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AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS
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AC's 2004-2005 NBA Picks Season Record
Wins: 45 Losses: 34 Ties: 1
NBA Picks Winning Percentage: 57%
Record updated Saturdays and Mondays
Contact AC at ac@wagercom.com or post your questions/comments on the Wagercom Message Board
Read AC's Bio
1/22/05 Week 12 NBA Picks
AC's outlook on the NBA is an entertaining original column featured here at Wagercom. If you are prone to NBA betting or even just an NBA fan, make sure you come back often to read his articles and free NBA Basketball picks against the spread. AC will be providing us with a weekly outlook during the basketball season including free NBA Basketball picks on some of the weekend games each Friday and Saturday.
Our NBA expert AC wrapped up the 2003-2004 NBA betting season with a 51% winning percentage against the spread on his basketball picks after 190 games and has greatly improved that to a 57% winning percentage against the spread so far this season.
The NBA season is in its doldrums with the All-Star game still a month away. As a handicapper, this is the hardest part of the season to judge since players don’t really seem to care too much about game number 39 in an 82 game schedule and therefore effort is not always given. I mean, would you give your best if you’re playing in Atlanta, the game is not covered on TV, and all you can think about is the Gold Club? These players are filthy rich and just like we all mail it in sometimes in our jobs, they often do as well. The problem is, they all mail it in around this time of the season so it is hard to tell from day to day who is going to show up. Right now, they are just playing not to get hurt, not get dunked on, and not to do anything to decrease their number of groupies.
So with the NBA mailing it in I will answer a few questions and pieces of news I have seen or been e-mailed lately about the NBA.
Did the Rockets really sign Hot Rod Strickland or did I go back in time to 1997?
I believe the former is correct but it may be 1997 for all I know. Strickland has not played in a year, is 38 years old, and actually played with the immortal Dallas Comegys at DePaul under Joey Myer. Wow, he is really old. I mean he was in trouble with the law before it was the cool thing to do. So yes, the Rockets signed him but no, I have no idea why. Have basketball skills diminished so much that there are no better point guards hanging around? I understand they want a veteran with all of their injuries but jeesh, are they going to bring in Shawn Kemp next?
If I were to pick an undervalued team to win it all and get some good odds, who should I lay money on?
You have to be careful of the Pacers. Jermaine O’Neal is tearing the league apart and they will get help later on in the year from the return of Stephen Jackson and maybe even Ron Artest. That’s right, Artest has been cleared to resume practice which means there is something going on with his suspension that is being kept underwraps. He wouldn’t start practicing again unless he and the Pacers knew he was going to play sometime this year, I mean if you could choose between playing Playstation and nailing groupies all day or running through boring practices for no reason, which would you do? Signs point to a comeback and thus the Pacers are the team to get odds on if you can.
Is Calbert Cheaney really still playing?
Uhh, yes he is, in fact he actually started some games for the Warriors this year which were his first starts since the Nixon administration. I was shocked to read box scores from the other week and see Cheaney’s name in them, I thought he had retired 6 years ago. I guess this is a tribute to Chris Mullin’s eye for finding talent as Warriors GM. He did a brilliant job of locking up Jason Richardson, Adonal Foyle “’d again,” and Troy Murphy and surrounding them with valuable role players like Cal Cheaney and Derek Fisher. If this team were competing in the Big Ten they would have a great chance of winning but this is the NBA. I seriously think Mullin is back on the sauce as that is the only way I can explain how bad he has been. I bet he has even brought in Alton Lister for a workout.
What is going on with Tracy McGrady?
I think he’s still trying to figure out that you need to play every night and that being a leader is more than just whining about it. He’s a spoiled rich kid, plain and simple. However, there was an interesting piece of news on him lately. Apparently, his dog bit off the nose of a guy who works at McGrady’s house. To quote an ESPN article:
“McGrady, in Orlando on Thursday to play his former team, acknowledged his dog attacked Chamberlin and nearly bit his nose off.
"I feel terrible," McGrady said. "I didn't think he had it in him."
McGrady said his pet is a "very vicious dog,"
Is this bizarre? Why would you have a vicious dog in your house as a pet? I am baffled by this but I guess when you have a girl’s name like Tracy, you need to seem as tough as possible.
Can the Suns win without Nash?
Well, they’ve lost 5 in a row without him which is not a good sign. I am actually amazed at how much of a difference he has made especially since all of the sportswriters have been touting him as MVP and as we know, sportswriters are always wrong (except for me, but that is till up for debate by some). The Suns look lost on the floor with Q and Marion having to act as leaders. I am surprised Amare has not stepped up more but that is the problem with big men, they can’t dominate unless there is someone to get the ball in their hands. The Suns will be fine though. Playing without Nash will eventually make them better and when he gets back they will go back to chugging along, scoring 110 points, and making the game fun to watch again.
On to Friday's Free NBA Picks:
As I said, this part of the season is the hardest to handicap. Players are just not that interested so it is difficult to tell which teams are actually going to show up to play from night to night. If you follow my record from past years, you know that I start off strong and finish strong with this part of the year around .500. I plan on changing that now but be aware of the fact that since I don’t travel with the teams, I can’t always assess if they are going to take the night off. As an aside, if any NBA players are out there reading this, I am more than happy to travel with you for a week. I’ll carry your luggage, tip your strippers, order the Cristal, warm the groupies up or cool them down, and not only that but I’ll give you a free wgercom.com t-shirt and mesh hat, they are all the rage these days. Just think about it.
Dallas at Charlotte Under 205:
I know, scoring is up, Dallas put up about 300 against the Wizards the other night, and Charlotte is still an expansion team. That said, both teams are a little tired and I think Okafor will do a nice job banging around down low to keep the game slow. Take the under and hope Dirk gets food poisoning.
Boston at New Jersey Over 185.5:
The Celtics like to score and New Jersey doesn’t. When that happens, take the points.
Atlanta at Chicago -8.5:
The Bulls are good and pissed about losing to the Celtics. Antoine never plays well when he goes home to Chicago, actually, he never plays well anywhere so that’s a wash I guess. The Hawks have nobody to stop Eddy Curry but then again, he gets tired after 3 minutes so not that big of deal. Either way, take the Bulls.
Detroit -4.5 at Milwaukee:
Like the old mantra says, when in doubt take the defending champs and give the point.
On to Saturday Night’s Picks:
3-1 last night thanks to the Pistons choking in Milwaukee and violating the “when in doubt take the World Champs and give the points” rule. That rule will be retired for the rest of the year as the Pistons are not that good. Anyhoo, squeaked by on the under with Dallas-Charlotte, had the Celtics run with the over, and the Bulls cover so money was made by all. Let’s do it again tonight.
Boston -3.5 at Atlanta:
The Celtics have to be pissed about blowing an easy game against the Nets last night. If this team has any heart they will take it to the Hawks, problem is, they don’t have any heart. Oh well, but with the Hawks flying in from a Chicago loss, I think they will be due for a 9 point loss. Take the Celtics.
Philadelphia at Orlando Under 208.5:
This is going to be a tough one as neither team plays defense. Still 208 is a lot of points to put up for unskilled teams. Play the under and hope Iverson sits this one out.
Chicago at Detroit Over 173:
This seems like a sucker bet. Detroit plays great D, Chicago played last night and never scores a lot against Detroit, and the teams are both tired. That said 173 points is like a 1999 game and this is 2005. I don’t know, I feel like I am being worked here as the first rule is if a line seems too good to be true, bookies usually know something that other people don’t. Even so, take the over.
Cleveland -3.5 at Golden State:
Yes, I am taking two road teams giving 3.5 but in LeDong I trust. Plus, have I mentioned Cal Cheaney is still playing for the Warriors?
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