanova is 9-4 in league action (8-5 ATS), including 3-3 SU and ATS on the road. Syracuse, which started Big East play 4-0 (3-1 ATS), is now 7-6 SU and 6-7 ATS in conference, but 5-1 SU and ATS at home.
Included in the Wildcats’ ongoing 8-1 SU run was a 102-85 rout of Syracuse as a 6½-point home favorite back on Feb. 7. Villanova has won and covered two straight in this rivalry and is 6-2 in the last eight (5-3 ATS), including 4-1 ATS in its last five trips to Syracuse. Also, the ‘dog has cashed in four of the last five clashes overall.
In addition to their 8-2 overall ATS run, the Wildcats are riding positive pointspread streaks of 7-1 against winning teams and 4-0 on Sunday. However, they’re 7-15 ATS in their last 22 after a non-cover. Syracuse is 5-1 ATS in its last six at the Carrier Dome, but is otherwise in ATS funks of 2-5 on Sunday, 2-5 versus winning teams, 2-5 on Sunday and 1-6 after a spread-cover.
The over is on runs of 5-0 for Villanova overall, 6-0 for Villanova on the road, 4-0 for Villanova after a victory and 4-1 for Syracuse after a SU win. However, the total has alternated in each of the last 10 meetings in this rivalry, with this month’s contest at Villanova soaring over the posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: VILLANOVA and OVER
(18) Illinois (21-6, 13-9-1 ATS) at Ohio State (17-7, 12-8 ATS)
Illinois will try to rebound from an embarrassing offensive showing in Thursday’s home loss to Penn State when it heads to Columbus to take on Ohio State in a key Big Ten rumble.
The Illini got dumped 38-33 as a 9½-point home favorite against Penn State, snapping a three-game SU winning streak and falling to 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight outings. It was the second time in seven games that Illinois had scored less than 40 points, and against the Nittany Lions, the Illini made just 15 of 50 field goals and didn’t get to the free-throw line once.
Ohio State hit a rough patch last week, suffering consecutive narrow road losses to Wisconsin (55-50) and Northwestern (72-69), which comes on the heels of a four-game SU winning streak. The Buckeyes also had a 5-0 ATS run halted when they failed to cover as a 1½-piont road underdog against Northwestern on Wednesday.
The Illini are in third place in the Big Ten at 9-5 (7-6-1 ATS), including 3-4 SU and ATS on the road. The Buckeyes are 7-6 in conference (8-5 ATS), including 5-1 in Columbus (4-2 ATS). In fact, OSU has won and covered three straight at home against league rivals and is 26-3 SU in its last 29 when hosting Big Ten opponents.
Illinois pummeled the Buckeyes 67-49 as a 7½-point home favorite on Jan. 20, ending a five-game losing skid (4-1 ATS) in this rivalry. The home team has won eight of the last 10 in this series (7-3 ATS), and the host has cashed in 12 of the last 16. Finally, Ohio State is on a 6-1 ATS roll against the Illini at home, with Illinois’ last win in Columbus coming in 2004.
Defense has been the hallmark of both squads this season, with Illinois yielding just 55.7 ppg (39.2 percent shooting) and Ohio State giving up only 61.3 ppg (40.3 percent). Not surprisingly, then, the under is on streaks of 21-8 for Illinois overall, 5-0 for Illinois on the highwau, 35-17-1 for Illinois in Big Ten play, 5-1 for Illinois versus winning teams, 20-7-1 for Illinois on Sunday, 4-1 for Ohio State versus winning teams and 15-4 for Ohio State on Sunday.
Finally, five of the last six battles in this rivalry have stayed low, and the under is 4-0 in the last four clashes at Ohio State.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OHIO STATE and UNDER
Wisconsin (17-9, 11-12-1 ATS) at (6) Michigan State (20-5, 12-9-1 ATS)
Red-hot Wisconsin continues its roller-coaster Big Ten season, while Michigan State hopes to rebounding for a ugly loss as these Big Ten foes clash at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.
The Badgers have followed up a six-game conference losing skid (0-5-1 ATS) with five straight league wins (4-1 ATS), most recently dispatching Indiana 68-51 as a 9½-point road favorite Thursday. Wisconsin has ridden its defense lately, giving up just 49.4 ppg on 41.7 percent shooting during the five-game winning streak after yielding 68.3 ppg on 50.2 percent shooting during the six-game slide.
Michigan State had a three-game SU and ATS winning streak abruptly halted in Tuesday’s 72-54 loss at Purdue, the team’s worst loss of the conference season. The Spartans have produced exactly 54 points in each of the last two games after averaging 73.6 ppg in the previous five. Prior to the Purdue contest, Tom Izzo’s team had allowed 47, 47 and 42 points during its three-game winning streak.
The Spartans still lead the Big Ten with an 10-3 mark (7-5-1 ATS), including 4-2 SU and 2-4 ATS in East Lansing. Wisconsin, which started Big Ten play with three straight wins (2-1 ATS), is now 8-6 in conference (6-7-1 ATS), including 3-4 SU and 3-3-1 ATS on the road.
The home team has owned this series, winning seven straight regular-season battles (6-1 ATS). Wisconsin has won the last four meetings overall (2-2 ATS), including a pair of victories in the Big Ten tournament (65-63 last year; 70-57 in 2007) and a pair of home wins (57-42 last year; 52-50 in 2007). However, the Spartans have won and covered the last three at the Breslin Center.
The Badgers carry ATS streaks of 14-6 on the road, 17-8 after a SU win, 7-3-1 as a road underdog and 5-2 on Sunday. Michigan State is on pointspread surges of 5-2 overall (all in Big Ten play), 8-0 after a SU loss, 5-1 after a non-cover, 5-1 as a chalk and 42-20-1 when favored between seven and 12½ points.
Wisconsin is on “under” stretches of 4-1 overall, 6-1 on Sunday and 25-8 after an ATS win. The Spartans are on “under” streaks of 4-0 overall, 8-3 at home and 5-2 after a non-cover. Finally, each of the last four regular-season meetings in this series have stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MICHIGAN STATE and UNDER
(8) Wake Forest (20-4, 12-8 ATS) at (9) Duke (21-5, 11-13-1 ATS)
Duke, which hasn’t won consecutive games this month, hopes to end that streak and avenge last month’s last-second loss at Wake Forest when these ACC rivals battle it out at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Blue Devils took a break from ACC play on Thursday and held off St. John’s 76-69, but they took their foot off the gas early once again and failed to cash as a 14-point road favorite, their fifth consecutive non-cover. Duke has lost two straight and four of six in ACC action, including a 101-87 defeat to archrival North Carolina as a two-point underdog on Feb. 11, its most recent home game.
Like Duke, the Demon Deacons have been struggling with consistency, splitting their last eight games both SU and ATS after opening the year with 16 consecutive wins (8-4 ATS). Wake Forest does come into this one on a two-game SU and ATS roll, pounding Florida State (86-63) and Georgia Tech (87-69), but both of those games were at home. The Deacons are in an 0-3 SU and ATS rut in ACC road contests.
The SU winner is 13-0 ATS in Wake Forest’s last 13 games, including 12-0 ATS in conference action.
These schools are in a four-way tie for second place in the ACC standings at 7-4. However, while Wake is 7-4 ATS in conference (2-3 SU and ATS on the road), the Blue Devils are 4-7 against the number (5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS at home).
The Demon Deacons scored on an inbounds play in the waning seconds back on Jan. 24 to beat Duke 70-68 as a two-point home underdog after squandering a big second-half lead. Wake Forest has won the last two meetings (2-0 ATS) after losing the previous five and going 0-6 ATS in the previous six.
Also, in this rivalry, the home team is 8-1 SU in the last nine battles and 13-3 ATS in the last 17. In fact, Duke has defeated Wake Forest 10 straight times at Cameron Indoor, all by double figures, and the Demon Deacons have cashed just once in their last 11 visits to Durham. Finally, the favorite is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 matchups.
Wake Forest is on ATS runs of 9-4 overall, 5-0 as an underdog and 6-2 on Sunday. Conversely, Duke is ATS ruts of 0-4 in ACC play, 0-4 as a favorite, 1-5 as a favorite of less than seven points and 0-7 when laying less than seven at home.
For Wake Forest, the over is on stretches of 4-0 overall, 5-1 on Sunday and 8-3 as an underdog, while Duke has topped the total in its last four overall. However, the under for Duke is on streaks of 12-3 in ACC play, 18-6 at home, 20-8 as a favorite and 4-1 on Sunday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DUKE
Arizona (18-8, 15-10 ATS) at (14) Arizona State (20-5, 14-7 ATS)
Arizona State will attempt to sweep the season series from hated rival Arizona for the second straight season and remain in the hunt for its first Pac-10 title ever when it hosts the streaking Wildcats at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Sun Devils have won and covered in four straight games, all in league play, including last weekend’s impressive home sweep of UCLA (74-67 as a 1½-point underdog) and USC (65-53 as a 6½-point chalk). Arizona State, which allows just 58.5 ppg on 40.6 percent shooting for the season, has been especially strong defensively during the winning streak, yielding only 53.8 ppg.
Since suffering a 53-47 home loss to the Sun Devils on Jan. 21, Arizona has ripped off seven consecutive wins (6-1 ATS). Like their rivals, the Wildcats are also coming off a home sweep of both USC (83-76 as a 2½-point favorite) and UCLA (84-72 as a five-point underdog), and they’ve scored at least 83 points in five of the seven games during their winning streak.
The Sun Devils, who haven’t won a conference championship in 40 years in the Pac-10, are in a three-way tie for second place in the standings at 9-4 SU and ATS (4-2 SU and ATS at home). The Wildcats are a game back at 8-5 SU and ATS (2-4 SU and ATS on the road). The SU winner is 13-0 ATS in Arizona State’s conference games and 11-2 ATS in Arizona’s 13.
Both teams shot under 30 percent in last month’s defensive struggle in Tucson, and the winner has averaged just 59.3 ppg in the last four head-to-head battles. Arizona State has won the last three against Arizona and cashed in each of the last four after going 6-43 SU in the previous 49 clashes. In last year’s meeting in Tempe, the Sun Devils pulled out a 64-59 overtime win as a 2½-point home favorite.
Also in this rivalry, the home team is on a 7-3 ATS roll and the favorite has cashed in nine of the last 12.
Although it is 6-1 ATS in its last seven overall and 5-1 ATS in its last six Pac-10 games, Arizona has failed to cover in eight of its last 11 road games and is 1-4 ATS in its last five as a road pup. Arizona State’s ATS runs include 5-2 at home, 4-1 after a SU win, 4-1 after a spread-cover and 13-3 when favored by seven to 12½ points.
For Arizona, the over is on runs of 6-1 overall, 5-1 in Pac-10 play and 4-1 as an underdog, but the ‘Cats have stayed low in five straight Sunday games. Arizona State is on “under” tears of 8-3 overall (all in the Pac-10), 7-2 as a favorite, 6-0 against winning teams and 11-4 after an ATS win. Finally, the last six meetings in this heated rivalry have stayed below the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ARIZONA STATE and UNDER
NBA
Boston (44-12, 31-25 ATS) at Phoenix (31-23, 20-32-2 ATS)
The Celtics begin life without superstar Kevin Garnett when they resume their six-game road trip with a stop in Phoenix against the high-scoring Suns.
Garnett suffered a knee injury at the end of the first half of Thursday’s 90-85 loss at Utah and will be sidelined at least two weeks. Without their big man, the Celtics got outscored 52-46 in the second half against the Jazz and lost as a 2½-point road chalk, ending a nine-game road winning streak (8-1 ATS). Boston has now followed up a 12-game overall winning streak (9-3 ATS) by splitting its last six contests SU and ATS. In fact, Doc Rivers’ team has failed to cover in five of its last eight outings, all as a favorite.
Phoenix has caught fire since the firing of coach Terry Porter on Monday, cruising to three straight double-digit wins over the Clippers (twice) and Thunder. The Suns scored 140, 142 and 140 points in the three victories, becoming the first team since 1990 to hit 140 or more in three straight games. Prior to the offensive surge, Phoenix had lost consecutive road games to the Cavaliers and 76ers, managing just 92 and 91 points.
Boston hammered the Suns 104-87 as an 8½-point home favorite back on Jan. 19. The Celtics have taken the last two meetings SU and ATS – both at home – after Phoenix had won the pervious five (3-2 ATS). The host is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the last four head-to-head battles, but going back five-plus seasons, the visitor is on an 8-3 ATS run.
Despite its recent 3-5 ATS dip, the Celtics are still on positive pointspread surges of 8-2 on the highway, 11-4 against the Pacific Division, 16-7 on Sunday, 5-0 when playing on two days’ rest and 7-3 versus winning teams. Conversely, Phoenix is in ATS slumps of 3-10-1 versus the Eastern Conference, 0-5-1 against the Atlantic Division, 7-20-1 after a spread-cover, 4-9 after a SU win and 2-6 against teams with a winning record.
The Suns are on “over” streaks of 4-0 overall, 4-1 on Sunday, 9-0 after a double-digit victory, 5-1 after a win of any margin and 4-1 when playing on one day of rest. The over is also 9-4 in Boston’s last 13 Sunday outings and 9-3-1 in its last 13 when playing on two days’ rest. However, the Celtics have stayed under the total in 35 of their last 52 roadies and 14 of their last 21 against Western Conference opponents.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
Detroit (27-26, 20-33 ATS) at Cleveland (42-11, 35-18 ATS)
The Pistons, who are in the midst of their second five-game losing skid in the last five weeks, will try to avoid their longest drought since 2004 when they travel to Quicken Loans Arena for a Central Division clash with LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Detroit came up short once again Thursday, falling to San Antonio 83-79 as a one-point home favorite, the team’s 10th loss in its last 12 home games (1-11 ATS). The Pistons’ last four defeats have come by six points or fewer, and they’re now 5-14 SU and 4-15 ATS since Jan. 10, covering just once in their last nine outings.
Cleveland went to Milwaukee on Friday and got a career night from James (55 points) en route to a 111-103 road win, barely cashing as a 7½-point favorite. The Cavaliers, who now have a commanding 15-game lead over Detroit in the Central Division standings and the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference, have won three in a row (3-0 ATS) and seven of nine (6-3 ATS). Also, Mike Brown’s squad, which crushed Phoenix 109-92 as a nine-point favorite in its most recent home game Feb. 11, is an NBA-best 24-1 SU and 19-6 ATS at home.
The Cavs went to Detroit on Super Bowl Sunday and outscored the Pistons 32-14 in the fourth quarter to earn a 90-80 come-from-behind victory as a 4½-point road favorite, with James paving the way with 33 points. That snapped the Pistons’ 3-0 SU and ATS run in this rivalry, though Detroit is still just 4-10 ATS in the last 10 series meetings (1-4 ATS in its last five trips to Cleveland). Going back to a 2007 playoff battle won by Cleveland, the home team is 7-3 SU and ATS in this rivalry, the winner has covered the spread in all 10 of those contests and the favorite has gotten the money in each of the last seven battles.
The Pistons’ negative ATS trends are plentiful, including 0-5 overall, 1-11 on Sunday, 0-6 as an underdog, 1-6 against the Eastern Conference, 1-4 versus divisional foes, 1-10 against teams with a winning record 7-19 after a SU defeat and 6-18 after an ATS setback. However, they’ve 20-8-2 ATS in their last 30 games when catching between 5½ and 10 points.
Going back to last year’s playoffs, Cleveland has cashed in 22 of its last 28 home games, all as a favorite, and is on additional pointspread tears of 39-18 overall, 35-17 as a chalk and 25-12 against the Eastern Conference, but the Cavs have failed to cover in four of their last five on Sunday.
The under is an astounding 27-6 in the last 33 Pistons-Cavaliers matchups, including 6-0 in the last six, with 16 of the last 21 at Quicken Loans Arena also staying low. Also, Cleveland carries “under” streaks of 5-2 overall, 7-1 against the Eastern Conference, 6-1 versus the Central Division, 14-3 when playing on one day of rest, 26-6 against teams with a winning record and 37-16 on Sunday. Finally, Detroit’s “under” trends include 13-5 on the road, 45-20-1 as an underdog, 12-3 on Sunday, 8-3 when playing on two-days’ rest, 25-6 against winning teams and 18-8-1 after a SU defeat.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CLEVELAND and UNDER
Frank Jordan
Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Play: Detroit Pistons +9
These two teams are the top two in Central division of the Eastern Conference, but they aren't that close as Cleveland has a 15 game lead and is 24-1 at home. In this one look for Detroit to end their losing streak as they gear up for this game and ride the hot shooting of Allen Iverson and look for Prince to shut down the King. Play Detroit
Big Al McMordie
Michigan vs. Iowa
Play: Iowa -1
At 5 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Iowa Hawkeyes minus the points over Michigan. Although Iowa will be without two of its players (Cyrus Tate and Jeff Peterson), we'll still step in and back the Hawkeyes against an inconsistent Michigan squad. The Wolves check in off back-to-back wins (70-67 at Northwestern and 74-62 over Minnesota), yet U-M hasn't won and covered three straight games all season. And even worse for John Beilein's men is that Michigan is an awful 25-52 its last 77 as road dogs, and 1-14 ATS its last 15 Big 10 Roadies off back to back wins (with the previous win at home) vs. a foe off a straight-up loss. Take Iowa.
Craig Trapp
Wake Forest vs. Duke
Play: Over 151
Both these teams are playing for seeding and will be a slugfest. Duke shoots much better at home and will be pushing it all day. Wake Forest loves to play up and down game and force a ton of turnovers with there very athletic wing players.
Trends are great for the over in this match up with both teams 4-0 there last 4 games!! Have to go with the over they should both be over 77 pts apiece!!
Dave Cokin
Illinois @ Ohio State 1PM ET
Play: Ohio State -2'
Illinois looks like they're in excellent shape for an invite to the NCAA Tournament. The landscape isn't as attractive for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are definitely still in the hunt, but this is a game they really need. I think there's a pretty good chance they'll get it. Ohio State has thoroughly dominated the Illini on this court, covering seven of their last eight meetings as hosts. The game power rates very close to even, so there's really no line value with Ohio State, but I believe the situation is solid enough to warrant a lean to the Buckeyes today.
James Patrick
Pistons vs. Cavaliers
The Boys from Motown come to Cleveland and that hasn't been a very pleasant trip for Detroit especially in Sunday action as the Pistons don't click on Sunday with a 1-11 ATS record. Cavaliers are 19-6 ATS as a home favorite and 22-6-1 ATS of late. Our Sunday NBA complimentary selection is Cleveland Cavaliers at home and you can see the action on ESPN.
Jim Feist
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS at PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Take: OVER
Reason: The Blazers have a potent offense, as was evident the last game, a thorough 108-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. They racked up 44 points in the paint, accumulated 22 second-chance points. The Blazers used hot shooting to build a 97-61 lead. Fueled by a small lineup, the Blazers made 7 of their first 10 field goals in the fourth quarter as Rudy Fernandez was swishing jumpers and Brandon Roy was doing a little bit of everything. Now they face a team that plays no defense, giving up 140 and 142 points the last two games. In fact, the disinterested Clippers are on a 9-1 run over the total. Look for plenty of points in the Rose Garden, play the Clippers/Blazers over the total.
Marc Lawrence
Play On: Arizona
The Wildcats travel to Tempe to take on arch rival Arizona State in a key PAC 10 showdown this evening. Aside from looking to avenge a 53-47 home loss a month ago - a game in which they were held to their lowest scoring output in over two decades - Arizona has taken it on the chin three straight times in this series. Prior to the three losses they were 24-1SU in the previous 25 games against the Sun Devils. With the Wildcats a sterling 33-13 ATS as dogs in games off back-to-back wins, the points become the play in this game today.
Jimmy The Moose
Colorado Avalanche at Carolina Hurricanes
Prediction: Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche come into this one having won 3 straight games. Two of their last 3 wins have come in Detroit and Washington. Colorado is 26-10 in their last 36 games vs. Eastern Conference opponents. In their last 8 games vs. Southeast opponents the Avalanche are 7-1. Carolina is 3-10 in their last 13 games vs. team's from the Northwest division. The Hurricanes always have trouble vs. Colorado. Colorado is 5-0-1 in their last 6 trips to Carolina. Colorado is 11-0-1 in the last 12 meetings overall. Play on the Colorado Avalanche +.
Brian Hansen
Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers
Prediction: Over
The Rangers are coming off a 4-2 loss on the road in Buffalo, but I expect them to concentrate on the offensive side this evening as the Toronto Maple Leafs, who lost last night to the Canucks, 3-2 in shootout hit the road for a back to back! Toronto has seen the total go over the number in 12 of 20 contests when playing against a team with a winning record; play on the OVER!
Rob Vinciletti
Michigan vs. Iowa
Play: Michigan +1
On Sunday the comp play is on Michigan.Game 837 at 5:05 eastern.Michigan has played extremely well vs teams who have trouble scoring and average less than 64.ppg.They are 15-2 su vs these teams.Iowa is just 5-12 su vs winning teams,4-8 after scoring 60 or less,3-10 in conference play,2-5 home with revenge and 4-10 vs teams who allow less than 65 per game.Back Michigan as the comp play.
MyDreamBet
Boston Celtics @ Phoenix Suns
Pick: Phoenix Suns
This Sunday we have an interesting match between current champions of the NBA, the Boston Celtics who visit the Phoenix Suns. It is a great balance for this game and the spread gives the home team, the Suns, favorites of the short Spread -1. The range of total points in the meeting is situated on 225 points.
The current champions of the NBA, the Boston Celtics, have made a regular league,as the image of his team, and now occupy the 2nd position of the East Division with a fantastic record of 44-12. The basis of the Celtics team keeps the same as last year and the "Big Three" of Boston continues to delight fans of Basket with excellent performances. The big problem for the team of Boston Celtics is the absence of Kevin Garnett powerful for today's game against the Suns, Garnett will be out in the coming days due to injury, joining it to Tony Allen who is also injured. With these two lesions of the team of Boston Celtics is very weak in the game inside, and this task will be delivered to Glen Davis, Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins.
The team of the Boston Celtics facing a "Road Trip" of 6 times, and presents itself in this game after a defeat in front of the visiting team of Utah Jazz by 85-90. Playing away from home to the Celtics team record also shows a positive with a total of 20-8.
For the Phoenix Suns team they go through a stage very confusing and tricky. The Suns were deprived of their powerful PF Amare Stoudemire will probably not play more this season. Despite this bad news, the truth is that the team through a good phase to win the last 3 games by numbers significant enough to have an idea of the offensive could this team, the Suns score 121.PPG an average of last 5 games, having suffered an average of 110.8, thus returning to the old days of team-style "Run and Gun" seems to result in the perfection of this Suns team.
Despite the good time in the Phoenix Suns, they still occupy the 9th position of the hard division of the West with a record total of 31-23, which does not allow its entry into the playoffs for the Suns, this team urgently needs to add victories that can assert itself in the first 8 places in your conference. Playing at home the team the Suns a good record sum of 16-10.
This will be a game between two teams with the best players in the league and can provide a great show for fans of the NBA. On the one hand there are the current champions of the NBA, the Boston Celtics, who have made a sensational season, on the other hand we have the Phoenix Suns in recent games that have to be in excellent shape and with an enormous desire to win.
Although the balance of odds for this game, I believe that the Phoenix Suns have every advantage to achieve victory. Both teams have 2 absences of weight on the side of the Boston Celtics played without Kevin Garnett and the Suns part of the absence of Amare Stoudamire. Looking at these two absences believe the Phoenix Suns have a squad full of very talent that, with the Boston Celtics. We have seen in recent games Leandro Barbosa and Jason Richardson to make excellent displays, and Shaquille O'Neal to dominate completely the tables, and all the team controlled by the excellence of Steve Nash Guard.
These two teams have already faced this season with Boston to win the game for 87-104, but the scenario for this game is completely different and I believe that the Phoenix Suns will avenge this defeat and thus achieve a good victory.
Stephen Nover
TOR -3 vs NYK
Raptors revenge. I see it happening after New York humiliated Toronto, 127-97, at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.The Raptors should be very fired-up for this early Sunday matchup. They take great pride in beating New York in Toronto. The Raptors have defeated the Knicks eight consecutive times at home.The Knicks are trying to break in newly-acquired Larry Hughes and Chris Wilcox. But they're initially going to experience cultural shock picking up Mike D'Antoni's fast-paced style. They are not in shape yet to do that kind of running.Shawn Marion is getting more comfortable with his new Toronto teammates. This is his third game with the Raptors. The Raptors also have back Chris Bosh from a knee injury. He should be fresher in his second game back from the injury.Depending on how you feel about David Lee of the Knicks, the Raptors could have the three best players on the court in Marion, Bosh and Jose Calderon.
Mike Wynn Sports
Ohio St @ Wisconsin
Big game for both these teams Saturday as both teams have much to play for. Ohio St at 17-5 overall and 7-4 in conference would definitely be an NCAA team at this point, but a loss here would make thing a little hairy with the tough conference schedule to close out season. Wisconsin at 15-10 overall and 6-6 in conference are in absolute win mode these days if they want to get a bid. Wisconsin has tough road tests at Minnesota and Michigan St left on the schedule but the rest is very winnable. Badgers must win 5 of their last 7 and make a decent run in the Big10 tournament to get their 12th NCAA tournament bid in a row. So let’s take a look at both these teams and we’ll start with the visiting Buckeyes of Ohio St.
Thad Matta has his team in position for an NCAA tournament bid at 17-5 this season, but this team is just 2-3 on the road in the Big10 this season. Buckeyes will need a big game out of Evan Turner their leading scorer at 17 points per contest. Turner leads a relatively young Ohio St squad that struggles with consistency night and night out, especially on the road. Buckeyes top 3 scorers consist of 2 sophomores and a freshmen, and the Buckeyes have no seniors on this team. Ohio St road wins over Michigan & Indiana aren’t exactly impressive and this is going to be a tough test at the Kohl Center Saturday night where the Badgers have been dominant in recent years under Bo Ryan. A loss Saturday won’t kill Ohio St’s tournament hopes but a win would be a big big boost.
Wisconsin as I mentioned early is in must win mode here as they’ve been the last 3 games. Badgers dropped a Bo Ryan worst 6 straight games prior to winning their last 3 and it’s all started on the defensive end for the Badgers. In the 6 losses Wisconsin was giving up around 50% from the floor and in the last 3 games they’ve tightened the defense and allowed 50, 44, and 52 points. Also helping Wisconsin lately has been the outside shooting from Bohannon, who’s been stroking it from behind the arc. Wisconsin a team that really lacks a star on the floor, but they’re a veteran group that plays defense well and takes care of the ball. Badgers only have 3 players averaging double digits led by senior Marcus Landry’s 12.8 per contest and Bo Ryan has a pretty nice rotation with 8 guys averaging double digit minutes per game.
Bottom line here is that Wisconsin needs this one more than Ohio St and with a line right around 4 or 5 I’ll be willing to lay it. Wisconsin also gets the advantage of have the ESPN Game Day crew on campus Saturday so expect an extra vocal crowd for this national TV affair. Badgers have won 5 straight against the Buckeyes at the Kohl Center and we’ll look for another big Badger win in this one.