Reasoning: No doubt that last game in Los Angeles against the Lakers was beyond a disgrace. To ever lose by 50 in any sport to any team on any level is terrible and the Cavs certainly are one of the weaker teams in the NBA but these guys are pros and will want to atone for that embarrassment.
The 26-13 Jazz should be too good today and walk off of the court as the winner behind a superstar in Deron Williams and other high quality players like Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Andrei Kirilenko. Utah at home is always a tough matchup for anybody, no less a weak team. But with that said it's not like Cleveland doesn't have any talent. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison have been All-Star caliber players, Anderson Varejao has stepped up at times and is almost averaging a double-double and JJ Hickson may have the best upside of all. Plus Jerry Sloan's guys have not been playing defense of late as in their last 11 games they have not held anybody below 90 points and in that same span have given up 90, 107, 96, 95, 100, 92, 97, 110, 110, 99, 125. Does this seem like a squad that can truly be laying around two touchdowns? Seriously?
I'm not trying to act as if the Cavs are good because at 8-30 they're clearly not but there are pieces in place and they are much better than a team that should have lost 112-57 against anybody anywhere.
Some people would say that the Cavs are a disaster and a team that has quit on Byron Scott. They may have but this team is going to be extremely angry after what just happened at Staples Center and for this one game will want to atone for that horrific performance as they are still guys that have some pride or else they never would have reached such a high level. There is enough potential and talent for the visitors to prove they are worthy of being called an NBA team and in the end this thing has 11-104 written all over it.
Top expert pick on this game: Matt Rivers of OffshoreInsiders.com says take Cleveland (+14.5)
For more information: Matt Rivers says: I am obliterating that Crookie right now. A monster 650,000* of profit last night as 400,000* Minnesota covered against Purdue and the 200,000* on the moneyline obviously came through as well in the Golden Gopher outright. A day before that it was a perfect 2-0 sweep which was on the heels of my current 10-1 football run.
To say that things have been great of late is an understatement and another major lock is here from the MAAC involving probably the two best teams in the conference in Iona and Rider. One 300,000*play, one more winner and one more winning day. Don't sleep on me if you want to win! Basketball picks against the spread up now for Friday.
