NBA Premium Card 04/09

NBA - 709 Boston Celtics @ 710 Atlanta Hawks

Play #1

I was kind of surprised with the inability of the Hawks’ offense to score points against such a poor defensive team like the Pistons last night. As expected, the Hawks had some problems vs. huge size of DET’s frontcourt but offensively they just couldn’t score… I watched some parts of the game and IMO, it was just one of those rare “off nights” because the Hawks’ generated plenty of good outside looks. However, their starters combined to hit just 7-29 from 3pts (24% mark)!

I expect them to bounce back against a Celtics team that isn’t playing any kind of defense for some time now…  In L10 games, BOS’ Def. Rtg = 116.5! They are basically playing w/ the “tank mode” activated! Note that ATL’s guard L. Williams is probable for tonight so, ATL has another solid offensive player available.

R. Rondo will play for the Celtics and w/ him on the court, BOS’s offensive flow automatically improves and I expect them to score some points vs. ATL’s poor defense as well in a fast paced affair.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 709/710 Over 203 @ -110 / 1.91 on 5 Dimes

NBA - 715 Chicago Bulls @ 716 Minnesota Timberwolves

Play #2

The Timberwolves are coming from a pretty nice win vs. SAS last night, but unfortunately (for them), it has been tough to sustain the same level of effort in consecutive days as they are 0-7 ATS in L7 spots of b2b games.

Without K. Martin and C. Budinger, the Wolves don’t have a lot of perimeter shooting on their current roster… they went just 5-15 3pts last night and are shooting just 23-78 from 3pts (29.5%) in L4 games.

They were able to defeat the Spurs mostly because of their huge edge on the boards w/ 57.4% reb/rate%! The Spurs simply didn’t "show" any kind of energy last night…

This kind of “physical edge” for the Wolves simply won’t happen against the Bulls tonight! CHI is playing some great basketball as of late and against a MIN’s offense that can’t hurt from the outside, I expect the Bulls to be pretty decent defensively.

MIN won the first H2H @CHI early on the but note that both Hinrich & Noah didn’t play that game and we all know the importance of these two players for the Bulls (especially Noah). I expect the Bulls to be more “physical” than the Wolves and my fair line for this contest is CHI-6.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 715 Chicago Bulls (-2.5) @ -110 / 1.91 on 5 Dimes

NBA - 717 Phoenix Suns @ 718 New Orleans Pelicans

Play #3

I really don’t expect the Suns to be lazy and not approach tonight’s game w/ the proper effort, especially after losing to the Lakers in the last week. Having said that… The Suns w/ Dragic & Bledsoe on the backcourt, are simply a nightmare matchup for the Pelicans’ awful perimeter defense and lack of rim protection.

NO is allowing 15 fast break points & 50.3 points in the paint per game in L6 contests! B. Roberts & A. Morrow just can’t defend Dragic & Bledsoe while Stiemsma, Ajinca and Withey are worthless in both ends of the floor. Note also that A. Davis is banged up as well…

PHX’s 2nd unit has been phenomenal in the last games w/ Green and the Morris’ brothers and I expect them to extend the lead tonight… Dragic torched NO in the last H2H w/ 14-21 FG, 3-7 3pts and 9-11 FT for 40 points!

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 717 Phoenix Suns (-6.5) @ -110 / 1.91 on 5 Dimes

NBA - 723 Oklahoma City Thunder @ 724 Los Angeles Clippers

Play #4

I had a chance to watch the game between PHX and OKC in order to prepare tonight’s contest and I just can’t avoid not fading OKC’s after evaluating what I’ve just saw.

Honestly, the Clippers are the better team right now especially because OKC’s perimeter is simply a disaster against teams that can move the ball and have solid mid range / long range shooters. OKC’s coach Scott Brooks is using some weird (bad ones) lineups on the backcourt and a great offensive team like the Clippers will just torch them!

Also, OKC is playing @ b2b nights while the Clippers had the chance to prepare tonight’s contest with more detail – another solid point for LAC! IMO, we should be dealing w/ LAC being favored by 2 full ball possessions!

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 724 Los Angeles Clippers (-3) @ -110 / 1.91 on 5 Dimes

NBA - 705 Detroit Pistons @ 706 Cleveland Cavaliers

Play #5

NOTE: no detailed write up for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 705/706 Over 206.5 @ -110 / 1.91 on 5 Dimes

NBA - 707 Charlotte Bobcats @ 708 Washington Wizards

Play #6

NOTE: no detailed write up for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 707 Charlotte Bobcats (+5) @ -110 / 1.91 on 5 Dimes

NBA - 719 Houston Rockets @ 720 Denver Nuggets

Play #7

NOTE: no detailed write up for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 720 Denver Nuggets ML @ +105 / 2.05 on 5 Dimes