Mak's Tarantino Tuesday

NEW YORK KNICKS (21-15) @ PORTLAND TRAIL-BLAZERS (20-18)

Love this game, will be a 5 unit play for me maybe more.  Portland on the moneyline is as good as it gets tonight.  This is a team that New York just does not match up against at all.  The absence of Dino is phasing them a bit more than I suspected.  Galo was one guy who consistently got to the free throw line.  He not only gave them easy buckets but got opposing team players into foul trouble.  His range and driving ability cannot be matched by Shawne Williams.  Galo is also a decent on-the-ball defender and Shawne is not.  Williams may not start....at least he shouldn’t.  Dantonti would be an idiot to start him, instead look for Turiaf.  Either way Amar’e and Turiaf are going to be swallowed whole by Camby and Big L.  In his last five games, Aldridge has been a BEAST.  In the last 5 games, he has scored more than anyone at his position with 28 points per game and has grabbed 12 rebounds a game as well. He is blocking shots, changing shots in the lane and really taking over when needed.  In Camby’s last 5 games, he is rebounding and blocking as much as Dwight Howard...that tells you the kind of asset the Blazers have down low on a nightly basis.  13 rebounds and 2 blocks a game in his last 5, Camby’s wingspan will cause Amar’e a lot of problems.  Amar’e has a sweet jumpshot, but while in Phoenix always seemed to have problems getting a clean shot off against Marcus.  The length of his arms allows him to keep his feet back in case of an Amar’e take to the rim, yet still gets a hand up in his face on jumpshots.  Aldridge is 6”11 and there is no power forward on the Knicks roster that can handle him.  Wilson Chandler always uses his size and agility to take small forwards off the dribble, but tonight he meets Batum who matches him pound for pound and inch for inch.  Dre has historically been a problem for Felton and Wesley and Landry are a good matchup and will be fun to watch.  Patty Mills, Rudy, Joel and Dante will provide more efficieny off the bench than Tony, Kill Bill and Shawne.  Rose Garden will be sold out for the 139th consecutive time, Oregon fans are loyal and the Blazers will avenge Lebron’s victory tonight.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (8-29) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS (27-11)

I think this line is spot on, everyone looking to cash on double digit dog lines at Staples Centre due to the Lakers slow start are going to be sorry.  Yes the Lakers lost to the Griz and to the Bucks as well.  Two teams that played good defense in order to beat the champs.  Cleveland is a horrific defensive team, they will not be able to stop the Lakers at all.  For those worried about them playing down to their level, don’t worry so much.  They are the champs, the talent alone on this roster allows them to beat low-tier teams like the Cavs with minimal effort.  Bynum, Gasol and Odom are way too much for Hickson, Eyenga and Samuels to handle.  This may be a 15 point game at the half.  

mak, any concerns that the Blazers will still be despondent over the one that got away on Sunday night?  Because if the Blazers are even half as messed up over that game as I am, then they're not going to be ready to play.

GL! tonight Mak

That Denver locker room has to be an absolute mess right now..Melo has already checked out and Billiups agent has stated that if traded he will want his contract bought out...That is a recipe for fade material...The only thing that bothers me is that it's the Suns and they have there own internal issues to deal with....Great reads as always!!

Keep grindin brotha!!

Great read.  Class act.

sick of seeing these other maks on this forum....theres only one original....bol

MAK Happy New Yr and congrats on all the business. Winning money is great, but earning a lot of it the old fashion way is always more gratifying

I hate to ask your your thoughts on a game you already said is tough to read. However, with thoughts of players not showing up to concentrate on a win, do you think Denver might show up and just run and gun...Phoenix doesn't exactly lock the door at night let alone lock down on D, and Denver at home I'm sure will atleast revert to running and trying to outscore Phoenix....kind of fall into the game that Phoenix wants to play..any thoughts...the # is falling

Come on Mak......on the Blazers big! took them -4 and on the ML . you the man.

Hey Mak

you've been around this site for a while from what I hear maybe you can shed some light on this.  JLB was a capper that became really popular and people started tailing him.  JLB recently posted on his twitter that Covers offered him money to post square playes.  Do you believe this?