AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS

Contact AC at ac@wagercom.com or post your questions/comments on the Wagercom Message Board

Read AC's Bio

5/06/05 NBA Playoff Picks - Week 3

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 improved that to a 57% winning percentage against the spread so far this season.

With news of the third season of Chappelle’s show being suspended indefinitely due to creative issues I thought I’d give you all a brief look into the five steps of my creative process for this weekly NBA column. I’d write more about the playoffs right now but unfortunately I stabbed myself in the brain watching Paul Pierce make perhaps the dumbest play in NBA basketball history by committing a technical foul with 12 seconds left and a one point lead. In a game where Antoine Walker missed 35 layups, Doc Rivers left Raef LaFrentz in the game in the 4th quarter even though Al Jefferson was the sparkplug, and Gary Payton officially turned 76 years old, Paul Pierce emerged as perhaps the dumbest player in NBA history, right up there with Chris Webber and Bronson Pinchot. Anyway, since many of you have asked, below is my creative process, and yes it is all 100% true.

1. Scour the news for current events, preferably NBA related and preferably involving players snorting coke off of hookers. So for instance, Kwame Brown being suspended by the Wizards would be in play (especially as it involves Jordan calling him a flaming faggot which is always good for a giggle) while James Worthy’s prostitution arrest in 1990, while funny, may be a bit dated. Another example of something I would write about would be the Wizards choke and comeback against the Bulls in game 5, especially with Gilbert Arenas bringing the rain, while Eliot Spitzer’s potential crack down on finite reinsurance would be out since it is unwarranted and boring, kind of like anything written by Jane Austen, but I digress. Oh yeah, the Michael Vick herpes story, which I will call Ron MexicoGate was pure journalistic gold for me. When that story fell into my lap I felt like a heroin addict scoring some good stuff after a week of cold turkey or Calvin Murphy in the red light district of Bangkok (by the way, a city named with a verb than a noun is just brilliant).

2. Go through my “bits” rolodex and figure out how I can work Nipsey Russell (See below), Kobe Bryant raping hotel workers, Calvin Murphy sleeping with his kids (see above), Michael Vick giving herpes as Ron Mexico (see above), Janine Lindemulder, Jim O’Brien’s bad coaching (see below), and lesbian porn, into the stories of the day. If none of those fit, I always have the gift that keeps giving, Isiah Thomas (see below).

3. Talk to the people on the street, figure out what the trends are, and also watch 24 straight hours of MTV. Between the Real World/Road Rules Challenge, Making the Band, the Real World, and NEXT, I feel like I understand what is going on with the kids these days. If I had to sum it up in one word it would be “societal decline” (and yes I know that is two words) and that is why my dick jokes will always have a place here.

4. Watch as much hoops as I can during the week. It is only through this that I can maintain my record in winning you money in addition to coming up with great tidbits such as John Thompson’s insightful comment that “The Celtics defense is geared around having Indiana make bad passes and take bad shots.” Just brilliant, I wonder if their defense is also geared around “stopping Indiana from scoring.” I can’t believe that guy won an NCCA championship and my biggest accomplishment is winning a trophy for Sega 1993 hockey at Jiggy’s bachelor party two years ago (and yes that is a true story, and yes I have the trophy to prove it, and yes I am a loser, but take that John Thompson, and I didn’t have Patrick Ewing to rely on when I made my run).

5. If all else fails just think WWRRD (what would Ray Romano do) and just do the opposite. Ray Romano is the Vince Carter of comedians (that is if Vince Carter didn’t have any leaping ability or talent) as are both overrated, overpaid, and yet somehow people pay to see them. Somewhere Nipsey Russell is puking in his socks, living off of his Wildcats royalties , and waiting for the Match Game 2005 to be picked up for syndication.

Now to make this column relevant, here’s a quick recap of all of the first round NBA series’ and how I did in previewing them.

New Jersey Nets vs. Miami Heat: I picked the Heat in 5 and it didn’t take them that long. I was surprised by Mourning’s play but the Nets front line was about as intimidating as running into Michael Jackson in a dark alley (unless you are a young boy and then it’s very intimidating, but you get what I mean).

Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons: I picked the Pistons in four and somehow O’Braindead’s boys pulled one out. Chalk it up to Iverson’s heart. Have I mentioned the Pistons are tough?

Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics: I picked the Celtics in 6 and the series is going to game 7. What I didn’t quite factor in is Doc Rivers’ complete inability to coach during the game, before the game, or after the game. I don’t know what is more confusing, his in game substitution, his lack of offensive plays, his inability to teach how to defend the pick and roll, or his reliance on Gary Payton. Seriously, the Pacers are playing without Artest, O’Neal has one healthy shoulder, Tinsley one healthy foot, and Reggie Miller is 87 years old. This Pacers team is not good right now, just not good. By the way, I’ve said it here before but the Pacer’s Anthony Johnson looks like a bigger version of Beetlejuice from the Howard Stern show, it is uncanny.

Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls: I picked the Bulls in 6 but that is not going to happen with the Wiz up 3-2 after 5. What a comeback in game 5 by the Bulls but they should have brought it 47 minutes earlier. I think the Bulls can take the next two though.

Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns: I picked the Suns in 4 but then again, they were playing a Fratello coached team so it’s not like they had to try too hard.

Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs: I picked the Spurs in 6 so I was one off. The Nuggets are the second best team in the NBA so watch out for the Spurs, they are solid all around. The Nazr Mohammed trade was huge for them (you should all thank Isiah for that) and Ginobli is a stud.

Sacramento Kings at Seattle Supersonics: I picked the Kings in 5 as I had no respect for the Sonics all throughout the year. Hey, nobody’s perfect. I mean if any of you saw Jerome James averaging 17 points a game in this series, perhaps you should take my job. I’ll take my hat off to the Sonics and say good job, you proved me wrong.

Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks: I picked the Mavericks in 6 and now they are going to game 7. McGrady has been a beast and outplayed Dirk while an injury to Van Horn and generally crappy play by the rest of the Mavs have given the Rockets the lead. Should be an interesting game 7.

Free NBA Picks:

Friday's NBA Playoff Picks:

Chicago +6 at Washington:

As badly as the Bulls have been playing they showed a ton of heart in game five by coming back from 10 down with 1 minute to go. That should carry over to game 6, and if not, they are still not going to get blown out.

Saturday's Playoff Picks:

I knew the Bulls would keep it close last night so even though they lost, you all won some extra spending money. Perhaps you can donate it to the Scott Skiles coaching foundation as Coach Skiles went with Jannero Pargo down the stretch instead of Ben Gordon. Little known fact, Jannero Pargo is Italian for “My coach is a moron, even I know I suck.”

Houston at Dallas Over 197.5:

First of all, there is a reason they call it gambling, sometimes you just don’t know and this is one of those instances. This series has been almost impossible to handicap with both teams playing different styles yet having the athletes to compete in either style of play. Game 7’s are usually low scoring drawn out affairs with players not wanting to take risks, so the logical pick would be the under. However, this series has not followed any logical pattern and the Mavs can rev it up at home. I don’t think this game will be a blow out but am 50-50 on the winner, so take the over and watch McGrady and Dirk go at it.

Indiana at Boston You’re On Your Own:

I will not be laying odds on my team in a game 7, nothing good can come of it. Talentwise, the Celtics should blow the Pacers out of the building but we all know the Celtics are the dumbest, least inspired team in the NBA. I would not be surprised to see the Pacers take an early lead and then blow out the Celtics, alternatively, I can see the Celtics getting out to a big lead and blowing it. Regardless, I can see myself screaming and Antoine, Pierce, and Doc Rivers for their moronic decisions while cursing Gary Payton for slowing down the tempo. Is there a worse ballhandler in the league than Paul Pierce? In short, go with your gut.

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.