darrell,

Three NBA picks tonight...

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Good luck , darrell!

Game: Philadelphia at NEW YORK (7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 2 stars on Philadelphia -4.5

"I don't see how you give up 123 points, 33 on the break and feel like you're satisfied," Brown said. "Maybe we're just not good enough. After 70 games, it's mind boggling." This was Larry Brown's comment after losing to the Boston Celtics by 25 in a rout at Madison Square Garden 123-98. He's right - they are not good enough and it is mind-boggling. The struggling Knicks who have lost 6 straight now play a Sixers team that hasn't fared well of late either losing their last 10/12. However, many of those games that were lost were without Iverson due to an injury and with his return to the lineup recently, they look to keep their small 1.5 game lead over the Bulls for the last playoff spot and fight off the surging Celtics in the process who are just 3 games behind. They are playing for that last playoff spot and the Knicks cannot play any kind of defense. New York is 5-22 ATS in their last 27 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5, we will ride the Sixers here to do much of what the Celtics did last night. I agree with Coach Brown - the Knicks are awful.

Charlotte has been the best team to bet ATS this year - according to this year's ATS records. It is no different today. They face a Chicago team that has struggled badly losing by surrendering a late lead to the Magic at home. Charlotte, with the combination of Felton and Wallace has been an up-start team playing .500 ball of late and at home even better ball where they have put up over 105 points in each of their last 6 home games. It is scary to imagine how good this team will be next year when Okefor and May return from injuries. This team finds offense at home. Tey played the Pistons and Heat closely at home recently and loss by 5 or less points. From those two key games forward, they have not found it hard to win and in fact, have beat the Bulls twice this season when they were not playing up to their potential as they are now. Let's ride the hot home team in the Bobcats and look to cash in once again as they are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 and the Bulls are 0-3 ATS against teams with straight up losing record.

Many do not realize how much the Washington Wizards have improved this year. This team has a great trifecta of Areans, Jameson and Butler (great job Lakers, for Butler, you lost a future all star to pick one of the biggest busts of all time in Kwame Brown). This team is now in 5th place in the East for a playoff spot and come off a huge road win at Sacremento - and considering that the Kings had won 13 in a row there, it is quite an accomplishment. Furthermore, this team won that game without Arenas who had the flu but who is expected to play tonight. The W without Gilbert shows the depth of this team. Keep in mind that as they go on the road today they are 3-1 on this road trip having already defeated the Jazz and the Warriors. Houston is still without T-Mac as they needed him to put nearly 40 last game at Washington to beat the Wizards. Thus, this is a revenge game for Washington as well and considering that Houston had lost their last 5 in a row at home before beating Seattle recently. Granted, Houston is making large light of their win, but given the fact that Rashard Lewis did not play that game, they should not take too much solice. The Wizards are very capable of winning on the road - after all, this was the team that gave Detroit's first road loss of the year. We'll ride the hot Wizards on the revenge and angle and their desire for a playoff birth.