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AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS
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AC's 2005-2006 NBA Picks Season Record
Wins: 56 Losses: 47 Ties: 3
NBA Picks Winning Percentage: 54%
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
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 completing the 2004-2005 season.
NBA WEEK 13 COLUMN & FREE PICKS:
I was going to write my mid-season formulaic state of the NBA column, but then the NBA woke up and became interesting. Over the past week I have received an overwhelming amount of e-mails about Kobe’s 81 point game, Isiah’s predilection for women with careers, and the Artest trade. And now, as I write this column, the Celtics have just pulled the trigger on a huge deal involving Ricky Davis and Wally Szczerbiak which has left me both giddy and apoplectic (and by apoplectic, I mean the exact opposite of that, which I think is giddy, so you get the point). So without further ado (and honestly, I have no idea what “ado” is but if it is what it sounds like, I am glad there will be no further of it), on to the news.
Kobe drops 81 on the now GM-less Raptors (though some would argue they have been GM-less for a few years):
I am going on record as saying this was one of the most amazing feats in NBA history more amazing than Shaq’s size 27 feets (drum shot please). Seriously, Kobe’s 81 is right up there with Michael’s 63 in the playoffs against the Celtics and Oscar Robertson averaging a triple double for the year. If you don’t believe me, check out my new favorite basketball writer John Hollinger’s break-down of Wilt’s game vs. Kobe’s game .
Kobe shot over 60% and rallied his team from a double digit deficit. For anyone who is complaining of Kobe being a ballhog and not playing a team game, I ask you, how many teams shoot 60% and rarely turn the ball over? The answer is zero of course, so there is no reason to bemoan Kobe’s game as somehow leading to the diminishment of the team game. If anyone can shoot 60% over 40+ shots (or 10+ shots for that matter) than they should keep shooting, end of story. And think about the poor Raptors. Kobe hasn’t F’d anyone that bad since he stayed in a Colorado hotel a few years ago, but at least the Raptors had witnesses.
The side note to this news item is Rob Babcock was finally fired by the Raptors which means he won the crap off between Isiah, Billy King, and Billy Knight. Thanks for the fun Rob, enjoy the Araujo on your way out.
Isiah Thomas gets his groove on:
Before we get to the story, Wagercom.com is supporting Zeke with t-shirts you and your friends will all enjoy. We have the sentimental “Touched by Isiah” and the more playful “Tickle me Isiah” shirts in numerous styles. So buy one for your mom, your sister, or the crazy chick in your office you have been meaning to harass.
As for Isiah and his inappropriate come-ons to his front office employee, I have to say I am shocked and don’t believe it for one second. Why you ask? Because I always assumed Isiah Thomas was gay. I mean the pre-game kisses with Magic and Mark Aguirre were certainly not the actions of straight man. If a male worker had accused Isiah of harassment I would 100% believe it, but no way little Zeke, is hitting on a fine looking lady like Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer (yes, she was). On second thought, perhaps Isiah thought she was a man. Either way, look for this to lead to his dismissal and the Knicks subsequent climb back to respectability.
Ron Artest goes to the Kings for Peja:
First of all, Artest is a much better player than past-his-prime Peja. However, when you factor in the crazy factor, this deal is probably a push. If the Pacers don’t retain Peja after this year, this is going to look bad for Larry Legend. However, if Artest continues to be Artest, it will look good for Larry Legend. So this trade comes down to Artest needing to stay sane which is kind of like asking Shawn Kemp to wear a condom, sounds like it shouldn’t be too difficult but it usually is. As always, there are no winners here.
However, after Artest’s initial displeasure with this trade, I have reached the conclusion that Ron Ron simply does not want to play. He is happy being suspended and collecting his oversized, guaranteed check, while making rap albums that no one is going to listen to. Who wouldn’t want to get paid several million dollars a year to do nothing? I really think Ron Ron realizes that and is trying to continue to be suspended. And to that I say well done, Ronny, well done.
The Celtics trade Ricky Davis, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed, 2 second round draft picks and Mark “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em” Blount to the Timberwolves for Wally “buy a vowel” Szczerbiak, Michael Olowacrappi’s expiring contract, some guy named Dwayne Jones, a first round pick, and Kevin McHale’s sanity:
First of all, I am going on record as a Celtics fan saying I like this trade. While it only marginally makes the Celtics more competitive in the short run, and it doesn’t make them a playoff team, it does make them infinitely more watchable, like turning from the Home and Garden channel to the Food Network (see there are no winners, only slight improvements). I call it addition by subtraction. In one fell swoop Danny Ainge rid himself of the three worst offenders to the game of basketball. Blount, Banks, and to a lesser extent Davis who turn the ball over more times than James Frey lied in his memoir and have the collective basketball IQ of a bowl raisin bran (and that is without the milk).
For those of you who don’t get this deal, I think Ainge explained it best:
"We are ecstatic to acquire a player of Wally Szczerbiak's quality to complement Paul Pierce and our young talent base,"
And that is really the point, complementing their star player while giving the younger guys time to develop on the court. The deal allows the Celtics to open the court more with defenses having to play up on Wally to respect his range and thus will give Big Al Jefferson and Kendrick “don’t call me Kedrick” Perkins more room to maneuver down low. Plus it rids Doc of his moronic reliance on the human pout, Mark Blount. Expect just the reduction in turnovers to increase the Celtics’ win total by 3, thus moving them from a 33 win team, to a 36 win team. In reality, this trade gives the Celtics’ young players more room to step-up, especially Tony Allen with Gerald Green waiting in the wings. This is now sink or swim time for the young guys, unless Doc pulls a Doc and actually play Olowakandi. But not even he can be that stupid, right?
If you want to take the short term look, you can simply compare parts of the trade.
Ricky Davis for Wally Szczerbiak: The only downside of this for the Celtics is Wally’s contract and the fact that I now have to type “Szczerbiak” more than once a year. Wally is a better, more refined offensive payer than Ricky and should allow Paul more room to penetrate. He will also give Pierce a shooter to kick it out to once he does penetrate. Look for Pierce’s assist and point totals to go up as a result. On defense, the Celtics are potentially worse off except for the fact that Ricky took every 3-4 plays off and never really committed to playing anything other than “gamble for a steal” defense. I know I have been overly harsh on Ricky, he really did a nice job for the Cs but you have to buy low and sell high and he wasn’t going to get any higher (pun intended).
Blount for Olowakandi: It is like trading herpes (Blount) for gonorrhea (Olowakandi). The key difference being that gonorrhea can go away in six months like Olowakandi’s contract while herpes is forever, like Blount’s remaining 4 years.
Marcus Banks and two second round picks for a first round pick: Banks’ basketball IQ is potentially lower than Blount’s which I believe makes him legally dead in every state but Georgia and West Virginia. I would have traded Banks for an old newspaper and a pack of gum so getting a first round pick for him and two crappy second rounders is almost like winning the lottery, except less lucrative.
Justin Reed for Dwayne Jones: I don’t even think their parents care about this one.
So there you have it. A marginal short term improvement for the Celtics with potential longterm benefits. What McHale was thinking, I have no idea, but this is consistent with his horrendous track record as GM.
So without further ado, on to this weeks picks:
NBA FRIDAY FREE PICKS:
Phoenix -6.5 at Atlanta:
I know Phoenix played a tough team on the road last night in the Miami Heat and I know Atlanta has had a couple days of rest. However, the Hawks are still not a good team. If Phoenix shows any intensity at all, this should be a 20 point game. Just hope they weren't partying too late last night in the Dirty Souf.
Miami -10.5 at Charlotte:
The only thing I hate worse than taking a favored Miami team is taking a favored Miami team on the road. That said, the Bobcats are coming off of two straight 20 point losses and are playing like they are aiming for a 7th seed in the NCAA tournament. Miami had Phoenix come into their house last night and urinate all over them and we all know how little Shaq enjoys water sports (actually, I have no idea). I guess what I am trying to say is that the Heat should be pissed off (instead of pissed on this time) and the Bobcats blow. Take Miami and hope they can find a third scorer.
Toronto at Milwaukee -5:
AC still likes Milwaukee despite their lackluster play of late. Toronto may be fired up with the departure of Rob Babcock but they still lack the talent to beat a Bucks team on the road. Take the Bucks and hope TJ Ford can go off.
LA Clippers at Denver Under 197.5:
As they say in Denver, Jake Plummer sucks.
NBA SATURDAY FREE PICKS:
2-2 last night but I picked the Heat -10 before I knew Wade and Williams were not going to play so I’d like to thank them for that. I’d also like to thank Phoenix for playing with no intensity against the Hawks, but I guess they won so good for them. Time to win you some cash.
Charlotte at Washington Under 196.5:
Charlotte scores like it is going to give them a VD and Washington plays down to it’s level of competition, or they just suck, your pick. Charlotte is going to need to break 90 for this to be over so hope Raymond Felton turns it over at least 7 times.
Portland at Golden Shower State -5.5:
Troy Murphy is on a roll and when that happens you just need to step back and enjoy. If the Warriors can contain the rejuvenated Zach Randolph, this should not be a close game (it’s not clear to me what he is rejuvenated from, but that’s another story I guess).
Utah +10 at Dallas:
I really don’t like this pick as the Mavs are going to win by at least 8, however, all of the other games blow and when in doubt put your money on Kirilenko.
Minnesota at San Antonio Over 173.5:
Ricky Davis needs to get 25 for this to happen and he is going for 30.
contact AC at ac@wagercom.com or post your questions/comments on the Wagercom Message Board
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