GOLD MEDAL CLUB
NBA Milwaukee Money line (HUGE)
NHL Chicago (HUGE)
Larry Ness
25* Club-NBA (1st TY!)
Detroit Pistons
RAS
NC Wilm +16' 1 Unit
Hunter Price
(POD) NEW JERSEY NETS +4 over DALLAS MAVERICKS
This game is all about the home team as out of t he last 7 times these 2 teams have played the home team has come away with the W. I see Harris show casing his talent once again against the team that thought they could not win a championship with him running the helm and traded for Kidd last year (talk about a mistake). To the point, I see the Nets playing tough and feeding off of Harris as he looks to throw it inthe face of his former team.
CHICAGO BULLS +13 over BOSTON CELTICS
One of the most telling facts about these baby bulls is that they are 5-1 ATS when they are dogs of 11 or higher. This shows us they get up for elite teams on the road and play them tight. That trend will continue tonight as this is a good let down spot for the Celtics as they just got over a tough game down in Atlanta that they really wanted to have after not being able to win a game there in the 1st round of last years playoffs. The Bulls conversely will be up to the challenge of playing the defending champs and showing they are ready to get back into the playoffs, as a win tonight would go a long way to giving them the confidence they need.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER +7 over TORONTO RAPTORS
While I have no desire to watch this game as both of these two teams bore the hell out of me, I can't turn a blind eye to a good play. The Thunder will end up with the worst record in the league this year but when it's all said and done their ATS record will be much much better. Did you know that they have gone 7-3 ATS over their last 10 as a dog? This is because the public over estimates just how bad this team is and I want to be rolling against them tonight with this one. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Thunder win outright tonight but roll with the points and we'll be looking solid at the end of the night!
Brandon Lang
5 Dime Richmond
FREE - New Orleans (college hoops)
BeatYourBookie
100* Play Boston (-12) over Chicago (NBA)
Chicago is 2-11 ATS coming off a win by 6 points or less
Chicago is 8-19 ATS after scoring 105 points or more in the last game
100* Play Houston (-13) over Sacramento (NBA)
Sacramento is 3-16 SU as an underdog this season
Sacramento is 2-10 SU in road games this season
Sacramento is 0-4 SU in road games when the total is between 200 and
204.5
Bonus Hoops & Hockey Plays
50* Play Buffalo (-175) over Los Angeles (NHL)
50* Play West Carolina (+17) over Marquette (NCAA)
Rocco Vincintore Guaranteed Selections
SLAM DUNK 6000* NBA B-E-A-T-I-N-G WINNER
Denver "pick"
Master Sports
4* Grizzlies
Lenny Del Genio
NJN +4.5 vs DAL
Play New Jersey
DET -2.5 vs UTA
Play Detroit
MIA +5 vs LAL
Play Miami
Scott Spreitzer
NBA NON-CONF BLOWOUT GAME OF THE WEEK!
My Non-Conf Blowout is a play on the Cavaliers.
Pro Sports Plays
10* Take Atlanta (-10) over Golden State (NBA Top Play)
Golden State has lost 14 of the last 17 games as an underdog and they have also lost 12 of the last 15 road games. Golden State has lost 11 of the last 13 non-conference games.
5* Take Richmond (+8) over Wake Forest (NCAA Bonus Play)
5* Take Charleston (-16.5) over UNC-Wilmington (NCAA Bonus Play)
Winning Angle
Play Houston (-13) over Sacramento* (Top NBA Play)
NCAA Hoops
Play New Orleans (-1) over LA-Monroe* (Top NCAA Play)
Play Richmond (+8) over Wake Forest
NHL
Play Minnesota (-230) over NY Islanders* (Top NHL Play)
LARRY NESS
25* NBA Play
Are the Pistons starting to get used to A.I. in their lineup? They have won three straight entering this game and for the first time since coming to Detroit, Iverson has posted back-to-back 20-point games (had 28 in Wednesday's win over the Wizards, after scoring 20 points in a win at Charlotte last Saturday). That being said, Curry's decision to insert Rodney Stuckey in the starting lineup may be a more important issue. The first-year head coach likes the second-year pro quite a bit and with Stuckey at the point, Iverson is able to do more things. Stuckey had 18 points and tied a career high with 11 assists on Wednesday and the win over the Wizards ups Detroit's record to 6-1 when he starts at PG. Stuckey's averaged 15.5 PPG and 10.0 APG in his last four starts. Hamilton (17.2-3.4-3.3) does not seem as comfortable playing with Iverson (as compared to his longtime partner Billups) but I doubt Detroit is all that concerned about that. Prince (14.0-6.9) is having an excellent season and Wallace (12.0-7.6), never too happy, is just fine. The return of McDyess is "a blessing" and the less Kwame Brown plays, the better. The Jazz have had a tough start to this season, with their two Olympians (and All Stars) both missing long periods of time. PG Deron Williams opened the season on the sidelines and since his return, is averaging six PPG less this year than last (12.9-10.1 APG). Carlos Boozer (20.5-11.7) has missed the last 15 games (Jazz are 8-7 in those games) and it's highly unlikely his strained quad and bruised kneecap will allow him to return on the team's current road trip. Okur (15.9--7.8) and Millsap (14.5-8.8) have played well in Boozer's absence but Boozer is greatly missed. Sloan seems unhappy with the play of both Brewer (12.7) and CJ Miles (9.9) C.J. Miles, as both were benched for the entire second half of Wednesday's win in New Jersey. Miles has started 27 games and Brewer 26 this year but "word on the street" is that Kirilenko (12.1-5.1-3.1) and Korver (8.3) could replace them. It came as a surprise to me when research revealed that the Jazz have won all six meetings between the two teams these last three years and that fact makes me like the Pistons even more in this situation. The Pistons have been the Central Division's "top-dog" for quite awhile now but this year are clearly playing "second-fiddle" to "King James" and the Cavs. The Pistons need some momentum and a fourth straight win here would be a good 'springboard' for the team's upcoming tough game at Atlanta (Sunday). As for the Jazz, they are playing the third game of a five-game road trip which began in Boston (Dec 15) and won't end until a Dec 23 game in Milwaukee. The Jazz are "ripe for the picking" in this one and the Pistons end that six-game slide against Utah. Also of note, with this very 'short' number, margin of victory is not a major concern.
NBA 25* on the Det Pistons.
LAS VEGAS TECH REPORT
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs DENVER NUGGETS
Play: CLEVELAND CAVALIERS +1
MILWAUKEE BUCKS vs NY KNICKS
Play: NY KNICKS -2.5
Jeff Benton
Friday's NBA Game of the Month
25 Dime: NUGGETS
I understand that the Cavaliers are off to their best start in franchise history at 21-4. I understand that they’re 20-5 ATS, that they’ve won and covered in 12 of their last 13 games (with 11 of those wins coming by double digits) and that they’re 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six roadies. I get all that. But here’s what else I understand: The Cavaliers have played a bunch of crappy teams during their recent run. In fact, during their 12-1 spurt, only one win came against a winning team, and that was the Hawks, who promptly avenged that loss on Saturday.
Among the weak opponents Cleveland has feasted on lately? The TWolves, the 76ers (twice), Raptors, Bobcats, Pacers, Knicks (twice), Bucks, Warriors and Thunder.
Well, tonight, the Cavaliers, who are in the midst of a four-game road trip, travel to the Mile High City to face one of the best teams in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are 16-5 since acquiring point guard Chauncey Billups, and four of those victories have come against the likes of the Celtics, Spurs, Mavericks and Rockets. Also, since losing its first home game to the Lakers, Denver is 9-2 in its own house, scoring more than 100 points in nine of those 11 games.
Now, it’s true that one of the Nuggets’ losses during their 16-5 run came at Cleveland, a 110-99 defeat with the Cavaliers covering as a 7-point home favorite. But here’s the big “however”: Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 10 points, three rebounds and two steals in 23½ minutes of play and Boobie Gibson had 15 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Well, guess who’s not playing in this game tonight? That’s right: Ilgauskas and Gibson, both sidelined with injuries.
Also, prior to last month’s loss in Cleveland, the Nuggets had won five straight games against the Cavaliers, going 4-1 ATS. And you have to go back to 2004 – LeBron James’ sophomore year – for the last time Cleveland won in Denver. Since then, LeBron is 0-3 in Denver, and even though the King averaged 27 points in those three losses, he’s shot just 42.4 percent from the field. Gee, you think he might not like playing at altitude? Think those shooting troubles might continue with this being his third road game since Saturday?
Look, I’m not going to say the Cavaliers are overrated – they are a very good team. But Denver is just as good in my opinion, and they’ve played much tougher competition recently. Also, with Billups on board, the Nuggets are actually doing something they haven’t done in years, and that’s play defense. They’ve held opponents to 40.4 percent shooting in their last five games overall and 41.8 percent shooting in their 12 home games this year.
Bottom line: You know that the Nuggets, who have been off since Tuesday’s loss at Houston, are going to be fired up in a big way for this nationally televised game tonight. And to get this team – which is 35-17-1 ATS in its last 53 games against the Eastern Conference, 23-9 ATS in is last 32 games after a defeat and 13-4 ATS in its last 17 after a double-digit loss – at a pick-em price, at home, against the depleted Cavaliers is a freakin’ gift! Denver wins, and wins going away.