Mak's Statistical Sunday

What’s up gents.  Apologies for the absence once again.  Hope you all did well on Friday and Saturday.  As stated in previous threads my posting consistency will not be there until business dies down closer to Christmas.  I provided my un-posted picks in my last thread because I thought it was important to provide.  I thought it may help those who follow my insight to know which teams I backed as well as unit distribution.  Looks like business is going to continue like this for a while so I don’t want to start making a habit of posting plays after the fact.  Although I do believe it is important to know.  Let’s just say I trusted my gut and continued to back the Tims and was happy I did.  I had quite a few other plays.  I have finally started to accept friends in a long list that has been building up since 2007 on covers.  I never got to it and now I have to individually go through each one and accept it.  Over the next few days I will get to all and clear the list, so to anyone who wishes to be updated on un-posted plays from now until Christmas or just wants to PM me you will finally be able to in a few days.  Always love Sunday cards, I see a few possibilities to make some money today, as always fellas I wish you the best of luck, peace - - - MAK.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS - 6.0 - - - Only the unit amount is contingent upon the status of David West.  I will back the Spurs either way.  The New Orleans Hornets are coming down to earth now.  A respectable 13-6 record but losers of 5 out of their last 7 games.  The Hornets are a good team, just not as good as everyone thinks.  An overvalued offensive team.  Without David West this already dull offensive team will really struggle to score.  Even with West they are 23rd in the NBA in offensive production.  The only thing that keeps them in games is their ability to defend.  Even if West plays, the stomach flu that is going around takes it out on the body and he won’t be 100%.  This game is ultra-important for both teams.  This is a mid-season type game and I will tell you why.  It will be the 3rd game of the season series already.  In a very volatile and tight Western Conference, these situational divisional games can decide seeding in the playoffs.  With the series tied 1-1, both teams will be poised to take victory.  In my honest opinion, the Spurs are far better than the Hornets.  Statistics backup by hypothesis.  As stated above, Hornets are dismal on offense, on the contrary the Spurs are an exceptional offensive team this year ranked 4th in the NBA.  The Spurs are top 10 in the NBA in rebounding, Hornets are not even in the top 20.  Spurs are 5th in the NBA is assists, Hornets middle of the pack at 15th. Spurs are the 5th best team in the league from beyond the arc and the Hornets are 19th.  Offensively the Spurs just overpower the Hornets, 2 weeks ago they scored 65 second half points in an outstanding comeback victory in New Orleans avenging an early season home loss.  I just do not see the San Antonio Spurs letting any team beat them twice on their home floor, that I why I think they have the potential to be a dangerous playoff team.  The top backcourt in the NBA in terms of efficiency is Tony, Manu and George Hill.  They are a dangerous guard trio, as good as anything in the NBA.  Guys like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have really impressed me this season.  Vers who are turning back time.  They just look rejuvenated this season, all-star numbers from Duncan as he continues to dominate big men all across the league.  Blair, McDyess, Splitter and Bonner are the best big men role rotation in the West, if Jefferson continues to play the way he has this season, this Spurs team is a lock for the final 4 this year.  This Southwest division game is a pivotal one so early in the season, the Spurs are excellent in games like this, currently on a 6-1 ATS run against teams above .500.  The Hornets are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 road games and have only covered the spread once in their last 10 games.  I suspect the 16-3 Spurs to show why they are currently the best in the business.

5 UNITS ARTIS “ARTISTIC G” GILMORE - - - 

BOSTON CELTICS - 6 (-115) - - - The Boston Celtics are the best team in ball right now.  Maybe not in terms of records but statistically this is the team to beat in the national basketball association.  Celts are 3rd overall in points, 2nd overall is assists and 4th overall in rebounds.  In my opinion they have the most defensively sound bench in the NBA.  Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels are two very good on-the-ball-defenders.  Glen Davis has really improved his post defense and can take on any 4 man in the league.  Erden is turning out to be a gem, Perkins and Baby would not be the players they are without KG and Doc Rivers, now it is Erden’s turn.  Kevin has been playing out of his mind putting up all-star type stats.  Allen and Pierce will own Morrow and Outlaw today.  Shaq had his best game of the season against NJ and will produce this afternoon.  The one and only reason the Boston Celtics are the best team in the NBA is because they have the best point guard in the NBA...yes I said it.  Stop debating between Paul, Williams, Westbrook. Rose and Nash, step up and pick your poison.  My poison is Double R.  The self-proclaimed best PG in the NBA.  If he has the guts and gusto to come out and say it, then I believe him.  Rondo is the most intellectually sound point guard since John Stockton, his court-awareness is scary.  Coming off a 19 assist game, look for Rondo to obliterate one of the softest help defenses in the league in NJ today.  Last time these two teams met Rondo was out and Boston played an atrocious game offensively, Celts still won the game ugly.  Celtics came out poised and prepared for their first afternoon game of the season vs my Raps two weeks ago, Nets will face their first early afternoon encounter of the season.  Celtics will win this game.

4 UNITS BILL “LORD OF THE RINGS” RUSSELL - - -

TORONTO RAPTORS MONEYLINE (-125) - - - I guess can understand the blind love everyone has for the New York Knicks right now.  Playing exceptional ball I do agree.  I have always liked the makeup of the Knicks.  Love their short rotation.  Amar’e starting to find his niche and get his groove.  Learning to score in the NBA without Steve Nash.  It was inevitable, I picked him very high in some high cash stakes fantasy leagues and was a bit concerned at his slow start.  But he is progressing very nicely and learning to dominate the basketball without the high pick and roll.  But that is the thing, the Knicks are horrible at converting the pick and roll.  They don’t spread the floor well at all.  They live and die with the three ball.  Barkley said it best, I don’t trust jump shooting teams that don’t play defense.  Funny thing is the Knicks are a great points in the paint team.  I like the Knicks roster a lot but I think you are all reading into this winning streak way too much.  Yes they have won 8 of their last 9 but out of those 8 wins only one was against a potential playoff team and that was the Hornets on Friday with no David West and no rest.  They only managed to barely beat the shorthanded Hornets.  Prior to that their wins were far from impressive against bottom-tier teams in the NBA.  The Cats twice and they were quite lucky to come away with victories in both those games, Kings, Nets, Clippers shorthanded, Pistons in OT and Warriors shorthanded.  None of those wins were very decisive and not extremely impressive in my opinion.  On the other hand Toronto has now beaten the Celtics, Magic and OKC.  The Thunder are still a top-tier team without Kevin Durant.  Raps are not too shabby either, winners of 6 of their last 8.  They have the most efficient bench in the NBA.  Barbosa and Klieza could easily go for 15-20 on any given night.  Bayless is fitting in perfectly and providing poise and perfection from the backup point guard role.  It’s funny how a quick trip to the D-League can wake a kid up and instill a mentality.  Listening to Ed Davis it is quite clear that Ed never wants to go back down to the D-League, not the greatest of lifestyles, roach motels, hick U.S cities, Davis is too Hollywood for that type of lifestyle and admits is, he ain't going back.  He is proving his worth early with hustle and court awareness.  I really love what I am seeing from this kid and he has a chance to be something special.  Bargnani is doing what he needs to do.  He is a leader, Raps will go as far as he takes them.  He is the 3rd best scoring center in the league.  Coming off his best rebounding effort of the season, I look for him to be as confident as ever and guide this team.  The young gunz, Amir, DeRozan and Weems are confident and playing great.  My x-factor is Calderon.  I never thought I would say this in a million years but Jose played great defense against Westbrook on Friday.  He was brilliant on offense as well with 15 assists, Jose seems to have found a new level in his game since the departure of Jack.  Jose wanted this all along and his passion is finally translating into the success we saw him have early in his Raps career.  The Raptors are better then everyone thinks they are, as long as they play hard, close the gaps and take away open shot opportunities from the Knicks today, the Toronto Raptors should easily take this game.

4 UNITS CHARLES “THE ENFORCER” OAKLEY - - -

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS + 9 (-120) - - - This situation is a team undervalued vs a team currently overvalued.  The Portland Trailblazers are in a bit of trouble.  They are finding it extremely difficult to score the basketball.  In their last 5 games, they are scoring an NBA worst 85.4 points per game shooting a dismal 39%.  This team no longer seems to work around Roy.  When Roy is on, it seems the rest of the team suffers.  When Brandon is not on, they can’t seem to stay in games.  On paper their bench looks terrific, but in reality they are the 2nd worst team in the NBA in terms of bench production.  Fernandez is shooting horribly this season, Cunningham is not consistent and Batum doesn’t seem to be fitting in his 6th man role since being demoted.  The Clippers are slowly but surely starting to get healthy again.  When healthy and sporting their full arsenal, the Clippers have enough talent to compete with a lot of NBA teams.  In the last 5 games, only the Boston Celtics have scored more points in the paint then the L.A Clippers. That has a lot to do with the phenom Blake Griffin.  As a power-forward he is as efficient as you can get.  Only Dirk scores more than him at the 4 spot in the NBA and only Reggie Evans and Kevin Love grab more boards per game than Blake.  He is a top-tier power forward in the NBA.  With Baron Davis and Kaman back it only created more depth on LAC.  Bledsoe has found his role and will contribute at the 1 spot all year long.  Aminu and Gomes are decent wings and can contribute valuable minutes.  Eric Gordon has emerged as this teams #1 scoring option and he has the ability to lead this team.  If Del Negro can shorten the rotation a bit and find this team an identity, he still has a chance to salvage this season and earn some respect for the Clippers organization.  Clippers keep it close.

4 UNITS BOB “BIG MAC” MCADOO - - -

Pure class...Thanks Mak

BOL today (had my biggest play of the yr last night with the over in Dallas....hit with 9 minutes to go in 4th and got to go to bed a little early last night lets keep it up with the winners Mak)