Wednesday?s best NBA bets

[Lumi]

Wednesday?s best NBA bets


Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers (-10, 205)

Lakers coach Phil Jackson gave his starters the day off to rest after the club dismantled the Phoenix Suns for the second time in the past few weeks.

?I think they?re a little bit better than us right now,? Steve Nash told reporters after the 20-point loss Sunday.

Suns coach Alvin Gentry went a step further indicating to reporters that his club is more worried about competing with teams like Denver, Houston and Utah than Los Angeles at the moment.

You heard it right folks. That?s the coach of a 15-6 team telling reporters his boys are playing for second place in the Western Confernce.

The win improved the Purple and Gold?s season record to a league-best 16-3 and increased their win streak to nine games. LA has benefitted from a cozy start to the campaign. Seventeen of the team?s 21 games have been at the STAPLES Center.

The Jazz are playing well but they?re more likely to cover against the Lakers in their own gym later this week.

Pick: Lakers

Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers (NA)

The Pistons shocked hoop followers with their 94-88 win over the Hawks last week. Detroit hasn?t slowed down since that big win either. The club fell to Chicago but rebounded with victories over Milwaukee and Washington.

The steady scoring of combo guard Rodney Stuckey has been a blessing for the Pistons. He?s averaging 21 points and 5.7 assists over the last four games. Not surprisingly, Detroit is 3-0-1 against the spread over the same period.

Things aren?t as rosy in Philly. Allen Iverson returned to his old habits in the City of Brotherly Love, showing up just an hour before tipoff in his first game back with the Sixers.

Meanwhile, Elton Brand isn?t happy with his role in the offense or his time on the floor. Things are going to get worse before they get better in Philadelphia.

Pick: Pistons

 

[Lumi]

DUNKEL INDEX

DUNKEL INDEX

Today's NBA Picks
Portland at Indiana
The Pacers look to take advantage of a Portland team that is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games as a favorite. Indiana is the pick (+6 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has Portland favored by only 3 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+6 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9
Time Posted: 8:30 a.m. EST
Game 701-702: Chicago at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 110.825; Atlanta 119.382
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 8 1/2; 198
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 11; 196
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+11); Over
Game 703-704: Detroit at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 114.881; Philadelphia 117.215
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 2 1/2; 201
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 705-706: Portland at Indiana
Dunkel Ratings: Portland 113.653; Indiana 110.090
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 3 1/2; 195
Vegas Line & Total: Portland by 6 1/2; 191
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+6 1/2); Over
Game 707-708: Golden State at New Jersey
Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 112.928; New Jersey 115.386
Dunkel Line & Total: New Jersey by 2 1/2; 220
Vegas Line & Total: Golden State by 3; 216 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Jersey (+3); Over
Game 709-710: Toronto at Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 115.284; Milwaukee 118.561
Dunkel Line & Total: Milwaukee by 3 1/2; 205
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 711-712: New Orleans at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 117.778; Minnesota 110.915
Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 7; 199
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 4; 197
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (-4); Over
Game 713-714: Cleveland at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 123.685; Houston 119.342
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 4 1/2; 190
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 2; 194 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-2); Under
Game 715-716: Sacramento at San Antonio
Dunkel Ratings: Sacramento 114.671; San Antonio 125.256
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 10 1/2; 199
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 12; 204
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (+12); Under
Game 717-718: Utah at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: Utah 120.450; LA Lakers 132.582
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 12; 210
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 10; 206 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Lakers (-10); Over

 

[Lumi]

Don't sleep on Evans and the Kings

Don't sleep on Evans and the Kings

Don't sleep on Evans and the Kings

Before we crown Brandon Jennings this season?s rookie of the year, let?s not overlook a young King in Sacramento who is quietly putting together just as good of a season if not better.

Tyreke Evans doesnt get the same media attention as Jennings because he plays for a small-market team in Northern California and, unless you have the NBA League Pass, you won?t find his games on national TV.

But the lack of exposure hasn?t stopped the 6-foot-6, 220-pound guard out of Memphis from establishing his position as a top rookie candidate. He has more than filled the vacuum left by leading scorer Kevin Martin, who has been out because of an injured wrist since Nov. 6.

Whether he?s at the point or on the wing, Evans ability to influence games with his versatility and aggressive, attacking style is a big reason why the Kings have remained competitive in the Western Conference.

Even though the Kings are only 9-11 straight up, they?re an amazing 14-6 against the spread for the season and 8-2 in their last 10 games. Theyre also 12-3 ATS without Martin and his 30.6 scoring average, an eye-catching number for most bettors and clearly defying logic.

Richard Gardner of Bodog.com has a theory, though.

?The Sacramento Kings took a hit early this season when their best scorer, Kevin Martin, underwent surgery on his injured wrist. In the bettors eyes, fading the Kings became a fashionable trend. As a result, bookmakers adjusted to this trend by inflating the spread in Kings games,? explained Gardner, Bodogs sports book manager.

The Kings also benefited from playing five of their last six games at home and had favorable matchups against sub-.500 teams New York, New Jersey, New Orleans and Indiana. Sacramento is 8-3 ATS at Arco Arena.

As for the race for rookie of the year, Gardner says, ?With Blake Griffin being injured in Los Angeles and Brandon Jennings slowing down considerably in Milwaukee, Tyreke Evans has a chance at winning NBA rookie of the year.?

Oddsmakers at Logans.com have Jennings priced at -700 to win this season?s Rookie of the Year honors. Evans comes in at a tempting +175.

Ever since his 55-point outburst against Golden State Nov. 14, Jennings has been given his own highlight segment on SportsCenter nightly. But when you compare Jennings and Evans individual statistics, Evans is right on his tail on a few of categories and a lot better in others.

Through Tuesdays games, Jennings has a slightly higher average in points (21.1 to 20.2) and assists (5.7 to 5.1), but Evans is ahead in steals (1.4 to 1.0), owns a higher shooting percentage (46 percent to 41 percent), has a big advantage in rebounds (5.0 to 3.9) and gets to the free throw line more frequently (121 to 82).

The only significant aspect of the game that Jennings is more superior than Evans is 3-point shooting. Jennings has knocked down 43-of-100 (43 percent) 3-pointers while Evans has made just 11-of-40 (27 percent).

Evans and second-year forward Jason Thompson have thrived under Paul Westphal?s player-friendly offense and both young guns have pushed Sacramento into the top tier in terms offensive production. Thompson is averaging 2.6 (14.2) more points and 1.3 (9) more rebounds per game.

Through 20 games, the Kings are averaging 104.3 points (sixth), shooting 47 percent from the field (eighth) and 38 percent (third) from behind the arc.

Now, if the Kings can play better defense (105 PPG, 25th) and get Martin back in the lineup, their overall record could match their ATS mark.

Two points

AND THE ANSWER IS?: Allen Iverson?s return to Philadelphia Monday night can be described as electric. The Wachovia Center was sold out and there was a playoff-like atmosphere prior to tipoff.

But once the novelty wore off, the Nuggets took control and handed the Sixers their 10th consecutive loss. Chauncey Billups took advantage of a rusty and overmatched Iverson and led Denver with 31 points.

Oddsmakers predicted last week that Iversons return would give the city of Philadelphia a jolt off the court, but his impact on the court would be minimal. It still remains to be seen if Iversons presence alone can lift this Philly out of its funk.

Philadelphia has four games remaining on its homestand so the Iverson honeymoon will continue, and the Sixers will have four more chances to improve on their dreadful 1-8 ATS record at Wachovia.

ODEN AND OUT: Portland?s injury woes just went from bad to worse when starting center Greg Oden fractured his left kneecap against Houston on Dec. 5 and will likely miss the rest of the season.

Before his year was cut short, Oden was among the league leaders in field goal percentage (60 percent) and blocks (2.3) and was averaging 11.7 points per game. He missed his entire rookie season because of microfracture surgery and sat out 20 games last season due to foot and knee problems.

Oden?s latest setback is just one of several injuries for the depleted Blazers. Forward Nicolas Batum has yet to play after shoulder surgery, forward Travis Outlaw fractured his foot in mid-November, forward Rudy Fernandez is out 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery to alleviate pain in his right leg and head coach Nate McMillan recently ruptured his right Achilles tendon during practice.

McMillan was participating in practice because the team is so short-handed.

Assistant coach Dean Demopoulos is now in charge of restoring some order to the reeling Blazers, who opened their four-game road trip with a 93-84 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday Dec. 7. It was Portland's fourth loss in five games dropping the Blazers to 2-8 ATS in their last 10 contests.

 

[JBrilman]

Wednesday?s best NBA bets


Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers (-10, 205)

Lakers coach Phil Jackson gave his starters the day off to rest after the club dismantled the Phoenix Suns for the second time in the past few weeks.

?I think they?re a little bit better than us right now,? Steve Nash told reporters after the 20-point loss Sunday.

Suns coach Alvin Gentry went a step further indicating to reporters that his club is more worried about competing with teams like Denver, Houston and Utah than Los Angeles at the moment.

You heard it right folks. That?s the coach of a 15-6 team telling reporters his boys are playing for second place in the Western Confernce.

The win improved the Purple and Gold?s season record to a league-best 16-3 and increased their win streak to nine games. LA has benefitted from a cozy start to the campaign. Seventeen of the team?s 21 games have been at the STAPLES Center.

The Jazz are playing well but they?re more likely to cover against the Lakers in their own gym later this week.

Pick: Lakers

Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers (NA)

The Pistons shocked hoop followers with their 94-88 win over the Hawks last week. Detroit hasn?t slowed down since that big win either. The club fell to Chicago but rebounded with victories over Milwaukee and Washington.

The steady scoring of combo guard Rodney Stuckey has been a blessing for the Pistons. He?s averaging 21 points and 5.7 assists over the last four games. Not surprisingly, Detroit is 3-0-1 against the spread over the same period.

Things aren?t as rosy in Philly. Allen Iverson returned to his old habits in the City of Brotherly Love, showing up just an hour before tipoff in his first game back with the Sixers.

Meanwhile, Elton Brand isn?t happy with his role in the offense or his time on the floor. Things are going to get worse before they get better in Philadelphia.

Pick: Pistons

Why cut and paste the write up from covers?

 

[Lumi]

Why cut and paste the write up from covers?

Why not?

That's what all these posts are, a cut and paste from many sites.

There only a few that bitch about it, why you?

What do you contribute?