Monday News and Notes

Monday, April 10, 2006

Two day winners are up now from The Center of the Handicapping Universe Godspicks.com and it includes a Wise Guy dog.  We are still working on the night card inclusive in your purchase.

Though Sunday’s winning day was well below par for us, it is a great day for demonstration for newcomers.  We go 5-5 but thanks to big dog Colorado and smaller dogs, we win.

We are 11-4 our last 15 MLB, but the dog winners outnumber the chalk losers 9-0. The ENTIRE card  is just $17 at www.godspicks.com.  We now take virtually every credit card, PayPal and eCheck.  Godspicks is proud to be part of the Handicapper’s Sampler rundown of which sports services are hot and who has the big play at JoeDuffy.net

Wise Guy plays from Godspicks are widely accepted by high rollers, bookmakers, linesmakers, and fellow handicappers as the biggest play in the handicapping abyss. This is just fact.

NBA

Wizards-Sixers

Philadelphia Inquirer

Gilbert Arenas could barely bend over, and even forcing a half-smile seemed to hurt. The Washington Wizards’ all-star point guard is the symbol of his team lately in more ways than one. It’s an injury-plagued Wizards squad that has lost four of its last six games. Washington (39-37) is so banged up that coach Eddie Jordan gave the Wizards yesterday off from practice. The Wizards own the fifth Eastern Conference playoff spot, while the Sixers and Chicago Bulls are 35-41, tied for the eighth and final playoff berth. In Saturday’s 99-86 loss to the Miami Heat at the Verizon Center, the Wizards were missing two starters, forward Caron Butler (sprained right thumb) and center Etan Thomas (sprained lower back). Butler, who is averaging a career-best 17.3 points, has missed the last two games and is listed as day-to-day. Thomas hurt his back during Friday’s 114-101 loss at Atlanta and is not expected to play tonight. Guard Antonio Daniels played Saturday despite having a sprained left wrist. And there is Arenas, averaging 29.1 points per game after scoring 30 points against Miami in 40 minutes. Still, Arenas says he will be ready for the Sixers.

Hawks-Magic

Orlando Sentinel

Orlando will try to increase its home winning streak to 10 games at TD Waterhouse Centre. The Magic haven’t lost at home since the Houston Rockets beat them 89-84 on Feb. 26. They have claimed such contenders as the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons. The struggling Hawks have defeated the Magic twice this season, which has cost Orlando dearly as it attempts to stay in the playoff hunt. Atlanta beat Orlando 96-94 on Feb. 3 and 108-107 in overtime March 19 at Philips Arena, and the Magic beat the Hawks 108-101 on March 26. The Hawks had to travel from Minnesota on Sunday.

Knicks-Pacers

NY Times

The Knicks (22-54) have three straight victories for the first time since early January. They won their 22^nd game and are guaranteed to avoid the worst record in franchise history.

Cavaliers-Hornets

Times Picayune

The Cavaliers (46-30) have won 10 of the past 11 games to remain in position to enter the playoffs with homecourt advantage as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Rockets-Jazz

Salt Lake Tribune

The Rockets were to arrive at their Salt Lake City hotel around 2 a.m. Monday morning, dragging a little after flying to Utah an hour past the completion of a Sunday night game in Sacramento. Their best player, former scoring champion Tracy McGrady, isn’t with them, his bad back having ended his season a month ago. The Rockets, mathematically eliminated last week, are simply fulfilling their contractual obligations now, as best they can. These are games the Jazz are supposed to win, and so far - if only lately - they have, going 5-0 against their last five sub-.500 opponents. But the quality of opposition fluctuates crazily this time of year, and for a young team like the Jazz, that presents problems. The Jazz have beaten Houston four of the last five games in Utah.  About the Rockets: They are 6-12 on the second night of back-to-back games. They are 6-23 when F Tracy McGrady, who is out with a back injury, does not play.

Nuggets-Blazers

Daily Camera

The Nuggets are 3-0 against the Trail Blazers this season and have won six in a row overall against Portland. The Nuggets can clinch their first division title in 18 years with a win. The Nuggets squeaked past the Golden State Warriors at home on Saturday night. Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 28 points in the 95-92 victory. Kenyon Martin and Eduardo Najera did not play because of injuries. Najera may not return until the playoffs because of foot injury suffered last week against the Lakers. Martin’s status is less clear, but he may rest his sore knee the remainder of the regular season as well.

Mavericks-Clippers

Star-Telegram

For the Mavs coasting into the playoffs isn’t an option. Not with five games left. Not after last season. If the surging Mavs (58-19) and talent-rich Clippers (44-32) keep their current positions as the fourth and fifth seeds in the Western Conference, a first-round matchup would follow.