With the big game on Sunday and everyone taking their last shots at the Super Bowl odds and making their last NFL picks of the season, some lucrative opportunities may go by the way side as the NBA approaches its all-star break.
Friday's Picks
No doubters
New Jersey Nets (4-44 last on Planet Earth) at Boston Celtics (31-16 3rd in Eastern Conference)
This game will not be close. The Celtics play tough defense and have playmakers all around. F Paul Pierce will likely sit out this game maybe swaying the spread a couple of points in the Nets favor. It is not going to matter as the Nets, who have looked a little better of late, have not won on the road this year besides catching a bus from Jersey to Manhattan to beat the Knicks early on at MSG.
5dimes review Prediction: Celtics 90 - Nets 77. The Spread may be double digits, but a money line pick of the Celtics and an under of 185 will net you some returns.
Minnesota Timberwolves (11-38, last in Western Conference @ Dallas Mavericks 31-18, 3rd in Western Conference)
The T-Wolves are awful. They are too young with no veteran leadership, rely on G/F Corey Brewer more than they should, since he should be a bench player, F Kevin Love and C Al Jefferson seem to have problems co-existing for one reason or another, and G Jonny Flynn is still adjusting to the NBA game but looks like he will be a good player in the future. In the present, the Wolves are destined to miss the playoffs again and are going nowhere.
The Mavericks are only 9-9 in since New Year's but are solid against lesser competition. The Mavs may be a good shooter or two away from making a serious run at the title, but F Dirk Nowitzki has regained his 2006 MVP form.
Prediction: Mavs 103 - T-Wolves 83. Dallas is going to kill this team.
Take the Dogs
Chicago Bulls (23-24, 8th in Eastern Conference) @ Atlanta Hawks (31-17, 2nd in Eastern Conference)
The Hawks have a 20-5 home record and are sure to be heavy favorites in this game, maybe -9. The Bulls are led by first time All-Star Derrick Rose who dominates even the best defenders off the ball. The Hawks start Mike Bibby at PG. Bibby has never been good defensively and now in his later years, is atrocious. Rose embarrassed the great Steve Nash a couple of weeks ago and shut him down offensively as well. It was a huge statement game for Rose and the Bulls and they have either won or played close games ever since. The Hawks have All-Stars at SG and C (Joe Johnson, Al Horford) and F Josh Smith was snubbed. Bulls C Joakim Noah and Al Horford were teammates at the University of Florida and won back to back titles. The matchup should be one both players relish as a throwback to the practice floor of Billy Donovan's gym. Bulls PF's Tyrus Thomas and Taj Gibson may be enough to stifle the acrobatic Smith as the Bulls matchup pretty well in this one.
Prediction: Bulls 103- Hawks 102 Take the Bulls and the points as this one will come down to the wire.
Phoenix Suns (30-21, 6th in Western Conference) @ Sacramento Kings (16-32, 13th in Western Conference)
The Suns have been the great pretenders of the season. Playing a of run n' gun, no defense style Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire have played their way into playoff contention. Amare's name has recently been floated about in trade rumors as he is not expected to resign with Phoenix when his contract expires at season's end. Nash has slowed down a bit this season and has looked very bad at times on the defensive end. He will have his hands full with the front-runner for this year's Rookie of the Year award, Tyreke Evans. Evans is a tall and athletic combo guard who is being asked to play the point and has averaged over 20 points a game. The Kings play well at home where they are 13-11.
Prediction: Kings 119- Suns 117. The Suns are a better team, but playing at Sacramento will make this game close. Take the Kings with the points (between 7 -11.5).
