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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: 60 Losses: 47 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
2/12/05 Week 15 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.
First off, congratulations to the New England Patriots for winning their third Super Bowl and becoming the first Boston dynasty since the Bird Era Celtics. I was thinking about it and there are some similarities between the players on the two teams. First of all, Tom Brady is like Larry Legend (though not quite as dominant). He is the ultimate team player, doesn’t make mistakes, and is happy to be the leader and take control when need be. Corey Dillon is like Robert Parish. Both of them were the unsung heros. They showed up to work, did their jobs, and didn’t run their mouths. You could count on a double-double from the Chief every night and you could count on Corey going for 100 yards on Sunday. Tedy Bruschi is like McHale as all he does is put up numbers. Happy go lucky off the field and unstoppable on the field. Troy Brown is like DJ, the consummate professional and veteran. If you watch the Bird Celtics, DJ would shoot about 13% in the first 42 minutes and then 96% in the last 6, while shutting down the other teams point guard for 48. Troy Brown also stepped up wherever needed and filled in on special teams, offense, and defense. Rodney Harrison is like Danny Ainge. They both talked a lot of trash, annoyed the hell out of the other team, and then decimated opponents during the game. Willie McGinest is like Bill Walton. A veteran presence coming off the bench and showing his former dominant self when it counts most. Finally, Mike Vrabel is like Scott Wedman, the silent assassin. So there you go, two great teams and two great dynasties.
Anyway, the midway point of the NBA season has passed so I thought I would go through a quick review of how each team has done relative to my expectations.
The East:
Atlanta Hawks-Met Expectations:
I thought they would suck and they certainly do. While I have been surprised by rookie Josh Smith, the rest of team is just plain terrible. Antoine Walker should be forced to watch tape of all of his games as punishment.
Boston Celtics-Slightly Below Expectations:
I had them 4th in the East and while they will get the 3rd seed by being first in the Crap-lantic division, they have not played well. It has taken Pierce awhile to mesh but he is finally starting to fit in. Tony Allen has been solid and Al Jefferson and Kendrick “Don’t call me Kedrick” Perkins have formed a nice young nucleus. The main problem is the Center formerly known as Mark Blount is averaging a Muggsy Bogues-esque 5.3 rebounds per game. Jeesh Mark, try catching it with your purse.
Charlotte Bobcats—Met Expectations:
I picked them last and they are. Thing is, Okafor is much better than I thought he would be. They are better than the Vancouver Grizzlies expansion team from years ago but still an expansion team.
Chicago Bulls—Met Expectations:
I had them 8th and they have the 8th best record although they have the best record over the last month. This team has talent, it’s just a matter of Skiles keeping them in check and getting them to play hard but even Eddy Curry has seemingly tried a few times this year, unbelievable. Next thing you know Skiles is going to cure world hunger or at least figure out how to get a money shot in lesbian porn.
Cleveland Cavaqueers-Beat Expectations:
In LeDong I trust. I keep saying it but he can flat out play and when you add in “The Big Slow”, Zydrunas Ilgauskus, you have a nice 1-2 punch.
Detroit Pistons-Below Expectations:
I had them picked second and they are tied for 3rd so not too bad but I thought they would be able to dominate like they did in the playoffs. Larry Brown is coaching as poorly as he did in the Olympics and they have yet to cover a spread when giving points (ok, a bit of an exaggeration but they are getting way too much respect). Let’s see if they can get it together in the playoffs.
Indiana Pacer-Far Below Expectations:
I thought they would dominate the East behind Artest and an improved Jonathon Bender. So far, no dice on either. I don’t know what is going on with Bender and don’t want to waste my time on Artest. However, they still have Jermaine O’Neal and with him they will always be dangerous. Watch for Artest to come back and the Pacers to make a strong playoff run.
Miami Heat-Slightly Exceeded Expectations:
I had them picked third and they have played like the best team in the East. Wade is the first all-star player to be smart enough to blend in with Shaq and my boy Udonis “Demolish Anus” Haslem has been large. They are beatable but definitely the favorites.
Milwaukee Bucks-Far Below Expectations:
I really missed the boat on this one. It was almost as bad as saying Leaf over Manning and Troy Bell will be a player in the league. This team just plain sucks, nothing else to it.
New Jersey Nets-Met Expectations:
The Nets have actually been playing well lately since Vince Carter decided to try, however we know that won’t last. This is a crappy team, they have no big men and no bench. Maybe they can bring back Michael Ray Richardson.
New York Knicks-Below Expectations:
In what must have been a moment of dementia, I somehow picked them to make the playoffs. All I can think is that I either forgot Isiah was the GM or was smoking some harsh crack rock at the time. This team has a terrible make-up, 19 guys who shoot first pass 5th, and the worst GM in basketball since Chris Wallace. Couldn’t happen to a nicer city.
Orlando Magic-Exceeded Expectations:
I said “If Grant Hill stays healthy, they have a decent shot at the playoffs.” And he has been healthy so kudos and hizzah to your boy AC.
Philadelphia 76ers-Met Expectations:
They are at best a .500 team and that is how they are playing. They have some decent talent but a terrible coach and the pieces are all wrong. They need another slasher to go with AI and have too many guys like Kurt Thomas. What they need to do is give Dalembert and Green some minutes and tell them to run run run.
Toronto Raptors-Met Expectations:
Crappy team playing crappily. Can somebody tell me what the f is going on with Rafer Alston? Seriously, I need an explanation. Rafer, if you’re out there hit your boy AC up and let me know the story. I can negotiate you an exclusive here on Wagercom.com.
Washington Wizards-Far Exceeded Expectations:
Golden Shower State Warriors part two are much better this time around. Larry Hughes was amazing before he went down and now Arenas has been lights out. This team will lose in the first round of the playoffs because they play no D, but hats off to they way they have played this year.
The West:
Dallas Mavericks-Met Expectations:
I had them 4th and they are 4th. You know why? Because Dirk loves to play this game.
Denver Butt Nuggets-Far Below Expectations:
You would think that adding Kenyon Martin to a team on the rise would be enough to put them over the top. However, who knew Carmelo Anthony would forget how to pass and get his teammates involved? This team has been a disaster but maybe George Karl can turn them around. When Earl Boykins is your best player, that can’t be a good thing.
Golden Shower State Warriors-Met Expectations:
Richardson, Foyle, and Murphy is not the nucleus I would build around but then again I wouldn’t have drafted Mike Dunleavy either. Wait, maybe they should let me run the team. My first order of business, high school cheerleaders.
Houston Rockets-Barely Met Expectations:
I thought they would be a little better but it has taken them time to jell. McBaby and Yao are starting to play well together and Wilkes-Barre’s own Bobby Sura is finally living up to his potential from 15 years ago. This team is gong to be a tough match-up in the playoffs.
LA Clippers-Above Expectations:
I thought they would be last and I guess I was wrong. They are an average team with Maggette and Brand being good enough to carry them to victory 46.9 % of the time.
LA Lakers-Slightly Above Expectations:
If the season ended now, they would be the 8th seed in the playoffs and I thought there was more chance of Kobe Bryant staying out of trouble than that. I can’t wait until Kobe fathers a kid out of wedlock. Anybody want to take odds with me on that?
Memphis Grizzlies-Met Expectations:
Believe it or not, Fratello has these guys playing hard and they are winning without Spain’s own Pau Gasol. Good team but they have less chance of winning a playoff series than I do of meeting Janine Lindemulder (though the rest of the Wagercom.com crew did http://dcforum.whathelps.com/sportshelps/forums/Wagercom/57.html).
Minnesota Timberwolves-Far Below Expectations:
Who knew that Latrell would get old, Cassell would get broken, and nobody other than Garnett would be able to score all in the same season. This team has fallen apart faster than the Olsen twins.
New Orleans Hornets-Met Expectations:
They suck, plain and simple but my boy Dan Dickau is starting to put up numbers. Interestingly enough, this team highlights how good Jason Kidd is as he took the Nets to the finals with the handicap of Byron Scott as his coach.
Portland Jailblazers-Met Expectations:
Near the mid-bottom of the West is where they belong. Zach Randolph has been awful lately and when Damon Stoudamire is your best guard, you know you are in trouble unless it is 1988 (and last time I checked it wasn’t).
Phoenix Suns-Far Above Expectations:
The fun and gun Suns love to score, kind of like your boy AC on a Saturday night. I am not entirely sure what that means but then again I picked the Suns to finish 9th so what do I know?
Sacramento Kings-Above Expectations:
I thought this was going to be the year they started to fade but I was wrong. They have been playing well and are in position to once again choke in the playoffs.
San Antonio Spurs-Met Expectations:
Duncan is good. How good? Good enough to win another title.
Seattle Supersonics-Far Above Expectations:
I really missed on this one but hey, who knew Luke Ridnour could play? As an aside, what is the deal with Danny Fortson and the pig tails? Seriously. What’s next, a mini-skirt?
Utah Jazz-Below Expectations:
Kirilenko’s injury really hurt this team. Additionally, Carlos Boozer’s lackluster play of late and Mehmet Okur’s inability to be a presence has not been helpful either.
On to Friday's Free NBA Picks:
Los Angeles Clippers at Washington -5:
This line seems a little off so make sure there are no injuries (other than Larry Hughes) on Washington before you bet this. The Wizards should win by 11, so take them and if you are feeling good, take the over on 201 points.
Miami -9.5 at Charlotte:
Again, this game seems too good to be true so make sure the Heat are healthy. I like the over on 200.5 here as well.
Seattle +9.5 at Phoenix:
Sure, Seattle will be drained from last night’s emotional victory against the Kings but I don’t think they will roll over here. I think they will lose, but not by 10. Take the Sonics and hope they had a good night’s sleep.
Dallas +4 at Sacramento:
Yeah, I know, Dallas sucks on the road and Sacramento is tough at home. Just a hunch here, what can I say?
Super Duper Bonus Picks because I like when you win money:
Ok, I said it above but lets make them official.
Las Angeles Clippers at Washington Over 201
Miami at Charlotte Over 200.5
On to Saturday Night’s Picks:
3-3 last night thanks to my two over picks not working. I am very disappointed in that but if you would have teased those games, that would have been easy money. Not a lot of games on the schedule tonight for some odd reason, so I’ll see if I can make you money on slim pickings. Actually, I hate all of these games so if you’re going to bet them, don’t put a lot of $$ down.
Atlanta +11 at Milwaukee:
This is the first time I am taking Atlanta and the points all year, ugh. Every game tonight sucks but this one especially. The Bucks have been hot as of late but the Hawks have been playing teams close. Just hope Antoine shoots above 20% from 3.
Washington+8.5 at Detroit:
I know, Washington played last night and Detroit has been resting at home for the last 3 days. However, if there is one thing we have learned this season it is don’t take Detroit and give points.
Orlando at Philadelphia -3:
Don’t ask.
contact AC at ac@wagercom.com or post your questions/comments on the Wagercom Message Board
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