Hawks @ Wizards +2.5 O/U: 200.5
Triple-revenge game for the Wiz. The problem is that this is their 4th game in 5 nights. This is a young team so not sure if ‘fatigue’ will be as big of a factor especially after yesterday’s ‘spanking’. Atlanta has nothing to play for and is playing the 2nd of a b2b in this one. Josh Smith is out and check the injury reports for any other players missing this one. O/U’s: 195.5 U; 197 O; 195 U. This is the highest posted total of this series. Neither team is playing much D right now, and I see this one being a high scoring affair. Leans: Wizards and OVER.
Cavaliers @ Bucks -8.5 O/U: 192.5
4th game in 5 nights for both teams, with each playing all 4 of these games in a different city – major ‘fatigue’ spot. Bucks are missing Bogut for this one (out for the rest of the season) and Cavs have a ‘double-revenge’ angle in this one, even though I’m not sure if this applies to weaker teams in the league. Last game in Milwaukee (in March) the line was -9.5. I guess the adjustment is for Bogut being out and for the Bucks not having any motivation here. The O/U’s: 185.5 U; 189 O; 186.5 O. Another situation where the total is the highest of the season . Hmmm.. Are the book-makers tipping their hand? Lean: Cavs and OVER.
Clippers @ Rockets -7.5 O/U: 215.5
4th game in 5 nights for LA and last of their 4 game roadie. Houston has been off for 2 days and should be pretty rested. In addition, LA beat the Rockets in the last meeting. Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 while Clipps are 2-3 ATS in the same time-frame. Neither team has anything to play for. The O/U is the highest of the season-series between the two teams, as all other games hit UNDER. Obviously the books are inflating all these totals as teams won’t give max effort thus reducing their effectiveness on the defensive end. Leans: Rockets and OVER.
Jazz @ Spurs -9.5 O/U: 199
Two more wins (out of 3) for the Spurs and they clinch the OVERALL #1 seed in the NBA (they own the tie-breaker on the Bulls). This is the last home-game of the season for this team. They’ve had 2 days off, and will be off 2 more, prior to facing the Lakers in LA. That won’t really be as big of a ‘look-ahead’ spot any longer as Spurs have clinched #1 in the West. This is a double-revenge game for the Jazz but this team is 1-5 ATS in their last 6. The O/U is 3 points higher than where the last game was (went OVER) but I don’t see much D in this one. Leans: Spurs and OVER.
Timberwolves @ Nuggets -13.5 O/U: 211
Wolves are on a 12 game losing streak and will be missing K-Love in this one. Denver is coming off a loss @ Thunder last night. How motivated is this team right now? Wolves have a ‘triple-revenge’ in this one and have played Nuggz fairly close this year. The total is the lowest of the series here as the books might be expecting a lower scoring contest here as 2 of the 3 so far went OVER this year. Leans: PASS on the side and UNDER.