MONDAY'S TOP 3 NBA PICKS!!

Since anybody who is anybody is going to be watching the Spurs and Warriors do battle tonight in Oracle; this is a sneaky good betting day for under the radar lines.

HOU +5 vs. NOP

J Smoove comes back to H-Town and all of a sudden everyone starts playing better!! James Harden is doing everything he can to win games, and Smoove looks like the all-star from back in his ATL days rather than the dude who couldn't get any burn on the Clippers bench earlier this season. Although I have been impressed with how the Pelicans have been playing of late, I think Houston goes on a mini winning streak right now and wins at least the next three or four games in a row.

ATL vs. DEN +5

I know the people of Denver probably forgot they had a basketball team after the outcome of the AFC championship on Sunday, but the Nuggets are surprisingly decent these days. Early in the season they were hot garbage that I was arguing should trade everybody and start over, but now? I'm not so sure anymore. Gallo is finally healthy and playing like that second level elite type player that he could be, Mudiay is running the point and droppin dimes, and rookie sensation Jokic is a serviceable NBA big man who reminds me of a young Pau Gasol on the block!! Those are some pretty solid pieces when all added together, and I think it is going to be just enough to help these Nugz score an upset tonight against the Hawks.

CLE -13.5 vs. MIN

Is it too early to say this might be the biggest game of the Cavs season thus far?? After firing their coach and then laying an egg against Chicago in their first game post-Blatt, the Cavs absolutely have to come out and have a monster effort against the dangerous Wolves. This game is going to be surprisingly close throughout with LeBron doing just enough in the fourth to put this one away and give the Cavs the cover.

MLK DAY TOP 5 LOCKS!!

CHA vs. UTA +2.5

The Hornets are in an absolute tailspin after losing center Al Jefferson, first to a suspension and then an injury. Losers of 9 out of their last 10, makes this an easy point grab for the always feisty Jazz.

MEM vs. NOP +4

We all know how much Anthony Davis loves playing against undersized power forwards, or at least I assume that he does.  Sure Memphis has Marc Gasol to stand behind Z-Bo and at least contest the Brow's shots, but defensively and rebounding AD is going to be an absolute nightmare against this front line. Ryan Anderson has also been playing better of late since he started getting mentioned in trade rumors, maybe he is trying to improve his stock so that the Pelicans get a better offer for me, what a guy.

ORL +7.5 vs ATL

The Magic getting 7.5 points??? I must be dreaming!! I would take this line if the Magic were playing someone like the Cavs, but against the Hawks this is free money!!

GSW +3 vs. CLE

This is one of those lines that hurts me to throw out, even though I know it is the smart play. I want the Cavs to win this game, as a matter of fact I would even say there's a very good chance that they win this game. But Golden State has lost 2 out of 3 and beat the Cavs previously in this series, so the smart play here is to take the points. Cleveland has had trouble during crunch time against great teams, hopefully those struggles continue tonight in the city known as the mistake by the lake.

DAL +1.5 vs. BOS

This game features two of the best coached teams in basketball, and will be a straight up execution-fest. Watch this one if you like set plays being run over and over, proper screens being set, and more back door cutz than Future's latest mixtape. In the end I like the Mavs only because they are coming off a blowout in San Antonio, and should find playing against Boston much easier than dealing with the Spurs.

Back to Basics Picks

Thank God!!! This is probably the worst week of betting the boys DP have ever endured. Back to back to back 1-3 nights, is more embarrassing than Donald Trump mocking disabled reporters. We went back to the basics today, and can hopefully start the weekend without that garbage taste of sour picks in our mouth.

MIA +5 vs IND

Two years ago these teams looked like they would meet in the Eastern Conference Finals for the next fifteen years minimum!! Then LeBron left and Paul George broke his damn leg, and today we are looking at two completely reinvented teams. Won't be as fun as it used to be, but should be a decent game. Gotta take the defensive powerhouse Heat against Paul George and...well Paul George that's why they gave up 78 points in the first half against the Warriors.

GSW -5.5 vs BOS

Finally the public is on my side thinking that this is the night the Warriors finally go down!!! So what does DP do? We zig when others zag!! We go left when you sheep go right!! Of course if you know my record picking Warriors  games this year I would pull out a second mortgage and place it all on Boston because they are guaranteed to win now.

CHA +3 vs MEM

Biggest shocker of the regular season, MJ might actually be a competent owner!! This team is currently second in the East and look like the Charlotte team everyone expected last year, until Lance Stephenson murdered it with his piss poor attitude (and shooting). Memphis is old and slow and still depends on Jeff Green way too much. Nuff said.

OKC -3.5 vs UTA

Durant!! He's back!!! But, tonight will be all Russell Westbrook for no real reason. Lately he's been doing just enough and letting KD do all of the heavy lifting, tonight they do a little role reverse cowgirl and Hustle goes off for 45, 15 and 9 dimes.

NBA season opener

CLE +4 vs. CHI

The King getting points on opening night?? Yes, please!!! LeBron already said how excited he is to play in front of the POTUS and you know when the King is excited he likes to put on a show. I expect the Cavs to put this one away easy.

DET (+7) vs. ATL

One of these teams getting points is bound to shit the bed and lose by 15...chances are it is going to be the Pistons. Love Van Gundy, love this roster, but it's probably to early to expect them to do well against a team that obliterated the East last season. Proceed with caution on this pick.

NO (+9.5) vs GSW

My favorite line of the night and the game I am most excited to watch!!! Sure Anthony Davis and this roster is going to make the Cavs team that made the finals last year look like the 2002 Red Wings, but Anthony Davis!! Dude took a huge leap last year and is only expected to get better. Look for his coming out party to be the biggest one that has ever hit San Francisco...wait a second, maybe not. But the Pels definitely cover. 

NBA Playoffs Round Two

NBA Round 2

CHI vs. CLE (-4)

Catz: Yeah I get general public, Kevin Love is out for the rest of the playoffs. I know it, you know it, the rest of the NBA knows it. You know who else knows it? LeBron James. Who is LeBron James you ask? He's only the best player in the NBA over the last twenty years (fuck you Mamba) and he's been spending his week hearing the same nonsense over and over again. How are the Cavs possibly going to win a title without K Love knockin down triples and grabbing boards?? Well I spoke to LeBron (editors note: he didn't [Real editor's note: that wasn't a real editor's not, just Catz]) and he said "Shit, I dragged a sorry Heat team to the last four finals in a row, you think I'm worried about some bitch ass D Rose with his glass knees??" So there you have it. If the King feels comfortable telling me that in a private interview (editors note: again, he's never talked to LeBron [Again, not a real editor's note]), I feel comfortable taking the Cavs as four point favorites.

 

Nutz: I totally agree with Catz here. I love Thibs, but the Bulls aren't the juggernaut everyone though they would be. D Rose is due for an injury and Joakim Noah is being held together with duct tape at the moment. The only issue the Cavs will have is with Pau dominating Cleveland's interior D. Kyrie has a chance to really fuck things up if he plays with a "K Love is out, I gotta do twice as much work!" attitude, but I think he's reigned things in. Oh, and is David Blatt a really good coach? Might be time to start the convo.

LAC vs. HOU (-6)

Catz: Chris Paul is questionable for this game!! Lets just put it this way, if the Clippers are forced to play Austin Rivers more than 15 minutes this game (and they probably will have to) this game is going to be a blowout win for Houston. Plus the Clippers are exhausted after a tough game seven win over the defending champs; while the Rockets are rested, healthy and ready to bang.

Nutz: I hate Doc Rivers. His constant complaining and dramatic statements are annoying as hell, not to mention he might not be a good coach. He hasn't won shit since Thibs left and he was bailed out by the best PG of the last 15 years to beat the Spurs. The Clips have been relying on Matt Barnes and Big Baby a little too much. Harden is going to be LIVID that he didn't win the MVP. Look for Deandre to foul out early and Harden to go for 55 tonight.