Satyr
Paster of Muppets
Coming off a negative night, losing 1.sth unit, splitting the two plays. Anyways, looking for a winning day again.
I love it how people jump on and off bandwagons based on one or two games. Boston is good! No, they're fake! Wait, they won last night. They have to be good. Toronto is great! Now they suck. Now they're great again.
Of course most such assessments are knee jerk and are in their essence a true exaggeration.
If you ask me, the Raptors are still a solid team. Yes they lost to Milwaukee last night (the Bucks shot 68% from the floor!), they played a subpar game against Boston the other day (they still had a nice shot at the win though, and if you ask me, they would have won it had Ray Allen missed the shot. Simply because several Celtics players (including Garnett) had 5 fouls by then. Another OT? I don't think they would have Garnett for much longer.
The Raptors are a very solid team, with a European style effect taking place, they have some guys who may be sophomores or third year players, but they're actually much more experienced, having played in Europe against some serious competition.
They have depth, they have good fans, play very well at home. The Raps also completely underperformed when it comes to guarding the paint and perimeter players driving to the basket. But I expect that to improve tonight. The Magic are nothing special in my book, sans Howard.
Not even Rashard Lewis impresses me that much. They're not a gas can team, but they're far from what people think they are - a team for the top. I don't think they make the playoffs this year.
Also, they still have Reddick and Nelson out (questionable and probable), and some other guys with flu-like symptoms. Also it's a road b2b spot for Orlando, after routing Minnesota last night with ease, they won't have a stroll in the park against a frustrated Raptors bunch.
Chris Bosh can't edge out Howard in the inside but the Raps are deeper, they're at home, and I rate them to be a better team than Orlando.
Not a ton of points to lay, I'll bite.
Raptors (-4,5) (1.97 @ Pinnacle) 6 units
The Suns have their trademark game going on, they had 31 assists last night and 8 (eight!) players scoring double digits. No Amare last night (he could play tonight), these guys had to focus on quick transition more than ever, they wanted to make a statement and they did it, as they thumped the Bobcats. They won't have an easy job against the Hawks but I can't take the points here, what's five points to this monster team, when they're on a roll? They will eat it like a sweet chocolate cake. It is important to stress out that the Suns' starters didn't play the whole game last night, they were rested enough for tonight.
So I checked the total. Weird, since I had this one at 211.5, so I was a bit surprised. Atlanta still missing Pachulia and Wright (who isn't essential but anyways, another center out), having Speedy Claxton out doesn't help the case but I believe both teams will be running here, wouldn't be surprised if they both exceeded 110 points. Not saying they will, but they should exceed 105 the way I see it.
Keeping it medium.
Atlanta-Phoenix over 207 (1.92 @ Pinnacle) 5 units
Here's what I think. People are overestimating some edges in my book. The fact that Portland is playing their home opener and the fact they already got blown out by the Hornets does not necessarily mean they are going to win tonight, nor that that they are the "correct play".
I see a lot of Blazers bets around the boards and sites, but I think this team just doesn't have it. They have some talent of course, but they don't have team chemistry as of yet. They will probably run the floor more this year than ever, but the way I see the Hornets, they can shift their gamestyle if needed and hurt the Blazers in more ways than one. Chandler in the inside, Paul with his monster rock distribution talents, West stepping up, guys from the bench (primarily Butler, Ely) doing the job...they're very well coached, they have this killer team spirit going on...why would anyone fade them right now against a subpar team?
Just because they're b2b and it's a home opener?
The Rockets were b2b as well, from the toughest road-home switch ever perhaps sans the distance, playing against Dallas and SA within 30 hours.
They still won. Yes I was on SA and I got it wrong, but the point is, b2b doesn't always equate into a fade of the team in question.
The Hornets have this athletic note as well, they're young, fired up...ok, Paul won't have 21 assists tonight and Pedja won't shoot 10/13 from behind the arc, but I don't think they're "due" for a big letdown or anything.
Taking the Hornets to cover.
Hornets (-2,5) (1.90 @ Pinnacle) 6 units
That's it. Good luck guys. :shake: :cheers:
I love it how people jump on and off bandwagons based on one or two games. Boston is good! No, they're fake! Wait, they won last night. They have to be good. Toronto is great! Now they suck. Now they're great again.
Of course most such assessments are knee jerk and are in their essence a true exaggeration.
If you ask me, the Raptors are still a solid team. Yes they lost to Milwaukee last night (the Bucks shot 68% from the floor!), they played a subpar game against Boston the other day (they still had a nice shot at the win though, and if you ask me, they would have won it had Ray Allen missed the shot. Simply because several Celtics players (including Garnett) had 5 fouls by then. Another OT? I don't think they would have Garnett for much longer.
The Raptors are a very solid team, with a European style effect taking place, they have some guys who may be sophomores or third year players, but they're actually much more experienced, having played in Europe against some serious competition.
They have depth, they have good fans, play very well at home. The Raps also completely underperformed when it comes to guarding the paint and perimeter players driving to the basket. But I expect that to improve tonight. The Magic are nothing special in my book, sans Howard.
Not even Rashard Lewis impresses me that much. They're not a gas can team, but they're far from what people think they are - a team for the top. I don't think they make the playoffs this year.
Also, they still have Reddick and Nelson out (questionable and probable), and some other guys with flu-like symptoms. Also it's a road b2b spot for Orlando, after routing Minnesota last night with ease, they won't have a stroll in the park against a frustrated Raptors bunch.
Chris Bosh can't edge out Howard in the inside but the Raps are deeper, they're at home, and I rate them to be a better team than Orlando.
Not a ton of points to lay, I'll bite.
Raptors (-4,5) (1.97 @ Pinnacle) 6 units
The Suns have their trademark game going on, they had 31 assists last night and 8 (eight!) players scoring double digits. No Amare last night (he could play tonight), these guys had to focus on quick transition more than ever, they wanted to make a statement and they did it, as they thumped the Bobcats. They won't have an easy job against the Hawks but I can't take the points here, what's five points to this monster team, when they're on a roll? They will eat it like a sweet chocolate cake. It is important to stress out that the Suns' starters didn't play the whole game last night, they were rested enough for tonight.
So I checked the total. Weird, since I had this one at 211.5, so I was a bit surprised. Atlanta still missing Pachulia and Wright (who isn't essential but anyways, another center out), having Speedy Claxton out doesn't help the case but I believe both teams will be running here, wouldn't be surprised if they both exceeded 110 points. Not saying they will, but they should exceed 105 the way I see it.
Keeping it medium.
Atlanta-Phoenix over 207 (1.92 @ Pinnacle) 5 units
Here's what I think. People are overestimating some edges in my book. The fact that Portland is playing their home opener and the fact they already got blown out by the Hornets does not necessarily mean they are going to win tonight, nor that that they are the "correct play".
I see a lot of Blazers bets around the boards and sites, but I think this team just doesn't have it. They have some talent of course, but they don't have team chemistry as of yet. They will probably run the floor more this year than ever, but the way I see the Hornets, they can shift their gamestyle if needed and hurt the Blazers in more ways than one. Chandler in the inside, Paul with his monster rock distribution talents, West stepping up, guys from the bench (primarily Butler, Ely) doing the job...they're very well coached, they have this killer team spirit going on...why would anyone fade them right now against a subpar team?
Just because they're b2b and it's a home opener?
The Rockets were b2b as well, from the toughest road-home switch ever perhaps sans the distance, playing against Dallas and SA within 30 hours.
They still won. Yes I was on SA and I got it wrong, but the point is, b2b doesn't always equate into a fade of the team in question.
The Hornets have this athletic note as well, they're young, fired up...ok, Paul won't have 21 assists tonight and Pedja won't shoot 10/13 from behind the arc, but I don't think they're "due" for a big letdown or anything.
Taking the Hornets to cover.
Hornets (-2,5) (1.90 @ Pinnacle) 6 units
That's it. Good luck guys. :shake: :cheers:
:cheers:
