NBA Picks for November 5th, 2008
November 5, 2008
There’s plenty to choose from in NBA action tonight with 13 games in all. We’ve got a ton of free picks going today from all of our experts, but here are our free selections from our top 3 ranked NBA handicappers:
JOHN MARTIN
1 Unit on Minnesota T’wolves +5
Minnesota will keep the San Antonio Spurs winless on the season with a big home win tonight. The Spurs have looked terrible in the early going, and a big reason is the fact the Manu Ginobli is watching from the sidelines in street clothes. This team clearly misses Ginobli’s ability to break down a defense and get easy layups. It is clear that the Spurs have lost a step this season, and a 98-81 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks last time out showed it. San Antonio is now a loss away from its first 0-4 start since 1973-74. The Spurs gave up just over 90 points/game last season, but have surrendered an average of 101.5 points thus far. Minnesota will be hungry to get back on the floor tonight after blowing a 12-point lead to the Thunder in their last game. This is a team that is starting to show signs of life after making the big trade to the Boston Celtics last season that sent KG out East. San Antonio is just 18-33 ATS in road games over the last 2 seasons. The Spurs are only 8-20 ATS in road games after playing a home game over the last 2 seasons. San Antonio has been a putrid road performer since winning their last championship. Cash in with Minnesota as the home underdog.
JACK JONES
Free Pick: Boston Celtics -9 not the Bobcats!
The Celtics have been off pace a little bit early on, but this is a good spot to get back on track. The Thunder are a young team who will get taken advantage of tonight. Lot of systems tonight supporting our theory, the first of which is to play against home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points in non-conference games when they are coming off a close home win of 3 points or less. 27-6 (81.8%) since 1996, 5-0 (100%) the last 3 seasons and 7-1 (87.5%) the last 5 seasons. Another great system is to go against underdogs off a win against a division rival playing on 2 days of rest. 53-20 (72.6%) over the last 5 seasons with a 30-7 (81.8%) mark the last three. I’ll go with the Celtics here.
BLACK WIDOW
1* on L.A. Lakers -13.5
The Lakers will keep beating up on the L.A. Clippers just as every other team in the league is doing right now. The Lakers started it all by beating the Clippers 96-76 in their season-opener. Then the Clippers lost Baron Davis to injury in their following game where they blew an 18-point lead to the Denver Nuggets after he went out in the second quarter. The Clippers went on to lose to the Utah Jazz by 22 points and by 16 points in back-to-back meetings. The Lakers will prove to be too much for this Clippers’ team again tonight. The Clippers have neither the starters, nor the bench that can match-up with what the Lakers put on the floor. The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against the Clippers, covering 4 in a row as a double-digit favorite. The Lakers have won each of their last 5 meetings with the Clippers by 18 points or more. There is nothing that leads us to believe that will change tonight. Take the Lakers and lay the points.
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