Off loss, LeBron & Cavaliers head to San Antonio
Off loss, LeBron & Cavaliers head to San Antonio
The passing of two NBA legends on Thursday, Bulls coach and broadcaster Red Kerr and former player and broadcaster Norm Van Lier, casts a somber mood on NBA action this weekend. In the case of Van Lier, it also casts that forgotten art on the floor, defense, into the spotlight. The San Antonio Spurs know a thing or two about defense, and theirs will be tested Friday against LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
The Chicago Bulls lost two of their legends on Thursday. Former Bulls coach and broadcaster Johnny “Red” Kerr died at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer, the same day that former player and broadcaster Norm Van Lier was found dead at his Chicago home at age 61.
Both men were three-time All-Stars as players. Pro basketball has a fairly short history and doesn’t always take the time to honor its heritage – that will most assuredly not be the case in Chicago this week. Van Lier was especially skilled at defense, which we humbly present as the theme for this weekend’s betting preview.
Cleveland at San Antonio
Friday, Feb 27, 9:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Remember when LeBron James first hit the league in 2003 and that Nike commercial that touted his ability to pass the ball? Lies, all lies. James was held without an assist for the first time in his career in Thursday’s 93-74 loss to the Houston Rockets (+3½). Give the Rockets their due on defense with Ron Artest and Shane Battier – the latter being the recent subject of a recent Michael Lewis column in The New York Times that is making its rounds through the NBA blogosphere.
The Cavs lost one of their own defensive stalwarts, Ben Wallace, to a broken right leg that is expected to keep him out of action for the next 4-6 weeks. Wallace is hardly the player he was three years ago when he won the last of his four Defensive Player of the Year awards, but he’s still got some value as an interior defender. Still, this could prove to be good news for Cavs supporters, who will now get to see more of Anderson Varejao and promising rookie J.J. Hickson.
It’s hard to say what we’ll see from the Spurs. Manu Ginobili is out another couple of weeks with a stress reaction in right ankle, and Tim Duncan is day-to-day with tendinosis in his right knee. Tendinosis is actually a lot more common than tendinitis, but has worse long-term implications if not treated carefully. Keep an eye on the newswires as well as the betting odds.
Orlando at Philadelphia
Daturday, Feb 28, 7:00 p.m. (ET) NBA-TV
Both these teams will be playing on zero days of rest; Orlando welcomes the Detroit Pistons to the Magic Kingdom on Friday, and the Sixers are at MSG to face the New York Knicks. Philadelphia should be the more tired bunch – New York runs the second fastest pace in the NBA at 99.8 possessions per game, while Detroit is tied for last with the Portland Trail Blazers at 89.4. The Magic are 7-3 ATS this year playing the second of back-to-back games. Philadelphia is 6-8 ATS.
At least the Sixers are relatively healthy – minus Elton Brand and his season-ending shoulder injury, that is. Mickael Pietrus (sprained right wrist) has joined Jameer Nelson on the sidelines; without Pietrus’ special brand of defense, the over has cashed in three times in a row for Orlando. Those are also the first three games of Rafer Alston’s career as the Magic’s starting pivot in place of Nelson. They’re 2-1 SU and ATS thus far.
Detroit at Boston
Sunday, Mar 1, 1:00 p.m. (ET) ABC
Our tour ends at the Garden in Boston, where reigning Defensive POY Kevin Garnett remains on the shelf with a strained right knee. According to The Boston Globe, there is a chance he could make an early return to action Friday against the Pacers. Boston is 2-1 SU and ATS without the Big Ticket in the paint, although the under did cash in twice regardless. The Celtics still have the outstanding perimeter defense of Rajon Rondo to help keep a lid on things.
Stephon Marbury’s defense? Not so much, but it won’t cost the Celtics much to give his scoring prowess a test drive off the bench.
Detroit just needs a hug right now. The Pistons are on an eight-game losing streak at 1-7 ATS. Allen Iverson is day-to-day with a bad back, and Rasheed Wallace barely avoided being suspended for Friday’s game against Orlando when he had a pair of technical fouls rescinded to keep his season total below 16. At least this game will be on the road, where the Pistons are 14-13 ATS this year compared to 7-22 ATS at the Palace. B-b-b-b-bubkes.
The passing of two NBA legends on Thursday, Bulls coach and broadcaster Red Kerr and former player and broadcaster Norm Van Lier, casts a somber mood on NBA action this weekend. In the case of Van Lier, it also casts that forgotten art on the floor, defense, into the spotlight. The San Antonio Spurs know a thing or two about defense, and theirs will be tested Friday against LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
The Chicago Bulls lost two of their legends on Thursday. Former Bulls coach and broadcaster Johnny “Red” Kerr died at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer, the same day that former player and broadcaster Norm Van Lier was found dead at his Chicago home at age 61.
Both men were three-time All-Stars as players. Pro basketball has a fairly short history and doesn’t always take the time to honor its heritage – that will most assuredly not be the case in Chicago this week. Van Lier was especially skilled at defense, which we humbly present as the theme for this weekend’s betting preview.
Cleveland at San Antonio
Friday, Feb 27, 9:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Remember when LeBron James first hit the league in 2003 and that Nike commercial that touted his ability to pass the ball? Lies, all lies. James was held without an assist for the first time in his career in Thursday’s 93-74 loss to the Houston Rockets (+3½). Give the Rockets their due on defense with Ron Artest and Shane Battier – the latter being the recent subject of a recent Michael Lewis column in The New York Times that is making its rounds through the NBA blogosphere.
The Cavs lost one of their own defensive stalwarts, Ben Wallace, to a broken right leg that is expected to keep him out of action for the next 4-6 weeks. Wallace is hardly the player he was three years ago when he won the last of his four Defensive Player of the Year awards, but he’s still got some value as an interior defender. Still, this could prove to be good news for Cavs supporters, who will now get to see more of Anderson Varejao and promising rookie J.J. Hickson.
It’s hard to say what we’ll see from the Spurs. Manu Ginobili is out another couple of weeks with a stress reaction in right ankle, and Tim Duncan is day-to-day with tendinosis in his right knee. Tendinosis is actually a lot more common than tendinitis, but has worse long-term implications if not treated carefully. Keep an eye on the newswires as well as the betting odds.
Orlando at Philadelphia
Daturday, Feb 28, 7:00 p.m. (ET) NBA-TV
Both these teams will be playing on zero days of rest; Orlando welcomes the Detroit Pistons to the Magic Kingdom on Friday, and the Sixers are at MSG to face the New York Knicks. Philadelphia should be the more tired bunch – New York runs the second fastest pace in the NBA at 99.8 possessions per game, while Detroit is tied for last with the Portland Trail Blazers at 89.4. The Magic are 7-3 ATS this year playing the second of back-to-back games. Philadelphia is 6-8 ATS.
At least the Sixers are relatively healthy – minus Elton Brand and his season-ending shoulder injury, that is. Mickael Pietrus (sprained right wrist) has joined Jameer Nelson on the sidelines; without Pietrus’ special brand of defense, the over has cashed in three times in a row for Orlando. Those are also the first three games of Rafer Alston’s career as the Magic’s starting pivot in place of Nelson. They’re 2-1 SU and ATS thus far.
Detroit at Boston
Sunday, Mar 1, 1:00 p.m. (ET) ABC
Our tour ends at the Garden in Boston, where reigning Defensive POY Kevin Garnett remains on the shelf with a strained right knee. According to The Boston Globe, there is a chance he could make an early return to action Friday against the Pacers. Boston is 2-1 SU and ATS without the Big Ticket in the paint, although the under did cash in twice regardless. The Celtics still have the outstanding perimeter defense of Rajon Rondo to help keep a lid on things.
Stephon Marbury’s defense? Not so much, but it won’t cost the Celtics much to give his scoring prowess a test drive off the bench.
Detroit just needs a hug right now. The Pistons are on an eight-game losing streak at 1-7 ATS. Allen Iverson is day-to-day with a bad back, and Rasheed Wallace barely avoided being suspended for Friday’s game against Orlando when he had a pair of technical fouls rescinded to keep his season total below 16. At least this game will be on the road, where the Pistons are 14-13 ATS this year compared to 7-22 ATS at the Palace. B-b-b-b-bubkes.
