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AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS
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AC's Wagercom 2006-2007 NBA Picks Season Record
Wins: 97 Losses: 97 Ties: 2
NBA Picks Winning Percentage: 50%
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 has had 3 consecutive winning seasons picking NBA games against the spread for a combined 317-281 record yielding a 53% winning percentage which would have won you money including the VIG. AC does this out of the kindness of his heart and for the naked pictures of your girlfriends you send him as a token of your appreciation. So enjoy the columns and the picks..
AC'S NBA BASKETBALL FREE PICKS PLAYOFFS WEEK 3:
Round 1 of the NBA playoffs is almost over and it has been more exciting than a phone call from Alec Baldwin or even the release of the new Janine Loves Jenna film (though I wish this film had been made 10 years ago). For the first time in years we have had upsets and games that could have gone either way.
The big story has been the Warriors knocking out the top seeded Dallas Mavericks by simply intimidating them. The Warriors stepped up to the bully and basically punched them in the nuts. Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and even Matt Barnes (yes, the Matt Barnes who almost won the Mokeski award last year for least valuable player) ran all over Dirk and friends. They shot threes, they pushed the ball, and most importantly, they went to the hole. Never has a 67 win team looked so bad. Dallas lacked a creator, a defensive intimidator, and most importantly, someone to take over when it counted. Dirk shooting 2-13 in game six is pretty much inexcusable. It’s like showing up impotent for a date with Jessica Biel, really, you can’t choke much worse than that.
With all of that said, we are on to round two with the exception of the Utah/Houston series. As a result, I will break down the three series that are set.
Chicago vs. Detroit:
This series is almost impossible to gauge as the Bulls have the superior talent (I believe they were 3-1 against the Pistons this year) while the Pistons have the playoff experience. I was shocked at the ease in which the Bulls defeated the decaying Miami Heat. Pizarro had a tougher time conquering the Incas than the Bulls did of defeating the Heat.
The Pistons easily beat the Magic in the first round as well but that was mainly because the Magic just aren’t that good. The Magic have more holes in their team than OJ Simpson had holes in his alibi. It’s tough to judge how the Pistons will play in this series because they have some Miami Heat tendencies.
So where does that leave us? If you look at the match-ups, it’s pretty close but the Bulls have the edge due to their bench. Hinrich-Billups is more of a push than you would think as Billups is as solid as solid gets but Hinrich runs the Bulls. Gordon-Hamilton is a push as well with both being deadly scorers. Deng-Prince is a great match-up with Deng coming on as an offensive force and Prince playing great defense. Nocioni/PJ Brown-RaWeed Wallace is an advantage for the Pistons as long as RaWeed avoids the crazies. Wallace-Webber is an advantage for the Bulls as we all know Christina Webber folds in the clutch like Dirk Nowitzki. Most importantly though, the Bulls bench goes four deep while the Pistons bench is about one deep, to be generous. The Bulls simply have too many players for an aging team like the Pistons to try to stay with for 7 games. It is that simple.
Prediction: Bulls in 6
New Jersey vs Cleveland:
I think this series is the reason the Muslims hate America (well this series and that god awful According To Jim). Two not so great teams who each play ugly basketball. This promises to be worse than Jennifer Connelly’s acting or a Jane Austen novel. This is like a classic 1990s NBA match-up, you remember the 90s right? It’s when the NBA completely sucked. It was before the Euro influence and before teams remembered that you are allowed to score. In a series as bad as this promises to be, take the best player and hope he avoids injury. And remember, this is LeDong’s world and we’re all just trying to survive in it.
Prediction: Cavaqueers in 6
San Antonio vs Phoenix:
This series is basically the NBA finals. These are the two best teams in the league and they are both playing extremely well. The key to this series is going to be dictating the pace, Stoudamire’s play in the low post, and scoring more points than the other team (people sometimes forget about this one, but nothing is more important than scoring more than your opponent in winning games).
The Spurs win because they stop other teams at what other teams do best. They are able to adapt to different game plans and out execute opponents. Seriously, can you define the Spurs style? It is amporphous, like Drew Barrymore’s face.
The Suns meanwhile are all about their style. Pushing the ball, dictating the pace, and nailing threes is what makes the Suns work. However, their ability to play half court offense is going to be the difference maker in this series. If Stoudamire can be a presence down low when the Spurs slow the game down, the Suns should prevail. Amare is the key to this series and I think he is ready to break out like a young Nipsey Russell on the Match Game.
My brain tells me the Spurs will win the series but my heart wants the Suns who have brought fun back to basketball (you think the Warriors would exist as they do today without the Suns bringing back the run and gun? Remember that Don Nelson played that awful Pat Riley slow down defensive style when he coached the Knicks for a year so he hasn’t always been the offensive innovator for which he gets credit).
I guess to make a long story short, the Suns will win in 7 because it is their time.
Prediction: Suns in 7
Friday Night NBA Playoff Picks:
Toronto +7.5 at New Jersey:
This is a tough game to pick because Calderon and TJ Ford are both dinged up which I think means Alvin Williams will be coming out of retirement. The Raptors really haven't played well in this series and I think not having Garbajosa has been a big factor in that. They are still relatively young and inexperienced and could use a bit more veteran play. That said, the Nets are playing extremely well despite the fact that they are old and not very good. Bosh is going to get untracked sooner or later, but unfortunately, if it is later than tonight the Raptors will be done. I think the Nets win tonight but 7.5 is too many to give in a potentially deciding game.
Toronto at New Jersey Under 188:
When you have two not so good teams in a game that could end a series, expect sloppy play. Take the under and hope the Raptors can play some defense.
Saturday NBA Playoff Picks:
Chicago +5 at Detroit:
This is the game the Bulls could steal in Detroit. They just need to keep it within 10 in the first half and then make their run in the fourth quarter. The Pistons may win, but this should be close. Take the Bulls and root for them to hit some jumpers.
Utah +5.5 at Houston:
I really don’t know what to say about this series. Yao is playing like he is 6 foot 8 and outside of McGrady, the Rockets’ offense has been less reliable than George Bush’s war strategy (and non-existent would be an improvement). McGrady should go nuts tonight but the Jazz will climb back and make it close. If you can tease this with the under, that would be best for all involved.
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