Friday Picks

[dnuggets]

Memphis +5

Houston +5

Lakers -5


Memphis has won 3 out of 4 games, and should of been 4 out of 4 if not for a late 7-0 run in boston by the celtics. This team is really starting to click and they do have talent, and these are the type of players that give the heat the most problems, young, quick and athletic. Miami is on a back to back, after blowing a huge lead in atlanta, the whole team is on the block and they have not won a game all year by 6 or more. I think memphis has a good shot to win this game outright.


Houston welcomes back steve francis for this game, along with torres coming into hes own and the cat always being around this team is all the sudden a force and will get some good lines. While im not a fan of how francis plays, they win a lot on the road with him. Golden state is a bad team that has hit a few different teams at the right time to gather in some wins, i expect houston to win this game outright.


Lakers have not beem very good of late, however, kobe looked 100% vs golden state, and if he gets any help tommorrow (derek fisher has got to get going sometime) they should blow the raptors out. The raptors simply are not a very good team and there playing horrible without the hakeem(even though hes only a role player at this point) and childs....a huge loss as arroyo is terrible. Injuries on this team are bigger than most because there bench is awful.


I also like milwaukee if ray allen plays, i figure the line to be -2 or -3 for cha if he plays, i think milwaukee beats them straight up.

39-20 ytd

[This message has been edited by dnuggets (edited 12-28-2001).]

 

[Lewey]

Love the Houston play.
Gettin' on this one.
GL Lewey

 

[ClubFoot]

With you on all picks. Lets kick the shit out of the man tonight. See you at halftime. By the way, good call on your ML Sonics pick last night. I know that made your night!!

 

[dnuggets]

Memphis line is up to 7? Have people seen the heat play this year you have to be kidding me, they dont have a win all year by 6 pts or more im doubling my bet.

 

[ClubFoot]

What a Joke, especially after the way they handed that game over to the Hawks last night. They SUCK soooooooo bad.

 

[Innavation]

Regarding the Laker game----A thought--I consider Toronto one of the best half-court "d" in the NBA but the consensus is playing the lakers. Consider this--No Shaq could lead to more pts scored by Toronto---since they have many guys that can slash and get to the bucket and finish. NO dominant center for LA tonight will give Toronto some easy scoring oppurtunities. Lakers seem to turn up the scoring when they have to and tonight(without no center)---could be a good play for the over in the game. What do you guys think?

 

[dnuggets]

I can see that in some ways, i dont consider the raptors even an ok defensive team at all. Not halfcourt, not transitional, i mean when your best player doesnt play d why should you is the attitude i see out of toronto. I think you see the lakers we saw without shaq vs seattle tonight, with the day of practice, its so easy to break down all the raptor permiter players and dish and kick its not even funny. Look for that great ball movement to be back in full force, and the shots to finally start falling. As far as the over, honestly i can get into why but i think over unders are far to much luck for me to bet on..ill try to post my reasoning why at some later point when i have more time...good luck.

 

[mortal lock]

Friday seems to be the Lakers worst night of the week as 3 of their losses came on Friday night. Can you think of any reason for this.

 

[dnuggets]

As i stated above, Memphis had boston beat after trailing by as much as 18 in the 3rd quarter, and as little as i think of ny they are a better team than miami and these are there last two road games. They jumped on chicago from jump and never gave them a thought of winnning in memphis i know some quote "good teams" that dont do that. And obviously the laker win on a back to back situation was impressive.

But beyond all that, MIAMI CANT SCORE WITHOUT JONES, and jones has zero chance to outplay battier on either end. Beyond all the obvious points like miami is horrible and theyve quit and they all are on the block ill repeat the other part i said they dont have a win all year by 6 pts or more, so they have to do something they havent done all year to beat me on a back to back vs a better team ill take my chances with that.
As far as golden state, i have no idea what people see in this team, they catch teams on back to backs all the time coming off playing good teams like the lakers and kings and win a few because of it. This team is loaded with problems, and as far as francis being rusty, houston actually plays better on the road with this crew for whatever reason.

And jason richardson cant guard anyone, proven again the other night when he was lit up by kobe, he can dunk all he wants he needs to learn how to stop someone, cat will get 30 off him easy. And besides all that, its kinda like the ai factor only higher because all of francis teamates like him. I mean look at when ai returned, they were 0-5, they got mckie back and lost, they go back to back in dallas ai plays terrible on offense "rusty", and they win in dallas. Teams that get star players back play twice as hard as normal, thats why there "stars" its just a shot in the arm and houston has been on the border of winning all of there last handful of games anyways. One more huge mismatch perhaps i should of added in was kenny thomas....he beats semi quick pfs hes going to destroy slow of foot guys like fortson and foyle.

[This message has been edited by dnuggets (edited 12-28-2001).]

 

[Innavation]

Yes--Toronto intensity is lackluster at times and they do fall asleep--but they have the athleticism to block shots and play guys on one on----but as far as tonight----No team can guard KObe one on one---i believe we will see a lot of running tonight and expect to see many fouls called by the Refs tonight giving the superstars their calls tonight(KObe--Carter)--this with no Shaq----the lane will be cleared tonight---guys like Carter--clark--williams--Mo Pete.---great finishers---i believe the over could be a solid play---each team answering the bell--trading buckets----

 

[ClubFoot]

Both Kobe and Vince have been carrying the offensive load for each of their teams. I think the following needs to happen for this game to go over.

For the Raptors, Carter needs to be aggressive, especially when he's taking the ball to the hoop against the Lakers. With Olajuwon being out, Davis will be the main man on the interior. Davis and Peterson will also need to provide offensive support for Carter, who will certainly draw double and triple coverage from the Lakers'perimeter players.

For the Lakers, they need to have a balanced attack, players like Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, and Samaki Walker need to do some point producing.

 

[dnuggets]

Heres some more stats, i hate doing more research but i figured id show more of why golden state is not as they appear at least to me....Here are the home wins they won after the team they played had to play the night before at arco arena by far the hardest place in the nba to play...Bulls 4 in 5 night
Nets 4 in 5 nights
Sixers 4 in 5 nights
Pistons back to backThere other 3 winsPortland off a back to back from san antone
Lakers off a back to back after a 13 pt comeback at home with 7 minutes left in the 4th.There only home win over a team that was not on the back end of a back to back was over memphis by 9 pts and the griz next game was at sac so im sure jw was looking ahead...even though he and they had no chance in arco.Simple fact is, there very lucky that they have such a dominate team at home that beats these teams up the game before they see them.

 

[raz19]

d nuggs..just got in and got down on the rockets .read your post... from what i read and hear the team will be pumped tonight.on the rockets too!! dont forget about eddie. hes been contributing too. glta

 

[gsp]

WTG d

 

[dnuggets]

thanks gsp
nice 3-1 day since i doubled up on the griz....to bad kobe cant get a call or i would of had a shot at the sweep....