 |
AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS
|
AC's 2004-2005 NBA Picks Season Record
Wins: 49 Losses: 38 Ties: 1
NBA Picks Winning Percentage: 56%
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
1/29/05 Week 13 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 56% winning percentage against the spread so far this season.
With midseason upon us, teams have begun trying to address their needs in seeking out trades, hiring coaches, and trying to bilk Isiah Thomas out of whatever quality players he has left. I thought it would be interesting to look at the three more than marginal moves so far to see if they will work out.
New York Knicks Coach Lenny Wilkens resigns and Herb Williams is hired:
Well your boy AC was right about Isiah failing as GM of the Knicks when he was hired last year but then again even Stevie Wonder could have seen that one coming. He has made a bad team worse and an overpaid team more expensive. How is it possible that a GM would trade for Marbury and then sign Jamal Crawford? They are the same crappy player. However, one of the most boneheaded moves was signing Lenny Wilkens. Now Lenny may have been a good coach in 1978 but since then he has had minimal success, does not bring a lot of innovation, and relates to his players about as well as former wrestler Chyna relates to the outside world (if you haven’t seen the Surreal Life, you really need to start watching it) . Hiring Wilkens to coach made as much sense as signing Vin Baker so at least we know that Isiah is consistent. So Lenny finally got it after 20 years of being marginal and decided to leave. What does this mean for the Knicks? Well this year it means nothing as Herb Williams, perhaps one of the most forgettable big men ever, will be allowed to ride this team to mediocrity where it belongs. As for next year, I can not wait to see who Isiah hires as coach. Odds on favorites are himself, Phil Jackson, himself, Chuck Daly, himself, himself, or himself.
Denver Nuggets hire George Karl:
I actually have no idea if this is a good move or not. I know the Nuggets have been sleep walking through this season which is a big surprise. Everybody knows ‘Melo has struggled (maybe it’s the back pack he’s been smoking) but where has Kenyon Martin been? He’s made less of an impact than Darko Milicic (ok, maybe not that low but work with me here). On top of that, what is with Andre Miller? Here is a guy that willed his team to victory in college and yet in the pros has never stepped up his game or played with intensity. He was terrible on the Clippers and has really brought nothing to this Nuggets team. I would rather have Earl Boykins out there in crunch time than Andre so perhaps Karl can light a fire under him. To be honest, I am not as big of a George Karl supporter or critic as most. I think he is a decent coach, not great but ok. There are very few coaches who can actually make a difference in the NBA (and by very few, I can’t think of one, other than maybe Larry Brown or Jerry Sloan) so the move doesn’t really matter. You basically need a coach who won’t screw up and Karl is capable of that, I think. It’s the players that win the games so as long as Karl checks his ego, this should be a decent hiring by the Butt Nuggets.
Detroit Pistons trade Elden Campbell and a number one pick to Utah for Carlos Arroyo:
First of all, the most interesting thing about this trade is that Elden Campbell is still in the NBA. What’s next, are you going to tell me that Kevin Willis is still playing as well? Oh wait, he is, yikes, maybe Mark Acres should lace them back up. This was actually an interesting move as like everybody else I was expecting big things from Arroyo this year. Apparently, he isn’t much into practicing or hustling and has Mark Blount/Zach Randolph disease which means he signed a big contract and then stopped trying. I don’t know if the stories are true but where there is smoke there is fire (and occasionally where there is smoke there is Ricky Williams but that is another story). As noted above, Jerry Sloan is one of the few good coaches so if he had problems with Arroyo then there was definitely an issue. Anyway, this makes Detroit better assuming Arroyo plays like he did last year and may help Utah as well. Keith McLeod has been playing well for Utah, so they probably don’t lose much talentwise. In addition, they get the expiring contract of Elden Campbell as well as a late first round draft pick. Not a bad trade for all involved.
On to Friday's Free NBA Picks:
5-3 last weekend. Not great but still wins you money. As always, these picks are made Friday morning so if there are game time injuries, that is on you.
Phoenix -6 at Boston:
I hate picking against my boys, it probably violates some cosmic rule that will lead to my demise, but until then, I want to make some cash. The C’s are going to be feeling the effects of losing Al Jefferson and the Suns are healthy once again. I can’t imagine this game will be close, in fact I thought the line would be 11. Therefore, bookies may know more than me here, but take the Suns and watch them roll.
Utah +7.5 at Minnesota:
Kirilenko is back. Enough said.
Sacramento at Houston -3:
The Rockets may have figured it out and the Kings don’t traditionally play well on the road. This game worries me a little but McGrady is on a streak. Take Houston and hope they play some defense.
Seattle at Golden State Over 206:
This is going to be close to 206, probably within 4 points so hope Ray Allen hits those extra two shots and Jason Richardson blows his top giving the Sonics a technical free throw. Run and gun, run and gun.
On to Saturday Night’s Picks:
2-2 last night thanks to the Rockets choking down the stretch, what a bunch of pickle sniffers.
New Orleans Hornets +18 at San Antonio:
I don’t care who is playing, if somebody is getting 18 points, I am taking them. Dan Dickau is going to urinate on Tony Parket.
New Jersey at Utah -7:
The Nets keep finding a way to keep games close even though they are terrible but the Jazz are hot since Kirilenko came back. This game worries me a bit as both are tired so it may be close, but I just don’t see the Nets pulling this one off.
Atlanta at Memphis Over 187:
Memphis can score even without Gasol and Antoine lives to shoot the three.
Golden State at LA Clippers -6.5:
Just because.
contact AC at ac@wagercom.com or post your questions/comments on the Wagercom Message Board
To sign up to receive this column each week by email simply click on: info@wagercom.com, put your email address in the message box and hit send.
Check the current point spreads and game lines.
|
