YESTERDAY 3-0 +13.00 UNITS
Here are tonights selections:
5 Units New Orleans Hornets +7.5 -110
The Hornets (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) suffered their first home loss of the season, 109-106 to the Bulls on Saturday when Chicago shot a robust 59 percent (41-of-69) for the game. "We were a little lackadaisical," Hornets forward P.J. Brown said. "We couldn't overcome the mental part of it, and those guys weren't going to come in and lay down. This is the NBA, man. Every team can be beaten on any given night, and we got a little taste of that tonight." The Mavericks (4-3 SU, 1-6 ATS) continue their strange journey of winning games SU, but failing to cover at a rate of 85%. A year ago the high scoring Mavs were 46-56 ATS and that trend has increased. Their average scoring margin, steming from a lack of defense, is at 94 ppg vs. 92 ppg. No reason for the Baron Davis led Hornets, who can fill it up, to bend the trend. Expect another close game Tuesday!!!
5 Units Houston Rockets -11.5 +119
The battle of the Van Gundy brothers!!! Miami (0-6 SU, 2-4 ATS) kept their winless streak intact falling to the T'Wolves 88-79 on Saturday. Pity poor Stan Van Gundy who inherited this coaching job from Pat Riley. The Heat shot just 34 percent (28-of-82) in the game, which is close to their pitiful season average (38%). Eddie Jones scored 21 points to pace the Heat, who are off to their worst start since their first season. Stan's brother, Jeff Van Gundy is at the other end of the spectrum leading the Midwest Division with his Houston Rockets (4-1 SU, ATS). The Rockets are on a three game winning streak and with the potent offense of Steve Francis and Yao Ming, plus an aggressive defense and the home court (2-1 SU/ATS so far), expect this game to be rout city!!!
5 Units Portland Trail Blazers -6.5 -104
Both these teams can play defense and they've been streaky shooting. This is why they are a combined 9-2-1 UNDER the total!!! This is the start of a three-game road trip for Toronto and the offense hasn't exactly been smoking, scoring 56, 77, 60 and 89 points the last four games. As a team they're shooting 39% and are 5-0-1 UNDER. They've also been a terrible road team at 0-2 SU/ATS (scoring just 58 ppg), and Portland's Rose Garden is no easy building to play in. The veteran Blazers have been underachieving -- win one, lose one, win one, lose one. . . but they are 3-1 SU & ATS at home where the defense has been strong. They have a tall frontcourt anchored by Rasheed Wallace and Dale Davis and should be able to control the boards and shut down Toronto's weak offense!!!
5 Units Los Angeles Clippers UNDER 186.5 -102
This is the 8th game for the Hawks (2-5 SU/ATS) and only the fourth for LA (1-2 SU, 3-0 ATS). Atlanta has Sharif Abdur Rahim and little else, shooting 42% while averaging 87 ppg. This is the fourth straight road game for Atlanta where they are 1-4 SU/2-3 ATS. They did get a road win the last game, surprising Seattle 91-81. It was one of those games where the Hawks were hot (47% shooting) while the Sonics couldn't buy a basket (38%, 1-of-18 from three-point land!!!). The Hawks hit 53% from long range (8-of-15) but you can't do that very often, even against the Clippers. The Clippers are still learning with a starting five named Dooling, Maggette, Wilcox, Richardson and Drobnjak, so don't expect a lot of wins or defense this season, especially with their best player out (Elton Brand). Both games went UNDER the total when these teams met last season, making this a tough (and bad overall) game to call!!!
5 Units Detriot Pistons +6 -108
Detroit is a good defensive team (42% shooting allowed), but the offense has been rolling (95 ppg). The Kings and Pistons are a combined 8-2 OVER the total. This is the start of a 4-game road trip for Detroit and they are 2-0 SU/ATS on the road under new coach Larry Brown. Brown has been using his bench, with Corliss Williamson and 6'-11", 249-lb Mehmet Okur and that will help against the run-and-gun Kings. As usual, the Kings are terrific at home (2-0 SU/ATS) and they are happy to be home after losing three of four games, all on the road. Defense was a problem on the trip and Sacramento is allowing teams to shoot 47%. Being home will help the road-weary Kings and both meetings between these teams went UNDER the total last season (with the home team winning each time and the Pistons went 2-0 ATS).
5 Units Minnesota Timberwolves -5 -106
The league's leading scoring team (the Supersonics) fell from the ranks of the unbeaten when they lost to the Hawks 91-81 on Sunday. Averaging 110 ppg heading into the game Seattle shot just 38%. Ron Murray scored 24 points and Rashard Lewis added 16 and nine assists for Seattle, which managed a season-low 37 points in the first half. The T'Wolves (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) toppled the winless Miami Heat 88-79 Saturday. Kevin Garnett collected 25 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks for the Timberwolves who have won two straight road games. Home is where the heart is and the K.G. led Wolves will be tested by the high flying Sonics. Look for an air attack from the Sonics on Tuesday but the additions of Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell have added a defensive spark to the Wolves which gives them the edge.
Good Luck Tonight My Friends
ALLSTAR
Here are tonights selections:
5 Units New Orleans Hornets +7.5 -110
The Hornets (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) suffered their first home loss of the season, 109-106 to the Bulls on Saturday when Chicago shot a robust 59 percent (41-of-69) for the game. "We were a little lackadaisical," Hornets forward P.J. Brown said. "We couldn't overcome the mental part of it, and those guys weren't going to come in and lay down. This is the NBA, man. Every team can be beaten on any given night, and we got a little taste of that tonight." The Mavericks (4-3 SU, 1-6 ATS) continue their strange journey of winning games SU, but failing to cover at a rate of 85%. A year ago the high scoring Mavs were 46-56 ATS and that trend has increased. Their average scoring margin, steming from a lack of defense, is at 94 ppg vs. 92 ppg. No reason for the Baron Davis led Hornets, who can fill it up, to bend the trend. Expect another close game Tuesday!!!
5 Units Houston Rockets -11.5 +119
The battle of the Van Gundy brothers!!! Miami (0-6 SU, 2-4 ATS) kept their winless streak intact falling to the T'Wolves 88-79 on Saturday. Pity poor Stan Van Gundy who inherited this coaching job from Pat Riley. The Heat shot just 34 percent (28-of-82) in the game, which is close to their pitiful season average (38%). Eddie Jones scored 21 points to pace the Heat, who are off to their worst start since their first season. Stan's brother, Jeff Van Gundy is at the other end of the spectrum leading the Midwest Division with his Houston Rockets (4-1 SU, ATS). The Rockets are on a three game winning streak and with the potent offense of Steve Francis and Yao Ming, plus an aggressive defense and the home court (2-1 SU/ATS so far), expect this game to be rout city!!!
5 Units Portland Trail Blazers -6.5 -104
Both these teams can play defense and they've been streaky shooting. This is why they are a combined 9-2-1 UNDER the total!!! This is the start of a three-game road trip for Toronto and the offense hasn't exactly been smoking, scoring 56, 77, 60 and 89 points the last four games. As a team they're shooting 39% and are 5-0-1 UNDER. They've also been a terrible road team at 0-2 SU/ATS (scoring just 58 ppg), and Portland's Rose Garden is no easy building to play in. The veteran Blazers have been underachieving -- win one, lose one, win one, lose one. . . but they are 3-1 SU & ATS at home where the defense has been strong. They have a tall frontcourt anchored by Rasheed Wallace and Dale Davis and should be able to control the boards and shut down Toronto's weak offense!!!
5 Units Los Angeles Clippers UNDER 186.5 -102
This is the 8th game for the Hawks (2-5 SU/ATS) and only the fourth for LA (1-2 SU, 3-0 ATS). Atlanta has Sharif Abdur Rahim and little else, shooting 42% while averaging 87 ppg. This is the fourth straight road game for Atlanta where they are 1-4 SU/2-3 ATS. They did get a road win the last game, surprising Seattle 91-81. It was one of those games where the Hawks were hot (47% shooting) while the Sonics couldn't buy a basket (38%, 1-of-18 from three-point land!!!). The Hawks hit 53% from long range (8-of-15) but you can't do that very often, even against the Clippers. The Clippers are still learning with a starting five named Dooling, Maggette, Wilcox, Richardson and Drobnjak, so don't expect a lot of wins or defense this season, especially with their best player out (Elton Brand). Both games went UNDER the total when these teams met last season, making this a tough (and bad overall) game to call!!!
5 Units Detriot Pistons +6 -108
Detroit is a good defensive team (42% shooting allowed), but the offense has been rolling (95 ppg). The Kings and Pistons are a combined 8-2 OVER the total. This is the start of a 4-game road trip for Detroit and they are 2-0 SU/ATS on the road under new coach Larry Brown. Brown has been using his bench, with Corliss Williamson and 6'-11", 249-lb Mehmet Okur and that will help against the run-and-gun Kings. As usual, the Kings are terrific at home (2-0 SU/ATS) and they are happy to be home after losing three of four games, all on the road. Defense was a problem on the trip and Sacramento is allowing teams to shoot 47%. Being home will help the road-weary Kings and both meetings between these teams went UNDER the total last season (with the home team winning each time and the Pistons went 2-0 ATS).
5 Units Minnesota Timberwolves -5 -106
The league's leading scoring team (the Supersonics) fell from the ranks of the unbeaten when they lost to the Hawks 91-81 on Sunday. Averaging 110 ppg heading into the game Seattle shot just 38%. Ron Murray scored 24 points and Rashard Lewis added 16 and nine assists for Seattle, which managed a season-low 37 points in the first half. The T'Wolves (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) toppled the winless Miami Heat 88-79 Saturday. Kevin Garnett collected 25 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks for the Timberwolves who have won two straight road games. Home is where the heart is and the K.G. led Wolves will be tested by the high flying Sonics. Look for an air attack from the Sonics on Tuesday but the additions of Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell have added a defensive spark to the Wolves which gives them the edge.
Good Luck Tonight My Friends
ALLSTAR
