TNT Thursday with Wildcatmatt

YTD: 8-7

Should've stuck with just Magic tonight, added the Heat late and got burnt.  I look even dumber right now for laying off Golden State.  Ah well.

Two games on tap for Thursday night:

Chicago +8 at Phoenix.  The Bulls have been a profitable team to fade so far this year, and I'd be surprised if the public isn't laying the points with Phoenix 80/20 or above in this one.  All the chips seem stacked against the Bulls here... they've looked like crap so far this season with Kobe trade rumors hanging over their heads, they are having a lot of trouble scoring the ball and last year they really struggled on their extended West Coast road trips.  Not to mention Phoenix's typical early struggles and injury woes have given them shorter lines than usual.  You'd think Chicago's one saving grace would be their ability to out-rebound the Suns (definitely Phoenix's achilles heel, check out the rebounding stats in their recent losses).  Think again, the Bulls are an average rebounding team at best this year.  I make it a point never to lay more than 6 points in an NBA game.  This might be a rare exception.

San Antonio +2.5 at Dallas.  We all know how well this Dallas team plays at home, and we all know they've owned the Spurs recently in the regular season.  But for some reason, I'm leaning Spurs here.  Early national TV game, I think they're looking to make a statement.  I'll take a closer look at it in the morning, but my gut is telling me to take the points.  By the way, I know the early money is on the Over, but I have no idea why you wouldn't take the Under in this game, these are two of the slowest paced offenses in the league.

Feel the same about laying off of GS..and being dumb enough to take the 2nd half collapsing Knicks ML.

WCM,

Post game from your favorite coach -

Since winning the 2006 NBA title in Dallas, Miami has gone 45-49 -- and Riley has seen enough.

"Unless you feel like you have something at stake or something to lose as a player, then things won't change," Riley said. "If you don't feel like the Heat mean something to you ... you have to have a real meeting with yourself about what you care about. I don't see a team that really feels like they have anything at stake here. They come in, they play, they get beat, they go home, they go out into the night."

Looks like I was a game early with my "Players respond to coach's rant" But should've posted it Friday as it happens when the team is the underdog anyway.

It's do or die time for the Heat now.  If they don't beat Boston Friday, I'm sure changes will be made.

Nice hit with Orlando and the Fakers/Rockets under

So apparently I spoke way too soon on Golden State, as they manage to blow a 22-point 2nd half lead.  Wow.  My condolences to anyone who backed the Warriors last night.  Sadly, that ruins what would've been a beautiful Pistons dog bet on Friday night in LA.

I woke up this morning still loving the Spurs so I'm going to play it:

Spurs +2.5

How many chances do you get to play the Spurs with plus point?  No many, so you might as well take advantage.  I think this is a statement game for SAS, with so much focus on the Celtics early in the season, I think the Spurs will relish this chance to show that they're still the best team in the NBA.

Hustle Man,

How in the hell did they cover that Under?  I watched the 2nd Quater and it felt like they put up about 685 points combined.  They really tightened up on defense down the stretch, it made for a fun game to watch.

As for the Heat,,, ouch.  We'll see what that line looks like in Boston.  They'll be getting at least a dozen points I reckon.  What's the Lakers prognosis on the 23rd playing at the Venue formerly known as the Garden?   Kobe tries to steal the spotlight and the Celtics run away with the game?  Or does Odom balance that out?

Public service announcement...

When I list my breakdowns of each game, I'm not saying who I'm going to take.  For instance, if I write:

Chicago +8 at Phoenix

And then continue on with my opinion on the game, that just means that's how I chose to write it.  I like writing the road team, then the line, then the home team.  Personal preference in terms of aesthetics.

My actual plays that I've actually made will always be in bold.

Thank you.  Further bulletins as events warrant.

Not sure what to make of that.  My guess is because the visitor is always the one catching points, so the visitor technically, in a basic mathematical sense, has the better chance of covering because the two teams are usually about even.