Referee assignments

There are some pretty cool ref assignments today. First is the Courtney Kirkland/Tyler Ricks duo. Kirkland is off whistling 6 straight blowouts, which can't be good for the ref resume in the long run. He gets to team up today with his mate Ricks, these guys have teamed up 12 times this year, a lot for a duo. When these guys team up the avg margin of victory is 9ppg. If you throw out 1 early season 30pt blowout that margin goes down to 7ppg. OKC is starting their longest road trip of the season at 5 games against East conf teams and this is the front end of a b2b. Orl is pretty good on tail end of a b2b which they are today after loss to Atl last night. OKC can certainly blow out Magic in this spot like they did earlier this season but I'm thinking OKC is thinking how to manage this long roadie while staying healthy, Orl will want to ball at home against best team in the West and this ref crew will keep it close.

Magic +9.5

over 222.5

Zach Zarba on tail end of a b2b and as we saw w Foster last night, these games tend to the over. The interesting thing is he's teamed up w Suyash Mehta as Referee, a position which he has never done before as he's usually 3rd umpire so a step up for him. For 3rd position we get Eric Lewis who must have been a bad boy as he's only been in the big Leagues a handful of games lately. Lewis 3-4 years ago used to be a Crew Chief and ref the highest scoring games day after day, you could bank on his games going over. I'm wondering why he was banished but tonight he's back w ZZ who is as seasoned as Foster so when you get the opportunity to whistle alongside like Lewis or Mehta in a new role, you don't fuck it up as it's like an on-court interview and I've found those lead to overs. Plus, I like Ayo in starting lineup for Wolves and the fact that only 2 games separate these teams from rising to 4th in the West and this is last time they'll see each other so all signs point to the over for me. I've got to google Eric Lewis and find out his story.

over 221.5 Phx/Minny

The Heat/Hornets game is interesting. This is the 4th game in the series and Miami have won all 3 thus far in high scoring fashion. The 1st two games in the series were played very early in the season, the first 2 weeks actually, where Miami was showcasing their new fast paced offense and teams were like wtf is this Heat team doing? Meanwhile Charlotte was trying to find their footing and identity and the Heat steamrolled them, one had their identity and one didn't. This is a lone 1 game roadie for the Heat before they turnaround and host Lakers in 2 nights. Sometimes I wonder on these late season 1 game road trips if the team even boards the flight. This feels like a statement game for Char and they should be well rested this being only their 2nd game in 6 nights. maybe they use that Heat speed against them tonight.

Char -5.5

The Heat/Hornets game is interesting. This is the 4th game in the series and Miami have won all 3 thus far in high scoring fashion. The 1st two games in the series were played very early in the season, the first 2 weeks actually, where Miami was showcasing their new fast paced offense and teams were like wtf is this Heat team doing? Meanwhile Charlotte was trying to find their footing and identity and the Heat steamrolled them, one had their identity and one didn't. This is a lone 1 game roadie for the Heat before they turnaround and host Lakers in 2 nights. Sometimes I wonder on these late season 1 game road trips if the team even boards the flight. This feels like a statement game for Char and they should be well rested this being only their 2nd game in 6 nights. maybe they use that Heat speed against them tonight.

Char -5.5

Like your picks tonight SW 

BOL 

 FOR ORLANDO I BET ON THEM YESTERDAY AND THEY GOT BLOW OUT.

WROTE A WHOLE SECOND PART WITH STATS BUT IT DIDNT SHOW UP 

I used to put more stock into ref assignments and it is warranted. Enjoyed reading Tim Donaghy and Bob Delany's books for insight into how basketball refs operate. Corruptible and legit ones. Scott Foster always screws me if I am on a game he is officiating. I should just fade my pick whenever he runs. Nice write up good luck. 

Thanks Onye/NyCz and Matthew

Any 2H play sir?

@iphen9

 I don't know, last 2 games and trying to figure this out. Betting against Spurs is like catching a falling knife but they have to falter at some point with a huge 7 game lead on 3 seed and they've been everywhere month of March meanwhile Sac hasn't been away from home the entire month. And Nuggets have to play defense at some point right? I cannot see both games being shoot em ups so which game goes under?

That was a wild end for that okc game 

This is hard to bet with all these games going over lately but late West coast games can slow down. Maybe Nuggs play some D after all these shoot outs lately v Lakes/Spurs/OKC and maybe Sac doesn't allow Fox in his return to go off. I'm surprised Wemby is playing this game as he's logged over 100+ minutes than at this point last year. Sac have the bigs to throw at him to maybe make him have an off night.

under 235.5 Philly/Nuggs

under 233.5 Spurs/Kings

Wemby under 39.5 PRA

Putting from the tee box here but doesn't Toronto go on a run? They've been the worst team with a decent record and may have turned the corner in their home stand and now hit the road where they have been absolutely atrocious against a Bulls team that cannot defend me and 4 of my fat drunk friends off a win. At -7 it seems steep but this feels to me like a statement game for Coach Darko as they make a run to the finish. Like a 133-101 type of game.

I also think that these Spurs party games where they embarrass teams because of their youth and starting 5 will come back to bite them in the ass. 

2 more winning bets let's see what tomorrow brings