Heat + 1 1/2
Washington has played great of late, but that's due mostly to the play of one Brendan Haywood who has been a man among boys in most of these games. The addition of Lue, Davis, and Haywood off the il has made the difference. However, Miami has played really well in their last 4 games, and this is without question a trap game for washington. Coming off a road trip and the first back to back since jordan started complaining about his knees. The addition of Jim Jackson (who im shocked no one else picked up before the heat did)and the return of Zo to hes all star form along with grant and gatling getting into the flow has made this back into a much better team than there record reflects. Zo was not 100% the first time these teams met in miami, look for him to control haywood and that should be the difference. Young teams, even more so teams/players not use to winning lose these types of games after road success.
Seattle + 6 1/2
Im not a big fan of taking teams on back to backs after a big win, but in this case for whatever reason seattle owns the la teams. They sweeped all 8 games vs the la teams last year and including last night are now 5-0 over the last two years at staples. Clippers have all kinds of problems that theyve found ways to mask, mostly by brand taking over and quentin richardson hitting every 3 that leaves hes hand. The fact that the sonics are are a pretty slender team overall, and the fact that they played a lot of back to backs early this year should allow them to bounce back for tonight and at least keep it close if not win outright.
Suns -1
The suns have the thing that gives the kings the most problems, a pg that can dribble drive and create off penetration. If you saw the dallas game, bibby looked like he was nailed to the floor everytime nash made a move, and the suns have been a terrific home team all year. Plus, kings had to hop on a plane right after tonights game and we dont know if webber is in "basketball shape" to do the back to back thing this quickly with travel.
9-3 ytd
glta
Washington has played great of late, but that's due mostly to the play of one Brendan Haywood who has been a man among boys in most of these games. The addition of Lue, Davis, and Haywood off the il has made the difference. However, Miami has played really well in their last 4 games, and this is without question a trap game for washington. Coming off a road trip and the first back to back since jordan started complaining about his knees. The addition of Jim Jackson (who im shocked no one else picked up before the heat did)and the return of Zo to hes all star form along with grant and gatling getting into the flow has made this back into a much better team than there record reflects. Zo was not 100% the first time these teams met in miami, look for him to control haywood and that should be the difference. Young teams, even more so teams/players not use to winning lose these types of games after road success.
Seattle + 6 1/2
Im not a big fan of taking teams on back to backs after a big win, but in this case for whatever reason seattle owns the la teams. They sweeped all 8 games vs the la teams last year and including last night are now 5-0 over the last two years at staples. Clippers have all kinds of problems that theyve found ways to mask, mostly by brand taking over and quentin richardson hitting every 3 that leaves hes hand. The fact that the sonics are are a pretty slender team overall, and the fact that they played a lot of back to backs early this year should allow them to bounce back for tonight and at least keep it close if not win outright.
Suns -1
The suns have the thing that gives the kings the most problems, a pg that can dribble drive and create off penetration. If you saw the dallas game, bibby looked like he was nailed to the floor everytime nash made a move, and the suns have been a terrific home team all year. Plus, kings had to hop on a plane right after tonights game and we dont know if webber is in "basketball shape" to do the back to back thing this quickly with travel.
9-3 ytd
glta
