NBA 2020 Playoff Plays

[RBD]

Coach,

Sorry, just saw this or I would have replied sooner.

I didn't post it as a buy, but Portland is in the "Temperature" plays as a 6' pt dog. I like them for that, and a few other reasons, such as the one you mentioned. Lakers are having trouble scoring in the bubble.
People thought they would turn it on and play better in the playoffs, but they were like, what, 1-13 on three-pointers to the start game one, and ended up 5-32, 15%, and just as pitiful, 35% FG's.

Tonight might be the night they break out but I wouldn't bet it, based on on recent form.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Coach Woody]

Well after first half we have what looks to be the answer. Lakers playing better and the Blazers playing uninspired Basketball like they are nursing a hangover. Big mistake not punching the Lakers again while they were down.

We need an average of 36.5 to hit team over the second half. Light need to look for some value in 2 half lines.

 

[RBD]

Coach, you have more patience than I do, I didn't make it to halftime.
I changed the channel with about 5 minutes left in the first half, at which point they only had 33 scored.
THIRTY-THREE! That's approximately their avg score in a quarter!
Port looked like a team in the final week of the regular season, with home court in the playoffs locked up, on the road, playing the last place team, and they all had the flu.

Recap: Gave one unit back last night, 8-10 now. Hit two of my first three, only needed one of final two to guarantee a profit on the night. Unfortunately, both plays were on Portland, Q1 and team total Over.
Lost Q1 by 6 pts, suffering through a pitiful performance as they only hit something like 6 of 20 shots, and had too many turnovers. Team total was dead before halftime, that's how lousy they played.

Still, could have been worse as all systems took a beating. Had I stuck with the game plan of "Just play all system spots because they're 19-9" I would be in a hole as deep as the Mariana Trench.
After yesterday's games they're now at 21-21. In just one day, the record leveled out.
Considering what might have happened, I'll gladly take a one unit loss on the night.

Fortunately, my log book saved me (Yes, I'm promoting charting your play again.)
When I saw the 16-5 Q1 play lost two of three when the differential between my number and the book was 6 or >, I stayed off Orl. And it lost. And since the best record was Dogs, and OKC was only getting a half pt, I stayed off that one, too. And it lost.

Back to work.
Back with plays in a bit . . .

Two games played in each series, here's some general #'s for consideration:
Favs 11-5; 7 Ov, 9 Un.


Got a couple spots that fit various systems, Q1 has Utah+ 1/2, Phil +1', Dal +1'.
Team total has Brk Ov 104. Temp play Has Den/Utah Un 218', LAC -4'.

Q1 sides, Dogs, still at 67% 16-8, but trending the wrong way with yesterday's 0-3. Utah just a half pt, not much of a dog, same as OKC yesterday, Phil has a differential of > 6 like Orl yesterday; only spot that looks like a possible play for me is Dal.

No buys for now, think I'll just watch the first game with a little TV action/fun $.
Back later with plays if I have any.
Good luck to all with your plays today.

 

[RBD]

Sometimes, when I have no statistical edge I like, or no gut-feel on a play, and I'm looking for an opinion to use for some curse-at-my-TV fun, I search for a jackass to fade.
Saw this earler today, from a place that is a Mardi Gras of Mutants, full of perpetually adolescent attention seeking gimps who have escaped from their box (no, I have never been a poster there.)

He's complaining about a bet he made on Tor/Brook Under:

"I mean EVERY game is going UNDER. I have a friend who works for the NBA and i mentioned this to him and he said the refs are trying to control the game flow to keep games lower scoring in playoffs vs regular season within bubble. belief is it will yield close affairs which it has so I'd expect them all to go under the very high numbers that are being posted by oddsmakers."

The reality is - Unders have a 9-7 edge, and this, ONLY after going 4-0 yesterday.
9-7, or, in gimp-speak, "EVERY GAME IS GOING UNDER."

Unfortunately, he doesn't give a play for the next game.

 

[RBD]

Q1 Dogs we're 16-5 going into yesterday.

Came out at 16-8, still a rock-solid 67%.

Three spots today.
W with Utah by 11, getting a half-point.
L with Phil by a half-point.
17-9 now.

One play left, Dallas.

And . . . LAC have lost 8 of last 10, SU in Q1.
And I've lost 9 of 10 ATS.
And they've lost both playoff Q1's to Denver, by 4 pts each game.

So naturally, I'm buying . . .LAC - 1' in Q1.

Yes, I'm bucking the Q1 system,
going with my gut feel that LAC start strong tonight, and hoping it's not a Krusty the Clown/Washington Generals, "I thought they were due!" play.

 

[RBD]

Recap: Smooth move, Krusty. Go against your system with the highest win percentage, and bet on a team that I has lost 9 of of their last 10 first quarters. Make that 10 of their last 11 now.
And make me three games under .500 at 8-11.

Making matters worse, all system plays shared here yesterday went 4-2, 67%. Yet I dropped a unit on the day.

Before I get to today's spots, a correction.
Doing Q1 numbers this morning something looked off in the Houston game, compared to game two in the series.
Here's the chart for game two, starting with the number I made for each team:
OKC 25.3
Hou 29.2
The Q1 line was Hou - 1/2.
Add that to the numbers and you get OKC 25.8, Hou 29.2.

As explained previously here, a game qualifies as a play when there is a differential of 3 pts or >. This means the play was Hou - 1/2 as they were 3.4 > OKC.

I charted the play in my logbook and here incorrectly as OKC + 1/2. Sorry. Like I said, I do a lot of work with numbers and though I double check everything, there's a lot of room for making a mistake. Records have been corrected in my logbook.

Got a couple spots for today's games:

Q1 had Orl +4', Indy +1, Hou - 1/2,
Milw/Orl Un 56.
The record on those is Fav 3-1, Dog 18-8.

Team total play has Milw Un 118', Orl Un 106, OKC Un 110'
(This play is faded to play the Over because of a losing record on Unders, 6-8. It's almost back to level at .500, so I may be dropping it off my charts.)
Teams total play also has Indy On 104' (accidentally left off last update), LAL Ov 116, Port Ov 108,
the record on Overs is 21-15.

No Temperature plays today.

NO buys on anything for me yet.

First buys the day:
Mia/Indy First Quarter Ov 53'
Indy Team Total Of 104'

 

[Coach Woody]

Nice hits...

I'm done for a few days from capping but not following you. N love the wins.....

Anything later???

I'm hoping the blazers and Nuggets are off their hangovers. Must have been one hell of a party

 

[RBD]

Coach, nothing wrong with taking a few days off to clear the head and refresh the batteries. In fact, it's a good strategy, especially compared to what many bettors do when they're on a dip - press their bets and double down.

Yes, I had a few plays later, Just in pocket though, nothing I recommended here. I usually have a couple $'s on my systems with a strong record, even if I don't post it here.

Best of them was Houston Q1 play yesterday.
Look at it like this:

You have a system that is 21-9 (which is the record on Q1 sides here; Favs 3-1, Dogs 18-8.

There are three spots that qualify today.
Odds are at least one of them is going to win, yes?

When Orlando lost Q1 yesterday, I was going to play the next one, Indy. But I decided to stay off it, and capitalize on the situation if they lost.
They lost. So with an 21-9 system, and strong odds that at least one of three would win, and with the early games both losing, I liked the percentage of the third spot coming home a winner, and played Hou - 1/2.

I also played both team totals in the late game, stop watching at the end of the third quarter thinking I had an easy win with only 23 points needed for each, LAL pushed, Port lost by the hook.

Recap: Hit both plays here yesterday.
One game under .500 at 10-11.

Today's spots:

Q1 sides, Phil +2', Dal +3.
The record on these, 22-1
Favs 4-1, Dogs 18-10.

Temperature spots:
LAC/Dal Un 231', Tor/Brook Ov 220.
The record on these, sides 6-3
Favs 2-1, Dogs 4-2.

Team totals, Brooklyn Ov 103, Denver Over 106, Utah Ov 109. The record on these is 27-27, Ov 21-16, Un 6-11.

Stopped charting Q1 totals as they've averaged out around .500, no value.

Back after I chart the rest of the plays,
no buys yet.

Update.
Buys:
Philly Q1 +2'
Utah Ov 109

 

[RBD]

Coach, nothing wrong with taking a few days off to clear the head and refresh the batteries. In fact, it's a good strategy, especially compared to what many bettors do when they're on a dip - press their bets and double down.

Yes, I had a few plays later, Just in pocket though, nothing I recommended here. I usually have a couple $'s on my systems with a strong record, even if I don't post it here.

Best of them was Houston Q1 play yesterday.
Look at it like this:

You have a system that is 21-9 (which is the record on Q1 sides here; Favs 3-1, Dogs 18-8.

There are three spots that qualify today.
Odds are at least one of them is going to win, yes?

When Orlando lost Q1 yesterday, I was going to play the next one, Indy. But I decided to stay off it, and capitalize on the situation if they lost.
They lost. So with an 21-9 system, and strong odds that at least one of three would win, and with the early games both losing, I liked the percentage of the third spot coming home a winner, and played Hou - 1/2.

I also played both team totals in the late game, stop watching at the end of the third quarter thinking I had an easy win with only 23 points needed for each, LAL pushed, Port lost by the hook.

Recap: Hit both plays here yesterday.
One game under .500 at 10-11.

Today's spots:

Q1 sides, Phil +2', Dal +3.
The record on these, 22-11
(corrected from 22-1)
Favs 4-1, Dogs 18-10.

I stopped charting Q1 totals as they've averaged out around .500, no value.

Temperature spots:
LAC/Dal Un 231', Tor/Brook Ov 220.
The record on these, sides 6-3
Favs 2-1, Dogs 4-2.
(Forgot totals records, Ov 1-1, Un 4-2.)

Team totals, Brooklyn Ov 103, Denver Over 106, Utah Ov 109. The record on these is 27-27
Ov 21-16, Un 6-11.

Update.
Buys:
Philly Q1 +2'
Utah Ov 109

 

[Englishman]

Thanks for the Philly +2.5 1Q pick.

Very appreciated

 

[RBD]

Hey, a drop-in visit from someone nearby my favorite highway, 287! (I'm temporarily stuck in California, where you learn to appreciate the little things in life, like a multi-lane highway that you can actually move on.)

Thanks for stopping by, Englishman, and you're welcome for the play. Those Q1 spots have been doing well, glad you got yourself some.

Got one left today, but Dallas won the previous three and I don't like any stat to be perfect at 100%, so I'm going to stay off it and just bank the early one.

Again, thanks for stopping by, knowing people are interested keeps me posting....

 

[Englishman]

Hey, a drop-in visit from someone nearby my favorite highway, 287! (I'm temporarily stuck in California, where you learn to appreciate the little things in life, like a multi-lane highway that you can actually move on.)

Thanks for stopping by, Englishman, and you're welcome for the play. Those Q1 spots have been doing well, glad you got yourself some.

Got one left today, but Dallas won the previous three and I don't like any stat to be perfect at 100%, so I'm going to stay off it and just bank the early one.

Again, thanks for stopping by, knowing people are interested keeps me posting....

I live in Wayne.....very close to 287.

It's a death trap....what with the massive 16 wheelers and the occasional deer......to be avoided if possible.

Thanks again mate.

 

[RBD]

English - I'm from the lower part of 287, Middlesex county, new housing developments built over the years have diminished the deer problem, but I know what you mean, they're always on my mind when in your area of 287, and 202, and 78. Especially at night went the bastards like to prance about.
Hope you saw my tip on the Dal Q1 spot and stayed off it. Again, thanks for stopping in.


Be a Better Bettor Newsletter Monday August 24, 2020

Recap: Hit both plays Sunday. Had a good weekend, hit all four plays, lots to choose from as system plays posted went 5-3 Sat and 5-2 Sunday. Record: 12-11
Back to .500 but really should be doing better with the rate the system plays have been winning.
We have a full week of playoff data to look at, let's see if we can use it to our advantage this week.

Overall playoff stats, (league stats, not my stuff):
Favs killing it at 19-9, totals at 14-14 (may be off by one or two, depending on lines).

Today's Q1 spots: Hou -1/2, Port +2'
Record on these spots: 23-12, Favs 4-1, Dogs 19-11.

Temperature spots: Milw/Orl Un 226', Mia -6
Record on these spots: Sides 6-3, Favs 2-1, Dogs 4-2. Totals 6-4, Ov 2-1, Un 4-3

Team totals: LAL Ov 116', Port Ov 110.
Record on these spots is 30-27, 24-16 Ov, 6-11 Un.

Hou is 2-0 already in the Q1 spot, I don't like going back to the well too many times using the same team, same system. Port is a possibility, though they're 0-1 in this spot (Aug 20.)

Unders just 4-3 in the Temp spot, but it's my best play in football, charting it for the first time in NBA because I want to see if the math/system works in there, too. I may buy this spot later today.
Like the Miami spot, too, as Indy goes home today.

I like the record on the Team Total Over spot, but I don't like that both #'s on today's game are higher than either team has scored yet in the series.

Today's Lesson:

NO, Vegas Does NOT Fix Games

Yesterday, Murray hit a meaningless 3 pointer with .05 on the clock, giving the ATS win to Denver at +3.
I don't have to enter the various dark, back alleys of Forum Land to know what the little Rage Monkeys are going to be screeching - "FIX! Vegas fixed the game!"

A person has to be totally clueless to believe Vegas fixes games.
To say they do, shows a staggering ignorance of:
the typical handle at a sportsbook as a % of annual revenue at a casino/hotel,
and the fear these busninesses have of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

My favorite example. True story...

A guy is screaming at one of my ticket writers. *He had a $200 prop bet, Strahan Over 3' tackles.

Strahan had 3, when Head Coach Coughlin pulls him out late in the fourth quarter.

The bettor swears that Strahan did not play the last series because we didn't want him to get a fourth tackle to make his ticket a winner. He actually accused us of having Strahan taken out of the game.

I asked, "So, let me get this straight. You think that we have Tom Coughlin's personal cell phone number.
And we called him. And he answered, DURING the Super Bowl, and we told him to pull Strahan, and he did, all so that you wouldn't be able to collect on a $200.00 bet. Is that correct?"

And he looked at me, straight-faced, and said, "Yes."
This fool actually believed it.
He kept making a scene demanding a refund, so security removed him from the property.
They should have taken him to the loony bin.

Yes, game are fixed, history has proven that (just ask Tim Donaghy.)
Players, refs, coaches? Sure.
But NOT by Vegas.

* I have the year right, and know it was a prop on "Total number of tackles made." I may be incorrect in remembering it was Strahan, but the gist of the story is accurate.

Thus endeth the lesson.

No buys for me yet.

 

[RBD]

Recap: No buys yesterday.
Meant to get back in with the Milw Un play as I said I intended, but lost track of time. Realized it was about to start, saw the line was still up, placed a bet but fully expected to get the message, "Wager cancelled, game already started." Got it in just under the wire but I don't post if there's no time for anyone who might want to ride with me, so I didn't post an update here. Got a push at 227, and was lucky to get that.

A good day with the system plays posted here in case anyone was looking for opinion or stats to use for a play.
Q1 sides split, Temperature plays got a W on the side with Miami and a *Push on the Milw total, team totals both hit for a 4-1-1 day.

* I graded Mil a Push. The opening # was 216' and that's what I posted here in the morning, but the # quickly went to 217 and the board had 217 and 217' at game time. Anyone betting 217' Un got a win, but since the common # was 227, and since that's what I bought, I'll grade it a Push. I could mark it as a W, but if I pad my stats with wins based on always getting the best # then they are useless to me as I try to find systems that are profitable.


I expected a little rebuttal on my "Vegas Doesn't Fix Games" post yesterday.
Glad to see no one here believes that nonsense (though I'm not saying Vegas bookmakers are all honest, and are above cheating. I've personally witnessed one get the perp walk, escorted out of the casino by hotel security and Vegas Metro, and know of a few others. Stories for another time . . .)

For now, closure on the "Vegas Doesn't Fix Games" post. A final example.
Years ago, there was a power outage that caused a football game to be stopped early. Wisconsin was in town to play the Rebels, at Sam Boyd Stadium. According to NGC laws, a contest has to go X amount of minutes for it to be official, otherwise the game must be refunded.

The Badgers were leading 27-7, and covering the spread, when the game was called.
Bettors with their money on Wisconson were pissed, and rightfully so, when they tried to collect on their bet but were given a refund.

The NGC Rules are posted in every sportsbook, for all to see.
There was no disputing the game qualified as a cancelled wager due to the early stoppage, but many Wisconsin bettors from across the country posted nonsense about the Vegas books calling Sam Boyd and telling them to shut the power to avoid paying out Badger bettors.

Setting aside the common sense that should inform a normal thinking person that the guys who run the power grid aren't in cahoots with and at the beck and call of the sportsbooks, this flies in the face of basic math and finance, as I noted yesterday:
To say Vegas books fix games, shows a staggering ignorance of:
the typical handle at a sportsbook as a % of annual revenue at a casino/hotel,
and the fear these businesses have of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

And to that, I'll add one other common sense tidbit: the knuckleheads screaming "FIX!" had no idea how much money was wagered at each house, side and total. The line rose due to Wisconsin money coming in, but at my house we had a few large bets on UNLV, and stood to profit off the game.
So, when"Vegas fixes games" do we, the bookmakers, contact each other to see who needs which team to win?
What if I need Team A, and another book needs Team B, how do we decide which way to fix the game?
The very concept is ridiculous.

And, the Badger betters also had no idea how much money was taken on the total, and if the house needed the Under or Over. The game was a sure Under, and what if houses had more money bet on the Over than on the Badgers, and the books also lost money there?

The entire concept that Vegas books are in cahoots on fixing games is nonsense.
Whenever you hear this nonsense, consider the source - it's always a guy who is angry because he lost his bet.


Todays spots:

Q1 - Nothing qualifies.

Temperature plays: Utah/Den Un, Dal/LAC Un, LAC -7.

Let's look at those two spots.

Total in Den spot is at 220. Here are the totals from the first 4 games, at the end of regulation time (no OT):
256, 211, 229, 230. At 220, the Un would be 1-3.

Pretty much the same in Dal/LAC at 235: 242, 252, 241, 228. Again, the Un would be 1-3.

Reminds me of yesterday though, with the team totals on LA and Port. I posted:
"I like the record on the Team Total Over spot, but I don't like that both #'s on today's game are higher than either team has scored yet in the series."
That record was 24-16 on Overs.
Both LAL and Port had their highest scoring games of the post season and that record is now 26-16.

So, though I don't like the numbers, I'm thinking of playing the first spot today, Den/Utah Un.
I'll bank it if it wins/no play on the late game.
If it loses, I'll play the second game, thinking the play won't go 0-2.
But that's early thinking. I'll watch the lines and decide later. (I'm pretty good at judging when to buy football spots, early, or wait, and I include "When to buy" notices in my posts, but NBA is not my sport so it's guesswork for me here.)

The LAC-7 is the strongest play, %-wise based on records, so I'm pretty sure I'll ride that spot.

Back later with buys . . .

Update: Team totals: Utah Ov 111, Den Ov 108'

Conflict - Temperature play calls for Utah/Den Un (4-3 record) but team totals system says both teams go Over (26-16.) Yes, the team total spot has a better record but when there's a conflict like this I'd rather stay off and look elsewhere for a play.

And . . . the LAC play has jumped to -8, which means if I buy now I missed out on a better number.

Not sure what I'll do today. I'll be back if I have a buy recommendation.

 

[Coach Woody]

Love the stories about the disgruntled bettors.....My guess and I hear crap all the time also... is that people bet with their emotions and their pride or head or whatever it i,s can't handle the loss....I think anyone who has bet more than a night in Vegas has had a bad beat....sometimes you get the good beats also...I had no business the other night winning the Nuggets game but Murray hitting the shot I would take every time. I was pumped. but you know how many I have lost the way....about the same as I won...but people only focus on the losses like that...not the wins.

I LOVE The Nugget over tonight so worries me that your temp. play is the other way. But then excited again that you had both team totals going over.

I am hoping clippers number goes down as well.

 

[Englishman]

Great stories RBD, very entertaining reading.

Quick question re your Wisc/Rebs story...does NV allow wagers on local teams? I know here in NJ you can't bet on any NJ school games, Rutgers, etc. on Bet365 or Fanduel. I think its against state regulations.

 

[RBD]

Only have a minute, but I'll be back to reply to ya, Woody and English.

Stopped by in case anyone was wondering if I made a decision on a buy in the first game.
I'm so conflicted I don't even know what to bet in pocket for some TV rooting fun, so I have no buy recommendation.

In the later game, it seems everyone is on LAC cuz Porzingas is out, which in part is why the line is up to -8 now, and I don't like being on the team everyone is talking about.

Hate to take two days off in a row, but I don't press.

Back tomorrow with replies and plays...

 

[RBD]

Okay, have a little time, wanted to reply.

Coach - you're correct. Bad beats probably even out over time, but it sure as hell SEEMS LIKE we get the short end of the stick more often than not.

And team totals have the stronger %, I leaned that way with my TV play, using Utah.
The temperature play is really my highest Win % college football play over the last 12-13 years, never tried it anywhere else, don't know if it works in hoops, just trying it out.

Englishman - something in your speech/writing pattern the other day said "England" to me, are you originally from across the pond? To answer your question, yes, locals can bet on the Rebels and the Knights. I even put up lines on the old Vegas minor league hockey team once in a while.
You mentioned Rutgers - that's where I grew up, ten minutes from the stadium. I have a funny story about a Rutgers football game wager, will share it next time in.

Luck to both of you with your play today.

 

[RBD]

Recap: No buys yesterday. Record 12-11.

System plays posted went 2-3, took L's with both Temperature plays Under; took an L with Utah team total Under 111 (despite 63 pts at the half; they choked in crunch time, the last 6 minutes of the 4th quarter.)
Got W's with LAC team total Over and the Temp play on LAC as 6-7 pt Favs.

Slim pickings today, no Q1 plays qualify, second day on a row; disappointing.

If anyone is looking at Q1 stuff, here are some numbers to consider.
Q1 in Orl/Milw is at 56'. Here are the Q1 totals from the first four games of the series: 56, 38, 54, 40.
Not one has gone Over 56' (which is the same total the books hung on the last Q1.)
They are averaging 47 pts in Q1, 9' lower than today's #.
ALL those numbers point to Un 56'.
Which makes me lean to the Over because . . .
If winning was as simple as betting on that which looks obvious, there would be more winners than books.
There are not more winners than books.

Orl won Q1 in the first game, the only game they won SU, but they lost the last three Q1's by 12 pts, 8 pts, and 4 pts. Milw is laying 5 in Q1 today.

A lot of people expect Orl, down 3-1, to quit today (two of three teams facing elimination have lost, Philly and Indy; Denver survived.) I think Orl goes home today.

No buy recommendations, just sharing some thoughts for anyone looking at those spots.

Temp plays today: Orl/Milw Un, OKC/Hou Ov, Milw -14.

Record on sides in this system are 8-3, Favs 4-1, Dogs 4-2. Totals are 6-6, Ov 2-1, Un 4-5.
I usually drop plays that come in at .500 range, so I was going to stop charting Temp plays on totals as it's 2-1 Ov, 4-5 Un after yesterday's 2 losses on the Under, but I'm going to keep charting in case there's another scenario like yesterday, where a system with a higher % says Ov, while the Temp play says Under. The info might be useful.

Team total spots: OKC Ov 110', Port Ov 104', LAL Ov 118.

Not sure what to make of the Port & LAL spots. In this particular system, I don't make my # then compare it to the books, I use a third party source #, chart their # against the book, and look for areas where they are consistently off by X % or >. I'm not sure if their #'s on this game reflect Lillard being out. I think it's based on him being in. That said, their number is still at least 5 pts > than what the books are offering, even factoring a few pts off for Lillard.

Wait! I just thought of something.
Maybe playing the full game Over is profitable when the team total system says to take both teams Over? Hmmm...
What is the record for the full game Ov/Un in playoff games where BOTH team totals were Overs in this system?

Well, good thing I keep a log book because I can easily find the answer.
(Yes, I'm promoting the use of a logbook again.)

There have been four games that had both teams Over in the team total system.
Two stayed Under, though one was by a half point and smart shoppers got a Push or Win on it.
Two went Over. Two of the games were in the LAL/Port series; one Over, one Under.

After yesterday's high-scoring LAC game, I hear a lot of people talking about more of the same tonight with LAL/Port off their 150 pt output on Monday night.

Just stuff for you to think about.

For me, for now, one buy:
OKC Ov 110'

 

[RBD]

Recap: No games played.

I made my numbers this morning, but nothing to chart against as online books haven't put up lines.
No Q1 lines, no Q1 plays.

I do have Temperature plays, as that spot is based on recent past performance.
Today's spots are (using Vegas #'s): Den/Utah Un 220', Bos/Tor Ov 216, LAC/Dal Un 238.
Records on these: Ov 2-1, Un 4-5.

No buys for me, just sharing info.

No data available for team totals work, so nothing there. Yet. Who knows how this clusterfuck will play out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Confession - I rarely watch NBA on TV.
This will sound strange, and rightfully so, but I've formed a habit of kicking back and watching the game on espn's gamecast. For two reasons:

First, I find the graphics oddly addicting. If you want a score, you root for the solid dot, if you want a miss, you root for the empty circle. Or, you root for the ball to go through the hoop, or bounce off. (Strange, yes, I know.)

But mainly I don't watch because the game is unwatchable. Or unlistenable, I should say.

It's not even a game broadcast anymore. The commentary has been hijacked and converted into a never-ending political messaging machine, forced upon the public by pompous, insufferable, overpaid, self-righteous zealots who are totally lacking in self-awareness, blissfully ignorant of the true masters they serve while under the delusion of being woke.

I won't be preached to.

I won't be preached to by an agenda-pushing commentator or player.
I won't be preached at by people who know nothing about me, who I am as a man, how I have lived my life, how I treat my fellow man, or the charitable actions I devote time, effort and money to.

They do not know me or what's in my heart, yet demand I bow to their groupthink and ideology.
They demand I repent for sins I have not committed. Or worse, the sins of others.

I will not line up with sheep behind a posturing Judas Goat.
I will not bow to ignorance, masquerading as and parading as being well-informed on issues.
And I will not genuflect to racism disguised as anti-racism.

(And that's as political as you'll see me get here. I won't engage in political conversations or debates.)