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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: 77 Losses: 66 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 19 COLUMN & FREE PICKS:
Twenty or so more games to go and then it is playoff time. The time when champions are crowned, stars are made, and Isiah’s Knicks can officially go on vacation to Hawaii (since they unofficially went on vacation about 3 months ago). With this in mind, I am going to take a look at three of the most important playoff questions you all have been e-mailing me about.
Is Amare going to come back and if so, how will he help Phoenix?
If I were a betting man, and I am, oh yes I am, I would be shorting Stoudamire this season. First of all, there is no sense rushing back a guy who has another 10-12 years left in the league. I believe the Suns are fairly rational and if I am doing the maff correctly, I believe 12 years of playoff revenues will be better than one strong championship run (but than again, I only have a Finance degree from Wharton and look where that has gotten me). Even if the Suns bring Amare back, I just don’t think they have the ability to create defensive stops to win a tightly contested playoff series. I know my boy John Hollinger has shown that the Suns actually have one of the best defenses but I have to believe when the pace of the game slows (as inevitably it does in the playoffs) and teams focus on their big men (Duncan, Dirk in the post, the Pistons, Shaq), the Suns will run into problems. Will these problems be neutralized by the size and athleticism of Amare? A bit, but it takes awhile to get back into playing shape from knee surgery, especially for someone who is so reliant on athleticism (see Tony Allen?s struggles this year). Can the Suns win it all? Sure. Do they have a better chance with Amare? Yes. Would I take risk it? No. Does this have anything to do with Jessica Alba’s fantastic ass? No, but it should, in fact everything should have to do with that. Now I don’t remember my point anymore, just don’t go long the Suns and don’t count on Amare coming back. I think that was what I was trying to say, well that and Jessica Alba has a fantastic ass.
Will Shaq get in to shape and make the Heat contenders?
Doubtful. At this point I don’t think it is a matter of Shaq getting in to shape, I think it is a matter of surrounding Dwyane Wyane Wade and Shaq-fu with better role players. Antoine, Payton, Posey, and even Jason Williams have struggled to fit this team’s needs. What the Heat need is for Wade to have the ball in his hands and play a two man game by isolating with Shaq on one side of the court while the other 3 players rebound and play defense. Shaq’s lackadaisical attitude certainly hasn’t helped but if you were 7 foot 2, worth $100MM, and had a schlong probably the size of Emmanuel Lewis (and not a regular Emmanuel Lewis, but an Emmanuel Lewis on stilts), wouldn’t you just kind of go through motions? Shaq has enough championships that I don’t think he cares all that much. If the East weren’t so weak, The Heat would bow out in round 1.
Can a healthy Maggette bring some renewed energy to the somewhat struggling Clippers?
Yes. I am buying this one. Maggette is the dynamic player the Clips have been missing. They need another scoring threat who can take over a game with the ball in his hands. The Clips have a nice front court in Brand and Kaman, but during the playoffs, they need someone to throw them the ball and be open for the kick out pass. While Cassell can do this, having Maggette available as well further stretches out the defenses, cuts down on the double teaming inside, and means the Clips will have a legitimate shot of winning a first round playoff series even if they should have to play the Mavericks. Of course, if Maggette continues to struggle in getting back into game shape, the Clippers will be done faster than me in the same room as Taylor Rain.
So without further ado, on to this weeks picks:
NBA FRIDAY FREE PICKS:
Milwaukee at Boston Over 204.5:
The Celtics are on a bit of a winning streak, having gone 7-4 in their last 11, while Milwaukee has been playing like a giant dingleberry. Either way, the Celtics hate playing defense and Milwaukee can still fill it up. The scoring should be around 210, just hope Pierce has a good shooting night.
LA Clippers at Chicago +1:
The Clippers suck on the road. No really, they do. The Bulls have been playing their usual marginal game with signs of actually being good once in awhile. The Bulls should win tonight if Deng shoots more then 40%, which is a big if, but maybe Luol will be feeling it.
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Memphis at Sacramento -5:
My boys the Kings have been playing well as of late as Artest hates losing as much as Barry Bonds hates the truth. Plus Mike Fratello needs to start preparing his team for their first round playoff loss. Take the Kings and hope Gasol takes a night off.
Minnesota at Seattle -3.5:
I give the Wolves credit for playing better as of late and I have no idea who on the Sonics can guard Garnett. That said, Marcus Banks is the starting point guard on the Wolves and Mark Blount starts at center. That is never a good thing. Take the Sonics and hope Lewis and Allen go off.
NBA SATURDAY FREE PICKS:
2-2 last night thanks to a couple of strong finishes by the Kings and the Sonics. Tonight I promise you will win so much money that you’ll be able to buy two gold teef.
Chicago Even at Atlanta:
I know the Bulls played last night (though judging by the score, I wouldn’t necessarily call it playing) and I know the Hawks are playing better but have you all met Scott Skiles? He is going to rip his team new anuses (ani?) any day now and when that happens, look out. Expect the Bulls to come out focused and determined while the Hawks really have no reason to care. Just hope they hold Johnson in check, and yes I just wrote that.
Dallas -5 at Utah:
Utah really blows, I have had it with them. They need to go back to their rooms and think about how they have made me feel. Just hope Dirk gets 30.
Detroit -4.5 at Washington:
I know, another away team giving points. I am either crazy or crazy like a fox. Actually, I am neither. Take the Pistons and watch them pick it up with about 5 minutes to go in the 4th.
LA Clippers at Milwaukee Under 194.5:
Apparently, I can’t figure out the Clips or the Bucks but I know both teams just played last night so this will be a sloppy game. Just hope it is sloppy offensively and not defensively. Would you rather I told you to take the Knicks-Charlotte over 203.5?
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