Wednesday NBA Picks

CHI +3.5 @ BOS

Though the Bulls are in the middle of a meltdown, I see no reason why the Celtics should be favored here. Sure IT is going off as of late and the Celtics have seemingly gelled over the last week, but they're still a very average team. The Bulls ongoing identity crisis coupled with whatever Fred Hoiberg is doing has definitely slowed them down, but this is still a top 3 team in the East talent wise. Tonight Jimmy Butler will put the team on his back a la Greg Jennings and give the Bulls a much needed W. 

MIA (EVEN) @ CHA

Well Al Jefferson has finally been caught. After somehow losing about 200lbs yet remaining at a D cup, Big Al has been popped for something PED/drug related. The Hornets have certainly carved out some sort of identity, but this is not the setback you want right as one of the Conferwnce's too teams rolls into town. With Luol Deng possibly returning to the lineup, the Heat will have too much firepower for then Hornets and pick up an easy W to keep pressure on the Cavs.

HOU +4 @ WAS

I know people feel burned by the Rockets, but you can't honestly believe this team will remain out of the playoff picture out West. Head Coach JB Bickerstaff made the move that Kevin McHale should have and benched Ty Lawson in favor of Patrick Beverly. Turns out what worked for the Rockets LAST  YEAR still works!!! I know this league, especially in the West, is about improving but come on Houston! Stick to the formula! Anyways, the Wiz still haven't figured out that they need to fire their coach. Add to that a banged up John Wall vs Patrick Beverly (who is known to accidentally injure other point guards) and you've got an easy win for the Rocks!

MEM +4 @ DET

We love Detroit here at Dirty Picks, but they are getting too much respect as of late. The Pistons have been wildly inconsistent (Reggie Jackson...) and may just need another piece to stabilize things. Memphis has been better lately and the Conley/Gasol duo is really starting to click. Memphis all day. 

ORL +4.5 at PHX

I had to write the picks today because Catz has been getting ready to go the Suns' game for the last 5 hours. When I told him I was going Magic, he shit all over my picks like he has just polished off the E. coli special at the local Chipotle! I can assure you loyal DPers that the Magic will be just fine tonight. Their perimeter defense is on point and with one of the Morris twins spreading locker room cancer feces all over Phoenix, Orlando has a good shot to win outright. 

NYK +3 @ UTA

The Catz daily special. He mentioned this morning that Utah hasn't looked impressive with Gobert out of the lineup and that means big things for King Kristaps. Look for the Latvian Lizard Lord to destroy the offensive boards tonight. Knicks cover. 

NBA King Kristaps Picks

ORL +8.5 vs CLE

This line could end up going really bad for both me and Orlando. LeBron seems to be super motivated by what the Warriors are doing down in San Fran, and despite major loss to injury already this season, the Cavs are playing a premiere level. Meanwhile the Magic are learning the hard way that Scott Skiles is not messing around and I believe almost every major player on this team has found themselves on the bench in the fourth quarter this season. I'm going to take my chances with a depleted Cavs team, but this is by no means a lock.

SAC +4 vs CHA

I have no idea how the Kings were able to turn it around after getting off to a horrible start the first ten games. George Karl and Cousins have a very strange love/hate relationship; where they get in to fights constantly, but it seems like they respect what each other bring to the table. Well, at least Karl does, it's unknown if Boogie respects anyone ever. Look for the Boogie train to have a monster of a game tonight against a slow, getting older by the day Al Jefferson.

NYK +4.5 vs MIA

Uh oh!! You know you've made it big time when opposing teams are calling you out before the game. So welcome to the show Porzingis!! The Heat came out and said lets see how he does when a team actually guards him, which is both a shot at the Zinger and all the other teams in the league apparently. Because of all this extra attention paid to shutting down the Zinger, tonight is the night Melo goes off for close to 50 against the team  that should trade for him before the end of the season. Maybe tonight's masterpiece of Melo will be enough to convince Riley to pull the trigger. Either way, Knicks win this game and the Zing train rolls on.