HOUSTON ROCKETS + 1 - - - Really there is only one kryptonite in the NBA for the dominant Superman. It is not Nate Robinson, nor is it the original Superman Shaq. The one lone player that is truly the only player I have seen in the entire NBA that can contain Dwight Howard....is Yao Ming. Yao's 7'6 frame has consistently caused problems for Dwight. In the past 3 matchups Yao has outrebounded Dwight and got him into foul troubles. Yao has actually perfected a shot that is unstoppable. It is that turn-around flip hook-shot. No single coverage can contain that shot. Despite Orlando's road domiance the home court advantage will be big tonight. Houston is in that western race fighting for playoff position and home court. Matchup wise Houston had Orlando. Battier and Artest will cause Hedo and Lewis problems tonight. I do suspect Alston to play well in his return to Houston. Sometimes when Alston plays with a chip on his shoulder he tends to play out of control. Aaron Brooks will want to prove there was a reason he was given the starting spot and Alston was shipped out. Look for a double doubleby the young PG tonight. Kyle Lowry the back-up point for HOU is my x-factor. Scola must play well and grab boards in order to off-set the absence of Carl Landry. I suspect he will. Only 8 losses all season at the Toyota Centre. I don't suspect the 9th coming tonight. The team that Hakeem built wins tonight.
11 UNITS - - -
PORTLAND TRAIL-BLAZERS - 5.0 (B/1) - - - Blazers are gonna be pissed and poised for this ball game. For just a sec let us forget about the game in Houston. Prior to that the Portland Trail-Blazers were inconspicuosly playing the best basketball in the NBA. Blowing out teams left right and centre, balanced efforts and excellent rebounding allowed Portland to go 8-1 ATS prior to the Houston loss. If it wasn't for loss of concentration, missed layups and missed open shots the Blazers would have covered that game in Houston. McMillan was quoted as saying we can play much better then that and we will. I suspect them to take their anger out on Memphis. memphis playing their best basketball of the season should not be under-estimated and I doubt Portland does that tonight. Memphis does not usually play well vs teams with a winning record. Since Oden has come back from injury Portland has looked amazing, they lost focus vs Houston but I suspect the Blazers to surprise the NBA and get home court advantage in the Playoffs in the 4th spot. Tonight is a mus win for them, rebounding is key as they dusted Memphis 50-28 on the glass 1 week ago. Tonight I suspect domination from this deep young ball club who is returning to the playoffs after a long long absence.
11 UNITS - - -
TORONTO RAPTORS + 1 - - - Carefull fellas, don't go all out on the Hawks tonight. The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks always have great ball games. Seems to always be close and exiting. May decide to go the the game but this is far from a fan bet. If you look at the way Toronto has matched up to ATL this season, they have played them very well and that was with a non-existant Jermaine and a nothing in Jamario Moon. Now they have two more small forwards who will really help vs a roster like the Hawks. Marion and Pops Mensa-Bonsu are my x-factors and I am certain they play very well tonight and grab the boards against Horford, Smith and Zaza. Not to mention the Raps have 2 more bigs that can rebound. The Killer B's Bargnani and Bosh will play hard and battle on the boards against a weak front-court. No Marvin Williams has affected the Hawks more then they admit. Toronto came within 3 of ATL in ATL and that was without Jose. Calderon has been playing fairly well recently and I see a balance effort from Toronto's bench tonight. ATL will keep it close but the resiliant Raptors tend to play very well when there is no preasure. The showed that by winning and covering 6 straight, the only reason they flopped vs NY at home is because that game wwas the elimination game for them. My boys just suck under preasure. Tonight they are done from the playoffs, no monkey on their backs. Marion, Pops, Parker all playing for contracts in the off season. Raps show up at the ACC tonight.
11 UNITS - - -
SAN ANTONIO SPURS - - - Don't really care what the line is. I suspect a thrashing of the Thunder tonight. Triple revenge factor. 2 losses to OKC, one at OKC and one horrible one in San An. Off an embarassing 20 point loss to CLE. The Spurs absolutley dismantle the Thunder tonight. I am certain Pop changes the game plan here. They have lost to OKC twice this year due to the sheer fact that they do not disperse shots properly and take way too many threes. Tonight I suspect Tony to take about 15 shots, Timmy about 15 and Manu about 10. Finley & Mason take a few as well but the majority of the shots should and will go to the big three. Gooden will impact the game with confidence after a good game in CLE. A poised San An ball club will come into OKC with a killer mentality. An amazing after a loss squad no way San An loses this game.
11 UNITS - - -
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NBA TEASER
KNICKS + 14
RAPTORS + 8
ROCKETS + 8
3.5 UNITS - - -
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