 |
AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS
|
AC's 2005-2006 NBA Picks Season Record
Wins: 62 Losses: 49 Ties: 3
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
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 14 COLUMN & FREE PICKS:
We are at the midway point of the season so it is time to take stock and see how each team has performed with regard to my expectations. I find this helpful in grounding my gambling picks as it lets me reassess my initial thoughts and synthesize what I have learned over the past 3 months. Speaking of which, I have recently learned that I am quite the celebrity in Spain where apparently they love Senor Titticock de AC. While my Spanish is muy malo, como un tiro libre de Shaq o un sanchez sucio diahhretic (you can translate that here for those who lack the verbal skills or as we say en espanol habilidades verbales), I appreciate their warm and fuzzy love.
So let’s take a look at how teams have faired by how I had them ranked in the pre-season, their record today, and my new updated predictions. The charts below are based on overall record, not seeds (so even though New Jersey would get a 3 seed since they are first in the East, they only have the 5th best record).
Eastern Conference:
Overall: A solid job in predicting the standing. So far I am correct on 7 of the 8 playoff teams with Philly about to fade faster than Evan Marriot’s career.
Best Pick: Cleveland
Many people thought the Cavs would be lucky to make the playoffs and most had them as a 7 or 8 seed. Before Hughes got hurt they were solidly in the two spot but after his injury they lost 6 in a row. A recent 7 game winning streak has seemed to remedy that and look for them to take off once again if Hughes’ injured finger heals. You all need to remember one thing, this is LeDong’s world and we are all just living in it. Oh yeah, to you Cleveland fans who gave me crap for thinking the Cavs would be so good (yes, your own fans ridiculed me), I have two words for you, Danny Ferry.
Worst Pick: Detroit. It is hard to find a truly bad pick here and I am not just applauding myself because someone has to, I am doing it because it feels oh so good, like sunshine on a rainy day or a hummer when you don’t have to pay (and yes I believe those was the original lyrics). You could argue the Sixers or Pacers were worse picks but the Sixers are going to fall back and the Pacers have suffered injuries and excessive thuggery. The Pistons are having a record breaking year so picking them 4th is probably the worst of my picks. Their starting five has been more dominant than the late great Nipsey Russell in a game of Hollywood Squares.
Due to move up in the second half: Chicago. The Bulls are still trying to find themselves, like a young teenage girl (insert your own teenage girl joke here, I can not due to the legal system and something I am told is called decency, but we can argue that some other time). Tyson Chandler has picked up his play over the last week and Hinrich is due to break out of his mini-shooting slump. Plus Scott Skiles loves the playoffs and what Scott Skiles wants, Scott Skiles gets (you hear that herpes? You hear that? And I have absolute no idea what that means even though I just typed it).
Due to fall in the second half: Philadelphia. I have been saying it all year but the Sixers are not good. They took advantage of an easy early schedule and Iverson playing out of his mind to build a nice little cushion but that is all about to fall apart. Even if Iverson did not have an ankle sprain, they would drop out of the playoffs. Webber is playing on one leg and all he does is shoot 17 foot jump shots. The rest of the team is just terrible. Against the Suns they actually at one point featured a Michael Bradley, Shavlik Randolph, Matt Barnes front line and should have warned fans “to not try this at home.”
Western Conference:
Overall: Sadly, the Western conference has treated me like a New York Knicks female front office employee, which is not good to say the least. Other than San Antonio, there is not a lot of good to come out of this so let’s just move on.
Best Pick: Minnesota. As noted, there are not really a lot of good picks to choose from here. Many thought the Wolves would make the playoffs but without a decent point guard or slasher, the playoffs are hard to achieve. Garnett is the best player in the game when he is determined to be, problem is, he is surrounded by second stringers. I can’t wait for Mark Blount to alienate the fans of Minnesota.
Worst Pick: Phoenix. I could make an argument that all of the picks were bad, actually, I wouldn’t have to make an argument about that. Out of Phoenix, Houston, and the Clippers, Phoenix was the worst pick as the Rockets have been hurt by injuries (is hurt by injuries a clever pun or just overstating the obvious? Debate) while the Clippers are playing beyond anyone’s expectations. With the Suns, I overrated Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson, and Amare’s absence while underrating their system and Steve Nash. Nash is amazing. He finds the open player every time and if no one is open he drains the shot himself. Surround him with a bunch of guys who love to shoot (Eddie House, Leandro Barbosa, James Jones, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw) and you have an efficient team. Add in Marion’s superhuman performance and you get a team that may win it if Amare comes back healthy.
Due to move up in the second half: Sacramento. The Kings battled a bunch of early season injuries as well as lackadaisical play. However, Bibby is playing better than ever and with Artest in tow to keep other teams honest, the Kings should have a much better second half. It is like the Nets rule, if you have three players who are veteran all-stars, you will be competitive no matter what. The Kings have 4ish all-stars so they should be fine now as long as they stay healthy and Artest stays sane. As a bonus, Bonzi is back and if I could have one wish involving the NBA, I think it would be to go out for a night on the town with Bonzi and Artest. I could hit on any girl I wanted and no dude would mess with me. Think about it.
Due to fall in the second half: New Orleans. I get it Chris Paul is good. I also get that the rest of the team is not. It was fun while it lasted but the second half is going to be rougher than when Magic Johnson took the SATs.
Extra Bonus:
Today Chuck Klosterman had an online chat on ESPN.com. I don’t know who he is but apparently this guy has written some books that nobody has read (which means he and I are very similar as nobody has read my books either, but then again I haven’t written any, so what’s your excuse Chuck?).
Anyway he has an ESPN.com Super Bowl Blog and it is the worst and most boring piece of crap I have ever read. It makes me realize that any dope can not say anything interesting in 2,500 words (see above column). This guy is so bad and uninteresting, I decided to ask him some pertinent questions. Below are some of the actual questions I asked over a 15 minute period (unfortunately I did not save the first 3). Of course, he did not answer them (and yes I really wrote these in, and yes I need help). So Chuck, if you’re out there, I am awaiting your responses (though I would really appreciate them verbally because your writing makes me want to puke all over my socks).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quick blog idea: write something funny
Better blog idea: let someone else write it
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Things more interesting than a chuck klosterman blog:
1. everything
2. see above
3. learning how styrofoam is made
4. the TO-McNabb saga
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
how did you get this gig? it clearly wasn’t your writing since no one has ever heard of you or even read your crap. So did you sleep with chris berman, dan patrick, or linda cohn? and if it was linda cohn, you definitely went too far.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hey chuck, you suck.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quick analogy, SAT style
nice : saddam hussien
______ : Chuck Klosterman
A. Writing
B. Entertaining
C. Interesting
D. All of the above
Hint, It's D
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hey chuck, what's the difference between a funny, thoughtful sports article and a piece of crap.
Oh yeah, you wouldn't know.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if scoop jackson were white he would still be better than you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hey chuck,
what is worse, your writing or a stinky pile of crap?
oh, you got me, trick question. nothing is worse than your writing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So without further ado, on to this weeks picks:
NBA FRIDAY FREE PICKS:
My record has been hovering around .500 for the past month and for that I am sorry. Mid-season NBA gambling is always difficult as bookies readjust their lines and their expectations of teams. It is important to understand this and recalibrate my own forecasts. As it is, I have been fouling off the pitches and keeping my head above water while giving 110% thanks to the man upstairs (4 cliches, one sentence, eat your heart out Al Michaels). This weekend is when the rally begins again.
Minnesota -2 at Portland:
I have begun to call the Wolves the Celtics of the midwest with Blount, Banks, Davis, and Reed. However, I may just revert back to calling them crappy, which they are. Problem for the Blazers is that they are not much better and they don't have Kevin Garnett. In a game with two bad teams and a negligent spread (negligent in the sense that it is irrelevant, not in the sense that it is guilty of leaving another spread alone by itself and unsupervised), take the best player. Just hope Zach Randolph shows up high (which isn't a long shot).
LA Clippers at Boston Over 188.5:
The Celtics have had trouble scoring since their trade while the Clips have been filling it up. The under seems like the safe bet here but my scouts saw the Clips practice this week at the Suffolk University gym (home of AC's favorite division 3 program, the Suffolk Rams who are making a run in the GNAC) and tell me the Clips were looser than Taylor Rain's anus after an all day gang bang. That can mean only one thing, take the points and hope Pierce goes off.
Sacramento at Utah Under 187:
Artest + Kirilenko = few points.
Seattle at Houston -5:
Yao is back, McGrady is back, and Seattle still blows. I have given the Sonics the benefit of the doubt all year but I can't do it anymore. They need to go back to their room and think about how they have made me feel. Take the Rockets and hope McGrady drops 40+.
NBA SATURDAY FREE PICKS:
Another 2-2 night is not only bothersome to me, but is starting to make me crazy. Not as crazy as Antonio Davis’ wife, but crazy nonetheless. Tonight you will win, it is in the cards.
Detroit at Indiana under 178.5:
The Pistons have been holding teams in check while their scoring has dwindled a bit. This is the second night of back to backs for them so they are either going to slow the pace or not play any defense. I’m betting they slow the pace.
LA Lakers at New Orleans/OK City Over 190:
Kobe is going for 89 himself.
Minnesota at Golden State -3:
How’s that trade working out for you know McHale? Oh yeah, here’s a secret you might not have known, Mark Blount sucks.
Portland at Denver -10:
Denver is playing poorly so look for them to turn it around here. Plus Portland blows, but we knew this last night and they beat Minnesota, so now they are really due for a loss. Just hope Juan Dixon doesn’t start hitting shots.
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.(Note we recently lost our mailing list due to a technical glitch...if you had signed up prior to 11/25/05 please sign up again to receive our newsletter)
Check the current point spreads and game lines.
|
