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.

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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.

NBA Tuesday Night Free Picks: Nuggets @ Pacers

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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.

Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns Total Pick

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Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns (OVER 231) Total Pick: That’s a huge over, but neither of these teams even consider playing defense. This game has finished over 230 points in 8 of the last 10 meetings, and the two that were under 230 just happened to be with Shaq on the court. This will be a track meet, one I would love to see so I can get brought back to those old ABA games – the over should be had with 5 minutes left in the game.

TNT Thursday Night: San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers

You can follow both of Thursday Night’s NBA games on TNT. The San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls play at 8:00pm ET, while the Denver Nuggets play in Portland at 10:30pm ET. In both situations, the home teams are playing on a day’s rest while the visitors are playing the second of back to back games. Here are my picks for Thursday’s action.

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San Antonio Spurs (-3.5) @ Chicago Bulls: The Bulls will be playing their first game of the season, and you know with a young team that first-game anxiousness will be there in full effect. Chicago has a solid front line, but against Tim Duncan’s crafty old ways, I think they’ll be abused in the post a little bit. San Antonio is playing the second of a back to back, but with last night’s game being such a blow out, the key guys for the Spurs got plenty of rest, and if anything Wednesday Night was an opportunity for the Spurs to get together as a squad. This is a very veteran team, and against a young Bulls team on their opening night, I like the Spurs chances of winning on the road.

Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trailblazers (-7): I think 7 is too much, and it might come back to haunt me, but I like the Trailblazers to win, so I have to take them and the points here. Denver definitely had to exude some effort last night, and everything fell for them in the second half to get their win at home against the Jazz. Portland is a different group with some big bodies down low that can change a lot of shots. The Blazers looked really good on their opening night Tuesday, and the way those guys get along should give them some nice confidence in this one. Portland is rested, ready to go, and ready to prove themselves against one of the West’s best. I like them to win this Thursday.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Orlando Magic Free NBA Pick

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Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic (-9) NBA Pick: I know it’s just the pre-season, but the Magic absolutely walked through opponents like they were playing against back-ups. There’s something to be said for an offense that has been clicking for weeks. Especially when they are playing against an offense that hasn’t clicked at all. If the Magic looked like the best pre-season offense, the most comfortable, all the pieces clicking – the 76ers looked like a box of random toys, a couple legos, a building block, a barbie, two dinosaurs, and a coloring book. I know they are learning a new offense, but that’s exactly it, they haven’t figured it out yet. They have some studs, so guys who can get their shot like Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, and Thadeus Young can stroke jumpers as well, but together they look like a bunch of pieces not fitting together, not yet anyway. Vince Carter is ready to show his worth and Jameer Nelson is excited to be back after he was injured late last season for much of the Magic’s playoff run. These two teams know each other well, meeting in the playoffs last season as the 76ers took a couple from Orlando, even one in Orlando. But this is a different 76ers offense, They are not comfortable in what they are doing, and that should make the difference.

Sacramento Kings vs Oklahoma Thunder Free Basketball Pick

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Sacramento Kings (+7.5) @ Oklahoma Thunder Pick: I like the Thunder, I think they are one of the most exciting teams in the league, but I don’t think they are ready to have any value what-so-ever as a 7 point favorite. I know hoops can go fast, spreads are tough to really predict, but the Thunder aren’t going to blow a lot of teams out, especially teams with solid big men that can score on the post. Feel free to laugh now, but the Kings actually have a trio of capable low-post scorers. Sean May (this is the part where you are welcome to laugh), Jason Thompson, (yes, probably a guy you don’t know too much about, but the guy is a big body that works his tail off, and he can score it) and Spencer Hawes (can score from anywhere in the offense) are three guys that are going to give Thunder post players fits. The Thunder have an absolute stud in Kevin Durrant, they have nice young players like Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and rookie shooting guard James Harden, and some good bench pieces as well. But they will have trouble with good bigs, and the Kings might not have well known bigs, but they can score, especially against Oklahoma. I’ll take the dogs here.