Front Page NBA Picks (Wed, Nov 12)

[Willie Bee]

Phoenix Suns -3½ ground the Houston Rockets

Game Time: 11/12/2008 10:30 PM -
By: Jim Feist | playbook.com

The Rockets have still not found their way on offense, sitting 24th in the league in scoring and 27th in FG%. Back the Phoenix Suns as home favorites vs. Houston.

The Rockets have started off winning four of their first seven games but were beaten handily their last time out in LA by the Lakers on Sunday, 111-82.

Yao Ming looks fully recovered from his injury that sidelined him last year as he leads the team in points (16.6) and rebounds (9.1). Tracy McGrady is averaging 5.3 assists per game and 16.4 ppg. Much traveled Ron Artest is contributing too, averaging 15.7 ppg and 5.3 rebounds. The Rockets are now 27th in the NBA in shooting percentage (41.3) and 24th in scoring (93.5 ppg).

The Phoenix Suns are playing well under first year coach Terry Porter, winning six of their first eight games. Porter has stressed defense this year and it's paying off as the Suns allow 98.6 ppg – only the Lakers are better in the Pacific Division.

Amare Stoudemire leads the team in scoring (24.6) and rebounds (8.4). Porter is also trying to preserve his big man, Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq has played in 60 games or more just once in the past three seasons. Porter plans on sitting the big guy out in the second half of back-to-back games this season.

"People talk about the old Suns teams," Porter said. "Name one of those teams that had a 7-2, 300-pound guy that played in the middle. It's totally different. Just the whole makeup of this team is different."

The Rockets are watching their shooting percentage drop fast on this road trip, and it likely won't much better tonight. We'll take the Suns here and lay the points.

Free Pick: Suns -3½ (-110)

[Willie Bee]

Los Angeles Lakers & New Orleans Hornets Over 193½

Game Time: 11/12/2008 08:05 PM -
By: Bob Harvey | bobharvey.mysbrforum.com

Coming off their win last night in Dallas, the Lakers could be a little slow on defense tonight in New Orleans. Play the Over when LA takes on Chris Paul and the Hornets.

The LA Lakers at 6-0 are off to their best start in seven years. They’ll have a real dogfight tonight though as they take on the New Orleans Hornets.

I love the Over in this spot, seeing as how the Lakers lead the league in scoring offense and the Hornets are an up-tempo team that likes to move the ball and fast break. New Orleans also possesses the best point guard in the game in Chris Paul, who can both score and distribute the rock with equal success.

Peja Stojakovic is one of the better three-point shooters in the game and has hit 41% of his shots from downtown this season. David West is a double-double waiting to happen averaging 21 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game.

The Lakers can fire back with their big three of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum who are averaging a combined 56 points and 25 rebounds per game. This will be the second of back-to-back games for the Lakers who beat the Mavericks last night in Dallas. Usually when a team is tired, it shows up on the defensive end.

I’m not sure if the Lakers can improve to 7-0 but I’m quite sure we’re looking at a nice Over play in Bayou Country tonight.

Free Pick: Lakers-Hornets Over 193½ (-110)

[Willie Bee]

New York Knicks +4½ to bounce back vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Game Time: 11/12/2008 08:05 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

The Grizzlies look like a weak favorite here, considering that they have allowed over 100 points four straight games and the Knicks can score. Take the points here.

The New York Knicks has their three-game winning streak snapped vs. the depleted San Antonio Spurs last night, but we look for them to bounce back vs. the Memphis Grizzles here.

After all, this has been a Visitors Series, as the road team is 10-4 against the spread in the last 14 head-to-head meetings. The Knicks are playing up tempo this season, still averaging 99.3 points per game this season despite that 80-point debacle last night, and they are very capable of running the Grizzlies out of their own building.

Now Memphis is 2-0 straight up and ATS at home, but they are only averaging 88.0 points per game in those two victories. The have also now allowed 100 points or more in four consecutive games, and given the success of the Knicks offense this year, 88 points simply will not get it done here.

At the very least, the Grizzlies are a vulnerable favorite given the recent struggles of the defense, so take the points with the Knicks in what could be a possible upset.

Free Pick: Knicks +4½ (-110)

[Willie Bee]

Take Toronto Raptors -5½ at home vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Game Time: 11/12/2008 07:05 PM -
By: Jimmy Boyd | 10starpicks.com

The 76ers are 0-3 straight up and against the spread on the road this season, and those perfect marks will continue for Philadelphia tonight at the Toronto Raptors.

The Philadelphia 76ers are 0-3 SU and ATS on the road this season and their road struggles will continue tonight in Toronto against a Raptors team that will be happy to see their home floor following a three-game road trip.

The Raptors have won seven of the last nine meetings in this matchup SU and are 5-3-1 ATS in those contests. Toronto has already won at Philly by 11 points this season and I expect the 76ers to go down again by a similar margin.

Plays against road underdogs of 3½ to 9½ points (76ers) revenging a loss vs. an opponent of 10 points or more, playing with three or more days rest are 70-36 ATS since 1996. Lay the points.

Free Pick: Raptors -5½ (-110)

[Willie Bee]

Milwaukee Bucks -2½ vs San Antonio Spurs

Game Time: 11/12/2008 08:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

The Spurs are banged up and have historically struggled to cover when facing the Bucks. Milwaukee gets the nod Wednesday at home vs. Tim Duncan and San Antonio.

Our Wednesday night NBA selection is on the Milwaukee Bucks at home over the San Antonio Spurs.

Last night, Milwaukee lost 99-93 at Cleveland while the Spurs (finally) covered the spread and won 92-80 over Mike D'Antoni's New York Knicks. This has been a frustrating year thus far for the Silver and Black. First, star shooting guard Manu Ginobili injured his ankle in the semi-final round of the Olympics, and underwent surgery a few months ago. Then in the midst of a blowout home loss to the Miami Heat, point guard Tony Parker sprained his ankle and will sit next to Manu in the stands for the next month.

The Spurs have always been poor without Ginobili in the lineup (5-19 ATS last 24) and also have not fared well against the Bucks, going 4-15 ATS their last 19 meetings – easily the worst opponent for Tim Duncan since he entered the league. The pointspread also is key here, as the Spurs are a dreadful 2-14 ATS their last 16 games as road underdogs of +1½ to +6 points (check the line on Wednesday to see if this trend applies).

Milwaukee will be without its best player Michael Redd on Wednesday, but Redd is more easily replaced than either Parker or Ginobili as the Bucks can generate scoring from other players. San Antonio is now starting rookie George Hill in Parker's stead, while Roger Mason, Jr. is filling in admirably for Ginobili. Take Milwaukee.

Free Pick: Bucks -2½ (-110)