Premier League Team of the Season 2014/15

The new season is fast approaching and so I have had a quick look back at the 2014/15 season and what was my 'Team of the Season'.

Some of these players have moved on since the end of the last season, while others may also perhaps be on their way ahead of September when the transfer window is closed.

However, these were the top performers of last season in my mind and perhaps those to look at when determining where the prizes go in the coming year.

GK- David De Gea

There were some games where David De Gea might not have been at his best, but there wasn't another goalkeeper in the League that Manchester United fans would have called to replace their own.

He made big saves throughout the season and helped United into the top four, although rumours about an impending move to Real Madrid won't seem to go away.

Right Back- Nathaniel Clyne

This was a tight choice between Nathaniel Clyne and Branislav Ivanovic for this spot but I ended up siding with the former who had his best season in the top flight. Ivanovic has had the more consistent career, by Clyne offered both the attacking requirements of a full back coupled with decent defensive performances to earn his spot.

The performances saw Clyne linked with the big teams in England, and this summer he moved on to Liverpool where he takes over from Glen Johnson and will hope to push his England credentials ahead of Euro 2016.

Left Back- Aaron Cresswell

There actually weren't a lot of options in this position as injuries seemed to affect teams in the left back position through the season.

I liked how Aaron Cresswell made the move up from the Championship to the Premier League with West Ham United and he is perhaps another player hoping to break into the England team ahead of next summer's European Championship.

Centre Back- Jose Fonte

When Dejan Lovren moved on to Liverpool last summer, many expected Southampton to struggle, but Jose Fonte was part of a very impressive defence.

He helped Southampton surpass all expectations that many had for them and formed an impressive partnership with Toby Alderweireld but the pressure will be on Fonte to continue that form with more movement out of St Mary's this year.

Centre Back- John Terry

I am not a fan of the man, but I respect the player and there is no doubt that John Terry was back to near his best last season for Chelsea. He continues to be part of a strong spine at Stamford Bridge that helped Jose Mourinho bring the title back to the capital last season and will remain a stalwart at the heart of the defence.

Age is beginning to be an issue, but Terry was still the first name on the team sheet for Jose Mourinho and he will continue to lead them going forward.

Centre Midfield- Nemanja Matic

As well as John Terry played for Chelsea, he would have been grateful for the presence of Nemanja Matic in front of the back four.

There is no better defensive midfield shield in the Premier League than Matic and you have to credit Mourinho for bringing him back after previous years had seen him moved on to Benfica.

Centre Midfield- Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas was the perfect partner for Nemanja Matic to pass the ball off to in the Chelsea midfield.

The Spaniard is playing much deeper than in his Arsenal and Barcelona days which means he isn't scoring as many as some may have thought, but the assists continue to climb.

A top midfielder that I really wish Manchester United had signed last summer and I expect Fabregas to have another big season for Chelsea.

Attacking Midfield- Alexis Sanchez

Without a doubt he proved to be the signing of the summer in my opinion as Alexis Sanchez proved why Arsenal paid as much as they did to bring him in.

He can do a bit of everything- he scores goals, he creates chances, he can beat a man on the dribble and he isn't that bad in the air despite not being the tallest player.

If Arsenal are going to win the Premier League this season, I would bet Alexis Sanchez is at the heart of things and he looks a player that might even win the Player of the Year award in the coming year. One question mark would be how much winning the Copa America with Chile has taken out of him both physically and emotionally but expect Arsene Wenger to ease him back into proceedings.

Attacking Midfield- David Silva

Manchester City might have lost their title last season, but David Silva continues to ooze class and I think he can have an even better season when picking out the pace of Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling ahead of him.

Not many can play the Number 10 role better than David Silva and my one previous criticism of him was that he doesn't score enough goals.

However, he got 12 in the League last season and getting into double digits again might help Manchester City get close to reclaiming the title they lost last season.

Attacking Midfield- Eden Hazard

It is no surprise that I have four players from Chelsea, the Champions, in my Team of the Season, and the biggest shock would have been if there was no room for Eden Hazard.

While I am not ready to say he is the third best player in the World behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Hazard has the pace, creativity and goalscoring to certainly get up to that level.

If Chelsea are going to win the Champions League, they will need Hazard firing on all cylinders in the coming season.

Centre Forward- Sergio Aguero

Some might have called for Harry Kane, but he didn't have the same consistency as Sergio Aguero in the games he played and I don't think there is a better striker in the Premier League.

It isn't just about what I think of someone, because Aguero also finished as the top Premier League goalscorer and Manchester City will be desperate to get him through the season unscathed this time around.

If they can keep Aguero fit and pair him with both David Silva and Raheem Sterling, Manchester City will feel they can cover defensive vulnerabilities by out-scoring anyone in the Premier League.

These players will all be expected to have a big impact going into the new season but I wouldn't be surprised if half of them are in the Team of the Season at the end of this campaign too.

I would hope there are more Manchester United representatives in the Team next time around, but there is some gelling to be done at Old Trafford and I am not that surprised that the majority of players came from the top three teams.

NBA Picks February 2015

The NFL season came to a close this past Sunday and that means the NBA will take the focus of the majority of sports headlines in the United States over the next few months. Of course the NFL never really ends with Free Agency looming followed by the NFL Draft and before you know it, the NFL will be back in training camp and we can begin to look forward to a new season.

However, in that time the NBA will be moving towards the Play Offs when the real excitement begins considering more than half of the teams will be taking part in those games. That has made the regular season something of an experiment for teams as they look to peak for April-June, but it has been stated previously that teams change their mentality after the All-Star break.

That All-Star Game takes place in the middle of this month in New York and that week long break from the regular season settles the NBA down with teams focusing on lottery picks and improving Play Off Seeding.


While the Western Conference still remains extremely competitive through the top 9 places (which doesn't include the Oklahoma City Thunder at the moment), the Eastern Conference has fewer really stellar teams.

The Atlanta Hawks have been on a really special run through January which has given them a 7 game lead at the top of the Conference and I think it will take some collapse from them, or another team putting together a long winning run, for them not to finish with the Number 1 Seed in this Conference. This is a team that may be lacking the star power of the likes of the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, but Atlanta are very strong through their rotation and I think they will be a tough out for anyone if they are hosting the Play Off series.

Talking about the Cavaliers, there definitely seems to be a better groove being demonstrated by the team led by LeBron James. However, bigger challenges await in February which will tell us a lot more about Cleveland, while Kevin Love still struggle to find his actual role in the team.


By the end of this month, we are going to have a much clearer picture of where the Play Offs are heading and it is an important month to start proving that your team is ready to compete through to June.


Tuesday 3 February
Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks Pick: The New York Knicks have been in decent form over the last couple of weeks since returning from London and I think they can see off the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have won 3 in a row against Boston, including on the road earlier this season, and New York have gone 6-1 against the spread in their last 7 games since being blown out in London.

The Knicks have covered as the favourite in their last 2 games in this position and they are 2-0 against the spread as a home favourite of fewer than 3 points this season. Derek Fisher has got the team battling through their injury issues and New York have also been playing better on the Defensive side of the court.

The Boston Celtics have lost 3 in a row and are coming into New York for this road game before returning home tomorrow night. Avery Bradley should play despite fracturing his thumb on his non-shooting hand, but the Celtics have been struggling in this transitional season. The Celtics are 0-2 against the spread when set as a small underdog on the road and I will back the New York Knicks to come through.

Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings Pick: The Golden State Warriors snapped a two game losing run with an impressive home blow out of the Phoenix Suns and have had a couple of days to rest. Games against the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks follow this one for the Warriors so they perhaps overlook the Sacramento Kings a little, but the Western Conference is so tight that Golden State cannot drop silly games.

It has also been tougher for the Golden State Warriors when they go on the road as they are just 2-5 straight up in their last 7 away from Oakland. They are also just 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 road games as the favourite, but they have dominated the Sacramento Kings with 3 wins against them this season by at least 18 points per game.

Sacramento have been on a 3 game road trip against teams from the Eastern Conference where they finally snapped a 8 game losing run. The Kings had failed to cover in 4 straight games before the win over the Indiana Pacers, while they are 3-5 against the spread when playing Divisional rivals.

The rest should have done Golden State some good and they are 7-1 against the spread this season when having two days rest before games and I think their three point shooting as well as the up-tempo style of basketball sees the Warriors cover in this game.


Wednesday 4 February
Denver Nuggets @ Boston Celtics Pick: The Denver Nuggets have lost 10 of their last 11 games, although the irony is the one game they did win was when I had backed the New Orleans Pelicans. I am hoping lightning doesn't strike twice, because I think the Boston Celtics are going to be able to knock them off at home on this back to back for both teams.

The Boston Celtics are looking for a fifth win in a row at home against Denver, although they need to snap their 4 game losing run at home and the fact they have lost 5 of their last 6 in front of their own fans. The Celtics are not a great team, but they might just be able to challenge for a Play Off spot in the Eastern Conference and they should have a lot more confidence than the Nuggets who were embarrassed by the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

Denver are just 4-6 against the spread on the second of back to back nights play and they are just 3-10 against the spread when revenging a home loss. On the other hand, Boston are 6-2 against the spread in back to back nights play and I think they cover in this one.

Brooklyn Nets @ Toronto Raptors Pick: The Toronto Raptors only just escaped Brooklyn with a win last week thanks to huge performances from Brook Lopez and Jarrett Jack who combined for 70 points for the Nets. That helped erase a 17 point lead that the Raptors had in the game, but Toronto have won both of the games against Brooklyn this season and will look to carry on that dominance.

Brooklyn recovered from a big deficit to beat the LA Clippers on Monday, but they are just 1-7 against the spread when the Nets have won a game as the underdog. They are also facing a Toronto team that was surprised by the Milwaukee Bucks in their last game and the Raptors have at least recovered to go 4-3 against the spread in their next game off an upset loss.

It was a poor shooting night all around for Toronto in their loss to Milwaukee, but that is unlikely to be repeated considering they average 103 points per game at home this season. The Nets are just 8-14 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record and they might not have the same inspiration to recover from a big deficit on the road as they have in their last two home games.

The Nets Defensive performances have not been up to par in recent games and I will look for Toronto to cover.


Thursday 5 February
LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers Pick: The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 11 straight games to move back above 0.500 and give fans a glimpse into what was expected when LeBron James joined Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving 'back home'.

James himself has admitted that the Cavaliers have had to work through a lot of 'bad habits' but there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially if they can get Love going. It has been tough for Love being the 'third man' on this team when it comes to shooting the ball, but James wants him to be more aggressive when the shots are presented to him.

There is also some concern that Cleveland have feasted on mainly bad teams during their run of wins, although they did knock off the LA Clippers on the road. The Clippers are one of the favourites in the Western Conference, but will likely miss JJ Redick in this one, while Jamal Crawford has struggled off the bench.

Los Angeles are also 1-5 against the spread in their last 6 road games against Eastern Conference teams and they are 1-7 against the spread in their last 8 games at the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the momentum Cleveland have picked up over the last month, I will look for them to knock off the Clippers at home.


Friday 6 February
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers Pick: The spread moved up a point during the Cleveland Cavalier blow out of the LA Clippers, but I still like the current hottest team in the NBA to continue their run. Cleveland might 'only' have won by 11 last night, but they were up by 32 points going into the Fourth Quarter and rested all of their starters which should put them in a good place for this game.

The Cavaliers are getting it done on both ends of the court at the moment and have won their last 4 games by double-digits. They are meeting an Indiana Pacers team that has played better Offensively since George Hill returned, while the news that Paul George could return as soon as next month is another morale boost.

However, the Pacers are 2-5 against the spread as a home underdog this season and have been out-scored by an average 7 points per game in those games. Indiana are also 3-6 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record at home and I think they are going to have dig very deep to keep up with the Cavaliers who have found something of a groove.

Cleveland have won 12 in a row and are 10-2 against the spread in those games, going 3-1 against the spread in road games and I like them to continue being too grizzled at both ends of the court and win this one.


Milwaukee Bucks @ Houston Rockets Pick: Dwight Howard has been ruled out until at least the All-Star Game, but they still have won 4 of their last 5 games and now look to cool off the Milwaukee Bucks who have won 5 straight games and have one of the best depths in the NBA. The Bucks have battled through injuries to continue to surprise everyone, including those in Vegas considering their 33-16 record against the spread.

That includes an incredible 21-6 record against the spread on the road and they are just as good playing teams with winning records as those with losing records.

Milwaukee have a strong record in recent games in Houston, but they are facing a Rockets team that is 7-1 against the spread at home and are getting a big effort from their role players in the absence of Howard. Earlier in the season the Bucks were being given a lot of points which aided them in covering a lot of games, but this is a spread that the hot three point shooting of Houston can see them cover.

I have respect for the way that Milwaukee have played on the Defensive side of the court, but the Rockets may just catch the Bucks looking ahead to returning home to face Boston on Saturday night.


Saturday 7 February
Golden State Warriors @ New York Knicks Pick: The Golden State Warriors had to put in a big effort in an ultimately losing occasion against the Atlanta Hawks last night, but they might be facing  short-handed New York Knicks team in this one.

It is the fourth game in five days for the Warriors so tiredness may be an issue for them, but they have a very hot shooting team that might have too much in the locker for a Knicks team that could be without Amare Stoudemire and, more importantly, Carmelo Anthony.

The Warriors are 4-0 against the spread in their last four visits to Madison Square Garden and playing in such a famous venue might bring the best out of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the rest of the sharp shooters of the Golden State team. It is a big number to cover, but I will back Golden State to do that.


Sunday 8 February
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Detroit Pistons Pick: It was very irritating seeing Golden State fail to cover in a game they dominated on Saturday.

I will be looking for a better bit of fortune on Sunday when I pick the Detroit Pistons to cover a fairly big spread against the Minnesota Timberwolves who could be short-handed. Ricky Rubio is not expected to play and Minnesota have been much improved with the Spaniard running at Point Guard so his absence could be tough to make up.

Minnesota also have big games ahead against Atlanta and Golden State, the two top teams in the Eastern and Western Conference respectively and might overlook Detroit considering they have a losing record. The Pistons have won 3 of their last 4 games and can snap a 9 game losing run to Minnesota in this one and the Timberwolves are just 7-13 against the spread in non-Conference games this season.

Chicago Bulls @ Orlando Magic Pick: The firing of Jacques Vaughn wasn't really a big surprise for Orlando Magic fans considering how the team had been playing of late and they snapped a long losing run with a win over the LA Lakers in their first game under Interim Head Coach James Borrego.

Backing up that win against the Chicago Bulls will be tough, even if the Bulls are on a back to back, because the starters should be well rested after they blew out the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. They might also have the services of Mike Dunleavy back in the rotation and Chicago should be too good for the Magic.

Orlando beat a poor Lakers team, but had been losing a lot of games by double digits prior to that and I think the Bulls cover.


Tuesday 10 February
Houston Rockets @ Phoenix Suns Pick: The Houston Rockets were upset as a favourite on Sunday by the Portland Trail Blazers, but they can make up for it as the underdog on Tuesday when they travel to Phoenix. The Rockets have won on their last two visits to the Suns and Houston are 7-1 against the spread following up an upset loss.

Even without Dwight Howard, Phoenix may not have the same presence on the glass that Portland have which allowed the Trail Blazers to give Houston as many problems as they did. James Harden also showed off some hot shooting and the Rockets can get very good support from the wings which could be a key against Phoenix considering the amount of points that both teams are capable of scoring.

The All-Star break is fast approaching, but Houston still have to deal with a trip to the LA Clippers before that, but I like the way they have bounced back from losses as the favourite. The Phoenix Suns have been limping into the break with injuries and a loss of form and they have lost 4 of their last 5 games as they have allowed teams to close on their Play Off place.

The break seems to be coming at a good time for Phoenix, but they may have to take another loss against one of the better teams in the West and I will take the points on offer.


Wednesday 11 February
Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics Pick: The Atlanta Hawks might not have a long list of players that the casual fan would be able to name, but they are just the eighth team EVER to have four All-Star players after Kyle Korver was picked to replace Dwyane Wade. Last month the entire starting line up were given 'Player of the Month' honours to show how well the Hawks have been playing and they can go into the week long break with another win under their belts.

Atlanta have lost 2 of their last 5 games, but I still think this team is full of confidence and can snap Boston Celtic's two game winning run at home. The Celtics are still in contention for a place in the Eastern Conference Play Offs, despite the trades they have made to improve in the future, but I think the absence of Kelly Olynyk and the lack of consistent scoring hurts them in this game.

They were beaten by 14 points last month by this Hawks team who should dominate the paint and open up the three point shooting lanes. Boston are just 5-8 against the spread against a team with a winning record at home and Atlanta have continued to dominate the lesser teams by going 9-2 against the spread on the road against teams with losing records. Atlanta should have too much scoring power for Boston and I like them to cover.

LA Lakers @ Portland Trail Blazers Pick: With the All-Star break coming after this game, this looks a lot of points for the Portland Trail Blazers to be giving up, even against a terrible team like the LA Lakers which is struggling with injuries and playing D-League standard players. However, covering double digits worth of points is a tough task and Portland are 2-5 against the spread when favoured by 10 plus points this season.

It is a familiar position for the LA Lakers in the tough Western Conference that people will expect to see them blown out and they are 8-7 against the spread when giving 10 or more points. The expectation will be on Portland to demolish the Lakers, but their two wins this season against them has come by an average of 8 points per game and the Trail Blazers may be looking to the break to get healthier and rediscover their groove.

Only 1 of the last 8 games that the LA Lakers have played has seen them lose by more than 14 points and that was against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a game that ended in a 15 point win for the Cavs. Portland have blown out Phoenix at home recently, but their focus could be on the break ahead and taking the points seems the right call.


Houston Rockets @ LA Clippers Pick: I am sticking with the Houston Rockets for the second night in a row despite the fact that they are short-handed and coming off a really tough road win at the Phoenix Suns. However, backing them in an underdog spot against the LA Clippers who are off a long road trip and missing Blake Griffin looks a good opportunity for Houston to snap their 5 game losing run against a fellow contender in the Western Conference.

Playing on back to back nights is tough, but Terrance Jones may return to give Houston another body in the front court to take some pressure off a team missing Dwight Howard. James Harden is going into the All-Star Game in great form and he looks to have a good match up in this one and could have another huge outing.

Defensively it has been a struggle for the Clippers in recent games and they are allowing an eye-watering 111 points per game in their last 5 games. If they can't slow down Harden, it should open up the three point shooting for the Rockets and they might just be able to cover as the underdog for the second night in a row.

The Clippers are just 4-7 against the spread at home when playing a team with a winning record and they have failed to back an upset win this season by going 0-2 against the spread in their next game. It isn't a lot of points to be getting, but Houston may still be able to stay within the number.


Thursday 12 February
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Chicago Bulls Pick: It was an awful Wednesday night for the picks, but it was the small margins that seemed to go against them as teams blew leads or fell apart when the games were very close.

The last game before the All-Star break is between the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the two teams who had started the season as the favourites to win the Eastern Conference. Both teams could be missing a vital piece of their starting line up if Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love are sitting out, although Love looks more likely to take his place in the Cleveland rotation.

The Cavaliers blew out the Miami Heat on Wednesday evening and are on a back to back, but they have been in much better form than the Chicago Bulls who have struggled to find their identity. Chicago have been known for their Defensive capabilities, but that hasn't been the case of late and Cleveland are good enough to take advantage now they have found something of a groove at both ends of the court.

Chicago have won 3 in a row and haven't given up more than 97 points in those games, but they were very fortunate to beat the Orlando Magic and they haven't played a team as good as Cleveland. The Cavaliers are also 2-0 against the Bulls this season and I just think they have more of an understanding of one another at the moment and can end the 'first half' of the season with another important win in their development as title contenders.


Thursday 19 February
Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder Pick: The All-Star Game is in the books and Russell Westbrook was so close to breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record of 42 points in the game but finished with 41. Westbrook will look to continue his hot form for the Oklahoma City Thunder who are looking to sneak into the Play Offs after injury derailed them early in the season.

Whether Reggie Jackson is suited up is a different matter with suggestions he will have been traded away before this game tips off. Jackson hasn't been getting a lot of minutes since Dion Waiters arrived though and I also think Kevin Durant's new outspoken attitude is going to help the Thunder bring it over the next couple of months.

Dallas have been boosted by the addition of Amare Stoudemire, while Rajon Rondo and Tyson Chandler should have recovered from injuries thanks to the break between games. However, I still like Oklahoma City to win and cover as Dallas have a big game against Houston on deck tomorrow night and they are playing the Thunder who are 9-4 against the spread at home when playing a team with a winning record.

The Thunder should be more ready to come out and make a statement that they are a threat in the Western Conference and Dallas are also 1-6 against the spread in their last 7 games as the road underdog.


Friday 20 February
Miami Heat @ New York Knicks Pick: There is no doubt about the direction these two teams are trying to go if you look at the moves made at the trade deadline. The New York Knicks have bought out Amare Stoudemire, shipped off Pablo Prigioni and about to shut down Carmelo Anthony for the season, while the Miami Heat made the biggest move at the deadline by trading for Goran Drajic.

I am a big fan of the 'Dragon' and he should give the Miami Heat plenty of upside as they look to work their way into the Eastern Conference Play Off mix. Chris Bosh misses this game, but Dwyane Wade is back and the Heat starting line up looks a good one, even if the depth was sacrificed in the trade for Drajic.

He should be running the point in this one against a Knicks team that looks like they will be tanking the rest of the way- that isn't even out of choice when you consider who will take the court as a full effort will be given, but they will likely fall short in terms of quality.

The Knicks are just 4-9 against the spread when playing a team with a losing record at Madison Square Garden, while Miami are 10-5 against the spread on the road against a team with a losing record. I look for that trend to continue as the Heat look to make it 10-1 against the spread against teams from the Atlantic Division this season.

Toronto Raptors @ Atlanta Hawks Pick: The Atlanta Hawks blew a game against the Boston Celtics just prior to the All-Star Break, but they remain in firm control of the Eastern Conference Number 1 Seed. They had four of their starters enjoying the All-Star Game and that must have inspired them to have a deep Play Off run.

Atlanta get a chance to show off what they learned over the last eight days as they take on the Toronto Raptors, a team that looked desperate for some time off, but then rolled into that break off three straight wins. The Raptors can score a lot of points and they look a team that can cause some problems in the Play Offs, while also beating Atlanta twice this season.

Imagine that, Toronto have accounted for 2 of the 11 Hawks losses this season, but Atlanta did blow them out when they last met in January. Now they get a chance to revenge a home loss in a spot where they are 7-0 against the spread when favoured by between 3 and 6.5 points at home.

Atlanta are also 10-1 against the spread at home when playing a team with a winning record and I think they can come out of the All-Star Break and make a real statement of their intentions over the next four months.

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards Pick: The Cleveland Cavaliers laid an egg in the final game before the All-Star Break as they were blown out at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, but they can come out of that break with an important win. The Washington Wizards are one of their rivals for a top four Seeding in the Eastern Conference Play Offs, but the Wizards limped into the All-Star activities having lost 6 of their last 8 games.

The Cavaliers haven't been a great team to back against 'good' teams though, especially not on the road, which has to be a concern for LeBron James and his team-mates. However, Cleveland have been playing some of their best basketball of the season over the last month and will be boosted by the return of Kevin Love to the starting line up.

Washington have been struggling to play the better teams in recent weeks and they are 1-4 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record in the 'second half' of the season. They are missing Bradley Beal and just traded away Andre Miller and I do think Cleveland are playing well enough to win and cover here.


Saturday 21 February
New Orleans Pelicans @ Miami Heat Pick: The Miami Heat have lost Chris Bosh for the foreseeable future, but they got better news about his long-term health which is the major concern at this moment.

Even without Bosh, Miami can rally together and make the Play Offs in the next couple of months from the weak Eastern Conference and they come into this one having blown out the New York Knicks. That means resting the likes of Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic will play his first game for the Heat having been traded from the Phoenix Suns.

I think the arrival of Dragic will spark the Heat and this looks a good chance for them to carry the momentum of last night into future games. The New Orleans Pelicans do have Anthony Davis back, but were surprisingly beaten by the Orlando Magic and must be feeling the pressure of the Oklahoma City Thunder breathing down their necks.

Both teams have been very good when playing the second of back to back games, but I think the Heat hold the edge with the excitement of the new arrival in Dragic making his debut and rallying around Chris Bosh.

Toronto Raptors @ Houston Rockets Pick: The Toronto Raptors stunned the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and I have a feeling they could be dealing with the emotional baggage of the game as they head to the Houston Rockets. It was a statement win by Toronto in the Eastern Conference so they might just have to pick themselves up to be ready for a non-Conference opponent on the road.

It will be an angry host too as the Houston Rockets look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat against the Dallas Mavericks when they felt there was too much rust coming out of the All-Star break.

Houston have stated that they expect to be much better with a game behind them and they have the volume three point shooting to really give Toronto some problems. However, the Raptors are a young team that haven't been affected by back to back nights play previously and so tiredness won't be a factor in this one.

This should be a fun game, but home advantage and the fact that Toronto are coming off a very important win means I will back Houston to take advantage of the mental effort the Raptors put into the win over Atlanta.


Sunday 22 February
Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks Pick: The Atlanta Hawks laid an egg in their first game back from the All-Star Break and admitted they weren't good enough at either end of the court.

They have a chance to bounce back against the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that has overachieved this season but perhaps understood that at the trade deadline. Trading away Brandon Knight didn't seem to be the best move, although Michael Carter-Williams could be a star of the future for them if he can get over his consistent injury problems.

Carter-Williams misses this game and as good as Milwaukee have been this season, they are still 4-6 against the spread when playing teams with winning records. The Bucks face Chicago tomorrow which could be the more important game for them as a Divisional game, while Atlanta have bounced back from an upset loss by going 3-1 against the spread in their next game.

Golden State Warriors @ Indiana Pacers Pick: The Golden State Warriors are the favourites to win the Western Conference, but they haven't always performed well against the weaker Eastern Conference, going 9-8 against the spread this season.

However, the Warriors can get their road games against teams from that Conference off to a good start when they travel to the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers have played well as the home underdog in their most recent game, but they remain just 4-5 against the spread when facing teams with winning records at home.

The Splash Brothers can get hot and really make it difficult for teams to keep up with the Golden State Warriors and I am not convinced the Indiana Pacers have the athleticism to keep up with them. Indiana have gotten back to the Defensive identity that made them one of the favourites to win the Eastern Conference over the last couple of seasons, but Golden State should test them to the fullest and I like the Warriors to cover.

Boston Celtics @ LA Lakers Pick: The only reason I can see for this spread to be as low as it is has to be the rivalry between the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics and whether that will be enough to inspire the home team.

Jared Sullinger is a big miss for Boston, but the Celtics won't be short-handed for this one with the likes of Thomas, Jerebko and Datome all likely to be involved having come in at the trade deadline. Avery Bradley has been playing well and they are facing a Lakers team that has lost 7 in a row with the last 5 coming by an average of over 11 points per game.

The Lakers are clearly in the midst of more than a slight transitional season and it will be tough for them to win games down the stretch. Perhaps they dig deep knowing this is a rivalry game, but the Lakers are just 4-7 against the spread when playing a team with a losing record at home and Boston have played better in the non-Conference games so far this season.


Monday 23 February
I was disappointed with the late decision to withhold Stephen Curry made by the Golden State Warriors, but they should still have had enough to win that game.

The Boston Celtics loss at the LA Lakers didn't 'smell right' with some pretty brutal calls from the officials not helping, especially tossing Isaiah Thomas for absolutely nothing. The Celtics led for much of the game but couldn't put the Lakers away and it was a poor defeat for a team chasing a Play Off place.

Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls Pick: The Milwaukee Bucks found the Atlanta Hawks a little too tough on Sunday, but they can redeem themselves against another of the top Eastern Conference teams when they visit the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have won both previous games between these teams this season, but they have been inconsistent to say the least and Milwaukee have been a solid underdog all year.

Milwaukee had been playing well before the loss to Atlanta and will be looking for a better start to this game having played catch up all of Sunday.

They will still be missing Michael Carter-Williams but Milwaukee have given the best teams a run for their money by going 10-4 against the spread when playing on the road against those teams with winning records. Chicago have called for more focus for their team in the coming weeks as they prepare for the Play Offs and I expect a full effort for them with 'easy' games coming up and this being one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.

However, the Bucks have regularly shown that giving them a lot of points is a position they thrive in and I will take the 8 points on offer on the head-start.


Tuesday 24 February
Indiana Pacers @ Oklahoma City Thunder Pick: Kevin Durant and Paul George are the faces of these respective franchises, but neither player will be on the court on Tuesday as the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoms City Thunder look to improve their Play Off chances.

Both teams are in the bottom of the Play Off mix in their respective Conferences, but both the Thunder and Pacers are in red hot form despite missing their key players and that should make this a very good game.

I just wonder if the Pacers will be able to get up for this one road game between two huge home games against the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, while dealing with Russell Westbrook is going to be far from easy.

The Thunder also have decent depth thanks to the trades they made ahead of the deadline and they haven't missed a step without Durant thanks to the way Westbrook has been playing. I will back the home team to win this one and cover.


Wednesday 25 February
Dallas Mavericks @ Atlanta Hawks Pick: The Atlanta Hawks were blown out in their last home game, but they have every chance of bouncing back by knocking off one of the top teams in the Western Conference in this one. The Dallas Mavericks had to put in a huge effort to overcome the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and will be missing Rajon Rondo in this game, while also returning home immediately after this one.

Those factors can play a part against a Hawks team that are 10-2 against the spread at home when playing a team with a winning record as well as going 14-5 against the spread against Western Conference teams. Atlanta might not be the fashionable choice to win the NBA Finals and most still doubt they do much more than get out of the First Round of the Play Offs, but the Hawks have continued to prove people wrong all season and have four All-Stars in the starting line up.

Jeff Teague is a doubt which bothers me, but Atlanta look in a good spot to knock off Dallas who have to fight fires with the Rondo situation which saw him suspended for this game.

LA Clippers @ Houston Rockets Pick: Simply put, if Patrick Beverley can't take to the court for this game, I think the Houston Rockets will struggle to match up against Chris Paul and the LA Clippers.

Even in the absence of Blake Griffin, the Clippers had won 4 in a row before making some late mistakes to be beaten by the Memphis Grizzlies. They actually have a return game on the road with Memphis following this one which could take some of the focus away for the Clippers, but the Houston Rockets are a big rival in terms of Seeding in the Western Conference and I think Los Angeles keep their head in the game.

The Clippers have won 6 in a row against Houston, including 3 straight on the road, and I think taking the points they are being given is the call. It is a shame that the 3.5 spread has gone, but 3 points could still be critical in what could be a very close game.


Thursday 26 February
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Phoenix Suns Pick: The Oklahoma City Thunder continue winning games even in the absence of Kevin Durant and they will look for a vital victory at the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. The Thunder know a win over the likes of Phoenix will give them a very good chance of earning their way into the Western Conference Play Offs and they should be fully focused despite a huge game against the Portland Trail Blazers coming up tomorrow.

Phoenix did play yesterday and they are 5-8 against the spread on the second of back to back nights play, while they are still trying to integrate the new look in the roster having traded away the likes of Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic.

Facing a team in hot form like the Thunder is going to be difficult for Phoenix to contain even if they have won their last 2 home games against Oklahoma City. The Thunder have struggled against the teams with winning records on the road, going 4-10 against the spread in that situation this season. However, I do think they are playing a lot better than Phoenix, have got a good understanding of one another in the absence of Kevin Durant and have a deep roster that can find scoring to complement Russell Westbrook and earn another vital victory in the chase for Play Off places.

MY PICKS: 03/02 New York Knicks - 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)
03/02 Golden State Warriors - 9 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
04/02 Boston Celtics - 2.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
04/02 Toronto Raptors - 7 Points @ 1.92 Coral (1 Unit)
05/02 Cleveland Cavaliers - 4.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
06/02 Cleveland Cavaliers - 6.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
06/02 Houston Rockets - 6 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
07/02 Golden State Warriors - 14.5 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
08/02 Detroit Pistons - 7 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
08/02 Chicago Bulls - 6 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
10/02 Houston Rockets + 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
11/02 Atlanta Hawks - 7.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
11/02 LA Lakers + 13.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
11/02 Houston Rockets + 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Boyle Sports (1 Unit)
12/02 Cleveland Cavaliers - 1.5 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
19/02 Oklahoma City Thunder - 5.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
20/02 Miami Heat - 5.5 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
20/02 Atlanta Hawks - 5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
20/02 Cleveland Cavaliers - 3 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
21/02 Miami Heat - 2 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
21/02 Houston Rockets - 2 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
22/02 Atlanta Hawks - 5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
22/02 Golden State Warriors - 6 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
22/02 Boston Celtics - 2.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
23/02 Milwaukee Bucks + 8 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
24/02 Oklahoma City Thunder - 6.5 Points @ 1.93 Sporting Bet (1 Unit)
25/02 Atlanta Hawks - 7 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)
25/02 LA Clippers + 3 Points @ 1.92 William Hill (1 Unit)
26/02 Oklahoma City Thunder - 4.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

February Update: 11-16-1, - 5.70 Units

January Final: 18-10, + 6.67 Units
December Final: 3-6, - 3.31 Units
November Final: 14-11, + 1.70 Units
October Final: 2-4, - 2 Units
Season 2015: 37-31, + 3.07 Units

Final Season 2014: 58-72-1, - 16.86 Units
Final Season 2013: 105-93-3, + 10.49 Units
Final Season 2012: 79-53-1, + 27.48 Units

NBA Picks December 2014

I took a few weeks off from the NBA Picks because I was busy with work and haven't been able to devote the time to look through the picks, although continued to watch as a fan of the sport. Unfortunately, being a New York Knicks has not been much fun of late to the point of thinking it isn't fair to those going to the O2 Arena in London to watch them play next month at big prices.

But people will pay to watch a one off regular season NBA game in London and the tourists keep flocking to Madison Square Garden to see probably the second worst team in the League in front of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Carmelo Anthony looks hurt and people are already questioning whether he should be shut down and sent for surgery on his knee and the Knicks should begin putting themselves in a strong position for the NBA lottery. To be absolutely honest, they are trying to win games at the moment and look set to have one of the worst records in the NBA so I don't even think they need to start 'tanking' to get a decent Draft pick.

That is a shame for Knicks fans everywhere, but I always felt things were going to get worse before they got better as Phil Jackson will need time to turn the roster around. Mismanagement over the years has left the Knicks in this position and the trade for Carmelo Anthony, as much as I love the player, saw New York give up too much.

Gotham still has a chance to send the Brooklyn Nets to the Play Offs in the weak Eastern Conference, although the rumours suggest the likes of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez are all available for trade. If they are to move on, the Nets look to be a team that could rebuild for the rest of the season and might be another team that underachieves.

The Western Conference again looks to be the stronger of the two and many of the teams look to have made very good starts to the season. However, all of this is so early in the season and many players don't believe the NBA really starts going until after the All-Star Game and definitely not before the Super Bowl. That is also the time when fans will really turn their eyes to the NBA once football season is over, but this is a key time for teams to get the kinks out of their system.


Tuesday 16 December
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Sacramento Kings Pick: The Oklahoma City Thunder are back to full health and that has seen them get back into the Western Conference Play Off mix, although none of the players are getting ahead of themselves. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook back, the Thunder have won 8 of their last 9 games and 6 in a row heading into Sacramento to take on the disillusioned Kings.

DeMarcus Cousins has gone down with a viral infection which has kept him out of the team as Sacramento have dropped 3 in a row ahead of this game. The bigger news was the firing of Mike Malone which seemingly came out of left field amidst rumours that the owners want a 'unique' brand of basketball including using just 4 players on Defensive plays.

The Thunder are confident at the moment and should have too much scoring for Sacramento and 5 of their last 6 wins have come by 9 points or more. Oklahoma City are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 road games here and I like them to cover the spread in this one.


Wednesday 17 December
I might be a New York Knicks fan, but the game in London is becoming less and less appealing as the weeks go on- that game is scheduled for next month, but the Knicks look worse than advertised and the Milwaukee Bucks were expected to be another lottery team.

I have been keeping an eye on Carmelo Anthony's status with suggestions he may need to go in for surgery, while the unfortunate injury to Jabari Parker means one of the more exciting prospects in the game will be missing for the Bucks. If Anthony also misses out, this game really won't be one that would appeal to me, especially not since I've seen the Knicks at Madison Square Garden back in April.

Atlanta Hawks @ Cleveland Cavaliers Pick: The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing much better at home than on the road and I think they can have a statement win over an in-form Atlanta Hawks team.

There is no doubt that the Hawks are not as good on the road and LeBron James has dominated them for the most part in his career. Atlanta have a strong recent run based on beating teams with losing records and Cleveland are definitely a step up in terms of competition.

The Cavaliers have won their last 6 home games by an average of over 14 points per game and I will back them to cover this spread.

Houston Rockets @ Denver Nuggets Pick: Going to play the Denver Nuggets on the road is a tough test for any team as shown by their 5-2 record against the spread versus teams with winning records at home.

However, the Nuggets are going to be short-handed again against the Houston Rockets and the Rockets won't have a better chance to snap their recent poor run here. Houston beat the Nuggets at home on Saturday and have Dwight Howard in the line up again and I expect them to have too much Offense for the Nuggets to deal with.

The Rockets are 8-2 on the road this season and they have won 6 of their last 7- I would expect the shorthanded Nuggets to challenge them for a while, but tiredness in the altitude may help Houston overcome them.


Thursday 18 December
New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls Pick: Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are both doubts for this game, which means the Knicks are likely to be very short-handed at the Chicago Bulls.

On the other hand Joakim Noah should return for the Bulls and they have more of an Offensive output thanks to Derrick Rose being joined by Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol. I expect the Bulls to stifle New York with their Defensive capabilities, especially if Camelo and Stat are out, and Chicago can cover a big number.

11 points is a lot, but Chicago can make the Defensive stops and then move clear as the game goes on as long as they are not looking ahead to their Friday tilt in Memphis against a very good Grizzlies team.


Friday 19 December
The big news in the NBA on Thursday was the conclusion of the Dallas Mavericks trade with the Boston Celtics which has seen Rajon Rondo join one of the Western Conference leading contenders. The Mavericks have gone 'all in' with this trade as they look to return to the NBA Finals and win the Championship they last took in 2010.

I am not sure what this does for Dallas to be honest- they have lost a key contributor off the bench in Brendan Wright and some Draft picks, but Mark Cuban clearly wants to win now and they might be one of the three favourites to win the Western Conference. In saying that, this is a loaded Conference from top to bottom and looks to be a boom or bust play.

Washington Wizards @ Miami Heat Pick: The Miami Heat have been banged up and that has seen them fall under 0.500 and could be in a tough position to match the hot Washington Wizards.

The Heat have been blown out their last two home games and the Wizards have every chance of covering the six point spread.

LA Clippers @ Denver Nuggets Pick: The Denver Nuggets are getting healthier, but the LA Clippers are playing at a good level to see them off here on the road. I like the Clippers to go into Denver and follow Houston's lead by winning this game by at least four points.


Saturday 20 December
San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks Pick: Two triple overtime games in three days and now having a back to back at the Dallas Mavericks... Is this not the position where Gregg Popovich will rest some of his big name players?

I think so and Vegas clearly thinks so with the huge number in favour of the Dallas Mavericks, but I do think the home team can cover with the excitement that has come with the signing of Rajon Rondo.


Thursday 25 December
Washington Wizards @ New York Knicks Pick: The New York Knicks have been competitive and rarely blown out, but continue losing games at an alarming rate and this Christmas Day opening game doesn't look the best on paper.

They look to be overmatched by the Washington Wizards who are one of the leading contenders in the Eastern Conference and this young team can showcase their talents on the big stage.


Cleveland Cavaliers @ Miami Heat Pick: LeBron James returns to face his former team the Miami Heat, but a number of his former team-mates are going to be missing in this game.

The Heat have really been hit through the season by injuries and James will want to show he has made the right move by joining the Cleveland Cavaliers. I think Cleveland will prove to be too strong and cover the points in this one on the road as the Heat might not have the Offensive power to keep up with them.

MY PICKS: 16/12 Oklahoma City Thunder - 7 Points @ 1.92 William Hill (1 Unit)
17/12 Cleveland Cavaliers - 4.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)
17/12 Houston Rockets - 1.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
18/12 Chicago Bulls - 11 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
19/12 Washington Wizards - 6 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
19/12 LA Clippers - 3.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
20/12 Dallas Mavericks - 10.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
25/12 Washington Wizards - 5 Points @ 1.85 Coral (1 Unit)
25/12 Cleveland Cavaliers - 5.5 Points @ 1.92 William Hill (1 Unit)

December Update: 3-6, - 3.31 Units

November Final: 14-11, + 1.70 Units
October Final: 2-4, - 2 Units
Season 2015: 16-15, - 0.30 Units

Season 2014: 58-72-1, - 16.86 Units
Final Season 2013: 105-93-3, + 10.49 Units
Final Season 2012: 79-53-1, + 27.48 Units

NBA Picks November 2014

Saturday 1 November
Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic Pick: Injuries to the Orlando Magic backcourt should mean that Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are able to dominate this game as long as they not looking ahead to playing the Miami Heat on the road tomorrow.

The Raptors have won on their last 3 visits to Orlando and I expect them to make that four in a row with the cover.

Boston Celtics @ Houston Rockets Pick: The Houston Rockets have started the season well and I think Boston are perhaps a little over-rated for their dominant home win over Brooklyn.

Houston have won and covered in three straight at home against Boston and I think they have too much scoring power for the Celtics.


Sunday 2 November
Sacramento Kings @ LA Clippers Pick: The Clippers have won both games they have played but failed to cover the number and I expect that to change against a Sacramento team that hasn't always played well after an upset win.


Monday 3 November
Houston Rockets @ Philadelphia 76ers Pick: The Houston Rockets do have to face the Miami Heat on Tuesday which could see them overlook the Philadelphia 76ers who have been terrible to start the season.

However, the Rockets have won every game by double digits and Philadelphia have been beaten by double digits in every game and I like Houston to continue their strong start to the season even if Dwight Howard sits.


Tuesday 4 November
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Portland Trail Blazers Pick: I think the Cleveland Cavaliers will go through the teething problems that the Miami Heat faced in their first season with the 'Big Three' but I think this represents a good spot for them. The game against Utah on Wednesday won't be a concern for LeBron James and Co who can make a statement against a top Western Conference team, albeit one that has been struggling a little.

Portland can be a real pain if the three point shot suddenly starts falling, but Cleveland can counter that with Kevin Love from the perimeter and I think the Cavs cover the small spread.


Wednesday 5 November
Toronto Raptors @ Boston Celtics Pick: The Raptos are playing the fourth game in five days and played on Tuesday when needing to dig a little deeper to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder than they would have liked.

It is possible they were looking towards this game against a Divisional rival and I am not sure Boston, despite two good performances in three games, should be favoured and I'll take the small points on offer.


New York Knicks @ Detroit Pistons Pick: JR Smith has been suspended for one game and the New York Knicks struggled in two previous visits to the Detroit Pistons.

However, much like the Boston Celtics, I am not convinced about this home favourite and I think the Knicks can make this a competitive game despite this being the second of back to back games played.


Thursday 6 November
Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trail Blazers Pick: Portland didn't have to play that well to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, but I was still surprised to see them set as favourites against the Dallas Mavericks.

Chandler Parsons has fitted in this roster and Dallas are playing very well. As long as they don't start slowly in the second half again, I like taking the points as the Mavericks look for a third straight win in the Rose Garden.


Friday 7 November
New York Knicks @ Brooklyn Nets Pick: The Knicks showed what they are capable of in the Fourth Quarter against the Detroit Pistons, but they have to better Defensively if they are going to knock off local rivals the Brooklyn Nets.

Regardless, it does feel the Knicks are getting too many points with JR Smith returning to provide a scoring punch from the bench and Brooklyn still finding consistency in their own play.

Sacramento Kings @ Phoenix Suns Pick: While the Sacramento Kings bubble is likely to burst sooner rather than later, you can't help but feel they are being given too many points after some big time early season performances and wins.

Phoenix can't take any game easy after just failing to make the Play Offs last season, but this is the meat in the Memphis-Golden State sandwich and the Suns might be looking to make a statement in their next game which could make this one surprisingly competitive.


Monday 10 November
Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks Pick: The New York Knicks are struggling with the new Offense they have in place, but the bigger concern has to be on the other side of the court where too many uncontested shots have been allowed to hit.

The Atlanta Hawks can win this home and home series with a stronger consistent effort, but they managed a big second half comeback at home against the Knicks and I do think Atlanta win again.

Detroit Pistons @ Chicago Bulls Pick: Stan Van Gundy has to be irritated with some of the late collapses his Detroit Pistons team have had early in the season, but this still looks a lot of points to be given against an Offensively challenged Chicago Bulls team.

Both Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler may sit in this one too which will make it tougher for the Bulls to cover this high number and the Pistons have covered in their last 4 visits here.


Tuesday 11 November
No idea how the Detroit Pistons didn't get inside the number considering they were down by just two points with under three minutes to play after a furious rally to reduce a first half deficit.

LA Lakers @ Memphis Grizzlies Pick: I don't imagine too many times I will be backing the LA Lakers this season, but this looks a big number for the sometimes Offensively challenged Memphis Grizzlies to cover.

Memphis have struggled against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks in recent games and they are just 3-6 against the spread as the home favourite laying between 9.5 and 12 points over the last three seasons. The Lakers are a bad, bad team, but this is a lot of points.

Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks Pick: The Sacramento Kings lost their last game as a road favourite, but I think they will enjoy the benefit of being a road underdog against a Dallas Mavericks team that have just been found wanting of late.

The Kings are 4-1 against the spread as the underdog this season and they have had two competitive losses in their last two visits to Dallas.


Wednesday 12 November
That brought back a lot of memories from last season- I saw plenty of teams I pick lose big leads and thus fail to cover, but the Sacramento Kings took the biscuit after leading by 24 points into the second quarter yesterday, which is 30.5 points on the handicap, and still didn't cover. It was Dallas' third biggest comeback win in their history and one of the worst non-covers I have seen in a long time.

Indiana Pacers @ Miami Heat Pick: The pieces have changed significantly since these two teams competed in the Eastern Conference Finals last May, but the Miami Heat have shown more than the injured and beat up Pacers.

The Heat have seen Chris Bosh flourish since LeBron James has moved on and I like Miami to win this one going away.

LA Lakers @ New Orleans Pelicans Pick: The LA Lakers put in a huge effort yesterday and may find their energy levels a problem for the second of back to back nights play, a situation where they are 0-2 against the spread this season.

It looked like another road blow out for the Lakers who trailed Memphis by 17 points in the third quarter, but New Orleans have more Offensive firepower than the Grizzlies and won't let off if they build a big lead.

Editor's Note: After watching the Kings shit the bed on Tuesday, how annoyed was I to see New Orleans allow the Lakers to outscore them 13-1 in the final three and a half minutes which included three Pelicans turnovers... So a 19 point lead with 210 seconds left becomes a 6 point win, highly frustrating two days and that's not including Detroit's last two minute collapse either(!)


Friday 14 November
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics Pick: The Cavaliers are still finding their feet Defensively, but LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are getting into a groove Offensively. That might be too much for the Boston Celtics who have a lack of depth on the bench due to injuries, while James has loved playing this team, even if they aren't the same as the one that caused him to leave Cleveland in the first place.

Boston will be up for this game, but the talent difference should help Cleveland to their third consecutive win.

San Antonio Spurs @ LA Lakers Pick: The Lakers had no right covering in their last game against the New Orleans Pelicans and I think they could have a tough time against the San Antonio Spurs that love to make a statement in big games. However, they are on a back to back so I am hoping Gregg Popovich doesn't use this as a chance to rest the likes of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

If Pop doesn't do that, San Antonio should dominate the paint areas and be able to improve their 3-1 record against the spread from their last 4 visits to the Staples Center.


Saturday 15 November
Utah Jazz @ Toronto Raptors Pick: Utah had a buzzer beater win at Madison Square Garden last night and Gordon Hayward is a little banged up which should give the Toronto Raptors the edge in this one.

The Raptors have played well against teams with losing records and are strong at home while Utah are 0-2 against the spread in back to back situations this season, let alone a back to back off such an emotional win.

Indiana Pacers @ Chicago Bulls Pick: The Pacers were blown out on Friday at home, but they have been much better in an underdog spot and are facing a Chicago team that are missing Derrick Rose this time.

The Bulls upset Toronto in their last game, but they are 12-22 against the spread in their next game after a win as an upset.


Sunday 16 November
Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks Pick: I am a New York Knicks fan, although that might not have been clear with how down I have been on them, but that is mainly because they have a new Offense to learn and don't have a deep talent roster.

They won't have a better chance to snap their 7 game losing run against a Denver team that has struggled themselves and who are in the second of three road games that culminates with a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Will Denver overlook the Knicks? I think there is every chance, while Carmelo Anthony can at least produce big numbers against his former team.

Denver are just 9-11 against the spread as a small road underdog and I like the Knicks to win again at last.

Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder Pick: Houston arguably have a bigger game the next night against Memphis, but James Harden will want to show his former home fans what they are missing, especially in the absence of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant on the court.

I love how hard Oklahoma City are fighting at the moment, but Houston can get really hot from outside the arc and it could be hard for the Thunder to keep up, especially if Dwight Howard dominates inside.


Monday 17 November
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons Pick: I think the Orlando Magic can make this a competitive game and I don't believe the Detroit Pistons should be favoured by so many points. They are 0-4 against the spread at home, while they are 7-12 against the spread as the home favourite laying between 3.5 and 6 points including 0-3 this season.

On the other hand, Orlando have thrived as the underdog this season, going 6-2 against the spread, while the Pistons are also just 1-4 against the spread this season going against a team with a losing record.

Chicago Bulls @ LA Clippers Pick: The Clippers have been terrible against the number this season, while the Chicago Bulls are always a dangerous underdog with their tough Defensive schemes keeping them in games.

However, the absence of Derrick Rose is a big blow against a high-scoring Clippers team and I expect the home team to have a lot of respect for the Bulls who are one of the favourites to win the Eastern Conference. Los Angeles have won and covered the last 4 times they have played the Bulls and I expect that trend to be continued.


Thursday 20 November
Chicago Bulls @ Sacramento Kings Pick: Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol remain absent for Chicago and I think that gives the Sacramento Kings the edge in this one, despite the Bulls surprising the LA Clippers without their best two Offensive players on Monday.

The Kings should take them seriously after that win and Chicago are just 12-23 against the spread over the last three seasons when coming off a win as an underdog.

MY PICKS: 01/11 Toronto Raptors - 6.5 Points @ 1.92 Coral (1 Unit)
01/11 Houston Rockets - 8 Points @ 1.92 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
02/11 LA Clippers - 9.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
03/11 Houston Rockets - 9.5 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
04/11 Cleveland Cavaliers - 2.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
05/11 Toronto Raptors + 2 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
05/11 New York Knicks + 4 Points @ 1.92 Coral (1 Unit)
06/11 Dallas Mavericks + 2.5 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
07/11 New York Knicks + 6 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
07/11 Sacramento Kings + 5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
10/11 Atlanta Hawks - 1.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
10/11 Detroit Pistons + 9.5 Points @ 1.85 Coral (1 Unit)
11/11 LA Lakers + 9.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
11/11 Sacramento Kings + 6.5 Points @ 1.92 Coral (1 Unit)
12/11 Miami Heat - 8 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
12/11 New Orleans Pelicans - 10.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
14/11 Cleveland Cavaliers - 5.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
14/11 San Antonio Spurs - 7.5 Points @ 1.85 Coral (1 Unit)
15/11 Toronto Raptors - 10.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
15/11 Indiana Pacers + 9 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
16/11 New York Knicks - 1 Point @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
16/11 Houston Rockets - 4.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
17/11 Orlando Magic + 4.5 Points @ 1.85 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
17/11 Los Angeles Clippers - 5.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
20/11 Sacramento Kings - 2 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

November Update: 14-11, + 1.70 Units

October Final: 2-4, - 2 Units
Season 2015: 2-4, - 2 Units

Season 2014: 58-72-1, - 16.86 Units
Final Season 2013: 105-93-3, + 10.49 Units
Final Season 2012: 79-53-1, + 27.48 Units

Premier League 2014/15 Preview (August 2014)

Even with the World Cup this summer, it has felt like a long time since the end of the Premier League season and the start of another new season. Maybe that wasn't helped by the fact that Manchester United have so much room to improve from what was a terrible season, the worst they have suffered in twenty-five years.

Whenever United lose a game, I just want the next one to come along as soon as possible to rectify the situation, so it has felt like a three month wait to get things back in order. In that time, Louis Van Gaal has been appointed and come into the club with a new philosophy on the field although the lack of signings has to be a concern considering the gap there is to make up.

Of course, there is the 'benefit' of being out of European competition altogether this season and United can very much replicate Liverpool from last season and certainly get back into the top four. The loss of Luis Suarez will affect Liverpool, as will the addition of Champions League football, and their fans will be hoping Brendan Rodgers can integrate the new signings much better than Andre Villas-Boas did at Tottenham Hotspur last season after they splurged the Gareth Bale money.


There are plenty of intriguing questions that need to be answered over the next nine months both at the top and bottom of the Premier League and below you will see the table that I am predicting at this stage. There is still plenty of time for teams to make signings and improve their chances with the transfer window still a little over two weeks from closing, so this prediction is simply on the shape of the squads as we get set for the first week of the new season.


1. Chelsea: It is certainly not the most out of the box pick for the Premier League title, but Chelsea look to have improved to the point of being able to overturn Manchester City. Apart from a couple of late lapses in concentration last season, Chelsea may have been able to win the Premier League with both Manchester City and Liverpool opening the door in the final weeks of the season.

The recall of Thibaut Courtois from Atletico Madrid and the signing of Diego Costa means Chelsea have two of the main four spine of a team that beat Real Madrid and Barcelona to the La Liga title and also reached the Champions League Final.

Both improve Chelsea and the arrival of Cesc Fabregas looks a great piece of business from Jose Mourinho. I would have loved to have seen the Spaniard walk through the doors of Old Trafford and he should take little time to settle in with his previous experience at Arsenal.

The key may be keeping Costa fit after his injuries towards the end of Atletico's season almost cost them the title and certainly didn't help in the Champions League Final. Having to rely on Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba for long periods would be tough for Chelsea as both are not the same players that were once so effective in the Premier League.


2. Manchester City: On a pure starting XI, I would fancy Manchester City to win the Premier League, but I think their depth of squad is still a concern and Sergio Aguero's injury-proneness would be a concern.

Can Yaya Toure really produce as much from midfield as he did last season? Can a defence integrating new faces provide the platform for success? These are two questions that may decide whether Manchester City can win the title for a second year in succession, but they have shown nerves down the stretch last season and I think they may find Chelsea a little too capable of winning games at key times to overcome.


3. Arsenal: After snapping their run without a trophy, Arsenal will have a new found belief in their ability to win trophies and that could make them a dangerous team through this Premier League season. The signing of Alexis Sanchez gives them another world class operator to pair with Mesut Ozil and I can see Arsenal improving once Theo Walcott returns.

If they can stay fit, Arsenal may be the surprise team of the season, although the issues remain in defensive areas and whether they are good enough against the very best.

However, Liverpool showed last season that being able to win the matches against the 'weaker' teams with consistency will provide the platform for a title challenge and this Arsenal teams looks capable of beating most teams in this Premier League. There is a small part of me that believes Arsenal are good enough to surprise the two teams I have placed above them, but I have settled for them here simply because of the lack of depth in key areas in defence and defensive midfield that may cost them in a long thirty-eight game season.

Also, in the history of the Premier League since it's inception, no team has won the title when they have finished outside the top three the previous season and that is another factor going against the Gunners.


4. Manchester United: The additions of Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera were supposed to be backed up by others, but it looks like Louis Van Gaal will be going into the season with a similar squad to last season. The losses of Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic means Van Gaal has opted for a different formation to get the best out of his squad, although United do look short at the back.

I'd be more than a little surprised if there are no more additions to the squad before September swings around, but even the current squad may be good enough to get back into the top four.

Van Gaal will give the team a different confidence going into matches compared with how David Moyes approached things and the team have looked happier in pre-season. It's tough for teams to bounce from seventh all the way up into the top four, but Liverpool proved that playing one game a week is possible to do just that and I think that will help this United squad prepare fully for the Premier League and see them get back into the elite of Europe after a one year absence.


5. Liverpool: On the same path as above, I think the additional games of the Champions League was always going to give Brendan Rodgers a few more issues to negotiate and that was before they lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

It is a huge blow to the squad and I have not been convinced with the arrivals in the Uruguayan's place- they look over reliant on Daniel Sturridge up front and losing him for a prolonged period would give Liverpool a lot of problems in my opinion.

The extra games that come with Europe will sap energy and not allow Liverpool to focus on Premier League matters alone and I do believe they have missed their best chance to win the Premier League title that they will have in the foreseeable future. Getting back into the top four would be an achievement for the club, but it may prove to be a step too far for Liverpool this season.


6. Tottenham Hotspur: There are some major issues in defence that need resolving, but Mauricio Pochettino arrives at the club with the ability to get the best out of his squad of players and I think there is certainly some talent in the squad.

If Pochettino can get the best out of the likes of Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado, Spurs may be able to get a little closer to the top four, although the defensive problems means they are unlikely to prevent dropping a position this season.

I do think they will play much more attractive football this season than they were producing under Andre Villas-Boas, but I also think Spurs won't be as naive as they were when they played for Tim Sherwood. That balance may help the club get back into Europe, but they are still a season away from tackling a top four berth unless there are more arrivals before the transfer window closes.


7. Everton: There were a lot of plaudits for Roberto Martinez and his performances as manager of Everton in his first season here at Goodison Park and he deserved most of it.

The side were close to a top four berth and the signing of Romelu Lukaku for £28 million suggests the board are firmly behind the Spaniard and his belief that Everton are a top four club in the making. My issues are that the defence is a year older and doesn't have a lot of depth behind Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin despite how well John Stones did last season.

I also believe Everton surprised teams last season and their squad is going to be pushed to the limit with the Europa League to negotiate as well as the Premier League. It will be interesting to see how Martinez gets the balance right between the competitions and they may just slip a little this time around.


8. Newcastle United: Alan Pardew is not the choice of the fans at St James' Park and his Newcastle United team were very inconsistent a year ago, but I can see them finishing with another top half position in the League table.

Newcastle United won 7 of their 19 away games which is good enough form to move them up the League table from their 10th place finish last season as long as they can improve at home where they lost 8 of 19 games.

Much depends on whether the new signings can blend with the current squad and I do almost have them here by default of them being better than the majority of the teams in the League, at least on paper. One of my best friends is a Newcastle fan so he might be a lot more pessimistic than I am, but I see the Magpies being the best of the rest in a League where the top seven look head and shoulders above the rest.


9. Stoke City: This is another team where I have almost had to end up with them here simply because I can't find any of the teams below them as being capable of finishing above Stoke City. That should be the method no matter where you place a team, but some teams are higher/lower based on potential pressure against them and new faces either in the manager's office or on the field.

Stoke City seem to be very settled with Mark Hughes getting the best out of the squad from last season. Adding in the likes of Bojan from Barcelona may give them a spark of creativity to finish in the top half again at the exact same position of last season.


10. Sunderland: Gus Poyet produced a wonderful finish for Sunderland last season and I think they can ride that momentum to the point of finishing way up the table this time around. Losing Fabio Borini back to Liverpool is a concern, although they could revive that transfer if Liverpool bring in more players to push the Italian down the order.

Signing Jordi Gomez gives them more creativity and Poyet clearly had the team listening to what he wanted as shown by their draw at Manchester City and win at Chelsea towards the end of last season.

That belief can see Sunderland finishing much clearer of relegation this season and perhaps even challenge Newcastle United for the 'best team in the North East' title. It wouldn't surprise me to see Sunderland sign a couple more players before the transfer window closes, but they can ride the momentum of last season to finish in the top half of the Premier League.


11. West Ham United: Andy Carroll is injured again, Sam Allardyce is seemingly always sitting on a warm seat and the fans are demanding much more from West Ham United this season. The board know the importance of avoiding a relegation with the move to the Olympic Stadium fast approaching so I believe they will stick with Allardyce who can help the Hammers push on up the table.

They are expected to be more attacking this season and I do think the signing of Enner Valencia will pay off for the manager after his performances at the World Cup. He looks to have the pace and power that should suit the Premier League and I believe this is a solid squad that can avoid the relegation battle as long as they can steer clear of the injuries that hurt the squad last season.

I really think Allardyce is a little disrespected as a manager as he usually does what is says on the tin- the manager will keep West Ham in the Premier League and perhaps finish far higher than the fans believe possible.


12. Southampton: Losing players of the calibre of Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert will have a negative effect on Southampton, as well as the new voice they will be hearing in the dressing room.

I have picked Southampton here because they still have enough quality in the team to beat those I have listed below them, but that also depends on keeping Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez as losing those players may be too much to overcome.

They also need Graziano Pelle to settle in immediately and provide the goals to keep the Saints afloat, but this may be a team to keep an eye on if they make a poor start to the season. Thankfully for the fans, there are teams in this Division that look really short of quality and I think Ronald Koeman will get enough out of the squad to prevent a really dramatic fall down the table.


13. Swansea: My initial thought about Swansea was that they were going to struggle this season after losing more key pieces of their squad in Michel Vorm, Ben Davies and Michu. However, Michu was oft-injured last season and Vorm has been replaced by Lukasz Fabianski who is a former Arsenal Number 1.

The biggest benefit for Swansea may be the fact they have kept Wilfried Bony to this point and that has me placing them a little higher in the table than I originally intended. If they lose Bony before the transfer window closes, Swansea may struggle for the goals to keep them in the Premier League, particularly as they are not as good defensively these days.

Last season the Europa League played havoc with a smaller squad and being out of that competition should help them get into a similar position as last season. Again though, I will reiterate that losing someone like Bony may see them slip into another relegation fight that they experienced last season.


14. Leicester City: It has been tough for Nigel Pearson to add to the squad in the manner he would have liked this summer, but Leicester City have been preparing for life in the Premier League for a couple of years now.

They had near misses when it came to promotion and Leicester should be very confident after winning the Championship last season. Pearson has made some interesting signings and I believe the squad are aware of what each other have to offer and can do enough to steer clear of the bottom three.

They do have investment funds, but I think Pearson is still looking to improve the squad and I can see more signings coming in over the next two weeks. They will likely play the loan market too and the Foxes can survive their first season back in the top flight.


15. Queens Park Rangers: Harry Redknapp is very capable of getting the best out of a squad at this level, but he will have to dig deep into his knowledge as Queens Park Rangers return to the top flight. The signing of Rio Ferdinand gives them experience, but there does look to be a lack of pace at the back and the question will be whether Charlie Austin can score enough goals at the higher level to keep QPR above water.

There is Premier League experience in the squad, but the key will be to make a better start than the last time they played at this level- they were behind the black ball by Christmas and even the arrival couldn't prevent QPR from being relegated.

Loftus Road form will be very important, but I think this Rangers team can find enough quality performances on their travels to just about maintain their place in the top flight.


16. Aston Villa: If there is one team that looks in huge danger, it would be Aston Villa on first glance- they are a team that has had little investment with an owner looking to sell the club, the manager is under pressure before a ball has been kicked and the best player is out with an injury.

Christian Benteke can't come back quick enough and there could be a real problem if the players annoy Roy Keane to the extent that there is disharmony in the squad.

I am not surprised that so many have tipped Aston Villa for relegation, but I think they can just about survive as long as they don't suffer huge injury problems. Joe Cole, Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann can fill in for Benteke until the Belgian returns and I do think he will give Villa enough goals to just about see off relegation for another season.


17. Hull City: Second season syndrome may be a huge concern for Hull City this season after a very successful last campaign. Survival was the key, but Hull had the bonus of an FA Cup run to the Final which means they do have to negotiate the Europa League, another hindrance on this year's survival battle.

Those extra games and travelling may put Hull City in a dangerous place in the Premier League and their form over the second half of last season was the third worst in the Premier League.

However, I think Bruce has made some good signings in Tom Ince and Robert Snodgrass that can help create more goals which may prove to be the difference when May comes around.

The defence can be very effective and the quality from Ince, Snodgrass, Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone may be enough to provide Nikica Jelavic the ammunition to keep the Tigers in the top flight.


18. Crystal Palace: Another manager that may not get the plaudits of those that love watching free-flowing football, but is very capable at this level is Tony Pulis.

He produced a wonderful performance to help Crystal Palace out of the relegation woods last season and I think he will make Palace difficult to beat again this year. That will help Palace avoid another relegation battle earlier this time around and Pulis can maintain his record as never suffered a relegation as a manager.

I expect Palace will be able to produce enough wins at Selhurst Park against those teams around them to finish comfortably clear of the bottom three.

EDIT: I had Crystal Palace in a much higher position prior to Thursday's stunning news that Tony Pulis has left the club- depending on the next appointment, Palace may be rife for a relegation battle and may not survive the drop this season.


19. West Brom: A team that was fortunate that the likes of Norwich City, Fulham and Cardiff City had such poor ends to last season was West Brom and I am not sure they have the quality to avoid the drop this season.

They have an inexperienced manager at the helm and the squad is going to need Brown Ideye to fit into the Premier League immediately if the Baggies are to find the goals to stay in the top flight.

West Brom just about found form last season to avoid relegation, but their last five games remind me of the Norwich City fixture list from last season and I think they are going to be in big trouble if they go into those games needing points to survive.


20. Burnley: Every where I have looked, Burnley look to be the big favourites to finish bottom of the Premier League, but Sean Dyche already exceeded expectations once by bringing Burnley into the top flight.

Avoiding the drop would be a remarkable achievement for the manager considering the lack of investment being made this summer, but this is a team that will work hard for one another and believe they can beat anyone at Turf Moor.

Making up the difference in quality from the Championship to the Premier League over thirty-eight games is incredibly tough though and this could be another one season stay in the top flight for Burnley as happened in the 2009/10 season.