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2-1 last nite
13-15 YTD
Bucks -11.5
Real simple the Bucks still have the same foundations as last season with Redd and Van Horn leading the way until Ford comes back. Maurice Williams has started fast and hopefully it should continue. They have veterans like Joe Smith and Toni Kukoc combined with athletes like Desmond Mason to lean on. Charlotte doesnt have much of a history being a first year franchise but also because only 3 players have really ever played a prominent role on other NBA teams( Steve Smith, Breven knight and Jahidi White). Knight is out with an injury that I really feel shurts this team and White seems to be out of the Bobcat plans so far. Looking at the difference bewteen the Bobcat preseason home games and road game syou can say a tremendous difference. Charloote has played well at home in the preseason and regular season. They do have some solid defenders limiting opps to 40% FG but they allowed the most FT's and had the most personal fouls early on. WHich is what I would expect with ayoung team who is learning to play NBA caliber defense night in night out. AFter beating Orlando at home the get a reasonable line here probably should be at least 15+ dogs when they play on the road. Okafor and Primo lead the team in scoring early but they are both guys who cant create teher own shots. Primo is able to knock down long jumpers and Okefor wil be able to get some easy hoops near the basket, but what else?? Steve Smith and Eddie House are solid shooters and Gerald Wallace is athletic but how does this team average more then 85 pts a game on the road this year???
Jazz/Raptors Under 195.5
I am going to this game. It should be a good one and probably right on the line which is about 9 so I wont take it but I do like the total. One thing I recommend people start looking at for totals is shots allowed per game as well as shots taken per game. If teams are averaging just 70 something shots per game in teh long run it wil be hard to keep up that lofty scoring average we have seeen early. Utah's offense seems to be clicking and should put 100pts again tonite but just like last nite Toronto will struggle to score at times. Jazz are a much better defense team then Sac is and it will be interesting to see what Bosh and Woods will do tonite especially against a physical Boozer. Jazz basically take about 75 shots a game and allow 75 shot sper game. The Raps are much higher in most of their games except against houston which would be a similiar opponent to Utah IMO.
Kings/ Sonics Over 205
Well when I see totals of 200+ I ask myself two things . First is can one of these teams score 110 points? Well at 110 you still need 91 pts to get over that 200 mark. The second is can both these teams or wil both these teams score 100+points apiece. Usually I just want a yes for either question but tonite I get a yes for both.
LAC +5.5
Definetly a plus to have Artest out of the mix as well as having Indiana coming off a tough grueling win @ Minnesota. Basically I like LA's frontline matchups here and combine that with the defense they have played. Artest is Indys second best player and probably there best defensive player. Cory Maggette is probably happy to see that Artest will not be guarding him.The only knock I have for LA has been there FT shooting but limiting opponents to 40%FG shooting should he lp them be around in the final ticks.
13-15 YTD
Bucks -11.5
Real simple the Bucks still have the same foundations as last season with Redd and Van Horn leading the way until Ford comes back. Maurice Williams has started fast and hopefully it should continue. They have veterans like Joe Smith and Toni Kukoc combined with athletes like Desmond Mason to lean on. Charlotte doesnt have much of a history being a first year franchise but also because only 3 players have really ever played a prominent role on other NBA teams( Steve Smith, Breven knight and Jahidi White). Knight is out with an injury that I really feel shurts this team and White seems to be out of the Bobcat plans so far. Looking at the difference bewteen the Bobcat preseason home games and road game syou can say a tremendous difference. Charloote has played well at home in the preseason and regular season. They do have some solid defenders limiting opps to 40% FG but they allowed the most FT's and had the most personal fouls early on. WHich is what I would expect with ayoung team who is learning to play NBA caliber defense night in night out. AFter beating Orlando at home the get a reasonable line here probably should be at least 15+ dogs when they play on the road. Okafor and Primo lead the team in scoring early but they are both guys who cant create teher own shots. Primo is able to knock down long jumpers and Okefor wil be able to get some easy hoops near the basket, but what else?? Steve Smith and Eddie House are solid shooters and Gerald Wallace is athletic but how does this team average more then 85 pts a game on the road this year???
Jazz/Raptors Under 195.5
I am going to this game. It should be a good one and probably right on the line which is about 9 so I wont take it but I do like the total. One thing I recommend people start looking at for totals is shots allowed per game as well as shots taken per game. If teams are averaging just 70 something shots per game in teh long run it wil be hard to keep up that lofty scoring average we have seeen early. Utah's offense seems to be clicking and should put 100pts again tonite but just like last nite Toronto will struggle to score at times. Jazz are a much better defense team then Sac is and it will be interesting to see what Bosh and Woods will do tonite especially against a physical Boozer. Jazz basically take about 75 shots a game and allow 75 shot sper game. The Raps are much higher in most of their games except against houston which would be a similiar opponent to Utah IMO.
Kings/ Sonics Over 205
Well when I see totals of 200+ I ask myself two things . First is can one of these teams score 110 points? Well at 110 you still need 91 pts to get over that 200 mark. The second is can both these teams or wil both these teams score 100+points apiece. Usually I just want a yes for either question but tonite I get a yes for both.
LAC +5.5
Definetly a plus to have Artest out of the mix as well as having Indiana coming off a tough grueling win @ Minnesota. Basically I like LA's frontline matchups here and combine that with the defense they have played. Artest is Indys second best player and probably there best defensive player. Cory Maggette is probably happy to see that Artest will not be guarding him.The only knock I have for LA has been there FT shooting but limiting opponents to 40%FG shooting should he lp them be around in the final ticks.