Boxing Picks 2020- Felix Cash vs Jason Welborn (August 14th-15th)

Fight Camp has been a huge success for Matchroom Boxing and the third of four events scheduled for August takes place on Friday night.

Thunderstorms are expected in the area which may make the entire outlook of the event feel very different to the first two weeks here, but Eddie Hearn and his team will be aware of the forecast and I have no doubt it will be another strong event.

The card looks a good one from top to bottom and those tuning in on Friday night should get full value for money. This event takes place eight days before the final Fight Camp card which features the big headline names, but I think this one could be as good as any card we see over this month.


There are also other big events taking place this weekend as Matchroom Boxing USA has their first event since the Coronavirus crisis affected sporting events around the world, while Carl Frampton is also in action on Saturday night as he looks to remind everyone that he is still looking for the big fights before he calls time on his career.


In this thread you can read my thoughts on the cards scheduled for the weekend, but I will also be looking forward to the big UFC event on Saturday night which features the completion of the trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier.

That will be a cracking event too in a weekend which will be much appreciated by combat sports fans.

John Docherty vs Anthony Fox

There is a big future in front of John Docherty and he has been keen to get back inside a Boxing ring and not allow his career to stagnate while the sports world has had to postpone a few scheduled events.

The feeling that another round of Covid-19 could see another lockdown occur meant Docherty was very keen to get over to Fight Camp and at least put a few more Rounds in the bank.

You could be forgiven that is the thinking for John Docherty because he has been bullish in the build up to this bout in talking about ending the fight as early as many others he has had already. Putting a stoppage on the books against Anthony Fox would be making the kind of statement Docherty wants to make, although there is no doubt it is going to be a test to do that.

John Docherty has power as shown by six stoppages in eight wins, but all of those early nights have come in the first couple of Rounds and the two exceptions have both gone the distance.

That is something that may be on the mind at times for Docherty, especially if Anthony Fox is able to show enough to weather the early storm.

The underdog has an 8-12-2 record as professional, but he has only been stopped once before and that was in his first defeat. That did come in the Second Round so there might be some early problems to get through, but Fox has shown he has become someone who not only can test early professional.

Anthony Fox actually comes into this bout off the back of three wins in a row with one of those being against former Commonwealth Champion Luke Blackledge and another being against an unbeaten fighter in Duane Sinclair. Those wins have to be respected, even if the feeling is that John Docherty is a level or two above Fox and it certainly makes me think that the journeyman can at least force the favourite to see the cards.

A late stoppage can't be ruled out with Docherty going into an Eight Rounder for the first time as he steps up his competition, but I think Anthony Fox can show enough grit to reach the cards even in a losing effort.

Shannon Courtenay vs Rachel Ball

A couple of weeks ago Rachel Ball was a huge price to beat Shannon Courtenay, but the money has been piling in on the underdog to the point where we have a pick 'em in this crossroads bout.

Both women have five professional wins on the resume, but Ball did lose a very close fight to Katherina Thanderz when fighting on very short notice. That defeat has been franked by the fact that Thanderz has gone on to win an interim World Title and many felt that Ball did enough to earn the Decision on the night.

It is the kind of performance which suggests she can give Shannon Courtenay all she can handle as the younger fighter takes another step up in class. Her five wins have come against overmatched opponents, but Rachel Ball arrives with the height advantage and knowing she has done at least Eight Rounds on two different occasions while Courtenay has yet to go beyond the Fifth Round.

Shannon Courtenay is the heavier fighter and will be looking to bully Rachel Ball, but the confidence of the latter cannot be ignored. She has been down before which is a concern for the Ball backers, and there hasn't been a stoppage win on her resume so the power may be with the younger fighter.

However, Rachel Ball's better resume can't be ignored here.

I do think Shannon Courtenay could be favoured by the judges in close Rounds, but Rachel Ball should be able to weather some of the early storm and begin to showcase what I believe to be underrated ability. She has shown she can compete at a high level and there is still enough in the price to back Rachel Ball even if it is no longer the kind of upset many felt it might have been when the fight was first put together.

Zelfa Barrett vs Eric Donovan

Fighting for the first time under the Matchroom Boxing Promotion on Friday night is Zelfa Barrett who has openly admitted he dreams of being the next big Manchester Boxing Icon.

The 27 year old has won the English Title and the Commonwealth Title at Super Featherweight and Barrett could be on the brink of a World Title shot if he can win this fight. It will certainly put Zelfa Barrett on the right path by picking up one of the smaller IBF Titles at the weight, while The Flash will want to put on a performance to light up Fight Camp through the Thunder and Lightning that has been forecasted.

He has won four fights in a row since a Majority Decision loss to Ronnie Clark and Zelfa Barrett has momentum behind him.

On Friday night Eric Donovan will be in the opposite corner and the Irishman has plenty of amateur experience while also being unbeaten in the professional ranks. Eric Donovan has twelve fights behind him but at 35 years old there isn't a lot of room for error if he is going to get into a position to challenge for World honours.

There have been displays of power from Eric Donovan in his first twelve fights, but this is a step up in class. I have little doubt that the Irishman will not take a backwards step, but that may suit Zelfa Barrett down to the ground as he looks to showcase his talents and begin to build a swell of support behind him for when the fans are allowed to return to the Arenas.

It would be a surprise if Zelfa Barrett is able to put one shot together to end the fight, but an accumulation of shots can break down Eric Donovan. In the early Rounds I think the amateur successes Donovan has had will give him a chance to make this a competitive fight, but eventually Barrett's power and ability to put shots together will wear down his opponent.

A second half stoppage looks the most likely direction this fight will take and I will look for Zelfa Barrett do to that and announce himself to a wider audience.

Felix Cash vs Jason Welborn

The Middleweight Commonwealth Title is on the line when Felix Cash defends against Jason Welborn and I would be stunned if this is anything but an all action bout.

Felix Cash is the unbeaten Champion who has put twelve wins on the board and he has shown plenty of power with eight stoppages on the record. There are some good wins on the record, but Cash will be the first to note that this is another step up in his career against an opponent who has fought for a World Title.

Jason Welborn has had a long career and eight defeats may suggest he is not someone that should trouble Felix Cash. However, Welborn has plenty of experience and some of his defeats have come against really strong Boxers which can't be ignored.

The fact Welborn has lost back to back fights is a concern as is the fact that both times he has been stopped to the body, but I have no doubt he will get forward and look to make life very uncomfortable for Felix Cash. The underdog can make things rough and dirty which could take Cash out of his comfort zone and Jason Welborn would love for frustrations to lead to mistakes from the younger Champion.

Ultimately I think that Welborn makes it competitive for a while, but Felix Cash may end up being a little too fresh and accurate with his punches. That should see him begin to take over the fight and perhaps come on strong in the second half of the bout.

A body shot may be the key to the outcome and I will look for Cash to just showcase some of his skills early and flash power late to get this one done. I expect a great fight in the main event and I am expecting plenty of big punches to land amongst the expected thunderstorm in this part of the United Kingdom.

Archie Sharp vs Jeff Ofori

For the fourth time Archie Sharp will be defending his European Super Featherweight Title and in this one he takes on someone that he will be familiar with in Jeff Ofori.

The latter is coming down from Light Welterweight to take on this fight, but Jeff Ofori has struggled when he has stepped up in class and was stopped by Ohara Davies in his last fight.

Coming down may mean Ofori can take a little more punishment at this weight, but Archie Sharp puts his punches together and this is largely seen as a tick-a-long fight for him.

The power is coming for Sharp, but I think he will be a little too accurate with his punches which can see him break down an overmatched opponent. Archie Sharp has managed to find the stoppage in two of his last four fights and I think he will show he is levels above his opponent in this one as he finds an early enough stoppage.

Backing this fight to end in the first 7.5 Rounds looks the call here as Sharp looks to move his career forward.

Carl Frampton vs Darren Traynor

It is wasn't for the Covid-19 outbreak Carl Frampton would have been fighting for a World Title in a third different Division and become the first Irish fighter to try and win belts in three classes.

With the long lay off that has had to be dealt with by all, Frampton returns on Saturday with a tune up fight before he heads into bigger fights again.

There is no doubt that Carl Frampton is dropping to domestic level when taking on Darren Traynor who is a late replacement. The Scottish Boxer has been beaten three times in his career and he has been stopped by both Ryan Walsh and James Tennyson inside Five Rounds.

This feels like a big step up for Traynor again and I do think he will only last as long as Frampton allows him to.

Boxing is very much about levels and Frampton has long operated on a different plane to Traynor- he may not be the fighter he was, but Carl Frampton should be able to showcase his talent and put a comfortable win on the board.

Only one of his last nine fights have ended in a stoppage win, but Carl Frampton can put the pressure on early in this one and break down Darren Traynor within the first Five Rounds.

Otto Wallin vs Travis Kauffman

It has been a touch over eleven months since Otto Wallin pushed Tyson Fury all the way and was very close to breaking up the impending Wilder-Fury clash which had been signed off.

On another day a referee may have waved things off as Wallin opened up a cut which needed 47 stitches to close and ever since Fury went on to win the WBC World Title the Swedish Boxer has been calling for a rematch.

He impressed enough to have another opportunity in the United States and the southpaw is a big favourite to see off veteran Travis Kauffman who returns to the ring after a twenty month absence.

The last time Kauffman was in the ring he was being stopped by Luis Ortiz on the Wilder-Fury 1 undercard in December 2018. The veteran will be looking to show there is still something left in the tank, but this feels like a fight in which Wallin will dominate and be able to at least give the fans something to talk about,

Travis Kauffman has lost three times and two of those have come in stoppages- he has also been Knocked Down four times in his last two fights and I do think the time spent away from the ring is not going to be beneficial for him.

Otto Wallin did have an injury which postponed an outing earlier in the year, but he should be fully healthy now. He is perhaps not the biggest punching Heavyweight out there, but I think he will have enough to wear down Travis Kauffman and could get the referee to step in at some point across the Ten Rounder scheduled.

MY PICKS: John Docherty Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Rachel Ball to Win @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Zelfa Barrett to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.87 William Hill (2 Units)

Felix Cash to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Archie Sharp-Jeff Ofori Under 7.5 Rounds @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Carl Frampton to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Otto Wallin to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.20 Bet365 (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2020- Terri Harper vs Natasha Jonas (August 7th)

You would just have to have something against Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing if you described Fight Camp Week One as anything but a success.

There were some quality fights put on and the setting was pretty special in unprecedented times- with three more weeks of Fight Camp to come it does feel like a time when we can enjoy Boxing even through the troubles all around us.

Boxers deserve the chance to make some money at a time when so many have had careers put on hold and I don't begrudge those who wish to be on the current cards even with no fans in attendance.

There were teething issues with some criticising the artificial sound, but I was not too bothered and enjoyed the card where all of the fights were decent to watch. The main event between Sam Eggington and Ted Cheeseman lived up to most expectations to the point that I would not be disappointed if we saw a rematch, while James Tennyson continues to impress and be involved in great scraps.

Hopefully Week Two of Fight Camp lives up to the standards set with the cameras back at Matchroom HQ on Friday evening instead of Saturday for the next two weeks.

Anthony Fowler vs Adam Harper

There was a lot of hype around Anthony Fowler when he turned professional, but the defeat to Scott Fitzgerald sixteen months ago has just derailed the expected progression up the World Rankings.

The Liverpudlian has won three fights in a row since the close defeat to Fitzgerald, but Anthony Fowler has not really impressed in the manner you would have expected. A couple of comfortable Points wins over Brian Rose and Harry Scarff was followed by a First Round blitz of Theophilus Tetteh, but Fowler will know there are going to be eyes on him this Friday and he does want to show a lot more.

He has Ten Rounds to do that in against Adam Harper who is in the ring for the first time in a little under two years. Adam Harper has had some real ups and downs already as a professional, but he was almost medically retired in the months after becoming English Super Welterweight Champion before being given a chance to resume his career.

There has to be some nagging doubts about Harper in terms of whether it is the right move to get back in the ring despite being given the all clear, but the Boxer himself is keen on making up for lost time. A positive outlook on life means Adam Harper is willing to take risks to achieve his goals, but there is no doubt this would be a big step up even if he had been a very active fighter.

Instead Adam Harper comes in off a long lay off and facing an opponent who has been operating at a much higher level. There are a couple of decent wins on the Harper CV, but his sole loss was an easy Points defeat to Michael Zerafa in Australia and even the last win came via a Majority Decision against someone at English Title level.

Adam Harper understands there is an opportunity in front of him with a win over Anthony Fowler likely to set up a British Title shot, but it is very difficult to see him achieving that here. The latter has the better resume in getting to 12-1 as a professional and 'The Machine' is confident he can make a statement by putting a big performance on the board.

I do think Anthony Fowler can use his size and superior Boxing ability to comfortably get ahead on the cards and he should be able to start punishing Adam Harper once we get through the first couple of Rounds. There is no doubting that Harper has some toughness, but you do have to wonder if his corner will be looking out for a Boxer who was almost forced to medically retire from the sport.

My feeling is that this is either going to be a very wide Unanimous Decision for Fowler or a stoppage in the second half of the fight- my lean is that the Anthony Fowler will start finding real success from the middle of the bout and it may mean Adam Harper's corner decide to pull out their valiant man rather than allowing him to take unnecessary punishment and go out on his shield.

I would have little doubt that Adam Harper can show enough to be given another opportunity by Eddie Hearn, but on this night I expect Anthony Fowler to display the levels to the sport and come away with a second half stoppage. More than half of Anthony Fowler's previous nine stoppage wins have come in the second half of the scheduled Rounds and I think he will begin to tee off and find his range around the middle of this one before breaking down Adam Harper for a second half stoppage.

Chris Billam-Smith vs Nathan Thorley

Two Cruiserweight Boxers meet for the Commonwealth Cruiserweight Title on Friday and this is a big stepping stone to some top domestic fights as well as a chance to push on to European and World Title bids.

Chris Billam-Smith won the vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Title with an impressive stoppage of Craig Glover as he bounced back from a Split Decision defeat to Richard Riakporhe. That defeat was a contentious one and I do think Billam-Smith will be desperate to avenge it, but he can't overlook an unbeaten Nathan Thorley who will know he can move into a strong Ranking spot with a victory on Friday.

This is a big step up for the 27 year old who had tried to boil down to Light Heavyweight before deciding that Cruiserweight may be the best option for him. This is the first time Thorley will have been scheduled in a Twelve Round bout, while he has only been past the Sixth Round once before.

Nathan Thorley does not have a strong resume and only two of his fourteen wins have come against an opponent with a winning record. One of those opponents now holds a losing record, while the other had been stopped in the First Round twice before.

Taking on Chris Billam-Smith will be a real challenge for Nathan Thorley considering the obvious punching power that the former possesses. Nine of this ten wins have come by stoppage and he comfortably holds the best win of the two Boxers when crushing Craig Glover last November.

Both Boxers have not been in the ring for a competitive fight in 2020 and so it may be a slow start as they just shed some of the ring rust which can build up. Even then I do think Chris Billam-Smith will get into his stride fairly quickly against someone who has a lot more to prove in terms of being able to handle an opponent with this quality.

Nathan Thorley has been put down before despite not really facing anyone of note and I do think the Chris Billam-Smith punching power will be the difference maker. The 30 year old will be looking to make some noise to put his name forward for bigger fights in the coming months and Billam-Smith can do that with an early nights work in the Matchroom HQ garden.

Terri Harper vs Natasha Jonas

The truth of the matter is that Natasha Jonas was expected to move through the pro ranks and pick up a World Title while Terri Harper would have been working full time in a Fish 'n' Chips shop, but the last two years have moved vastly differently than those expectations.

In that time Terri Harper has not only become a World Champion, but also Unified part of the Division and there is a confidence behind her that will make it hard to shake her from the current path she is on.

In the other corner, Natasha Jonas is hoping for a fourth win in a row after the stunning upset defeat to Viviane Obenauf when being stopped in the Fourth Round. The amateur career was a good one, but Jonas has quickly found out it is a whole different ball game in the pros and that defeat came in the one fight where she has really stepped up the level of opponent.

Obenauf is one of two Boxers that Natasha Jonas has fought when they have held a winning record and both are common opponents with Terri Harper. The World Champion beat Obenauf comfortably on points and also stopped Feriche Mashauri, an opponent that Jonas had to beat on points.

The 'one fighter beat an opponent that the other fighter lost to' argument is one that rarely works in Boxing, but I do think Terri Harper has shown a considerably higher upside than Natasha Jonas. I am not going to get into the mind games of the suggestion that Harper was Knocked Out in sparring which has been released by the Jonas camp and I do think that the latter is going to be stepping up to a level in which she struggled the only other time she has done that.

Terri Harper might only have stopped half of the opponents she has faced, but she has Knocked Down others and I do think she hits plenty hard enough to hurt Natasha Jonas. The underdog's best chance may be to make this a firefight and see whether she can land something special, but I think Harper will control her behind the jab early on and will force Jonas onto a counter which will hurt her.

The World Champion has had more Rounds in the bank at a higher level than Natasha Jonas and I do think she is going to be too strong for her here. There is a chance that Jonas bites down on the gum-shield and finds her way to the cards, but I think Harper will take over the fight in the mid-Rounds and has shown she can punch with enough authority to take out the former Olympian.

The two minute Rounds in Women's Boxing does their side of the sport no favours in all honesty, but Terri Harper can still make a big statement by stopping an opponent who had a 'bigger future' in the sport when both began as pros.

Kerman Lejarraga vs Tyrone Nurse

It really felt like Spain had a huge monster fighter at the Welterweight level when Kerman Lejarraga ripped his way through to 27-0, but stoppage losses to David Avanesyan (twice) have meant a change in plan.

The second defeat came inside the First Round and Lejarraga decided he would move up to Light Middleweight and try and rebuild his career there.

He has won two fights at that weight class and now takes on British fighter Tyrone Nurse who is also looking to move up a Division and try his luck there.

Tyrone Nurse had been on a run of four straight defeats and his career looked to have stalled permanently, but he has won two in a row since then. Both have come in Six Round fights against opponents with losing records, but Nurse has never been stopped and that looks like being the biggest challenge in front of the home favourite.

The underdog has been down in a number of fights before though and I do think the Kerman Lejarraga power is for real and can break down Tyrone Nurse in this one. There are some mental demons in the mind of Lejarraga which comes with the kind of stoppage losses he had to David Avanesyan, but he is also a deadly finisher when he has someone hurt.

Kerman Lejarraga should have the power to hurt Tyrone Nurse and I do think he has enough time to become the first fighter to stop him. When the Spaniard tends to hurt an opponent he does find a way to get the job done and even in a Ten Rounder there may be enough moments where he can start putting it on Tyrone Nurse and force the stoppage.

MY PICKS: Anthony Fowler to Win Between 6-10 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Chris Billam-Smith to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.25 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Terri Harper to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Kerman Lejarraga to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2020- Sam Eggington vs Ted Cheeseman (August 1st)

Who would have thought that the Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury Rematch was going to be the last really big Boxing event for months?

That fight might only have occurred five months ago, but with all the goings on in the world it does feel like it has been a lot, lot longer than that.

Things have yet to return to normal, but the UFC have shown you can put on fascinating cards even though those have to be behind closed doors- their business model is a lot different to Boxing which means those big fights are easier to arrange, but Dana White has shown you can put the right protocols in place to have combat sports return even in the current environment.

Eddie Hearn was always going to try and do something a bit special and organising four weeks of Fight Camps in his back garden is definitely a bit different. The first of those four weeks begins on August 1st and, unlike some other promoters, Hearn is making sure they are four good looking cards.

The final one looks the best with the likes of Dillian Whyte, Alexander Povetkin, Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon all on that one, but the opening weekend is giving the fans some good looking fights albeit at a lower level than those World level fights arriving later in the month.

We also have a couple other cards taking place this week which means the Boxing begins on Friday and goes through to the early hours of Sunday morning in the United Kingdom.

While it is going to take a while for things to get back to the normality of seeing fans in the stands and watching the big names face each other, it is good to have Boxing back and there are plenty of big fights to look forward to.


The early suspension of sporting events came at a time when the 2020 Boxing season has not really gotten underway and so there have been very few picks made so far this year. Things should be different over the next month with the cards that are in place, but the situation could change quickly and all it takes is a couple of failed tests and these cards could all have a different feel.

I hope everyone stays safe and healthy that are involved in all of these events being put together for our entertainment.

Lyndon Arthur vs Dec Spelman

If it wasn't for the Covid crisis that took over the world, Lyndon Arthur would have been set to fight Anthony Yarde as he looks to prove himself the best in Britain at Light Heavyweight level.

Make no mistake, it was a huge step up for Arthur who is unbeaten in sixteen fights but who would then be going in with a former World Title challenger. Anthony Yarde was not far away from Knocking Out Sergey Kovalev, but for now Arthur has to focus on other targets before trying to renew hostilities with the 'Lion in the Camp'.

That fight may be put together before the end of the year and confidence has not been dampened in the meantime. Lyndon Arthur has made it clear that he expects to be considered better than both Yarde and Joshua Buatsi by the end of 2020, two high profile Light Heavyweights that are close to World level already.

It will be sounding like a very hollow statement if Arthur is not able to beat Dec Spelman in this main event fight from the BT Studios in Stratford on Friday evening.

Dec Spelman has a 16-3 record and two of those losses have come against English Light Heavyweight Champion Shakan Pitters. The other defeat came to Scott Westgarth who tragically later passed away and it is that event which inspires Spelman to try and be the very best he can be.

I have no doubt that Spelman will come forward and try and close the gap to the bigger man, but I also have to be wary of the fact that the Boxer has been Knocked Down a couple of times. Now he is facing a pretty big hitter in Lyndon Arthur who has stopped twelve of his sixteen beaten opponents and even managed to put down tough Emmanuel Anim when winning the Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title.

He won't need to go looking for Spelman in this Title fight and I think that will play into Lyndon Arthur's hands, which look to be heavier than his opponent's. Over Twelve Rounds I would expect Arthur to begin to punish Dec Spelman and it may result in either the referee or the corner looking to pull out their man.

The Mancunian has suggested that he could finish this early, but I do give Dec Spelman's toughness some credit and will just look for Arthur to find a finish at some point over the thirty-six minutes they are in the ring with each other.

Jordan Gill vs Reece Bellotti

Both fighters are under 30 years old, but this is very much a crossroads night for both Jordan Gill and Reece Bellotti who both looked destined for big things before running into upset losses.

Twenty-three straight wins for Jordan Gill had him headlining events, but he was stunned in being stopped by Enrique Tinoco and in the last fifteen months he has had just six more Rounds since then.

Also, Jordan Gill has dealt with some health issues which even put his Boxing career in jeopardy and you do have to put this together and begin to wonder how much he has left to give. There is no doubting the skill levels of Gill and he is the superior Boxer in this fight, but you do have to wonder how much his body can take if Reece Bellotti can fire up some of the big punches he is known for.

A misdiagnosis hindered Jordan Gill's ability to move past his Thyroid Disease, but he has made it clear that he is better now and ready to refocus on his Boxing career which stalled in that loss last year.

Jordan Gill will be looking to contain the press that Reece Bellotti is going to try and put on him and he should be able to get the better of the pure Boxing exchanges. However, Bellotti has been known to work hard and hit harder even though he has been beaten in three of his last five fights.

They have a common opponent in Ryan Doyle who stopped Reece Bellotti in an upset before being stopped by Jordan Gill in his next fight. I don't think that is going to be something that bothers Bellotti who has also suffered a couple of Split Decision defeats since then and the loss to Doyle can be put down to a lack of focus on the part of the Watford man.

Reece Bellotti knows it is looking like a 'win or bust' night for him on Saturday and I think that inspires him to close the gap whenever he can and unload on Jordan Gill. A counter could be his downfall, but Bellotti will want to test out the Gill body and see whether he is capable of standing up to his level of puncher having stopped twelve of the fourteen fighters he has beaten in the pro ranks.

On the cards I think it will be very difficult for Bellotti to win this fight, but I do think he is good enough to force the fight and make Jordan Gill work at a pace he may not like. That pressure and aggression could see Bellotti sneak a couple of early Rounds and I think he will be the fighter who comes on strong the longer this goes on.

It is a Ten Rounder which lessens the enthusiasm to back Reece Bellotti, but I do think this is a closer fight than the oddsmakers do. If Jordan Gill is still having a few health issues and is perhaps a little soft in the body, Reece Bellotti hits hard enough to ask a lot of questions and I think he is worth a small interest to earn the big upset.

The reality is that Jordan Gill prior to the loss to Tinoco would have been a similar price to the one we are seeing for this one in my opinion- only now we know Gill might not be the most confident in being able to absorb punishment in the body and he has largely been inactive over the last fifteen months.

Reece Bellotti has not exactly been fighting every week, but he has had fourteen Rounds in the bank since Jordan Gill's defeat in May 2019 and that is eight more Rounds than his opponent. As long as Reece Bellotti isn't reckless, I think he can make this very competitive and force the pace against a superior Boxer, one that Jordan Gill may not enjoy.

Dalton Smith vs Nathan Bennett

A strong amateur career was not signed off with an appearance at the 2020 Olympics and with the way things have gone in the world it might have been the best decision Dalton Smith has made.

He enters his sixth professional fight this weekend and is a big favourite to see off 9-1 Nathan Bennett, although the latter is speaking confidently about taking an opportunity to change his life.

An upset win for Bennett will do that as he will likely get plenty more work with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom promotion, but this will be the first time the Liverpudlian has taken on an opponent with a winning record. Only two stoppages in nine wins suggests Nathan Bennett doesn't really hit hard enough to earn the respect of Sheffield's most successful amateur Boxer who has stopped his last four opponents since turning professional.

Dalton Smith has revealed he had a lot of hand injuries during his time in the amateurs, but he feels those are now behind him and he has yet to be taken beyond the Fourth Round. This is the next step on his progression as a Boxer as he moves into his first fight scheduled for more than Six Rounds, but I do think Smith can get on top early and have another relatively early night.

There are levels in Boxing and I expect Smith to clearly show he is levels above Nathan Bennett. I expect the latter to give it a go, but I think he will quickly learn that his opponent has the heavier hands and I do think Dalton Smith gets this over with in the first half of the scheduled Eight Rounds.

Fabio Wardley vs Simon Vallily

With very little experience, Fabio Wardley decided to move into the professional Heavyweight ranks of Boxing and so far it is so good for Dillian Whyte's protege. We are going to learn a lot more about Wardley on Saturday evening as he gets set to take on Simon Vallily who looks to be the toughest opponent of his relatively young career so far.

Size is very much on the side of Fabio Wardley, but he has also displayed plenty of athleticism in his career so far. However, Simon Vallily will be the first to tell you that Wardley has not fought anyone of note yet and he wants to bring the fight to the 25 year old and see exactly what he is made of.

Simon Vallily moved up to Heavyweight having lost the last fight at Cruiserweight to Craig Glover. Since then he has four fights at this weight, won three by stoppage and also beat common opponent with Wardley in Phil Williams. Simon Vallily needed the cards to earn the win over Williams but Fabio Wardley stopped him in Three Rounds, although that rarely means a lot in Boxing.

What it should underline is that Wardley is the bigger puncher in this contest and a lot is going to depend on how much Vallily can take from him. All of the indications from the underdog is that he is looking to test Fabio Wardley and will go looking for him and I am not sure that is the right approach at a weight where Wardley is the more natural.

In his two stoppages at Cruiserweight, Simon Vallily was knocked down early in both although one of those defeats came against the quality of Mairis Breidis. You do have to question how much he can take from someone like Fabio Wardley who clearly does hit very hard and I think this could be a rough, early night for the veteran fighter.

I expect Simon Vallily to show heart and guts, but Wardley will be expected to have too much for him. He sets up his shots well and I think once he has Vallily hurt he will get the job done, although Fabio Wardley still has plenty of learning to do before he is ready to take the next steps in his career.

The anger displayed from Simon Vallily in the last presser may work into Fabio Wardley's hands who may not have to look too far to find his target in this bout.

James Tennyson vs Gavin Gwynne

There are some good looking fights on the opening card that Matchroom have put together in Eddie Hearn's back garden and this looks like being another.

James Tennyson has very little give in him and he takes on a tough Welshman in Gavin Gwynne who has a single loss on his record against Joe Cordina last year.

His Northern Irish opponent has been beaten three times and all by stoppage, but Tennyson has looked stronger at Lightweight and has four wins behind him and all before the scheduled Rounds were completed. Three of the four fighters faced since his loss to Tevin Farmer have had winning records when they have entered the ring and the stoppage of Craig Evans in November 2019 was a very strong win for James Tennyson.

Neither has been in the ring in 2020 which means there are some doubts as to how they are feeling as they deal with ring rustiness, but I can't see anything but a physical, tough fight where the two Boxers will be trading some heavy leather for as long as it lasts.

Gavin Gwynne doesn't have the strongest of resumes, and he came up short when fighting for the British Lightweight Title last year. However there is no doubting that he won't take a backward step in this one and Gwynne may be the naturally bigger man having had some fights at the Light Welterweight Division since turning professional.

The experience edge may be with James Tennyson who has had more fights and fought for a World Title, but being the bigger man has to be a factor for Gavin Gwynne. He may try and outbox Tennyson using his length, but much is going to depend on how he handles the power that the Northern Irishman has clearly brought up to the Lightweight Division.

It really does feel like both men may end up meeting in the middle of the ring and letting their hands go and Gavin Gwynne will be well aware that as hard as James Tennyson hits, he has been stopped in all three of his previous defeats. Those have come at the hands of smaller men than Gwynne, although two stoppages in twelve wins for the underdog is not exactly screaming out 'Knock Out' in this one.

He is a tough fighter though and I think this is going to be a bout in which James Tennyson is going to have to wear down Gavin Gwynne. The latter may try and use his size to keep clear of the heavy artillery that is going to be thrown his way, but I think eventually we will see Tennyson catch up to him and that should lead to a stoppage win for the favourite.

Stopping Gavin Gwynne will really lay down a marker for the future for James Tennyson and I think the fighter from Belfast will eventually be able to do that.

Sam Eggington vs Ted Cheeseman

It doesn't feel that long ago that Ted Cheeseman was headlining events and looking like a Boxer that was going to be pushed along for World honours.

Things have not really gone as expected for Cheeseman since 2019 and he has not won any of his last three fights, losing two and earning a draw in the other. Out of the ring issues have not helped Ted Cheeseman either, but the 24 year old will be frustrated that the last Decision went against him when facing Scott Fitzgerald.

Some will think it is harsh to suggest it is a crossroads fight for both Boxers, but you have to believe that is the case. Ted Cheeseman can't afford to drop another defeat to a British level opponent, while in the other corner Sam Eggington has already been fortunate enough to remain on track for a World Title bid despite having six defeats already.

Every time it has felt like Sam Eggington has hit a wall in his career he has bounced back with some big performances and I do think the fan friendly style is giving him more opportunities than others may have not been afforded.

This should be another one, although you can see a situation where Ted Cheeseman looks to showcase his superior Boxing skills and pick off the rushing Sam Eggington. That was the tactic employed in the close defeat to Scott Fitzgerald, although Cheeseman is looking to impose himself and bully his opponent a little more in this one.

For the early Rounds I do think Cheeseman will look to frustrate Eggington before he begins to break down what have been vulnerable defences showed by the latter. Ted Cheeseman is indicating he is in a much better space mentally now and I do think he will want to avoid another Decision he doesn't agree with having felt he did enough to beat Fitzgerald and Kieron Conway.

I have no doubt that the Sam Eggington tactic will be to get forward and try and land as much as possible to allow his power to make the difference. Ultimately he has been found out when he has stepped up and I do think Ted Cheeseman has better all around skills which will allow him to dictate the direction in which this fight goes.

A points Decision would not surprise me in favour of Ted Cheeseman, but I do think he will push for the stoppage once he gets through the early storm. Sitting down on a few shots against Sam Eggington who likes to defend using his head rather than his hands could prove to be telling by the latter Rounds and I do think Cheeseman will look to settle the fight without the need for the judges.

The last two defeats suffered by Sam Eggington have come in stoppages and I do think Ted Cheeseman might have enough volume to secure another one late on in this bout.

MY PICKS: Lyndon Arthur to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Reece Bellotti @ 4.50 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Dalton Smith to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.75 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Fabio Wardley to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.66 Sky Bet (2 Units)
James Tennyson to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.37 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Ted Cheeseman to Win Between 7-12 @ 4.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

NBA Picks 2019/20 (July 30-August 14)

There isn't an aspect of our usual lives that has not been affected by the pandemic which has taken hold over the last several months and sports is no different.

Many are beginning to return in a new look and that is the case for the NBA who have decided to send their remaining twenty-two teams to a 'bubble' in Florida where the remaining regular season games and the PlayOffs will all be played.

It isn't going to be the same as previous years even if the format for the post-season is going to be what we have become accustomed to seeing- no home court advantage surely opens the door for a number of teams to perhaps surprise their way into a Championship success.

Going into the resumption of play I would still be very surprised if one of the two Los Angeles teams is not playing in the NBA Finals, but the Eastern Conference looks more difficult to predict. No fans and no home court advantage is going to level up the playing field and I do think the regular season games to be played will be a good indicator of which teams are going to cope with things best.

Eventually I do think the cream will rise to the top as players become used to the surroundings, but it will be interesting to see and I will admit it is very welcoming to have more live sports back in our lives. It sounds a little sad that so many can't cope without it, but sports is the great relief to everyday life and I do think the post-season of both the NBA and NHL will be bringing the drama that only sporting events can.

I will place all of the regular season picks from the next two weeks in this one thread before we get into a potential Play In situation.

Personally I would have loved to have seen the NBA take a risk with the format for these unprecedented times and perhaps set up a World Cup kind of format for the post-season, but ultimately Adam Silver and the players likely preferred the regular PlayOff setting to try and keep things as normal as possible.

It was a chance for the NBA, but the bigger concern is making sure everyone involved remains healthy and the teams can compete without fear during a time when cases in the United States continue to produce eye-watering, sad numbers.

I hope that is the least we see over the coming weeks and nothing like the outbreak already witnessed in the Major League Baseball season. From there we can enjoy the Basketball as the short run towards the PlayOffs begins on Thursday 30th July and then it is onto the fun of the post-season.

Thursday 30th July

Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans Pick

The decision was made to use a 'bubble' at Disney World in Florida and that means there is going to be a new look to the PlayOffs and the end of the regular season.

While the format remains the same for the post-season, the fact that all games will be played in neutral settings does remove the need for travel and perhaps having to deal with the same issues that have popped up very early on in the Major League Baseball season which recently got underway.

One change in the PlayOff format is the chance for the Number 9 Seed in either Conference to have an opportunity to 'play in' to the post-season with the regular season cut short. It looks unlikely to be used in the Eastern Conference with only the Washington Wizards invited along who are not in the PlayOff spots, but the Western Conference has five teams looking to chase down the Number 8 Seeded Memphis Grizzlies and at least have a shot at beating them out for the final place in the PlayOffs.

There are some decent looking teams looking to do that knowing if they finish the regular season within 4 games of the Number 8 Seed that they will get an opportunity to make the post-season. One of those is the New Orleans Pelicans (28-36) who won two in a row back in March and who will open the NBA regular season bubble on Thursday.

Zion Williamson is the big name with the young Pelicans roster who are looking to make a point having traded away Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers before the season began. The irony is that the Pelicans would be looking to upset Davis' new team if they can make the PlayOffs and the Pelicans had won eight of their previous thirteen games to earn some positive momentum.

However, it has been made clear that the Pelicans feel the future is more important than the present and that means they are going to be careful with their young players. Instead of taking risks, the Pelicans will make sure the minutes are well spread to build experience which will put the team on a good platform for the years ahead when they will be looking to win a Championship.

There are some doubts about whether Williamson can participate in this opening game having recently returned to the bubble after being given permission to attend a family matter. He is only just out of quarantine and it feels the minutes will be restricted in a best case scenario.

Offensively New Orleans are a strong looking team, but Zion Williamson is already a leader for this young team and it will be a much tougher game for them without him. They did win all of their scrimmages getting ready for the restart, while the Pelicans are capable of plenty of energy around the boards to at least force second chance points, but this is far from an easy opening game.

The Pelicans take on the Utah Jazz (41-23) who have already secured a PlayOff spot, but who will be looking to perhaps improve their current Number 4 Seed in the days ahead. They are only 3 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers as the Number 2 Seed, but it is a tightly congested portion of the standings and a strong end or a poor one could see a vast difference in their final position.

It is also going to be a test of the chemistry of the Jazz who saw a falling out between key players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell thanks to some of the most ridiculous actions you will have seen from anybody in the public eye. Those actions have to be attributed to Gobert's foolishness having dismissed the virus affecting the world and deciding he would touch all of the reporters and team mates' belongings without a care in the world.

Things changed for Gobert when he tested positive for Covid-19 and the strained relationship between himself and Mitchell came about after it was revealed the latter had also picked up the infection. It was largely blamed on Gobert's disregard for advice given to the public, but both players are entering the bubble trying to focus on their basketball rather than off court issues.

Judging by Rudy Gobert's comments, it feels like the Jazz are largely back on the same page now although they are going to be missing Bojan Bogdanovic for the remainder of the season. The sharpshooter was the second highest scorer on the roster and a serious threat from the three point range, but a wrist injury needed surgery and he will be replaced by Joe Ingles in the starting line up.

There is still confidence that Utah can be a real threat in the post-season having seen Ingles and Mike Conley playing well in scrimmages, but the intensity will be different now. Utah do have a good Defensive unit which always keeps them in games though and if those two players can find their range it should make Gobert and Mitchell big threats for the Jazz from an Offensive point of view.

Utah's big man might have been responsible for the decision to shut down the NBA when it was made, but the Jazz had been surging in a positive direction before that. The Jazz have won five of their last six games and they have already beaten the New Orleans Pelicans twice in three meetings in 2019/20.

All three games were high-scoring affairs, but the rustiness of coming out in the bubble is hard to factor into this game. If there is any, the Utah Jazz are the stronger team Defensively and that could give them the edge in a game in which it feels like they are set as the underdog because it 'means more' to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The early games in the NBA might need some watching too, but the Utah Jazz do hold a 9-4-1 record against the spread in their last fourteen against the New Orleans Pelicans. With Zion Williamson arguably still building up towards his peak levels, I think Utah will find enough scoring from the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley to edge to an upset win.

Utah are 6-0 against the spread in recent games set as the underdog and I think they can keep this one close at the least.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers Pick

Nothing has really changed over the course of the season and the Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) and the Los Angeles Clippers (44-20) are set to open up against one another on the first day of the new look bubble of the NBA. Home court advantage would not have been important when the Lakers and Clippers were likely to meet in the PlayOffs, but the neutral setting of the remainder of the season does take away from the Lakers who are set to finish with the Number 1 Seed in the Western Conference.

That makes other Series on the way to the NBA Finals look potentially more dangerous and in the last eight games of the regular season it would need something miraculous to happen if the Lakers were to blow their 5.5 game lead at the top of the Conference.

Things are a touch more murky for the Los Angeles Clippers who will be desperate to finish with either the Number 2 or Number 3 Seed in the Conference. It would guarantee avoiding playing the Lakers until the Western Conference Finals and they are 3 games ahead of the Utah Jazz in the current Number 4 spot, although the First Round Series is going to be a tough one for the Clippers no matter how things end.

Both teams have lost some key players ahead of the resumption of play with Avery Bradley being the most notable for opting out of the season. The Lakers also going to begin without Rajon Rondo, who has an injury, but they have been able to sign the likes of Dion Waiters and JR Smith to make up for the losses and boost the bench.

On the other side the Los Angeles Clippers are likely going to be missing Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell who both had to leave the bubble. Better news comes from the likely suiting up of Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet and Ivica Zubac, while the break will have given the likes of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard a chance to refresh.

That break may also be music to the ears of the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James as fresh as he ever would be going into the PlayOffs. His partnership with Anthony Davis has worked as well as the Lakers would have hoped over the last several months and Davis is expected to play despite being poked in the eye in a scrimmage game against the Orlando Magic last weekend.

In a seven game series I do think it is going to be very hard to separate the Lakers and Clippers if both teams are healthy. My edge would be with the Clippers, although in this opening game on the resumption of play you do have to think they are missing key contributors which gives the Lakers a real edge.

Both teams are strong Defensively, but the second unit of the Clippers will have been dented without Lou Williams, while I do think JR Smith and Dion Waiters can give the Number 1 Seed a boost. Neither team will want to show too much of their hand with their Seeding positions largely in control and with seven more regular season games to complete to secure their spots.

Scrimmage games have shown that both the Lakers and Clippers look to be in good shape and it is a series in which the underdog has had the better of things in 2019/20. All three previous games have been won by the dog, but here I do think the Lakers will be able to square things up for the season having lost the first two games and beaten the Clippers just days before the suspension of play back in March.

My feeling is that the Lakers might be more keen to lay down a marker in this one ahead of a potential Series in the PlayOffs and the key contributors missing for the Clippers will be hard to make up.

However it may be more likely that the two teams are looking to hide some of their cards for a potential PlayOff Series and that may see the two Defenses coming out on top. Games between the Lakers and Clippers have been tough affairs already this season and the potential rustiness of the teams for the intensity of a real NBA game might just slow them down too.

With the Clippers and Lakers both missing some key players, I think the total may be very slightly on the high side here and looking for a fourth 'under' of the season between these two may be the best play.


Friday 31st July
Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers Pick: There are some big Seeding games in the NBA on Friday, but the return of Basketball also means you may want to take a watching brief on some of the teams involved. While there are six games scheduled on the day, only one of those is appealing enough from a NBA Pick point of view.

That comes from the second set of games scheduled for the day's play when the Portland Trail Blazers (29-37) take on the Memphis Grizzlies (32-33). If the regular season had been completed as planned it may have been difficult for the Trail Blazers to close the gap to the Number 8 Seeded Grizzlies, but the new look end to the season gives them a chance with a strong finish.

One or two players in the Memphis camp are not happy with the new rules which state that the Number 8 Seed has to finish at least 4 games clear of the Number 9th placed team in either Conference to earn a guaranteed PlayOff spot. That is not likely to be an issue in the Eastern Conference, but the Grizzlies have a host of teams below them that are almost certain to finish within that mark and that will mean a 'Play In' situation.

It would mean the Number 9 Seed needs to beat the Number 8 Seed twice to steal their PlayOff spot, while the Number 8 team would only need to win once, but the Grizzlies do feel it is another obstacle in front of them in what has been a season of overachievement. That overachievement gives them some confidence though and Memphis had won four of their last six games before the sudden postponement of the NBA back in March.

The Grizzlies have the size to challenge the Portland Trail Blazers and during the regular season they have played pretty well at both ends of the court. A young team have certainly played above the levels that most expected of them and Ja Morant has been everything the Grizzlies would have hoped when Drafting him last year.

A few months ago the Grizzlies would have been very confident they could secure a season success over the Trail Blazers who reached the Western Conference Finals last season. There were some suggestions that the big names in the Portland camp would not be involved in the resumption of play, but Damian Lillard's biggest issue is a foot problem he is dealing with although that is not expected to keep him out of this one.

Trevor Ariza is one player that won't be involved, but the four and a half month break between games in the regular season has boosted the depth of the Trail Blazers. Both Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins would have missed the regular season if the season had completed when it should have, but both are ready to go now and that is a big boost for the Trail Blazers.

It should help them, but you can't expect massive things from players who have not played a competitive game for months. However, if both Nurkic and Collins are back up to the levels that we know they can play at, the Portland Trail Blazers may be the most dangerous team in front of the Memphis Grizzlies when it comes to the final spot in the Western Conference PlayOffs.

Those big men can give the Grizzlies a real challenge on the boards and I do think the underachieving Portland team will be a threat in this short run to the post-season. Defensively the Trail Blazers can be vulnerable though and you do have to wonder if their team is ready to go right away having struggled in the scrimmages preparing for the restart.

My feeling is that Portland may be a touch overrated at the beginning of the resumption because we don't really know how their returning players are going to cope. The young Memphis team will feel they have nothing to lose and they are 5-2 against the spread in the last seven against Portland which includes beating them outright in two of the three earlier meetings.

Add in the fact that the Grizzlies are 10-4 against the spread when given 4 or fewer points as the underdog this season compared with Portland being 7-10 against the spread as the small favourite and I do think backing the underdog may pay off here.

It isn't a huge spread, but Memphis might be able to score enough points to stay with the Trail Blazers and force this game to go down to the wire.


Monday 3rd August
I had a couple of busy days so I was not able to put in the kind of research needed to make any NBA Picks as the regular season continues in the NBA bubble in Orlando.

It has been a weekend with some mixed results as teams try and rediscover the chemistry and consistency they would have had without the long break from playing competitive basketball.

I do think by the time the PlayOffs will come around that the teams will all be in better shape, but for now you have to expect some ups and downs.

Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder Pick: Home court advantage is not going to exist in the NBA PlayOffs in 2020, but that doesn't mean any team wants to roll into the post-season with no momentum behind them. There is plenty of movement in terms of Seeding in the Western Conference to come in the days before the PlayOffs and only 3.5 games separate the Number 2 Seeded Los Angeles Clippers and the current Number 6 Seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (41-24).

Bridging that may be a step too far for the Thunder, but they can certainly improve their current spot and that will begin if they can beat the Denver Nuggets (43-23) as both teams get set to play a second game in the NBA bubble.

The Thunder crushed the Utah Jazz, but a short-handed Denver team were blown out by the Miami Heat on the same day. It does mean the Thunder have a bit more momentum behind them having picked up from where they left off in March, and they will be looking to win a fifth game in a row and move into a position where they can control the kind of PlayOff path they want to lead.

Expectations have been surpassed by the Thunder throughout the 2019/20 season and the team do feel they have been given a huge boost by a returning Andre Roberson who was one of the elite Defenders in the NBA before suffering a long-term injury. Roberson has looked like an improved player in the NBA bubble, although his minutes will be restricted for now to make sure there isn't a setback.

With Chris Paul leading the team, the Thunder look in confident mood but the same cannot be said for the Denver Nuggets. They gave up 125 points to the Miami Heat on Saturday and Will Barton, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray were all missing.

We don't know if any of those players will be available for the Monday game with the Thunder, but it does mean Denver are going to struggle to contain Oklahoma City. Despite being short-handed, I do think the Nuggets will have expected a much better all around in their loss to the Miami Heat and that should make them more competitive in this one even if those three mentioned are unavailable again.

Denver struggled at both ends of the court in their opening loss in the NBA bubble, but there will be a demand to show more intensity on the Defensive side of the court. That should make them more competitive, but Oklahoma City have a very strong Defensive team from which the foundation for success this season have been built.

The Thunder are 14-4 against the spread when favoured by less than 7.5 points this season and the Nuggets are 5-8-1 against the spread when given up to 7.5 points as the underdog. Oklahoma City have also been strong when playing teams with a winning record and they did beat the Nuggets when these teams last met a few months ago.

Denver do have a very strong recent record against Oklahoma City, but they failed to cover for the first time in ten games against them last time out. The Nuggets are also 0-4 against the spread in their last four games as the underdog and I do think Oklahoma City will just have a little too much on both ends of the court which helps them cover this mark.


Indiana Pacers @ Washington Wizards Pick: Only nine teams were invited to the NBA bubble from the Eastern Conference and most felt it was going to be a big ask for the Washington Wizards (24-42) to even force a 'Play In' situation for themselves. That was mainly down to the fact that some key players were not going to join their team in the short run to the PlayOffs and ultimately the Wizards have looked unlikely to trouble any team in the top eight.

Losing to the lowly Phoenix Suns is one thing, but on Sunday afternoon the Wizards were beaten by the Brooklyn Nets and now trail the current Number 8 Seed in the Eastern Conference by 7 games. To make matters even tougher on the Wizards, they become the first team that is going to be asked to play on back to back days in the bubble and they are going to be desperate to find a win.

That may make Washington a dangerous team, but they are without the likes of John Wall, Davis Bertans and Bradley Beal and most teams would find it difficult to plug those gaps. The team have struggled all season Defensively so when you miss those players who can take the scoring load on their shoulders it does gel together to become a very difficult situation all around.

Scott Brooks is not allowing his team to give up, but the Wizards have a very difficult set of remaining games and another defeat would virtually end their season. By hook or by crook Washington have to win out, but it is going to be a tough game in front of them when they meet the Indiana Pacers (40-26) who look to have recovered some health in the enforced break that was provided by the Coronavirus outbreak.

A win over the Philadelphia 76ers in their first game in the NBA bubble will give the Pacers some real confidence even if they are not considered a threat to the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers will be looking to use that expectation to motivate them and they are a team that is perhaps better than the sum of their parts.

Indiana do have a team that can exploit the Defensive shortcomings in the Washington squad, while they are very strong on the other side of the court. Rebounding could be a problem for them when they get into the PlayOffs, but this is not a game where that should be an issue for the Pacers and putting that together makes them a strong favourite.

I have to respect the fact that the Wizards have a 7-2 record against the spread when playing the second of a back to back this season. However, those games were played with a deeper looking rotation than the one they are using in the NBA bubble.

The Wizards are 0-5-1 against the spread in their last six games as the underdog including being covered in both in the bubble so far. Indiana are 4-1 against the spread in their last five against the Washington Wizards.

Knowing the PlayOff situation is beginning to slip away from them and having so many big name players missing is going to make it difficult for the Washington Wizards to motivate them in the remaining days in the NBA bubble.

Some of the players may already be thinking about returning to their families and a team like the Indiana Pacers could expose any lack of motivation in the Washington squad.

It is a big mark, but the Pacers can beat out a team on the second half of a back to back and I think they can cover here.


Tuesday 4th August
Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat Pick: We are already beginning to see some of the potential PlayOff Series coming together in the NBA bubble and that is especially the case in the Eastern Conference where the top eight teams are almost certainly set.

The Milwaukee Bucks are almost guaranteed to finish with the Number 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference and the teams below them in the standing are looking to position themselves to make sure they can avoid having to play them before the Eastern Conference Finals. A win on Tuesday would put the Boston Celtics (44-22) in a position to effectively wrap up a top three Seed and that would mean they can build up towards the potential Finals clash with the Bucks as players improve their fitness.

It is the last chance for the Miami Heat (42-25) to close in on the Boston Celtics in the spot above them in the standings, although making up the 2.5 game gap at this stage looks a long shot. The Heat are playing on a back to back having lost a close on to the Toronto Raptors on Monday and some inside the locker room may believe it is better to tank out the remainder of the regular season and fall as low as the Number 6 Seed if possible.

That is an unlikely mindset with a player like Jimmy Butler leading the Heat, but this is a team who have struggled playing the second half of a back to back all season. They invested a lot of effort into the Monday defeat to the Raptors while the Boston Celtics were resting and Miami are just 3-6-2 against the spread in that spot this season.

Miami have also struggled when put in the underdog spot and the Celtics have covered the mark in the last three against them including in both games played this season.

Both teams are 1-1 since joining the NBA bubble, and I do think both are very capable of having a deep PlayOff run. However the additional rest for the Celtics and perhaps the game meaning a little more to them could make the difference.

It does mean they can play the more intensive Defense which is a key to the outcome of the game and Boston should be fully concentrated on this game to make sure they are on the opposite side of the bracket to the Milwaukee Bucks. There isn't a game on deck which should take away the concentration of the Celtics and I think they will have enough to cover here.


Wednesday 5th August
Memphis Grizzlies @ Utah Jazz Pick: There are always going to be conspiracy theories surrounding a new look schedule like the one the NBA had to put together, but the loudest voices insist the Memphis Grizzlies (32-36) are not the kind of team that the League would like to see in the First Round of the PlayOffs.

The Play In tournament was one aspect going against the Grizzlies, while the end of the 'regular season' in the NBA bubble looked a tough one and so far it has gone the way the NBA would like, at least according to those shouting conspiracy.

Memphis have lost all three games played in the bubble and are now only 1.5 games clear of the Portland Trail Blazers and with a host of other teams closing in too. At this point a 'Play In' may be the best bet for the Grizzlies, but securing the Number 8 Seed in the Western Conference would at least mean the Number 9 ranked team would have to beat them twice to steal away their PlayOff spot.

To that end the Grizzlies need to start winning as it looks like both the Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs have some momentum behind them. The upcoming games are anything but easy and the Grizzlies have lost Jaren Jackson Jr for the season, although they may not have a better opponent to face than the Utah Jazz (42-25) who have lost back to back games.

Losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers is much different than losing to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Utah Jazz have managed some Fourth Quarter scoring to overcome the New Orleans Pelicans in the bubble. There are some questions about the Jazz on both ends of the court which need to be answered before the PlayOffs begin, and motivation should remain high for a team who are still playing for Seeding in the Western Conference even though home court is no longer an issue.

There was always a concern for the Jazz that they would miss the scoring punch that was given to them by Bojan Bogdanovic who shut things down for the season prior to the resumption of play. It has proven to be the case so far, although Utah are facing one of the weaker teams in the bubble on Wednesday rather than those looking to go deep in the PlayOffs and that proved to be a winning situation last week when edging out the Pelicans.

If the Grizzlies make as slow a start as they have to each game in the bubble then it will be very difficult to peg back a Jazz team that is still strong Defensively. However, performing for the full 48 minutes has been on the mind of the players and with Ja Morant still performing as he has been, the Grizzlies will definitely believe they can make a good fist of things and at least end the losing run.

Utah just may not have enough scoring to really pull clear of this mark if the Grizzlies are making a strong start to this one. They deserve to be favourites because the Jazz have won two of the three meetings between these teams in the 2019/20 season, both straight up and against the spread, but things are very different for both teams in the NBA bubble and Utah have not played to a level which makes you think they can win easily.

The Jazz are just 2-13-2 against the spread in their last seventeen games as the favourite and it can't be ignored that the Memphis Grizzlies have been in competitive losses in the NBA bubble. None of the defeats have come by more than 10 points and the first two losses were by 5 points or fewer.

Add in the Utah sole win that either team has produced came by a couple of points and I do think the underdog is worth backing here.


Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic Pick: Both of these teams are very much on course to enter the PlayOffs and depending on the way things go in the next few days there is every chance that this is a preview of one of the First Round Series in the Eastern Conference.

The Toronto Raptors (48-18) are the defending NBA Champions, but not many tipped them up to be capable of repeating having lost a couple of key performers in the off-season. None were more important than Kahwi Leonard, but the Raptors have rallied together and three wins in the NBA bubble over the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat have given people pause for thought.

All of a sudden it is not solely about avoiding the Milwaukee Bucks for as long as possible with the Raptors arguably looking as strong as any going for the NBA Championship. They can effectively wrap up a top two Seed in the Conference with a win on Wednesday and the Raptors will then be able to rest bodies and minds before the PlayOffs begin, although the spot is one that concerns me between big games against the likes of the Lakers and Heat and then having the Boston Celtics on deck.

It could easily lead to a situation where the Orlando Magic (32-36) are overlooked by the Raptors having been beaten three times in the regular season already. The Magic do have a healthy lead over the Washington Wizards in the Number 9 spot in the Eastern Conference which would see them avoid a Play In situation, but Orlando will be looking to bounce back from their blow out loss on Tuesday to the Indiana Pacers.

Before that the Magic had won their first two games in the NBA bubble, but the surprising form shown by the Brooklyn Nets means Orlando have slipped into the Number 8 Seed in the Eastern Conference. They can pick and choose which of the top two teams they would want to face, but teams in their position just simply want to go into the PlayOffs with some momentum behind them.

A part of the reason for the blowout loss may have been the injury suffered by Jonathan Isaac in the previous game. After returning from a long lay off, Isaac looked to be playing really well and is a key Defensive piece for the Magic and the whole team may have started off feeling sorry for themselves in the defeat to the Pacers.

It has been made clear to the entire squad they will need to be a lot better to compete with either Milwaukee or Toronto in a potential First Round Series, but Orlando do produce enough Offensive output to be dangerous to those teams. The Magic will need that side of their game to be operating at close to full tilt if they are going to challenge a Toronto team who thrive on Defensive intensity and it will be a key to the outcome of each game these teams play in the remainder of the season.

You would expect Toronto to have enough Offensively to hurt the Magic considering the levels the latter have produced and now being without Jonathan Isaac, while the Raptors also have the energy around the boards to win the rebounding battle.

The Raptors have covered in the last five games between these teams and Orlando are 3-5-2 against the spread in ten games played in the second half of a back to back. 

Orlando are also 9-18-1 against the spread this season when playing a team with a winning record and I think the Raptors can make it four from four both straight up and against the number in this one.

MY PICKS: 30/07 Utah Jazz + 2.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

30/07 Los Angeles Lakers-Los Angeles Clippers Under 216 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
31/07 Memphis Grizzlies + 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
03/08 Oklahoma City Thunder - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
03/08 Indiana Pacers - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
04/08 Boston Celtics - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
05/08 Memphis Grizzlies + 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
05/08 Toronto Raptors - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

NBA Update: 3-3, - 0.23 Units