Drew Gordon
Drew Gordon
Drew Gordon
Today's Games...
1. 200,000♦ Trailblazers
2. 50,000♦ Pittsburgh
3. 50,000♦ Jazz
1. Trailblazers- Why is a team that has won 17 of their last 18 games, and has the best pointspread mark in the NBA at 23-13 ATS, find themselves as small dogs to a New Jersey team that's worse at home (9-12 SU & 6-14-1 ATS) than they are on the highway (9-6 SUATS)?! The answer is oddsmakers are once again underestimating this Blazers squad, fading them because they played a double OT game at 12:30 pm yesterday.
Reason I don't lend much credence to the "fatigue factor" is that this young Blazers team hasn't had much trouble with getting zero rest, going 6-3 ATS in that spot. It makes sense, as most of the Blazers players are youngsters, who need little time to recuperate. The fact they lost that double-OT game only helps them refocus for this contest, making them that much more dangerous.
Biggest problem for the Nets tonight will be keeping up with the Blazers improved offense, which is averaging 105 ppg over their last 5 games. But unlike most teams that score that many points, the Blazers also defend well, allowing just 96 ppg on 42% shooting over that span. Herein lies the issue for the Nets, as their offense is average at best, dropping in just 92 ppg at home this season. Of course they've got Jefferson and Carter scoring a big chunk of the points, but after those two players, Kidd and the rest of 'em are maddeningly inconsistent on the offensive end.
Bottom line, you've got one of the hottest teams in the NBA, coming off a tough loss, playing at one of the weakest home courts in the East... Yet, the Blazers are the underdog? Fine by me, as the guys in Vegas have been wrong all season about Portland, and they're wrong again tonight. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Blazers won outright here. However, don't get greedy, take the points and grab the cash with Portland in this one.
Take the Trailblazers plus the points over the Nets as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Pittsburgh- Oddsmakers aren't stupid, despite the absence of both of Pittsburgh's starting gaurds, Cook and Fields, the Panthers are still only slight underdogs in this spot... The question is why? Shouldn't the absence of roughly 21 ppg and 94 total assist account for something? The answer is no, not really, because this game will be won down in the blocks, and that's where Pitt's bread is buttered with star F Sam Young and super-frosh Dejuan Blair.
If your going to compete with Georgetown, you need two things. First, an outstanding frontcourt capable of matching wits with 7'2 Hibbert and the athletic Summers. Hibbert isn't nearly the athlete that Blair is, but he's got a huge size edge. Problem for Hibbert (and well-known to NBA scouts) is that he doesn't play like a traditional 7-footer, but doesn't yet possess the consistent jump shot to take it outside... How else do you explain his meager 12 ppg and 6 rebounds per game? Those numbers should be much higher, plain and simple.
Second, you need to play lockdown defense, which is exactly the case for the Panthers at home, where they allow just 58 ppg on 37% shooting. The Hoyas don't posses the go-to scorer they had last year in F Green, so expect their more methodical offense to run into trouble against a stout Pitt defense. In fact, its the Hoyas that need to worry, as the Panthers average 83 ppg on 51% shooting (42% from 3-point) at home this season!
Bottom line, we've seen this Hoyas team struggle against top-flight competition on the road before (see loss at Memphis). And while Pitt doesn't have the offense Memphis has, they sure as hell have the defense required to win this game. The absence of guards Cook and Fields hurts, but not by as much as you think, as their replacements, Benjamin and Ramon, are filling in nicely. Long story short, the Panthers protect their house and grab the cash in this one.
Take Pittsburgh plus the points over Georgetown in this Big East showdown.
3. Jazz- Got to like Utah in this spot against a Bucks team they've dominated, winning 8 of their last 10 SU and covering ALL 10 of those match ups! Guys, needless to say, what makes you think a struggling, short-handed Milwaukee team can do anything to reverse that trend tonight in Salt Lake?!
One key element the Jazz have just added to their roster is sharp-shooter Kyle Korver. Adding one of the best pure shooters in the NBA, while also unloading a disgruntled Giricek was pure genius on coach Sloan's part. The fact the Jazz have gone 5-1 ATS since adding Korver cannot be ignored, as his ability to spread the defense for players like Deron Williams is gold for this Utah team.
Another issue for the Bucks is their offense, or should I say Michael Redd and everyone else! They're averaging only 94 ppg on the road, and for a team loaded with underachieving offensive talent, that's just plain bad. When you consider the Jazz are averaging upwards of 107 ppg on an excellent 50% shooting at home, you see just how far the Bucks have to go.
Finally, let's look over the Jazz last 3 games (all at home), where they took apart Indiana and Phoenix, winning both games by 22 points. They then went on to beat, but not cover against the Magic in 119-115 shootout. In other words, you better be able to run with the Jazz if you want any shot of even sniffing the cash, but unfortunately for Milwaukee they've proven time and again (10 times to be exact) that they simply cannot run with the Utah, especially on the road.
Take the Jazz at home BIG over the Bucks in this NBA match up.
