*1 college hoops play in Niagara - posted there.
New Orleans (-1.5) - 2 units - Game is in New Orleans not OKCity
I suspect the line will not go down any further but the Hornets have been soaring in the latest power rankings and I've noticed it and told myself that when they return home, I will jump on them in the Kings game if it's around a bucket and so it is.
Let's go through the Hornets pass several games as I have them winning this ball game by around 6 to 8 points.
This team is first and foremost incredibly well coached by Scott and despite losing Chris Paul, this team has figured out how to play without him and more importantly put together winning games - especially at home with the return of some key starters - talk about that in a minute.
Although New Orleans is 16-25, they have a recent home run of winning thier last 3 ball games in a row. Who were they against? Well, they weren't against chump teams like you might think as they beat the Magic 84-78 (tough game), Washington 104-97 (even tougher) - a game that suprised many, and the Lakers by 10 at home back on 1/20.
This team can ball - at home. Plus with the return of West to fill the role of Chris Paul for the time being, till' he returns in February (Peja is out too), this team has some stability.
With the tandem of Butler and Brown - they are averaging more than 30 points a game in place of Paul of late and New Orleans has played damn well of late.
They lost on the road at Philly and Bryan Scott called the team soft and settling for outside jumpers and then hit the road to play the Raptors only to give up their 15 point 4th quarter lead - yes, they were up by 15 on the Raptors before losing the game - they did cover though.
I think they come back home and bounce back very well given how they have played at late (Hornets have won 10 of their 16 wins on the season at home) and the fact that Sacremento is downright horrible on the road having los to the Blazers by 8, the Knicks by 5, the Raptors by 16, Detroit by 17 and yes, the beat the Celtics, but who doesn't beat the Celtics these days.
The Kings are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games overall, Hornets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 ballgames, the home team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 games, and the favorite is 8-2-1 in the last 11 games. Yes, the most I wager on any one game, 3 units - seems like a solid play here.
Charlotte Bobcats +11 (2 units) - seeing if I can get 11.5 or even 12 - If not I'll ride the 11 wave.
On MJ's Bobcats today - catching what seems to be 11 points on the road agianst the Lakers. What worries me here as I always try to point out both sides to the coin, is the Lakers do have double-revenge heading into this game.
However, to me that shows that Charlotte has always played this Lakers team well and now they are healthy, they continue to play them well.
These are the stats for the last 5 meetings between these ball clubs:
CHAR 133 - LAL 124 (OT)
CHAR 112 - LAL 102
LAL 99 - CHAR 98
CHAR 116 - LAL 117
LAL 101 - CHAR 90
Needless to say the Bobcats have covered the last 4 times these two teams have met.
The Lakers have been a horrid cover of late - they are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite. It seems like fading the Fakers at this point seems appropriate as I was on Golden State a couple days ago in a similar situation.
Do I trust the Bobcats to cover - sure. They have decent talent and size to matchup to the Lakers with the like of Okafor (who played 45 mins last game - just shows how much in shape he is in), they come off back to back losses and one was a tough dd loss to Detroit at home (this meaning at hoem for New Orleans), and this team is 13-6 ATS following a DD home loss.
I attribute that Detroit missed cover to the fact that they beat Detroit outright at Auburn Hills last game. In short, I like Charlotte's lineup with Gerald Wallace - essentially the team leader, Okafor, Felton, Anderson and Carrol.
I think they get down big early but then claw their way back as the Lakers bench blows more than Tara Reid does these days.
Before I forget, the Bobcats have won their last 7 of 13 SU. These teams played a 3 OT thriller last time and I think another thriller awaits tonight. Also, Sean May returned last game and put up 14 points which makes me like the game a good bit more.
The one thing that makes me caution this play to a 2 unit play as compared to a 3 unit play for me, is the fact that Lamar Odom is expected to play today and for that reason alone, I am making this a 2 unit play although very tempted to make it a 3 unit play. But then again, what did Shaq do in his return - 5 points. So, I'm sticking with a 2 unit play, no less, no more.
Sixers +5 - 2 Units
I rarely play more than 3 games - but added this one in -
No time for elaborate write-up but Lebron is not going to play today as he is resting his toe, Philly is decent at home, can win this game outright, showed that they can beat Cleveland at Cleveland, Cleveland his horrible on the road having lost their 6 of last 8 ballgames overall and 4 of their last 5 road ball games including getting routed by Portland @ Portland.
This is what I have on my card and good luck on whatever you play today -
IC
New Orleans (-1.5) - 2 units - Game is in New Orleans not OKCity
I suspect the line will not go down any further but the Hornets have been soaring in the latest power rankings and I've noticed it and told myself that when they return home, I will jump on them in the Kings game if it's around a bucket and so it is.
Let's go through the Hornets pass several games as I have them winning this ball game by around 6 to 8 points.
This team is first and foremost incredibly well coached by Scott and despite losing Chris Paul, this team has figured out how to play without him and more importantly put together winning games - especially at home with the return of some key starters - talk about that in a minute.
Although New Orleans is 16-25, they have a recent home run of winning thier last 3 ball games in a row. Who were they against? Well, they weren't against chump teams like you might think as they beat the Magic 84-78 (tough game), Washington 104-97 (even tougher) - a game that suprised many, and the Lakers by 10 at home back on 1/20.
This team can ball - at home. Plus with the return of West to fill the role of Chris Paul for the time being, till' he returns in February (Peja is out too), this team has some stability.
With the tandem of Butler and Brown - they are averaging more than 30 points a game in place of Paul of late and New Orleans has played damn well of late.
They lost on the road at Philly and Bryan Scott called the team soft and settling for outside jumpers and then hit the road to play the Raptors only to give up their 15 point 4th quarter lead - yes, they were up by 15 on the Raptors before losing the game - they did cover though.
I think they come back home and bounce back very well given how they have played at late (Hornets have won 10 of their 16 wins on the season at home) and the fact that Sacremento is downright horrible on the road having los to the Blazers by 8, the Knicks by 5, the Raptors by 16, Detroit by 17 and yes, the beat the Celtics, but who doesn't beat the Celtics these days.
The Kings are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games overall, Hornets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 ballgames, the home team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 games, and the favorite is 8-2-1 in the last 11 games. Yes, the most I wager on any one game, 3 units - seems like a solid play here.
Charlotte Bobcats +11 (2 units) - seeing if I can get 11.5 or even 12 - If not I'll ride the 11 wave.
On MJ's Bobcats today - catching what seems to be 11 points on the road agianst the Lakers. What worries me here as I always try to point out both sides to the coin, is the Lakers do have double-revenge heading into this game.
However, to me that shows that Charlotte has always played this Lakers team well and now they are healthy, they continue to play them well.
These are the stats for the last 5 meetings between these ball clubs:
CHAR 133 - LAL 124 (OT)
CHAR 112 - LAL 102
LAL 99 - CHAR 98
CHAR 116 - LAL 117
LAL 101 - CHAR 90
Needless to say the Bobcats have covered the last 4 times these two teams have met.
The Lakers have been a horrid cover of late - they are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite. It seems like fading the Fakers at this point seems appropriate as I was on Golden State a couple days ago in a similar situation.
Do I trust the Bobcats to cover - sure. They have decent talent and size to matchup to the Lakers with the like of Okafor (who played 45 mins last game - just shows how much in shape he is in), they come off back to back losses and one was a tough dd loss to Detroit at home (this meaning at hoem for New Orleans), and this team is 13-6 ATS following a DD home loss.
I attribute that Detroit missed cover to the fact that they beat Detroit outright at Auburn Hills last game. In short, I like Charlotte's lineup with Gerald Wallace - essentially the team leader, Okafor, Felton, Anderson and Carrol.
I think they get down big early but then claw their way back as the Lakers bench blows more than Tara Reid does these days.
Before I forget, the Bobcats have won their last 7 of 13 SU. These teams played a 3 OT thriller last time and I think another thriller awaits tonight. Also, Sean May returned last game and put up 14 points which makes me like the game a good bit more.
The one thing that makes me caution this play to a 2 unit play as compared to a 3 unit play for me, is the fact that Lamar Odom is expected to play today and for that reason alone, I am making this a 2 unit play although very tempted to make it a 3 unit play. But then again, what did Shaq do in his return - 5 points. So, I'm sticking with a 2 unit play, no less, no more.
Sixers +5 - 2 Units
I rarely play more than 3 games - but added this one in -
No time for elaborate write-up but Lebron is not going to play today as he is resting his toe, Philly is decent at home, can win this game outright, showed that they can beat Cleveland at Cleveland, Cleveland his horrible on the road having lost their 6 of last 8 ballgames overall and 4 of their last 5 road ball games including getting routed by Portland @ Portland.
This is what I have on my card and good luck on whatever you play today -
IC
