Wednesday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, February 11.
New York Knicks at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:35PM ET
Zach Randolph didn’t have a future with the New York Knicks, but might with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Facing his former team for the first time since a November trade, the veteran forward looks to help the Clippers to a 10th straight home victory over the Knicks on Wednesday night.
Randolph averaged 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds when his stay in New York ended after spending a little over one season with the club. With the Knicks aiming to cut salaries in the hope of pursuing future free agents like LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, Randolph and reserve Mardy Collins were traded to Los Angeles on Nov. 21 for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.
Despite missing 19 games with a bruised left knee, Randolph has played well for the Clippers, averaging 22.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 19 games with his third team in eight seasons.
Filling the inside void left when Elton Brand signed with Philadelphia in the offseason, the 6-foot-9 Randolph had 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 94-73 loss at Charlotte on Monday.
NBA Free Pick: NY Knicks – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Sacramento Kings at Houston Rockets, 8:35PM ET
The Houston Rockets are well aware that they’ve fallen short of expectations. Improving their play against last-place teams seems like a good place to start turning things around.
The Rockets look to rebound from one of their worst defensive performances in years and avoid their seventh loss to a team currently in last place in its division Wednesday night when they host the Sacramento Kings.
Houston (31-21) came into this season expecting to contend for a championship behind the trio of Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and offseason acquisition Ron Artest.
The Rockets, though, could be left out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference if they can’t find a way to defeat teams they’re expected to beat. They’ve dropped five of their last nine games, and their losses in that stretch have come against Indiana, New York, Philadelphia, Memphis and Milwaukee. Of those opponents, only the 76ers (26-24) have a winning record.
NBA Free Pick: Sacramento – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Washington Wizards at Charlotte Bobcats, 7:05PM ET
The Charlotte Bobcats are encouraged with the way they’ve developed under first-year coach Larry Brown. Their unprecedented success against the Washington Wizards reflects that progress.
The Bobcats look to improve to 3-0 against the Wizards in 2008-09, and clinch a season series against their Southeast Division rivals for the first time when the clubs meet Wednesday night in Charlotte.
Charlotte – a fifth-year expansion team – lost 12 of its first 16 games against Washington, including three of four last season when it finished in fourth place in the Southeast for the fourth consecutive season.
Under Brown, the Bobcats (20-31) feel like they’ve taken steps toward respectability. They’ve split 26 games since Dec. 16, including victories over Boston, Detroit, Portland, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bobcats also have two wins over the Wizards (11-41) in the last seven weeks, helping put Washington on pace for the worst finish in franchise history.
Bobcats center Emeka Okafor had 29 points and 18 rebounds in a 80-72 home win over the Wizards on Dec. 23, and midseason acquisitions Raja Bell and Boris Diaw scored 19 and 18, respectively, in Charlotte’s 92-89 victory in Washington on Jan. 10.
Bell and Diaw, who arrived in a trade from Phoenix on Dec. 11, are two of the many new faces brought into the organization since Brown was hired last summer. The Bobcats have used a league-high 23 players this season.
NBA Free Pick: Charlotte – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 2/11/09 12:18PM ET