Handicapper: IndianCowboy
Sport: NBA Basketball
Game: Sacramento Kings @ Detroit Pistons - Friday January 18, 2008 8:00 pm
Pick: 3 unit(s) ATS: Sacramento Kings +9.5 (-110) (Normal)
I understand that the Pistons have revenge coming into this game over the Kings but I still like the Kings irrelevant despite the Pistons losing to them on teh road earlier this year. Keep in mind that Mike Bibby and Ron Artest did not start yesterday I believe but still played 30 minutes in their first ballgame back and did fairly well - of course, they were rusty and this showed in a blowout loss to the Raptors on the road as this team needs to re-gel. However, what better way to come together and get your feet wet prior to playing the Pistons as now this team has plenty of scoring options with Bibby, Martin, Artest, Miller, Salmons and Beno - as each are playing 30+ minutes in the ballgame. I look for this game to be competive as the Kings bounce-back from a bad loss yesterday and the Pistons will likely win, but why not take a shot on a completely healthy Kings team after a bad loss. The Kings have more depth - much like the Wizards learned to play without Arenas and now with their stars back, this team is a more well rounded team with a more soudn bench as well. The Kings are 4-0 ATS following a straight up loss and 5-1 ATS as road underdogs of late.
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Handicapper: IndianCowboy
Sport: NBA Basketball
Game: Golden State Warriors @ Chicago Bulls - Friday January 18, 2008 9:30 pm
Pick: 3 unit(s) ATS: Golden State Warriors -1.5 (-110) (Play of the Day)
What many people do not know about this game is that the Bulls absolutely demolished the Warriors last year in a ballgame - the last ballgame they played by a score of 113-83 - a 3 point blowout. Now, what many will not realize is that Baron Davis did not play in that game and in any ballgames against the Bulls last year if I am not mistaken - so he is likely to have sat on the sidelines and watch his team get spanked. Al Harrington called their dissappointing loss the other night to the Pacers as his team not playing a full 4 quarters and I expect them to play better today as they lost to their nemesis the Pacers and I expect them to bounce-back today against the Bulls. Sure, the Bulls beat up on the Heat - but who hasn't as the Heat have lost 11 straight. This is a good spot for the Warriors to roll in here as they have some solid road wins to their resume including Denver, Houston and Cleveland on the road - all basically top 15 power ranking teams and they face a Bulls team outside the top 20 power rankings. I think the Warriors bounce-back from their loss yesterday while the Bulls get caught a bit flat-footed today with the Warriors having revenge from last year's loss as well. The Warriors are 5-1 ATS following a straight up loss and the Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 ballgames following a win of 10 points or more - and 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home ballgames.
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Handicapper: IndianCowboy
Sport: NBA Basketball
Game: Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics - Friday January 18, 2008 7:30 pm
Pick: 3 unit(s) ATS: Philadelphia 76ers +10.5 (-109) (Normal)
Don't be afraid to lay this wager down as it makes sense for quite a bit reasons. First of all, the Celtics continue to struggle without the true point guard play of Rondo as Tony Allen is just not cutting it and Ray Allen is no where near effective as he is when he is a pure shooting guard rather than having to handle the ball more. The Sixers were up on this team at halftime when Boston was healthy at Philadelphia as they were up by 5 at the half and frankly should have lost by single digits but somehow missed the cover late as the Celtics rallied in a big way in the second half. However, the reason the Celtics were able to rally in such a big way was the fact that Rondo was able to distribute the ball. The latest Celtics scores should be cognizant of a slow offense as they have scored 100 against Portland, 83 against Washington, 78 against Washignton, 86 at New Jersey and 83 at home against Charlotte. The Sixers showed a lot of guts going into Houston and winning outright and this team with Miller, Iguodala and Dalembert does have its respective talent. I think the Sixers hang tough with revenge tonight and the lack of point guard play from Boston as they lose by single-digits. Keep in mind the Sixers lost by just 7 on the road to a healthy San Antonio team and they are 15-2-1 ATS as an underdog of 11 points or greater and the Celtics are 0-4 ATS as favorites of 11 points or greater.