NBA Premium Card 01/15

NBA - 721 Denver Nuggets @ 722 Golden State Warriors

Play #1

GSW is coming from consecutive games in which their offense was subpar at best w/ 98 & 99 points scored for 102.0 and 105.0 Off. Rtg. The biggest factor was their subpar 3pts shooting numbers in both games: 9-26 3pts & 8-26 3pts.

In my opinion, such bad offensive performances were due to their brutal schedule: @BKN – was their last game of a huge road trip and then they return home to play against BOS w/ just one day off to rest.

The good news is that they had 4 days off to rest so we can expect GSW to be fresh and rested for this contest:

"To have a nice four-day period where we can focus on getting rest and getting ready for the next set of games before the All-Star break, especially coming off that East Coast road trip, it was timely," star Stephen Curry said. "Hopefully it shows on Wednesday with fresh legs and kind of a renewed commitment to what we're trying to do."

They will face DEN tonight so we can expect an incredible fast paced game b/c that’s the way the Nuggets are playing as of late. DEN offense has been spectacular but they couldn’t defeat the Jazz in their last game due to a terrible perimeter defensive game: UTA guard’s Burks 13-19 FG & 34pts and Burke 6-12 FG for 18 pts owned the Nuggets’ defense. Well, look for Curry and Klay Thompson tonight…

The first h2h game of this series this season ended up being an extreme low scoring game (I had GSW ML as a Single Dime Play) but note that K. Faried didn’t play that game while Mozgov was the Nuggets’ starting center and obviously, DEN couldn’t play their usual up and down game, something that will happen tonight.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 721/722 Over 212.5 @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker

NBA - 709 Houston Rockets @710 New Orleans Pelicans

Play #2

NO is so shorthanded right now that I don’t expect them to be competitive against the best teams in the league, especially when your opponent has a player like Dwight Howard down low.

NO was able to be relatively competitive against a tired Spurs’ team but still, Tim Duncan in just 26 minutes of action was able to score 18 points while shooting 7-14 FG & grabbed 9 rebounds. In the last h2h game between these two teams, Howard simply dominated the game w/ 10-12 FG, 24 pts + 18 reb + 3 assists! I expect a similar performance from him tonight…

However, the biggest factor for this contest will be on the perimeter. Holiday & Evans are out for the Pelicans, so they will play w/ Roberts + Gordon + Rivers, and these players simply won’t be able to slow down James Harden & Jeremy Lin. Note that in L4 games, NO’s opponents are hitting 40-88 3pts% - a 45.5% mark!

Despite winning by 9 points in the first h2h game, the game actually was a close one but note that Ryan Anderson was the Pelicans’ MVP w/ 8-15 FG, 3-8 3pts, 3-4 FT for 22 pts & 12 reb. They had a healthy Holiday to defend Harden and Tyreke Evans came off the bench to help the team. All these players are OUT for tonight and therefore, I expect a relatively safe win from Houston tonight.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 709 Houston Rockets (-5) @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker

NBA - 711 Sacramento Kings @ 712 Minnesota Timberwolves

Play #4

SAC really didn’t have a chance last night against IND...I have to say that few teams would have a chance against a Pacers’ team playing at home w/ 3 days off to rest and prepare the game.

The bright spot was D. Cousins posting a monster line of 12-21 FG 31pts, 13 reb e 2 assists in just 30 minutes against the best interior defensive players in the league and because the game was a blowout early on the 4th quarter, SAC’s coach decided to “rest” the starters so we have a SAC team not involved in a awful b2b spot.

This 10-points blowout line for MIN is a bit overrated IMO, because MIN defense by no means is “near” of the level displayed by IND defense last night and so, MIN offense would have to simply outscore SAC’s offense and in a potential run and gun game, I don’t think that will happen quite easy…

MIN indeed had some blowout wins vs. inferior level teams but note that the majority of those wins were against teams not used to play in fast paced affairs like CHA, MIL or BOS who have lost 92-119, 95-117 or 88-106 @MIN.

This contest will be a run and gun game, both teams won’t put a lot of effort on defense and so, SAC offense is extremely dangerous in this potential scenario and that’s why I’m taking them tonight as my Single Dime Play.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 711 Sacramento Kings (+10) @ -110 / 1.91 on Betonline

NBA - 707 Toronto Raptors @ 708 Boston Celtics

Play #3

***Upgraded to a Double Dime Play***

Jordan Crawford was traded today for GSW and so, BOS will have A. Bradley and J. Bayless as their primary guards. Early on the season, BOS struggled mightily w/  Bradley being their only “pure” guard and this could be a problem tonight b/c Bayless is yet to develop the proper chemistry w/ the team.

However, the bad news is that they will face a Raptors team that is playing in an incredible high level. Their defense has been phenomenal and their level of unselfishness on the offensive end was enough to produce 116 points against the Bucks in the last game.

Today, BOS officially is in “tank mode” while TOR is now playing to have home court edge in the first round of the playoffs and this 3.5-points line should be 6-points line IMO.

Pick: 3 units (Double Dime Play) on 707 Toronto Raptors (-3.5) @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker

Pick: 1 unit (Double Play) on 707 Toronto Raptors (-4) @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker

NBA - 713 Memphis Grizzlies @ 714 Milwaukee Bucks

Play #5

NOTE: no detailed write up for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 713/714 Under 187 @ -110 / 1.91 on Betonline

NBA - 715 Utah Jazz @ 716 San Antonio Spurs

Play #6

NOTE: no detailed write up for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 715/716 Under 200 @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker

NBA - 717 Los Angeles Lakers @ 718 Phoenix Suns

Play #7

NOTE: no detailed write up for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 717/718 Under 212 @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker

NBA - 723 Dallas Mavericks @ 724 Los Angeles Clippers

Play #8

NOTE: no detailed write up for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 723 Dallas Mavericks (+4.5) @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker