Free NBA Basketball Picks: Friday Night Games

no banners

Alright, a couple NBA game intrigue me tonight, including the ESPN double header. There’s not any NCAA picks getting me excited, no big match ups or anything of that nature, so I’m sticking to pro ball this time around. Good luck in your wagering!

Houston Rockets @ Philadelphia 76ers (+3) : The 76ers have been bad, they haven’t been winning games, and Allen Iverson’s return to the court, while certainly making a great story, hasn’t helped the 76ers turn it around in two games since his return. But I think they have a nice chance to make some waves against an impressive young Rockets team. Houston has played very well, but I think the 76ers match-up well with the Rockets. While normally a guy like Elton Brand has to deal with a big post, he’s actually a good size match-up with the Rockets bigs. Allen gets to deal with a guard that might be even smaller than him in Aaron Brooks. The other AI will have a nice match-up with Trevor Ariza. The 76ers are underdogs at home, and I’ll take them to pull the upset.

Golden State Warriors @ Chicago Bulls (-4): The Bulls are a solid home team, and while they have lost 9 of their last 10 games, the Warriors playing on the road are always a nice slump buster. Before beating the Nets last time they played, the Warriors had lost 4 straight and given up about 120 points per game. That should help the Bulls’ struggling offense. Do work. Is it just me or do the Bulls always suck early in the season? It’s the Jordan curse.

Portland Trailblazers (+9) @ Cleveland Cavaliers: The Blazers are hurting, most definitely, but that just means they won’t have 10 guys getting minutes. Being a little light up front shouldn’t hurt them too badly against the Cavs, and I always like the Blazers as a big dog. Cleveland doesn’t beat too many teams by double digits, seems like the Blazers are a good bet to me. LeBron James is good for a win, but 9 points?

Orlando Magic (+3) @ Phoenix Suns: I think the Magic will beat the Suns at their own game. They have just as many shooters, but they also have a big shot blocker down low, a handful of guys that rebound, and they just played a stinker in the 2nd half last night. I know it’s the second of a back to back, but I like Orlando to win this one.

NBA and NCAA Basketball Picks November 17 2009

Here are some of my hoops picks from around the NCAA and NBA tonight. ESPN is currently doing a showing of 24 hours straight college basketball, check it out!

NCAA Hoops

no banners

Temple Owls (+9) @ Georgetown Hoyas (4:00pm ET): Everyone loves the Hoyas this year, and they are a bit older, but they basically return the same starting 5 that disappointed in the entire second half of the season last year, aside from DeJuan Summers (drafted in the 1st Round by Detroit). Big man Greg Monroe is a stud, does lots of things well, but outside of him and Chris Wright I’m not sold on the Hoyas. Temple plays a lot of close games, they’re a tough defensive team, and they have a lot of players back this time around. They lost stud guard Dionte Christmas, but without him they move the ball better, and should get a more well rounded box score. I like them to cover here.

Gonzaga Bulldogs @ Michigan State Spartans (-11) (8:00pm ET): I actually think Gonzaga is getting a little bit too much for their name here. They are solid, and might find themselves an NCAA tournament bid, but this team lost a ton with graduation a year ago. Matt Bouldin is a great college basketball player, he certainly can do it all, and the Bulldogs have some good young kids that will step in and play well as the season progresses. But this Spartans team is dominate, they basically lost a guy from last years’ super deep team that finished runner up for the NCAA Championship. They are great. They should easily win by double digits here.

NBA Hoops

no banners

Oklahoma Thunder @ Miami Heat (-5): When the Thunder start playing better defense, they might get over the hump, but the Heat’s Haslem and O’Neal should dominate in the post tonight, and while Durant is a stud, I’ll take Wade in this one.

L.A. Clippers (+2) @ New Orleans Hornets: If you can point out where the Hornets will be better than the Clippers tonight, I’ll happily change my pick. Point guard? Nope, that Chris Paul fellow is out. Shooting guard? Not if Eric Gordon plays. Up front? As ugly as his gooey face is, I’m pretty sure Chris Kaman is a more capable scorer than 62 million dollar man, Emeka Okafor. Peja Stojakovic used to be good, but right now I’d even take Al Thorton. Al should use Peja when the Clips have the ball. Okay, I’ll give you David West, might score 25 tonight, but Marcus Camby is twice as good defensively. 25 shouldn’t be enough for the Hornets.

Chicago Bulls (+1) @ Sacramento Kings: I know Sac Town has won their last 4, but that just means their due. The Bulls are pretty solid up front, especially rebounding the basketball, and that’s what Sacremento needs as an advantage to win basketball games. Look at who they’ve beaten in their four games, Utah, Golden State, Oklahoma, and Houston – none of those teams have good defensive posts/rebounders. Well, I hate to say it, but Noah can D up opposing posts and will almost always out-rebound them. Taj Gibson has been playing well, and Brad Miller off the bench should have something for his old team. I like Chicago to get the win to open their road trip.

NBA Free Picks: Washington vs Miami, Denver vs Chicago

These are my free NBA picks for Tuesday, November 10th. The Denver/Chicago game is scheduled on NBA TV at 8pm ET- so if you got it, you can pick it up there. Washington and Miami can be found on the Heat’s home network via Sun Sports and starts at 7:30pm ET.

no banners

Washington Wizards @ Miami Heat (-6.5): Washington hasn’t impressed me lately. Their entire offense has been Gilbert Arenas trying to drive into traffic and/or shoot pull up jumpers. I don’t think that’s going to cut it against a Heat team that has really stepped it up defensively. It’s hard to believe that Quentin Richardson, who was traded fifty times this summer, would make such an impact on this Heat team – but he has. He guards the opponents best back-court player and has done a great job. His 3-stroke confidence is coming back, and the Heat are off to a 5-1 start, straight up and against the spread.

Miami has had 3 days off since upsetting Denver while Washington recently got slapped around in the 4th quarter buy Phoenix in a loss at home. Miami beat Washington 93-89 last time these two teams played, the 4th of November earlier this year. Washington is 2-5, SU and ATS. One things working against me is how well Washington has played over the last few years in Miami- going 7-2 ATS on the road in their last 9 games down South. Still, I’ll take the Heat to overcome that 6.5 point spread at home.

Denver Nuggets @ Chicago Bulls (+2): I love the Nuggets, but the way Chicago’s posts have been playing, I have to give the Bulls front line the advantage. Chicago’s played well lately, is undefeated at home, and Denver has really struggled in their last two games after starting the season 5-0. They’ve gotten shelled by the Heat and Hawks in back to back games. They’re currently playing their 5th game in a row on the road, and like I said, Chicago’s young and energetic team looks like a solid bet at home.

ESPN Friday Night Free NBA Basketball Picks

no banners

Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks (+8.5) NBA Picks: The Knicks have had a history of playing good teams tough, especially in the National spotlight – I think that continues here. Basketball is weird and a close game can easily become a 10 point contest, but with Cleveland going down to the wire in a physical game with the Bulls last night, and their bench being relatively ineffective to start the season, I think they’ll have a hard time coming out and dominating the Knicks. New York definitely has that “me against the world” attitude, and with the cameras on, and ESPN at the Garden, I like New York’s chances.

Neither of these teams have been good against the spread this year, but New York hasn’t been a big underdog once this season. The Cavs have been big favorites often. I think the Knicks can keep it close with the long ball and the fast break. I don’t know if New York could stop Shaquille O’Neal and Ilgauskus, but the Cavs aren’t committed to the post game. That helps New York. LeBron James also got beat up a little last night, falling hard into the stands and rolling his ankle while going out of bounds. He’ll play, he’ll be good, but that and a back to back could take it’s toll.

San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers (-3): After getting beat up for most of the night against the Jazz on TNT Thursday Night, the Spurs get to travel up to Portland to play a late game against a pretty physically athletic Trail Blazers unit. Tim Duncan has looked old so far this season, but he’s still very good. San Antonio just doesn’t seem to have that swagger that they’ve had in the past, and I know Portland will come out ready to play against one of the NBA’s premier teams.

With the second game of a back to back, the Spurs definitely don’t have an advantage in that aspect of the game. The Blazers are playing at home, they have size and as much depth as any team in the league. I see that being a problem for San Antonio, I like the Blazers to cover the small spread to get back to .500 on the season. They’ve played better than their record insists, and that’s going to even out sooner or later, I’m guessing sooner.

NBA Tuesday Night Free Picks: Nuggets @ Pacers

no banners

Denver Nuggets (-4.5) @ Indiana Pacers Free Pick: The Nuggets may be on the road, but they are on fire. Carmelo Anthony is leading the league in scoring through the first week, and this Nuggets team is clicking. Since Chauncey Billups was traded to the Nuggets, Denver has become a much better road team. I know the Pacers have some solid pieces, but I don’t think they can hang with Denver’s back-court, and all around attack. I think Danny Granger has a big night for the home team, but in the end I like the Nuggets to pull away and cover this spread.

Phoenix Suns @ Miami Heat (-3): Two very close games against Minnesota and the Clippers doesn’t have me fully buying into Phoenix and their 3-0 start. I know they can put up points with the best of them, drilling jumpers from all over the court, but Miami can do it inside and out, and Dwayne Wade should have a field day against the Suns. And by field day I mean a field goal percentage looking a lot like 20 for 30 from the floor. Michael Beasily should have a nice game for the Heat, and it looks like Jermaine O’Neal should be healthy enough to give it a go. Nobody on the Suns front line can guard O’Neal even if they actually wanted to play defense (and they don’t), as he looks like the old JO so far this season.

Utah Jazz @ Dallas Mavericks (-5.5): I like the Mavericks to have a big season. They have a lot of pieces that all seem to be working well together, and this thing hasn’t even really gotten started yet. The Jazz don’t play well on the road, I don’t know if it’s lack of focus or what, but history has them struggling on the road over the last few years. Dallas does well at home, they match-up well with Utah, and the Jazz struggled last night. This back to back should be tough on them as the Mavs have the personnel to run and take advantage of a tired Jazz squad.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers Free NBA Pick

no banners

Milwaukee Bucks (+7) @ Philadelphia 76ers Free NBA Pick: I’ve had a rough go to start the NBA season, but I think that will turn around soon. I like the Milwaukee Bucks here, something I probably won’t write all that often as the NBA season goes forward. I just don’t think the 76ers are completely sure of what they are doing, and that’s enough for me to go against them, especially when they are a favorite. Brandon Jennings is a very good young PG, and despite what people have been saying about the Bucks, they have some young players that can put the ball in the basket. Hakim Warrick and Andrew Bogut can both score on the post, and Jennings can really attack the basket. The Bucks move fast, and there chances of covering against a 76ers team that looks confused at best is pretty good. I’ll take the dogs here, looking to get my Week 1 record back up to par.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors Free NBA picks

no banners

Cleveland Cavaliers (-5.5) @ Toronto Raptors Pick: The Cavs played last night, and maybe in the beginning of the season they might not have the endurance they want, but I can’t see them falling to 0-2, and that’s exactly what a loss to the Raptors would bring them to. Tell me who, which one guy on the Raptors roster, can stop Shaq? Not a one. He should beast that skinny front line in Toronto. I already know that nobody can guard LeBron James. Cleveland has too much power up front, and they have too much pride to start the season with two straight losses. Despite being the second game of a back to back, I expect Cleveland to get their first win of the season, and it should be by double digits.

L.A. Clippers vs L.A. Lakers NBA Free Pick

no banners

Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers (-9.5) NBA Free Pick: The Lakers haven’t lost to the Clippers since April of 2007. Yep. Seriously. The Lakers have beaten the Clippers by double digits in 7 of the last 8 contests, beating them by 20 or more four times. Yep. Seriously. I know the Clippers are a popular pick to improve this season. I know it’s opening night and anything can happen, hopes are up, and the Clippers are excited to prove themselves. I also know that Pau Gasol is out, and he’s been a huge part of the Lakers success since Memphis gave him up for a pack of smokes, a guitar with just three strings, and Kwame Brown’s expiring contract. I know. But I also know the Lakers will win. Why? Because these are the Clippers, folks. And they know how to help other teams win, they’ve been doing it for a long time. I also know that with Blake Griffin and Marcus Camby out, that potent exciting front court becomes less potent and less exciting, and with Chris Kaman playing more minutes, infinitely more disturbing in appearance. I like Kobe Bryant and the Lakers to cover here, as I don’t think Gasol being out hurts that much with Odom taking his place.

Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Opening Night

no banners

Boston Celtics (+5) @ Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Pick: I obviously like both these teams to win a lot of games this year. I just think that playing with Shaquille O’Neal takes some getting used to, for everyone, and thus I’ll probably go against Cleveland early in the season when playing as a favorite over other great teams. This is a very good Celtics team. Rasheed Wallace only helps their chances against the Cavs, and Rajon Rondo looks even better than he did last season. I know the home team wins this game most of the time, but an opening night battle royal between the Celtics and Cavs could mean anything. I’ll take the Celtics, a team more comfortable with each other could go a long way here.