AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS

It’s the first week of March and we know less now about who will win the Championship then we did at the beginning of the year. The Fakers have had injury, ego, and legal problems, the Spurs have issues with Duncan’s knee, and the Kings just got Christina Webber back. What we do know is that the Timberwolves are good but are they good enough to win it all? I think so. Add a healthy Wally Szczerbiak and Troy “don’t call me ernie” Hudson to the Garnett, Cassell, Sprewell trio and you have a team that is tough to beat. Garnett is a force, he can shoot, pass and play defense. Cassell has brought some toughness to the team and can push Garnett to be more dominant. My playoff preview will be coming in the next month but for now, keep your eye on the Wolves and I’m telling you right now, don’t count out the Pacers.

As for the past week, there have been some interesting stories. First of all, the Hawks sandwiched a win over the Lakers in between a 30 point loss to the Pistons, a 5 point loss to the lowly Magic, and a 30 point loss to the Cavaqueers. How does that happen? The Hawks start Chris Crawford and a guy named Boris Diaw, which is apparently French for “Mike James.” These guys are terrible and yet they beat the mighty Fakers. This is why the Fakers will not win it all this year, they don’t play well together, plain and simple. Seriously, they lost to Joel Pryzbilla who is best known for having the second hardest name to spell in the NBA (read the first paragraph for Szczerbiak). At one point the Hawks let some guys named Hiram Fuller and Mamadou N’Diaye on the floor together. Without looking it up, can any of you even guess where these two went to college? Just truly a pathetic performance from the Fakers.

In other news, last night featured the return of RaWeed to Portland. RaWeed lit up the Blazers (pun intended) and the Rose Garden for an astounding 13 points (yes that was sarcasm, RaWeed is so overrated). Starting a recently traded and released Lindsay Hunter, the Pistons held the RaWeed-less Blazers to 68 points, ugh. How does an NBA team score only 68 points? Zack Randolph and Shareef combined for only 19 shots, doesn’t make sense. If I am the Blazers, I post Randolph up every time down the court and run a two man game with him and Shareef, but what do I know? Nice coaching job done by Moe “Ass” Cheeks.

Anyway, I have just finished finals so my brain is a little tired. With that, I am going to keep the column short today and go right to the picks.

On to the free NBA picks for Friday:

Houston +7 at Minnesota:

The Wolves are good and the Rockets don’t play well on the road but Yao has stepped up his game. Stevie Franchise is due for a big game, especially as he has something to prove against Cassell. I don’t know if the Rockets will win, but this game will be close.

Knicks -1 at Toronto:

I know Carter is back but Toronto is just terrible. The Knicks are coming off of a big win and will look to keep some of that momentum. Knicks should win in a laugher.

Cavaliers at New Orleans -6.5:

I still think the Hornets are overrated but not a fan of LeDong’s boys on the road. Team LeDong has been playing very well lately but who is going to match up with Mashburn, Carlos Boozer? The Hornets will win by 11.

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