Free Nba Basketball Picks - May 05, 2008
We went 3-1 for +7 units yesterday. While still down in the playoffs, we've made a nice dent over the past two days going 5-1 and picking up 12.5 units. Tonight we like both games...
Today's NBA Basketball Picks:
Game: Orlando at Detroit (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Detroit -6 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Detroit seems to be back. They faltered against Philadelphia early as their "going through the motions" proved not to be enough. After getting down 2-1 to the Sixers, they have won four straight by an average score of 96 to 79. Now that's what we call defense. Do they let up here after a big win in game one? No way! Doing that would give away home court advantage again and the taste of that is still too fresh. As we predicted in game one, the Pistons defense stifled the Magic and Dwight Howard wasn't a huge factor. He dominated against the Raptors, but against the Pistons, he's being reduced in stature. And if it weren't already enough, Howard injured his thumb in game one. Orlando's lack of ability to pressure Detroit is going to be their downfall. They averaged just six steals per game in the regular season and got only five last game. Detroit is 19-10 ATS this season vs. low-pressure teams that average under eight steals per game. Orlando is 10-26 ATS in their last 36 games following two straight games with under six steals. Detroit is now 29-15 ATS as a home favorite this season and 18-5 ATS after two straight pointspread covers as a favorite. They are 22-10 ATS after allowing 85 points or less including a perfect 10-0 ATS after allowing 85 or less in two straight games. This is a bad matchup for an overmatched Orlando club as long as Detroit shows up. We think based on what happened vs. Philly they will again show up tonight.
Game: San Antonio at New Orleans (9:30 PM Eastern)Pick: 4 units on New Orleans -2.5 (-110) (risk 4 to win 3.6)
This line really shows the odds-makers giving respect to the Spurs. I guess it comes down to what you believe. Are they are the same team they have been in the past or not? How good do you think New Orleans is? We feel like the Hornets are the new kid on the block, getting little to no respect, and this game will display the changing of the guard in the NBA West. This round since 1993 has produced 17 games where a team won game one by 15+ points, and in the next game has won by an average margin of 6.8 ppg, producing a record of 14-3. San Antonio clinched early last year, and lost the last two games of the season by double-digits resting regulars. They lost just four games all season by double-digits. This season they lost 11 by double-digits, and many came when teams were fighting for position late in the season. They are just 3-9 SU on the road in their last 12 vs playoff teams. New Orleans, by contrast is destroying everyone on their home-court. They are now 12-1 over their last 13, with 10 by double-digits. They have now beaten San Antonio by 25 and 19 at home this season. Think there is a message here? Looks to us like they are saying we are the new kids on the block and it is now our time. We look for the punishment to continue tonight.
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Check out the last five NBA Basketball Picks Newsletters:
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-04-2008
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NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-03-2008
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NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-02-2008
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NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-30-2008
Get rid of the Wizards already. Unless you are from Washington, how can you like this team? They have proven themselves to be trash talking thugs. And losing ones at that. DeShawn Stevenson took out L...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-29-2008
The Mavs got knocked out early from the playoffs last season and this year, with not quite as good a team, they are on their way to getting bounced again. It has been their inability to win against th...
