By Ron Jumper
It is always amazing how life as a handicapper goes up and down at a moments notice, one minute you love me and then you hate me. For football season, it has been mostly love and never more so then this weekend. On the hardwood, we are just a couple of weeks in and, as is usually the case, there have been some surprises along the way. I had a tough opening week of the Daily Dose of Hoops, going just 3-8-1 but I will survive. We have several hundred picks to go in this NBA season, with this being the second year in a row I’ve gotten off to a slow start. Cheers to an improved second week of DDOH!
Friday November 13, 2009
Overall Record: 11-12-1
NBA Record: 10-12-1
NCAAB Record: 1-0
Philadelphia 76ers (+1) cover vs. Utah Jazz
The Jazz are very banged up on the road and the Sixers should capitalize.
Mavericks/Timberwolves Under 198.5
No Al Jefferson for the Wolves, leading to what I believe will be a tough night offensively for an already inept offensive team.
UConn Huskies (-24.5) cover vs. William & Mary
Do I really have to explain this one?
Idaho Vandals (+12) cover vs. Utah Utes
Vandals are a mid-major sleeper and they win this game straight up against a Utes club that lost a lot.
Ole Miss Rebels (-13) cover vs. UALR Trojans
This would have been a close game last year, not so much this year.
Thursday November 12, 2009
NBA Record:
10-10-1
Miami Heat (+1.5) covers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Heat are pretty good this season, sitting at 6-1 overall. The Cavs got a huge win over Orlando last night and play a tough back-to-back road in this matchup. I expect the Heat to be nice and fresh in this one, leading to a hard fought home win.
Phoenix Suns (+7.5) cover vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are not at full strength just yet, with Gasol, Bynum, and even Mbenga not quite 100% yet. On the other side, the Suns continue to impress. This game should be a close one that comes down to the wire. I see it very unlikely that the Lakers will pull away and win by a large margin.
Wednesday November 11, 2009
NBA Record:
8-9-1
Chicago Bulls/Toronto Raptors Over 206
It is against the Raptors religion to play defense, or maybe it is has something to do with being located in Canada and having a team full of Europeans, not really sure. Either way, the Bulls played last night and lost in heartbreaking fashion as a buzzer beater by Brad Miller was waved off so I see them being sluggish tonight on the defensive end. For Toronto, they have allowed 260 points in their last 2 games (130 ppg) and scored over 100 points themselves every game this season. Take the Over and enjoy what should be a high scoring game.
Detroit Pistons (-3.5) cover vs. Charlotte Bobcats
The Pistons are at home, where they are 2-1, and they face a Bobcats team that is 0-3 on the road. Throw in Charlotte also played last night against Orlando, and I’m feeling pretty good about the Pistons getting a solid win at home. This probably won’t be a fun game to watch, as neither team is likely to light up the scoreboard. The total for this game was set at 172 and I’m not even sure they can reach that.
Boston Celtics (-11) cover vs. Utah Jazz
If it wasn’t enough that Boston has been a fantastic home team and Utah has been a terrible road team over the last couple of years, throw in that the Jazz are banged up beyond reason. Deron Williams isn’t expected to play, his backup Ronnie Price is out, and then C.J. Miles, Kyle Korver, and Matt Harpring are all out as well. That likely leaves rookie PG Eric Maynor to go up against Rajon Rondo, welcome to the NBA Eric!
College Basketball:
California Golden Bears (-18) cover vs. Detroit Titans
This is my first college play of the season, though I’ll have a full slate for everyone Friday night. The Bears are the odds-on favorite in the Pac-10, which isn’t saying a whole lot. However, it says a lot more then being a 7-win team in the Horizon like this Titans team was last season. Expect a blowout here, don’t be concerned that Murray State hung around with Cal Monday night because the Racers are actually a solid club
Tuesday November 10, 2009
NBA Record:
4-9-1
Orlando Magic/Charlotte Bobcats Under 185
Excluding Toronto, who doesn’t believe in defense more emphatically than Britney Spears doesn’t believe in underwear, the Magic have struggled to put up points on the road this season and come into this one a little banged up. The Bobcats, a good defensive team, have been very good at home this season. I expect a close game in the mid-80s here.
Miami Heat (-7) cover vs. Washington Wizards
The Heat are 5-1 and playing fantastic basketball this season, while the Wizards are banged up and slumping. I look for the Wizards to have no answer for Dwyane Wade and for the Heat to march on to a 6-1 start.
Chicago Bulls (+2.5) cover vs. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have been on the road, gotten banged up, and lost a couple in a row. The Bulls, on other hand, are 3-0 at home and appear to be playing great basketball. Last week, the Bulls won straight up at Cleveland. I expect the Nuggets to get out-rebounded and out-hustled tonight, as they lose their third road game in a row.
Portland Trail Blazers (-6.5) cover vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Oddly enough, the first home game after a long road trip still leaves the team tired and beat up. The Grizzlies just finished a 5-game road swing and are back at home for the first time. I expect a sloppy effort from Memphis tonight, while Portland is playing the first game of its own 5-game road trip. I expect the Trail Blazers to get this road swing off on the right foot.