AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS

Have I mentioned that I love the NBA? Not like I love the World Famous Mitchell Borther’s O’Farrell Theatre, or even pop tarts (especially the cinnamon brown sugar kind) but I love it nonetheless. When I tell people I am an NBA fanatic I get one of three responses: The NBwhat? Is that Jordan guy still playing? or Do you want fries with that (and I am not sure what that means but I always answer yes)? Anyway, I am going to give you the top five reasons I love the NBA.

1. The Portland Trailblazers: Everytime you think they have figured it out, they trade for another head case. Congratulations Portland, you are now the proud owners of Darius Miles. Darius comes with tons of talent but no work ethic and no skillz. So Portland, thanks for brining Miles under the influence of great citizens and hard workers like RaWeed Wallace, Smokey Stoudamire, and Ruben Patterson. If things work out, maybe Darius can share Ruben’s parole officer in a year or two. I would pay for a behind the scenes documentary of this team. Brilliant, really, thank you Portland for making this happen. Now sign Rodman and make my life complete.

2. Peja Stojakovic: 50% from the floor, 90% from the line, 40% from the three point arc. Peja can shoot, game over.

3. LeDong James. Potentially one of the ten best players ever. Seriously. He is no Larry Bird but he certainly can be as good as that Magic guy. Watch him play. I say this every week but LeDong is just so much better than anybody on the court. He knows the game, he understands how to play, and he has great body control for somebody his size. Buy the LeDong jersey and tell your kids you were there.

4. Mark Cuban: All he does is buy players and they can’t win it all. I love that mini-Steinbrenner tries so hard but he doesn’t get it. You need to have some type of continuity to win in the league (take note Danny Ainge). Turning over his roster every year just can not work. While I love the effort and the enthusiasm, he has to figure this out. Still, having him as an owner makes this league fun to watch. Nothing like a billionaire yelling at refs from the front row.

5. The posses: All I want is to hang with Iverson’s posse. Roll some bones, drink some fortys, braid my hair, and pimp out my Escalade. What other league has posses like this? Do you think Derek Jeter is roaming NYC with his boys? Maybe football players have posses but they’re so big they don’t need them. Tell me you all wouldn’t want to see a real world episode with Stephon Marbury’s posse. Brilliant stuff, just brilliant.

On to the free nba picks:

NBA BASKETBALL PICKS FOR FRIDAY 1/23/04

Last weekend was a terrible weekend. I went 1-5, dropping my record under .500 for the first time this year. Just really pathetic, kind of like Wagercom’s own DJ. I am guaranteeing victory this weekend and I will get you all paid.

Detroit at Minnesota -5: Detroit is going to get smoked by the Wolves. Garnett is going to treat Ben Wallace like he’s a rag doll. Money in the bank.

Utah +7.5 at the Clippers: I love both these teams which is why it will be a close game. Jazz may lose but not by 8.

Sacramento -1 at Memphis: Did I mention I love Peja?

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