The Wunderdog
Game: Miami at Cleveland (2:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: Cleveland -200 (moneyline)
Miami is just 4-10 on the road this season, allowing 101.3 ppg. They have improved sligthly from they still stand at 8-19 overall. They have lost four of their last six games and ten of their last fourteen. Wade is great but with Shaq showing his age, Wade doesn't have the supporting cast to do much. Cleveland has been another dissapointment but they are a much better team than Miami. At home they average triple digits and have a winning record. Cleveland is off an upset loss to Golden State and must go on the road after the holidays. We expect LeBron to show up big here under the national TV spotlight and the Cavs to get the win.
Game: Phoenix at Los Angeles Lakers (5:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +3 (-110)
The Lakers are maturing quickly as a team and with it, Kobe is beginning to trust his teammates more and more. Kobe has scored below his season average in six of the last ten games, yet the Lakers have now gone on an 8-2 run, and are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Andrew Bynum has now scored in double figures in six straight games, and is becoming more and more of a factor. Lamar Odom is averaging a double-double during this 10 game run as well. The Lakers can score, but you have to also be impressed with the commitment on the other end of the floor, as they are holding teams to an NBA 3rd best in FG percentage defense and are defending the 3's at an NBA's 2nd best. The Suns, when clicking, are an unstoppable unit. The best example of this can be made by looking at their 13-2 run awhile back. They were averaging 113.6 ppg during that stretch, and simply out-scored everyone. They have really cooled off however, and with no commitment on the defensive end, it has resulted in a 3-4 stretch over their last seven games. The Suns last seven games have shown them scoring just 104.9 ppg. Where the Suns have struggled is against the good offensive teams, or the good defensive teams. They are 3-3 SU and 0-5-1 ATS vs the top seven offensive teams. They are 1-3 SU and 1-3 ATS vs the top seven defensive teams. Combined, that's 4-6 SU while going 15-2 SU in all other games and 1-8-1 ATS (11-6 ATS vs all other teams). The Suns are being out-scored in these games by 3.9 ppg. The Lakers are the 3rd best offensive team, playing well and at home. The Suns have yet to cover in this type of match-up, so we have a false favorite here.
John Ryan
AI Simulator 3* graded play on the Miami Heat. National TV spot is the perfect time for the under achieving Heat to show that they still have an interest in playing NBA caliber basketball. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 101-57 ATS over the past 5 seasons. Play on road teams after going over the total by 48 or more points total in their last seven games and is a bad team winning 25% to 40% of their games on the season. Miami is playing far better on the offensive end having scored 111, 103, and 104 points in their last 3 games. Miami is 15-3 ATS in road games after a combined score of 205 points or more 2 straight games since 1996.
TUESDAY PICKS(NSA)
20* NBA Phoenix -2.5
10* NBA Cleveland -4.5
10* NBA Seattle +7.5
TUESDAY PICKS(CHICAGO)
FORTUNE 500: 20* NBA Phoenix -2.5
EXECUTIVE: 10* NBA Miami +5
EXECUTIVE: 10* NBA Seattle +7.5
DIRECTORS: 5*
TUESDAY PICKS(CAMPONE)
CADILLAC: 20* NBA Seattle +7.5
WISEGUY ACTION: 10* NBA Miami +5
WISEGUY ACTION: 10* NBA Lakers +3
SHARP EDGE: 5*
TUESDAY PICKS(CALLAHAN)
20* NBA Cleveland -4.5
15* NBA Seattle under 198.5
15* NBA Phoenix -2.5
TUESDAY PICKS(SOUTH BEACH)
ZEBRA CLUB: 20* NBA Seattle +7.5
BIG ACTION: NBA Miami +5
BIG ACTION: NBA Phoenix over 221.5
TUESDAY PICKS(HOLLYWOOD)
INSIDE ACTION: 20* NBA Phoenix -2.5
BLUE RIBBON: NBA Miami +5
BLUE RIBBON: NBA Portland -7.5
TUESDAY PICKS(MICHIGAN)
BIG HOUSE: 20* NBA Seattle under 198.5
LOCKERROOM: 10* NBA Miami under 191.5
LOCKERROOM: 10* NBA Phoenix -2.5
TUESDAY PICKS(NEW YORK)
INNER CIRCLE: 20* NBA Seattle +7.5
SYNDICATE: NBA Cleveland -4.5
SYNDICATE: NBA Phoenix -2.5
TUESDAY PICKS(PIOLI)
HIGH ROLLER: 20* NBA Phoenix -2.5
VEGAS WISEGUY: 10* NBA Miami under 191.5
VEGAS WISEGUY: 10* NBA Seattle +7.5
TUESDAY PICKS(VIP ACTION)
VIP CLUB: 20* NBA Phoenix over 221.5
ROXY'S: NBA Cleveland -4.5
ROXY'S: NBA Portland -7.5
TUESDAY PICKS(20* CONSENSUS)
20* NBA Phoenix -2.5
TUESDAY'S PICKS(HIGH ROLLERS CLUB)
20* NBA Miami +5 and 10* UNDER 191.5
BEN BURNS
Miami Under
Suns
O.C. Dooley
Game: Primetime Total
Pick: Sonics/Blazers UNDER 197'
“1 UNIT” NBA PRIMETIME PERCENTAGE TOTAL (Sonics at Blazers UNDER 197’ in an 8:05 eastern tipoff):
This is the only Christmas tilt in the NBA that is not featured on national television, which is a shame since Portland just happens to be riding a massive 10-game winning streak and that is the longest streak this year in the entire league. Even though top draft pick Greg Oden is out for the season due to injury, the young Blazers are thriving with a roster made up of primarily ex-#1 draft picks. Last years’s “rookie of the year” Brandon Roy is averaging 23 points per game in the past two weeks where he has walked away with the “western conference player of the week” award twice. This matchup originally was touted as the first time that the NBA’s top-two draft picks would meet. Seattle has to be happy with what Kevin Durant has already given them, as the former Texas Longhorn is averaging right around 20 points per game. The oddsmakers had no choice but to inflate tonight’s total since Seattle is coming off a very high scoring 123-115 triumph, where defensive intensity was an afterthought. During their massive 10-game winning streak, Portland’s offense has put up 104 points per contest. But the bottom line is that the Blazers are one of the league’s LOWEST SCORING offenses. In the prior four games before the team went on this 10-0 mission, the Blazers were only averaging 80’ points per contest, so I am taking full advantage of tonight’s inflated total. For the season to date, Portland just happens to be 10-5 UNDER the total when playing in front of the HOME fans. Seattle is 18-8 UNDER when coming off a spread triumph, and a resounding 11-3 UNDER this campaign when off a contest where the defense allowed at least 105 points. For those of you who may not be aware, Portland’s Nate McMillian used to be a successful head coach in Seattle, before exiting due to a mess in the franchises’s front office. Dating all the way back to 1996, teams coached by McMillian are 31-14 UNDER when off 4 consecutive straight-up victories. I will wrap this up with a five-year SYSTEM (40-13) that has successfully covered the spread at a 76-PERCENT clip. This fabulous system takes teams like Seattle who are off an upset win as an underdog, UNDER a posted total in the 190’s, against an opponent (Portland) who is off a victory against a “divisional” opponent.
Spritzer
TKO Heat
Cokin
Under the hat Suns
3 star action play. Heat
Feist
Inner circle Port
5 star executive Cavs
Dr. Bob NBA OPINION
NBA Opinion
L.A. LAKERS (+3) over Phoenix
There is no way to justify the Suns being a 3 point favorite on the road against the Lakers. A line of Phoenix by 3 points is basically saying that the Suns are 6 points better than the Lakers, since the home court advantage with 2 rested teams is about 3 points. The Suns are not as good as they've been in recent years and Phoenix has an average scoring margin of +5.2 points against a schedule that is 0.1 points easier than average. The Lakers, meanwhile, have won an average margin of +5.0 points playing a schedule that is 0.5 points tougher than average. The Lakers have actually been a better team than Phoenix this season and should be favored by 3 points or more based on each team's overall performance. I have found that the Suns have had a tendency to play better on the road and against good teams, but I still get a fair line of Lakers by 1 point even if I take that into account. That's pretty significant line value in favor of Los Angeles in this game but I'll resist making the Lakers a Best Bet due to the fact that Phoenix is 14-3-1 ATS the last 3 seasons with revenge when they're not favored by more than 7 points.
Beat Your Bookie.
Daily Premium Basketball Winners for Tuesday NBA Basketball
100* Play Miami (+5) over Cleveland(2:30 P.M. EST)
Cleveland is 1-7 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points this seasonCleveland is 1-5 ATS in home games when the total is between 190 and 194.5
Miami is 3-0 ATS in road games when the total is between 190 and 199.5Miami is 15-3 ATS in road games off a combined score of 205 points or more
100* Play LA Lakers (+3) over Phoenix(5:00 P.M. EST)
Los Angeles is 11-3 ATS coming off an UNDER the totalLos Angeles is 30-13 ATS when playing in the month of DecemberLos Angeles is 4-0 ATS vs. division opponents this season
Michael Cannon
15 Dime
SUNS
Lay the small number with the Suns today when they travel to take on the Lakers.
Big revenge spot for Phoenix. They were trampled in their home debut this season by the Lakers, 119-98.
It wasn’t just the lopsided loss that sticks in the minds of the Suns, but also coach Mike D’Antoni who was furious about a late time-out called by Phil Jackson with the Lakers leading by 33 points.
I expect the Suns to come out ready to play today and for Amare Stoudamire to shoot much better than the 2-for-10 he had during the first meeting.
Phoenix is the much better team despite the presence of Kobe Bryant on the other side and this line is reduced due to the Lakers good play so far this season.
Take the Suns as they grab the win and cover today over the Lakers
Tony George
Today's Pick: PHOENIX SUNS
Not much to fret here as the Suns are 10-3 Su the last 13 playing the Lakers. Adding more fuel to the fire is that the road team in 7-2 ATS the last 9 games and the Suns are avenging a Nov. 2 loss, a bad one at home against the Lakers where some ill feelings esculated late in the game. Neither team plays defense and both teams are scoring over 100 ppg on offense. The fireworkls will be on display today however it is the depth in the frontcourt for the Suns that will make a difference in this one. The SUns are shooting an amazing 50% from the floor in road games this year which is evidenced by a stellar 11-5 SU road record. Kobe will have his 30 or 40 to keep LA in it, but expect the Suns to spread it around and get a road win here in revenge mode.
Take Phoenix.
Sports Investors Network
Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Lakers
Pick: PHX -3
The Suns offense should be unstoppable running the Lakers out of the building.The Lakers will have to abandon their half-court sets in an attempt to keep up.