Spurs, Pistons tip Thursday TNT doubleheader
Spurs, Pistons tip Thursday TNT doubleheader
Trades and trade rumors are dominating the NBA front, with Tyson Chandler's big left toe making news on Wedneday in a rescinded New Orleans, Charlotte trade. For those more interested in action on the court than off, tonight's TNT twinbill should get their attention. Rasheed Wallace at the Pistons are at home against the Spurs before the Celtics travel to Utah to meet the Jazz.
If Joe Smith comes knocking on your door, you might want to think twice about answering. He’s a solid player and everything, but for some reason, chaos follows in his wake.
The No. 1 overall pick in 1995 played less than three years for the Warriors before being handed around the league like a hot potato. Minnesota lost five first-round draft picks (later dropped to three) for signing him to an improper contract. And Smith came within an eyelash of playing for his seventh team in the past four years before the Tyson Chandler trade was rescinded.
As we went to press, Smith had only played for one of the four teams involved in Thursday’s NBA on TNT doubleheader.
San Antonio at Detroit
Thursday, Feb 19, 8:00 p.m. (ET) TNT
The Pistons (27-25 SU, 20-32 ATS) have only been minor players at the trade deadline, sending Alex Acker to the Clippers in a salary-cap move. But that also leaves a roster spot open for further deals in advance of Thursday’s cut-off. By the time you read this, Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton could be packing their bags – or not. Whatever the case, Detroit is in rebuilding mode, losing six of its last eight games at 1-7 ATS. There aren’t many arguments out there for betting on the Pistons.
But I’ll make one anyway. Detroit has won the last three matchups SU and ATS. The Spurs (35-17 SU, 25-25-2 ATS) will be playing their 13th away game out of 16. The All-Star break takes most of the starch out of that argument, although Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Roger Mason were all involved in last weekend’s shenanigans in Phoenix. Worse, Manu Ginobili is on the shelf for this game and the next with a sore right ankle. Ginobili (23.30 PER) is having another quietly brilliant season as San Antonio’s sixth man; without him, the Spurs lost 112-107 in overtime to the Knicks on Tuesday as 4-point road faves.
That’s about all I’ve got for Detroit fans. The Pistons are 7-22 ATS in their last 29 appearances at the Palace and 7-20 ATS against opponents who are coming off 100-point performances. But if Joe Dumars completely guts the roster at the deadline, the betting public might overreact and make Detroit a value pick against the betting odds.
Boston at Utah
Thursday, Feb 19, 10:30 p.m. (ET) TNT
Nothing much happening on the trade front for either of these teams. The Celtics (44-11 SU, 31-24 ATS) did send Sam Cassell to the Kings in a similar deal to the Acker transaction, but Cassell hasn’t played all year anyway. The Celtics haven’t needed him; Rajon Rondo (18.89 PER with premium defense) has been nothing short of excellent this year, and Eddie House (15.37 PER) is more than enough off the bench to make Tony Allen’s thumb injury a non-issue for Boston going into the playoff stretch.
The Jazz (31-23 SU, 28-26 ATS) have had their depth tested to a much greater degree this year, but they were still clinging to eighth place in the Western Conference – albeit ahead of a rejuvenated Phoenix team that is threatening to jump right back into playoff contention. It looks like Utah will have Mehmet Okur (flu) in the lineup against the Celtics, but Carlos Boozer is still reportedly a week away as he continues his recovery from November’s knee surgery. The Jazz (-10.5) thumped Memphis 117-99 on Tuesday with Paul Millsap and Jarron Collins patrolling the paint – although the result was still in doubt until Utah went on a 20-4 run late in the fourth quarter.
Okur (18.27 PER) has a very sweet stroke at 42.4 percent from behind the arc. He’s got the ability to cause Boston fits by drawing Kendrick Perkins away from the basket; Utah has covered two of three games against the C’s since Kevin Garnett’s arrival, with Okur hitting a combined 6-of-15 from downtown. His defense is virtually nonexistent, so the over is worth extra consideration with the Celtics fresh and playing their first game since the break. It’s an eye-popping 12-4-1 in their last 17 encounters.
Trades and trade rumors are dominating the NBA front, with Tyson Chandler's big left toe making news on Wedneday in a rescinded New Orleans, Charlotte trade. For those more interested in action on the court than off, tonight's TNT twinbill should get their attention. Rasheed Wallace at the Pistons are at home against the Spurs before the Celtics travel to Utah to meet the Jazz.
If Joe Smith comes knocking on your door, you might want to think twice about answering. He’s a solid player and everything, but for some reason, chaos follows in his wake.
The No. 1 overall pick in 1995 played less than three years for the Warriors before being handed around the league like a hot potato. Minnesota lost five first-round draft picks (later dropped to three) for signing him to an improper contract. And Smith came within an eyelash of playing for his seventh team in the past four years before the Tyson Chandler trade was rescinded.
As we went to press, Smith had only played for one of the four teams involved in Thursday’s NBA on TNT doubleheader.
San Antonio at Detroit
Thursday, Feb 19, 8:00 p.m. (ET) TNT
The Pistons (27-25 SU, 20-32 ATS) have only been minor players at the trade deadline, sending Alex Acker to the Clippers in a salary-cap move. But that also leaves a roster spot open for further deals in advance of Thursday’s cut-off. By the time you read this, Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton could be packing their bags – or not. Whatever the case, Detroit is in rebuilding mode, losing six of its last eight games at 1-7 ATS. There aren’t many arguments out there for betting on the Pistons.
But I’ll make one anyway. Detroit has won the last three matchups SU and ATS. The Spurs (35-17 SU, 25-25-2 ATS) will be playing their 13th away game out of 16. The All-Star break takes most of the starch out of that argument, although Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Roger Mason were all involved in last weekend’s shenanigans in Phoenix. Worse, Manu Ginobili is on the shelf for this game and the next with a sore right ankle. Ginobili (23.30 PER) is having another quietly brilliant season as San Antonio’s sixth man; without him, the Spurs lost 112-107 in overtime to the Knicks on Tuesday as 4-point road faves.
That’s about all I’ve got for Detroit fans. The Pistons are 7-22 ATS in their last 29 appearances at the Palace and 7-20 ATS against opponents who are coming off 100-point performances. But if Joe Dumars completely guts the roster at the deadline, the betting public might overreact and make Detroit a value pick against the betting odds.
Boston at Utah
Thursday, Feb 19, 10:30 p.m. (ET) TNT
Nothing much happening on the trade front for either of these teams. The Celtics (44-11 SU, 31-24 ATS) did send Sam Cassell to the Kings in a similar deal to the Acker transaction, but Cassell hasn’t played all year anyway. The Celtics haven’t needed him; Rajon Rondo (18.89 PER with premium defense) has been nothing short of excellent this year, and Eddie House (15.37 PER) is more than enough off the bench to make Tony Allen’s thumb injury a non-issue for Boston going into the playoff stretch.
The Jazz (31-23 SU, 28-26 ATS) have had their depth tested to a much greater degree this year, but they were still clinging to eighth place in the Western Conference – albeit ahead of a rejuvenated Phoenix team that is threatening to jump right back into playoff contention. It looks like Utah will have Mehmet Okur (flu) in the lineup against the Celtics, but Carlos Boozer is still reportedly a week away as he continues his recovery from November’s knee surgery. The Jazz (-10.5) thumped Memphis 117-99 on Tuesday with Paul Millsap and Jarron Collins patrolling the paint – although the result was still in doubt until Utah went on a 20-4 run late in the fourth quarter.
Okur (18.27 PER) has a very sweet stroke at 42.4 percent from behind the arc. He’s got the ability to cause Boston fits by drawing Kendrick Perkins away from the basket; Utah has covered two of three games against the C’s since Kevin Garnett’s arrival, with Okur hitting a combined 6-of-15 from downtown. His defense is virtually nonexistent, so the over is worth extra consideration with the Celtics fresh and playing their first game since the break. It’s an eye-popping 12-4-1 in their last 17 encounters.
