January ended on a bad note, but I am hoping this lockout shortened season will start having a little more structure to it and the surprises are not so frequent in the final months of the season.
The February Picks will be placed on this thread and I will update Twitter whenever I make any picks, although I don't usually make them every day.
Utah Jazz @ New York Knicks Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13143-Utah-Jazz-at-New-York-Knicks.htm) Since writing this preview and making the pick, news has been confirmed that Amare Stoudemire's older brother has sadly passed away in a car accident earlier today and the All-Star has left the team to be with his family... Spread has come down since news broke so bear that in mind
February 7th
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13146-Oklahoma-City-at-Golden-State.htm)
February 8th
LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13150-LA-Clippers-at-Cleveland-Cavaliers.htm)
Miami Heat @ Orlando Magic Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13151-Miami-Heat-at-Orlando-Magic.htm)
February 12th
LA Lakers @ Toronto Raptors Pick: I am going to take the road team, despite this being the end of their 6 game road trip, to come through and win this game for the following reasons:
First, the Lakers have dominated Toronto in recent seasons and I still think they have the better depth as the Raptors are missing Andrea Bargnani.
Second, there might be a bit of pressure on the Raptors to follow up their impressive win over Boston from a couple of nights ago. That is backed up by their recent 7-15-1 record against the spread in the game following a win.
Third, Toronto are just 1-5 against the spread in their last 6 games following a win by double-digits.
Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks Pick: Again I am going to back the road team in this one to cover for the following reasons:
First, Atlanta seem to under-perform at home and have gone 1-3 against the spread in their last 4 games here.
Second, Miami are 7-2 against the spread in their last 9 games against Atlanta and have covered in their last 4 games in Atlanta.
Third, I like backing the Heat in these kind of games as they generally put in a much better effort. They are 2-1 against the spread in games against teams currently in the Eastern Conference top 8 positions as they will look to make statements in them before the Play Offs begin.
February 13th
Philadelphia 76ers @ Charlotte Bobcats Pick: I am going to take the Philadelphia 76ers to cover the big spread tonight for the following reasons:
First, Charlotte are really struggling with the ball in their hands and now face one of the tougher Defenses in the NBA coached by Doug Collins.
Second, Philadelphia are 8-1 against the spread in their last 9 games when they are favoured by more than 8 points to win. They are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games being favoured by at least double-digits.
Third, the 76ers are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 trips to Charlotte and they have already beaten the Bobcats by 17 at home this season.
Miami Heat @ Milwaukee Bucks Pick: I would not normally back Miami in the second of back to back nights play, especially considering they have another big showdown at Indiana tomorrow night during this road trip, but there are enough reasons for me to back them again tonight:
First, revenge is definitely in the minds of the Heat after being beaten twice already this season by Milwaukee, and the starters had plenty of rest last night in the blowout of Atlanta.
Second, Miami were beaten here 12 days ago, but they had won on their 3 previous visits to this Arena and will want to prove that there is no team in the Eastern Conference that can slow them down.
Third, Miami are 16-4 straight up against Eastern Conference opponents this season... They have beaten Atlanta twice since losing one of those games to them, and now will look to get back on track with two defeats coming to Milwaukee.
February 14th
New York Knicks @ Toronto Raptors Pick: I'll admit it, as a New York Knick fan I am completely suffering from Lin-Sanity over the last week or so and I like their chances of continuing their run of form tonight in Canada for the following reasons:
First, Amare Stoudemire is back tonight after leaving the team to be with his family. He is going to be over the moon to be playing with someone like Jeremy Lin who will make sure Stoudemire gets at least 20 points on the board tonight. I think the return of Stoudemire makes the Knicks that much better.
Second, the road team is 9-2 against the spread in the last 11 games in the series between these teams and the Knicks should be focused after being beaten in the Garden last month by Toronto.
Third, the Knicks have been a covering machine over the last couple of weeks, covering the last 8 games they have played.
San Antonio Spurs @ Detroit Pistons Pick: I am also going to back the road team in this game to win and cover the spread for the following reasons:
First, San Antonio have really pulled their socks up on the road in recent games, winning their last 3 to improve to 6-8 on the road. They have also covered the spread in their last 8 games overall.
Second, the return of Manu Ginobili is a huge boost to the team on this road trip and will help give them a little more depth on their rotation.
Third, San Antonio have won 4 of their last 5 games by double-digits and that would be enough to cover the spread here.
February 21st
Sacramento Kings @ Miami Heat Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13256-Sacramento-Kings-at-Miami-Heat.htm)
February 23rd
New York Knicks @ Miami Heat Pick: I am taking the Miami Heat to continue their run of double-digits wins for the following reasons:
First, the Heat have got to be a little mad that they are almost an after-thought in the last couple of weeks despite being in fantastic form and you just know LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will want to make a statement.
Second, the Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and they create a lot of turnovers, the exact issue that Jeremy Lin has struggled with so far in his short time starting for the Knicks.
Third, the Heat are crushing teams at the moment and I think they are going to put the pounding on the Knicks before the All-Star break as a marker for the rest of the season.
LA Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder Pick: I am going to back the Oklahoma City Thunder to confirm why they are the favourites to win the Western Conference this season:
First, I think the Thunder are ready to proclaim themselves the best team in this Conference and I think they are younger and with a much deeper rotation than the Lakers.
Second, the Lakers are just 1-1-4 against the spread in their last 6 visits to Oklahoma City and the Thunder are much better team now.
Third, the Lakers have shown their age a little bit this season, going 2-4 against the spread in their last 6 games when playing on back to back nights.
Fourth, the Lakers had a big emotional win at Dallas last night and they may struggle to get that sort of effort on two nights in a row against an opponent that can score a lot of points.
February 29th
Orlando Magic @ Washington Wizards Pick: I am playing the Over 192.5 Total Points in this game between two teams that have combined for more than this target in their last 4 meetings here. There is the concern that the Wizards may struggle emotionally having lost a close one at Milwaukee last night, but that was the fourth time in their last six games that they have both scored and allowed at least 100 points.
The Magic will need to be on with their three point shooting as that either makes or breaks their games, but I think together the teams can reach this target.
Charlotte Bobcats @ Detroit Pistons Pick: I am going to take the Detroit Pistons to cover tonight despite their blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers here last night.
However, they are playing a really bad Charlotte team that they demolished on the road in early January, and I am putting the Pistons defeat down to just a bad day in the office yesterday as they had been playing a lot better in recent games and may just have been cooled down by the All-Star break.
The Pistons are 7-2 against the spread in their last 9 games against Charlotte and I will look for them to improve that here.
MY PICKS: 06/02 New York Knicks - 4 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
07/02 Oklahoma City Thunder - 2.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
08/02 LA Clippers - 6.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
08/02 Miami Heat - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
12/02 LA Lakers - 6 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
12/02 Miami Heat - 4 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
13/02 Philadelphia 76ers - 11.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
13/02 Miami Heat - 6 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
14/02 New York Knicks - 5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
14/02 San Antonio Spurs - 9 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
21/02 Miami Heat - 13.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
23/02 Miami Heat - 9.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
23/02 Oklahoma City Thunder - 6 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
29/02 Washington Wizards-Orlando Magic Over 192.5 Points @ 1.92 Pinnacle (2 Units)
29/02 Detroit Pistons - 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
February Update: 8-7, + 1.02 Units
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