SPORTS LOCKSMITH
NHL
Ottawa -108 2* (7:30 Eastern)
Calgary -110 2* (9:00 Eastern)
NCAAB
Saint Marys +7 -110 2* (7:00 Eastern)
Eastern Kentucky +13 -110 3* (7:00 Eastern)
UTEP +6 -110 2* (11:00 Eastern)
NBA
Philadelphia +4.5 -110 3* (7:00 Eastern)
Detroit +7.5 -110 4* (7:30 Eastern)
Denver +4 -110 3* (9:00 Eastern)
NHL
Ottawa -108 2* (7:30 Eastern)
Calgary -110 2* (9:00 Eastern)
NCAAB
Saint Marys +7 -110 2* (7:00 Eastern)
Eastern Kentucky +13 -110 3* (7:00 Eastern)
UTEP +6 -110 2* (11:00 Eastern)
NBA
Philadelphia +4.5 -110 3* (7:00 Eastern)
Detroit +7.5 -110 4* (7:30 Eastern)
Denver +4 -110 3* (9:00 Eastern)
Topshelfpicks (NHL) - Carson K
2* Boston -105 Yes, Winnipeg will have Harrison tonight to try and help with all the problems the Jets are having right now with their defenseman. My guess is, it won't matter much tonight. Don't you still need time to gel with your new teammates? I believe the Bruins got some help & new life with the return of David Krejci. He was in the line-up the other night when they beat the Wild. On the season the Bruins are 8-4 with Krejci.
1* Detroit -135 They went 9-2 before they loss 4 in a row. But it wasn't like they were playing bad in those 4 losses. In those 4 games Det had (131 SOG), their Opponents had (115 SOG). I'm thinking the Red Wings turn things around tonight and find the back of the net.
1* Dallas +105 The last 16 games the Stars played they are 8 & 8. For the most part they beat the teams they should and lose to the better teams. The record of the 8 teams they just beat 110-112-36. Compared to the 8 teams they lost to, 125-92-33. I think the way the Flames are playing right now, they are a team the Stars can beat tonight.
2* Boston -105 Yes, Winnipeg will have Harrison tonight to try and help with all the problems the Jets are having right now with their defenseman. My guess is, it won't matter much tonight. Don't you still need time to gel with your new teammates? I believe the Bruins got some help & new life with the return of David Krejci. He was in the line-up the other night when they beat the Wild. On the season the Bruins are 8-4 with Krejci.
1* Detroit -135 They went 9-2 before they loss 4 in a row. But it wasn't like they were playing bad in those 4 losses. In those 4 games Det had (131 SOG), their Opponents had (115 SOG). I'm thinking the Red Wings turn things around tonight and find the back of the net.
1* Dallas +105 The last 16 games the Stars played they are 8 & 8. For the most part they beat the teams they should and lose to the better teams. The record of the 8 teams they just beat 110-112-36. Compared to the 8 teams they lost to, 125-92-33. I think the way the Flames are playing right now, they are a team the Stars can beat tonight.
VegasButcher (NBA) - 70 – 54 @ 0% for +10.6 Units
Charlotte Hornets -4.5
The fact that Hornets are only 4.5 point favorites against Philly shows how far they’ve fallen. Remember, this was a ‘playoff’ team last year. So what changed? Addition of Stephenson for one was a big change. Stephenson though has been pretty useless, as his “real +/-“ranks 46th out of all shooting guards, next to guys like Bojan Bogdanovic and Markel Brown. Maybe without him in the lineup this Hornets team will play better. One advantage for the Hornets is that they rank 1st in the league in TO-rate offensively. Philly relies on pressure for their defense ranking 1st in TO-rate forced, but this is obviously a bad matchup for them. Besides, Philly has the 30th ranked TO-rate offensively. This could very well be the difference in the game here. I think Charlotte will be competitive in this one and I expect players to step up their games without Stephenson in the lineup.
Orlando Magic -4
Utah is coming off a win but that came against Miami, who were without Bosh/McRoberts and playing on a b2b after a really tough win the night before. Miami is also horrible defensively, while Orlando ranks 17th. Magic off a blowout loss @ Boston, and I expect them to play harder tonight. They’ve beaten Utah already this year, and that was without Vucevic, their best player. Favors and Kanter combined to go 17 for 29 for 37 points and 18 rebounds in that game, yet Utah still lost. Expect Vucevic to provide better interior D for Orlando and help with the rebounding as well. I like Magic to end Utah’s “winning streak” tonight.
Washington Wizards -6
Without Bosh and McRoberts, this interior of Miami’s D is really weak and going up against Gortat, Nene, and Humphries won’t be easy. To make matters worse, this Miami team ranks 26th defensively and 28th in eFG%-allowed. Undermanned squad, ineffective bench, and aging starts (Wade and Deng) – hard to see a team like that compete with one of the best in the East. Washington had 2 days off so should be fully rested for this one. I like them to win by 10+.
Portland Trail Blazers +4.5
The Spurs are still without Parker and Leonard, their two key players. They are coming off a triple-OT game where many of their aging stars logged 40+ minutes, with Duncan hitting 48, Belinelli 43, Ginobili 41, and Danny Green 52. Now they’ll take on a younger Portland team which ranks top-10 both offensively and defensively in the league. Portland is a better team right now and there’s too many points in this one.
Los Angeles Clippers -3.5
Denver played really hard on Wednesday, but they struggled containing Howard and Harden defensively, as both exposed Denver’s weaknesses: lack of rim protection on the inside and just overall poor defense. Clippers rank 3rd offensively and they have Jordan and Griffin to dominate on the inside. After losing a tough one at home to Houston, I expect a bit of a let-down tonight. Just don’t see Denver playing with the same energy-level and Clippers are just a superior team right now.
Charlotte Hornets -4.5
The fact that Hornets are only 4.5 point favorites against Philly shows how far they’ve fallen. Remember, this was a ‘playoff’ team last year. So what changed? Addition of Stephenson for one was a big change. Stephenson though has been pretty useless, as his “real +/-“ranks 46th out of all shooting guards, next to guys like Bojan Bogdanovic and Markel Brown. Maybe without him in the lineup this Hornets team will play better. One advantage for the Hornets is that they rank 1st in the league in TO-rate offensively. Philly relies on pressure for their defense ranking 1st in TO-rate forced, but this is obviously a bad matchup for them. Besides, Philly has the 30th ranked TO-rate offensively. This could very well be the difference in the game here. I think Charlotte will be competitive in this one and I expect players to step up their games without Stephenson in the lineup.
Orlando Magic -4
Utah is coming off a win but that came against Miami, who were without Bosh/McRoberts and playing on a b2b after a really tough win the night before. Miami is also horrible defensively, while Orlando ranks 17th. Magic off a blowout loss @ Boston, and I expect them to play harder tonight. They’ve beaten Utah already this year, and that was without Vucevic, their best player. Favors and Kanter combined to go 17 for 29 for 37 points and 18 rebounds in that game, yet Utah still lost. Expect Vucevic to provide better interior D for Orlando and help with the rebounding as well. I like Magic to end Utah’s “winning streak” tonight.
Washington Wizards -6
Without Bosh and McRoberts, this interior of Miami’s D is really weak and going up against Gortat, Nene, and Humphries won’t be easy. To make matters worse, this Miami team ranks 26th defensively and 28th in eFG%-allowed. Undermanned squad, ineffective bench, and aging starts (Wade and Deng) – hard to see a team like that compete with one of the best in the East. Washington had 2 days off so should be fully rested for this one. I like them to win by 10+.
Portland Trail Blazers +4.5
The Spurs are still without Parker and Leonard, their two key players. They are coming off a triple-OT game where many of their aging stars logged 40+ minutes, with Duncan hitting 48, Belinelli 43, Ginobili 41, and Danny Green 52. Now they’ll take on a younger Portland team which ranks top-10 both offensively and defensively in the league. Portland is a better team right now and there’s too many points in this one.
Los Angeles Clippers -3.5
Denver played really hard on Wednesday, but they struggled containing Howard and Harden defensively, as both exposed Denver’s weaknesses: lack of rim protection on the inside and just overall poor defense. Clippers rank 3rd offensively and they have Jordan and Griffin to dominate on the inside. After losing a tough one at home to Houston, I expect a bit of a let-down tonight. Just don’t see Denver playing with the same energy-level and Clippers are just a superior team right now.
