Actually it looks like you could play all 3 home teams and get at least a 2-1 ats result.
wouldn't ray's first game back be a plus for Boston?
Sportsnut who will regularly talk about games and express his own opinions which are worthwhile is certainly worth responding to. Yes a second half play on Seattle is reasonable. Its what I actually did last night with the Kings. It is also prudent. Would agree to that. Would also agree beating up the Kings yesterday is not the same as beating the Lakers at home and then playing at Charlotte. with less rest than today. There are similarities but the Charlotte play was stronger in many ways than here.
So why bother? Not sure. Boston started with 7 ats covers. Since then its been 4 broken up 2 game ats covers until yesterday where they got their third consecutive ats cover. Its a Thursday game. If that means nothing then a review of dog results on Thursday is in order. The books opened it at 8.5 knowing it would be pounded. Its currently 9.5 and I expect 10.5 by game time.Was that just an accident? Seattle gave very little effort really at Portland scoring 79 points and losing by 10. The point being that it is very likely they should up today and while Boston could beat them by 30 it would involve real effort when they really need to be looking to conserve their energy for the next 2 games. Seattle at home against quality teams is only 3-4 ats. They have been hammered by Spurs, Hornets,Orlando, and GS, They covered vs Detroit, Phoenix and Utah. Those losses though. Its simply a rule that Spurs crush Seattle. Not sure where it was passed but that is a law. NO game was on 3 days rest where Seattle never covers. Orlando was in the worst 4-6 variation. Only GS was a game where they might cover.
What it really comes down to is there are a lot of interesting features. I win almost every day anyway and I enjoy making low stake close calls occasionally. So put the cuffs on, I admit my guilt. I mentioned playing a dog that might lose on a Thursday game where the dogs are currently 13-6 this season. Convicted felon, do I lose my voting rights?
Depends on the crowd reaction, and Ray Ray's personality. Will he be the type that will walk into the stadium and have his mind filled with Seattle memories or can he keep that out of his mind (or at least not let it effect his play).
Can't wait to read who thought that was a great bet on Seattle!!! It was anything but a lucky cover at the end.
Betting on bad teams guarantees one thing = bad results
Why utah
Because winning on Sunday will mean a lot more for the purple & gold.
For me it really doesnt have anything to do with the Boston game. While they may give extra effort or be highly motivated on Sunday that should NOT take away from the performance on Friday. Thats my belief.
Little concerned about backing Utah on the road. However I simply do NOT see the logic behind making LAL -4 other then they burned the betting public on Christmas and maybe that gives them the green light to pump up this line slightily. Probably should be about -1.5 / -2 , recently LAL was only -3 vs GSW. They played twice this year with both home teams winning fairly easily. First meeting Odom missed but the 2nd meeting Okur and Boozer were absent. Remember I was saying back in the Utah/Dallas thread if you make a team -5.5 at one venue then they will be -3 in the other venue. So if you make a team -7.5 in one venue then well your gonna mke them around -1 / 1.5 . Utah only dogged 3 times away going 3-1 recently winning @ Orlando as +4 now what was Orlando in LA( just -1) ? So I feel I have a good basis for this game being -2. This is about getting a feel for how teams should be priced not comparisions. Also back in the 1st meeting LAL really played extremely well in the 2nd H where he I think we see a much more evenly balanced game..
Deron Williams has killed LAL this year and I expect that continue. Boozer and anyone Utah puts in the post could have a big day see what Millsap did in his absence. If there was to be a letdown performance it would be here. They go East play well away and come home for a big XMas day matchup vs Suns which they led throughout. Probably spending Thursday with there families. Tough to fade a HOT team which is why you dont go crazy here. Most of there recent games have been close wins so while its probably crazy I expect this game to be decided late and by 1 possession....LAL needs someone besides Kobe to step up vs Utah and Fisher and Bynum must play like they have recently...
I truly think like CLE tonite they needed that 1 game to get back to the basics and start playing well. For Utah that was Dallas and I expect it to carry over..and the Salt Lake City Tribune seems to feel the same way...since the wrote an article about.
:cheers:
can't you say the same about Utah for Saturday?
Utah has stunk up most away games this season while defending their home court. Several of the lost away games were winnable on paper, but they didn't fokus their efforts on these weaker teams. Boston is a new and exciting team to meet, and they need to save energy to beat them.You might be right but I was talking on behalf of Handyman :smiley_acbe:
This is complete guesswork given nobody can know what these players are thinking but the logic in this instance would be:
1/ Jazz go all out Friday night thinking realistically their best chance is to win on Friday than having to face a rested Celtics team on the B2b who would apart from perhaps a light shootaround on Friday rest up in SLC.
2/ Celtics put the cleaners through Jazz on the Saturday after the Jazz are basking in their SU win from the night before.
3/ Lakers get the Celtics on their last game of the West coast trip, 4th game in 5 days and being the last game on the board on Sunday beat them SU as most likely a couple point dog.
So in a nutshell the trilogy of plays would be: Jazz ATS/ML Friday, Celtics ATS Saturday, Lakers ATS/ML on Sunday.
I'm sure Handy can correct me if this is not what his plan was. I'm going to do it myself, confident I can go at a minimum 2-1 with those 3 plays.
They are a better team:tiphat:Here is a possibly simple question that actually has a possibly simple answer. Why did the Lakers beat the Suns? Its not a trick question. I think it can be answered in 5 words.
Possible. But if that was the answer I was looking for there would have been no point to the question. I am not looking for philosophy, voodu, or karma as answers here. Why did they win the game?