NBA on TNT Doubleheader: Grounded Chuck
NBA on TNT Doubleheader: Grounded Chuck
Tonight's twinbill of NBA action on TNT is going to be minus one star as Charles Barkley sits the broadcast out following his recent arrest on drunk driving charges. Viewers and bettors will just have to manage somehow without the big guy. Up first is LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers paying a visit to the Chicago Bulls, followed by Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns traveling to Denver to meet the Nuggets.
Thursday’s NBA doubleheader on TNT is going to be a little strange. Charles Barkley will not be part of the host panel; he’s on a leave of absence stemming from drunk driving charges. But this shouldn’t deter handicappers from watching the broadcast. Kenny Smith is the brains to Barkley’s charisma – you’ll learn a lot more about basketball from the two-time NBA champion point guard than the Round Mound of Rebound.
That doesn’t mean Barkley is all bluster. His value as an analyst is his understanding of people and his ability to call a spade a spade. These are incredibly valuable tools to have as a handicapper, but people from all walks of life can teach you this. Besides, Barkley was evidently right when he said he wasn’t a role model.
Cleveland at Chicago (+8½, 194½)
Thursday, Jan 15, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
These have been tough times for the Bulls (17-22 SU and ATS), but they got a lift this week with the return of both Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich from the injury list. They were instrumental in Chicago’s 102-98 victory over the shorthanded Raptors (-4.5) on Wednesday; Deng had 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Hinrich contributed 12 points, six assists and five rebounds off the bench.
The bench is where Larry Hughes (14.6 PER) found himself during the entire game. Coach Vinny Del Negro also sat Joakim Noah (15.0 PER) and Tyrus Thomas (14.4 PER) for the fourth quarter, as Chicago outscored Toronto 34-27 to pull off the upset. Derrick Rose (15.4 PER) had 17 of those 34 points for the Bulls. The first-year coach is not getting his message across in the Windy City, so having a nearly full roster is critical if Del Negro is going to be able to crack the whip as he did on Wednesday.
The Cavaliers (30-6 SU, 26-10 ATS) have none of these problems. LeBron James is dropping triple-doubles, and the Cavs backcourt has three credible long-range threats in Delonte West (40.5 percent), Mo Williams (36.2 percent) and Daniel Gibson (36.2 percent). But Cleveland does have some injury concerns in the paint with center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (21.1 PER) out for the month with bone chips in his ankle. Ben Wallace (13.4 PER, 10.1 rebounds per 36 minutes) is expected back after missing a game with the flu.
Phoenix at Denver (-2, 220)
Thursday, Jan 15, 10:30 p.m. (ET)
Shaquille O’Neal, MVP? That might be a bit of a stretch, but the 36-year-old Big Cactus is playing a lot like the man who won three rings with the Lakers earlier this decade. O’Neal leads the Suns (22-13 SU, 13-21 ATS) with a 23.5 PER, racking up 20.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes. And he’s even upped his free-throw percentage to a career-high 62.3
O’Neal told the Arizona Republic that his decreased production last year was because, in his words, “a muscle in my ass wasn’t firing.” Good health is crucial for this Suns team. Although the bench isn’t nearly as thin as years past, O’Neal is joined in the starting rotation by fellow graybeards Steve Nash (34) and Grant Hill (36). They’re fine for now, but will break down as the season wears on
Denver (26-13 SU, 21-17-1 ATS) never seems to have a full contingent on the floor. Carmelo Anthony (18.1 PER) is expected to miss the rest of the month with a broken hand, leaving coach George Karl to experiment with enigmatic shooter J.R. Smith (15.0 PER) in a small starting lineup with Chauncey Billups (21.0 PER) and defensive specialist Dahntay Jones (10.2 PER). Denver is 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS in its last three games without Anthony in the lineup
The Nuggets have the bench strength to deal with Anthony’s absence, at least in the short term. The return of Chris Andersen (17.6 PER) from a two-year drug suspension has been a major boost to Denver’s fortunes. His shot-blocking prowess (3.8 per 36 minutes) makes it a lot easier for Nuggets supporters to forget Marcus Camby; only the 26-14 ATS Oklahoma City Thunder have a more profitable record in the West. Phoenix is last in the entire league against the betting odds.
Tonight's twinbill of NBA action on TNT is going to be minus one star as Charles Barkley sits the broadcast out following his recent arrest on drunk driving charges. Viewers and bettors will just have to manage somehow without the big guy. Up first is LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers paying a visit to the Chicago Bulls, followed by Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns traveling to Denver to meet the Nuggets.
Thursday’s NBA doubleheader on TNT is going to be a little strange. Charles Barkley will not be part of the host panel; he’s on a leave of absence stemming from drunk driving charges. But this shouldn’t deter handicappers from watching the broadcast. Kenny Smith is the brains to Barkley’s charisma – you’ll learn a lot more about basketball from the two-time NBA champion point guard than the Round Mound of Rebound.
That doesn’t mean Barkley is all bluster. His value as an analyst is his understanding of people and his ability to call a spade a spade. These are incredibly valuable tools to have as a handicapper, but people from all walks of life can teach you this. Besides, Barkley was evidently right when he said he wasn’t a role model.
Cleveland at Chicago (+8½, 194½)
Thursday, Jan 15, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
These have been tough times for the Bulls (17-22 SU and ATS), but they got a lift this week with the return of both Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich from the injury list. They were instrumental in Chicago’s 102-98 victory over the shorthanded Raptors (-4.5) on Wednesday; Deng had 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Hinrich contributed 12 points, six assists and five rebounds off the bench.
The bench is where Larry Hughes (14.6 PER) found himself during the entire game. Coach Vinny Del Negro also sat Joakim Noah (15.0 PER) and Tyrus Thomas (14.4 PER) for the fourth quarter, as Chicago outscored Toronto 34-27 to pull off the upset. Derrick Rose (15.4 PER) had 17 of those 34 points for the Bulls. The first-year coach is not getting his message across in the Windy City, so having a nearly full roster is critical if Del Negro is going to be able to crack the whip as he did on Wednesday.
The Cavaliers (30-6 SU, 26-10 ATS) have none of these problems. LeBron James is dropping triple-doubles, and the Cavs backcourt has three credible long-range threats in Delonte West (40.5 percent), Mo Williams (36.2 percent) and Daniel Gibson (36.2 percent). But Cleveland does have some injury concerns in the paint with center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (21.1 PER) out for the month with bone chips in his ankle. Ben Wallace (13.4 PER, 10.1 rebounds per 36 minutes) is expected back after missing a game with the flu.
Phoenix at Denver (-2, 220)
Thursday, Jan 15, 10:30 p.m. (ET)
Shaquille O’Neal, MVP? That might be a bit of a stretch, but the 36-year-old Big Cactus is playing a lot like the man who won three rings with the Lakers earlier this decade. O’Neal leads the Suns (22-13 SU, 13-21 ATS) with a 23.5 PER, racking up 20.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes. And he’s even upped his free-throw percentage to a career-high 62.3
O’Neal told the Arizona Republic that his decreased production last year was because, in his words, “a muscle in my ass wasn’t firing.” Good health is crucial for this Suns team. Although the bench isn’t nearly as thin as years past, O’Neal is joined in the starting rotation by fellow graybeards Steve Nash (34) and Grant Hill (36). They’re fine for now, but will break down as the season wears on
Denver (26-13 SU, 21-17-1 ATS) never seems to have a full contingent on the floor. Carmelo Anthony (18.1 PER) is expected to miss the rest of the month with a broken hand, leaving coach George Karl to experiment with enigmatic shooter J.R. Smith (15.0 PER) in a small starting lineup with Chauncey Billups (21.0 PER) and defensive specialist Dahntay Jones (10.2 PER). Denver is 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS in its last three games without Anthony in the lineup
The Nuggets have the bench strength to deal with Anthony’s absence, at least in the short term. The return of Chris Andersen (17.6 PER) from a two-year drug suspension has been a major boost to Denver’s fortunes. His shot-blocking prowess (3.8 per 36 minutes) makes it a lot easier for Nuggets supporters to forget Marcus Camby; only the 26-14 ATS Oklahoma City Thunder have a more profitable record in the West. Phoenix is last in the entire league against the betting odds.