I want to make sure these games are posted, so here it goes:
NBA TONIGHT:
PHILADELPHIA -9.5 vs. ATLANTA
With Iverson, Sixers should roll in a Friday night home game. Many bettors were initially concerned it would take a few games for Iverson to get back to his All-Star level, but as he showed in last game, he's already at mid-season form. Sixers are a completely different team with Iverson on the floor. I suspect this number opened at under 10 because Sixers tend to play a lot of low-scoring games -- so the margins of victory are going to be lower that normal. But Sixers get much more offensive with Iverson in the lineup and should cover this number at home versus a very flat Atlanta team (coming off an upset road win -- which is a favorable situation). This line should probably be at or near ~12.5 I'll lay the home chalk and bet it immediately because it may move to 10 or 11.
LA LAKERS -4.5 vs. PHOENIX
Lakers should have crushed Houston last night (Francis/Mobely were presumably going to be out). Lakers may be getting focused on setting the all-time record for early season wins (record is 15-0, I think). Coach Jackson is using this ETERNITY thing to motivate the Lakers again (remember how he did this in the playoffs last season when Lakers went 15-1?). A good indication of this was K. Bryant when he came off the court last night -- he cited the record and TONIGHT'S GAME in Phoenix as important. They were walking off the court after a tight win (lucky, actually -- since Rocket smissed the final layup) and here was Bryant, not celebrating, but looking to the next game. That's what I call FOCUS. Of course, that's just one player -- but Bryant is the player I want to be focused in ANY game. This line laying only -4.5 is a gift. Phoenix also doesn't have the muscle inside to stop O'Neal (the again -- who does?). I can't see Lakers getting "lazy" again here after letting up on the Rockets (they once led by 15). They close the sale...coffee for closers only.
MINNESOTA -1 vs. INDIANA
Minnesota (now 6-1) lost it's last game -- a shocking loss to Cleveland at home and should bounce back tonight. Wolves have had a couple of days to think about that humilation. Best indication Minnesota will bounce back might be the disparity of first-quarter results between these two teams. Indiana must face a Wolves team that has been dominant in the first quarter. Pacers have been outscored in the first quarter in seven consecutive games. In the last four, they've been dominated 123-83, as each opponent has scored at least 30 points! Wolves have won the first quarter in the last five games by a total of 151-85. Take Wolves' average advantage of 13.2 points and the Pacers' average deficit of 10.0 and put them together, and we seem to have a nice edge. Look for Indiana to press early tonight, which may result in another tough night shooting (Wolves are a pretty good inside defensive team). Pacers also play their seventh game in 11 nights here.
NOTE: I'm also on the MINNE FIRST HALF LINE, which is -1. PROP BET. Pacers start out notoriously slow. Indy press reports they will try to come out with a faster pace tonight, but I say this may cause them to press and shoot poorly. Wolves are one of the NBA's best first quarter teams. I'll take the Wolves -1 for the FIRST HALF in a rare prop bet for me.
GOLDEN STATE / SEATTLE OVER 192
Warriors appear to be a completely overhauled team from last season. They have a big man inside, Fortson, and are deep in the frontcourt. Sonics have a few injuries -- Calvin Booth the main concern. Seattle coach was quoted as saying he hopes to go with a SMALLER lineup which will "quicken the pace" for tonight's game. This could get into a real shootout. Warriors will score plenty inside. I also expect Seattle to come up with points at home (Sonics are certainly explosive). I like the OVER in this game -- which is a very reasonable 192 I expect one, if not both, teams to reach the 100 point mark. OVER OVER OVER
Get the coffee.
-- Nolan Dalla
NBA TONIGHT:
PHILADELPHIA -9.5 vs. ATLANTA
With Iverson, Sixers should roll in a Friday night home game. Many bettors were initially concerned it would take a few games for Iverson to get back to his All-Star level, but as he showed in last game, he's already at mid-season form. Sixers are a completely different team with Iverson on the floor. I suspect this number opened at under 10 because Sixers tend to play a lot of low-scoring games -- so the margins of victory are going to be lower that normal. But Sixers get much more offensive with Iverson in the lineup and should cover this number at home versus a very flat Atlanta team (coming off an upset road win -- which is a favorable situation). This line should probably be at or near ~12.5 I'll lay the home chalk and bet it immediately because it may move to 10 or 11.
LA LAKERS -4.5 vs. PHOENIX
Lakers should have crushed Houston last night (Francis/Mobely were presumably going to be out). Lakers may be getting focused on setting the all-time record for early season wins (record is 15-0, I think). Coach Jackson is using this ETERNITY thing to motivate the Lakers again (remember how he did this in the playoffs last season when Lakers went 15-1?). A good indication of this was K. Bryant when he came off the court last night -- he cited the record and TONIGHT'S GAME in Phoenix as important. They were walking off the court after a tight win (lucky, actually -- since Rocket smissed the final layup) and here was Bryant, not celebrating, but looking to the next game. That's what I call FOCUS. Of course, that's just one player -- but Bryant is the player I want to be focused in ANY game. This line laying only -4.5 is a gift. Phoenix also doesn't have the muscle inside to stop O'Neal (the again -- who does?). I can't see Lakers getting "lazy" again here after letting up on the Rockets (they once led by 15). They close the sale...coffee for closers only.
MINNESOTA -1 vs. INDIANA
Minnesota (now 6-1) lost it's last game -- a shocking loss to Cleveland at home and should bounce back tonight. Wolves have had a couple of days to think about that humilation. Best indication Minnesota will bounce back might be the disparity of first-quarter results between these two teams. Indiana must face a Wolves team that has been dominant in the first quarter. Pacers have been outscored in the first quarter in seven consecutive games. In the last four, they've been dominated 123-83, as each opponent has scored at least 30 points! Wolves have won the first quarter in the last five games by a total of 151-85. Take Wolves' average advantage of 13.2 points and the Pacers' average deficit of 10.0 and put them together, and we seem to have a nice edge. Look for Indiana to press early tonight, which may result in another tough night shooting (Wolves are a pretty good inside defensive team). Pacers also play their seventh game in 11 nights here.
NOTE: I'm also on the MINNE FIRST HALF LINE, which is -1. PROP BET. Pacers start out notoriously slow. Indy press reports they will try to come out with a faster pace tonight, but I say this may cause them to press and shoot poorly. Wolves are one of the NBA's best first quarter teams. I'll take the Wolves -1 for the FIRST HALF in a rare prop bet for me.
GOLDEN STATE / SEATTLE OVER 192
Warriors appear to be a completely overhauled team from last season. They have a big man inside, Fortson, and are deep in the frontcourt. Sonics have a few injuries -- Calvin Booth the main concern. Seattle coach was quoted as saying he hopes to go with a SMALLER lineup which will "quicken the pace" for tonight's game. This could get into a real shootout. Warriors will score plenty inside. I also expect Seattle to come up with points at home (Sonics are certainly explosive). I like the OVER in this game -- which is a very reasonable 192 I expect one, if not both, teams to reach the 100 point mark. OVER OVER OVER
Get the coffee.
-- Nolan Dalla
