Larry Ness
REASON FOR PICK: At 7:00 ET my *10* Eastern Conf. "TOW" is on the NY/Cle "over".
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers hope to extend their winning streak to eight games against the New York Knicks when the two clubs collide tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers made it seven wins in a row in this series with a 113-106 victory on February 6 at the 'Q', as James scored 35 of his 47 points in the first half to lead the charge. Cleveland is 2-0 against New York this season and has won seven straight and nine of the last 11 meetings. It is also unbeaten in the last four visits to the Big Apple. James, who leads the NBA with 30.0 points per game, was at it again in Friday's 126-118 overtime victory at Toronto, as he netted 36 points for the Cavaliers, who have won three straight overall and 16 of the past 19 games. Antawn Jamison provided 22 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Now the Cavs are back at home, where they are an NBA-best 25-4. Over their last 25 home games, the Cavs are 23-2 and have averaged 105.3 points on .513
shooting. They also rank third in the NBA in field goal percentage (.487) and second in three-point shooting (.399) (note: the total has gone "over" the number in seven of Cleveland's last nine overall and in four of its last five at home). Losing has been pretty much the norm this season for the Knicks, who sport a lowly 2-12 record in the previous 14 games. In Saturday's 120-109 loss versus the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden, Al Harrington finished with 31 points off the bench for the Knicks, who got 21 points and seven rebounds from All-Star David Lee. Eddie House ended with 15 points off the
bench for New York, which snapped an eight-game skid on Friday with a 118-116 overtime victory over Washington. New York guard Tracy McGrady had zero points in just over 15 minutes of action in the first half. He sat on the bench for the entire second half
due to a sore left knee. The Knicks hope to improve their 8-18 road record this evening and they'll do so with a more concerted effort on the offensive end (note: the total has gone "over" the number in nine of New Yorks last ten overall, and in four of its last five on
the road). Although Shaq will be sitting this one out, I still believe this number is a little low; take the "over".
Good luck...Larry.
REASON FOR PICK: At 9:00 ET my *10* Big Monday "GOW" is on Texas.
The Oklahoma Sooners carry a six-game losing streak into tonight's Big 12 Conference
clash with the struggling Texas Longhorns. Oklahoma's most recent victory came back on
February 6th over the same Texas team that it will face tonight. The six straight losses
since that win have dropped the Sooners to 13-15 overall and 4-10 in conference. They fell
to Baylor on Saturday in a 70-63 final in front of a deflated home crowd. Oklahoma is
generating 72.8 ppg this season, but allowing 73.1 ppg to opponents, but the differential
is certainly more lopsided in league games alone. There are four double-digit scorers in the
fold for the Sooners, who are led by Willie Warren's 16.3 ppg. Tommy Mason-Griffin checks in with 13.9 ppg and 134 assists, while Tony Crocker provides 11.3 ppg. Rounding out the foursome is Tiny Gallon with 10.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg (note: Oklahoma is 1-5 ATS its last six overall; 1-4 ATS its last five on the road). As for Texas, it opened the season with 17 consecutive victories, but the team has gone just 5-7 since. The Longhorns fell to 8-6 in Big 12 action after a 74-58 beating at Texas A&M on Saturday. The hope for Texas tonight is that it can improve its already impressive 14-2 home record. Overall this season, Texas is scoring 81.7 ppg while allowing 68.0 ppg on 39 percent shooting from the field by opponents. As impressive as those numbers are, they were even better when the club was 17-0. Damion James leads the Longhorns with 17.5 ppg, and he is ripping down 10.3 rpg as well. Avery Bradley checks in with 12.3 ppg for Texas, and Dexter Pittman adds 10.4 ppg on 66.3 percent shooting from the floor. James scored 12 points against Texas A&M on Saturday, and Jordan Hamilton added 10 points (note: Texas is 11-10 ATS when playing
the roll of favorite). The "revenge factor" can't be overlooked in this case; lay the points.
Good luck...Larry.
REASON FOR PICK: At 9:00 ET my *10* Big Monday "GOW" is on Texas.
The Oklahoma Sooners carry a six-game losing streak into tonight's Big 12 Conference
clash with the struggling Texas Longhorns. Oklahoma's most recent victory came back on
February 6th over the same Texas team that it will face tonight. The six straight losses
since that win have dropped the Sooners to 13-15 overall and 4-10 in conference. They fell
to Baylor on Saturday in a 70-63 final in front of a deflated home crowd. Oklahoma is
generating 72.8 ppg this season, but allowing 73.1 ppg to opponents, but the differential
is certainly more lopsided in league games alone. There are four double-digit scorers in the
fold for the Sooners, who are led by Willie Warren's 16.3 ppg. Tommy Mason-Griffin checks in with 13.9 ppg and 134 assists, while Tony Crocker provides 11.3 ppg. Rounding out the foursome is Tiny Gallon with 10.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg (note: Oklahoma is 1-5 ATS its last six overall; 1-4 ATS its last five on the road). As for Texas, it opened the season with 17 consecutive victories, but the team has gone just 5-7 since. The Longhorns fell to 8-6 in Big 12 action after a 74-58 beating at Texas A&M on Saturday. The hope for Texas tonight is that it can improve its already impressive 14-2 home record. Overall this season, Texas is scoring 81.7 ppg while allowing 68.0 ppg on 39 percent shooting from the field by opponents. As impressive as those numbers are, they were even better when the club was 17-0. Damion James leads the Longhorns with 17.5 ppg, and he is ripping down 10.3 rpg as well. Avery Bradley checks in with 12.3 ppg for Texas, and Dexter Pittman adds 10.4 ppg on 66.3 percent shooting from the floor. James scored 12 points against Texas A&M on Saturday, and Jordan Hamilton added 10 points (note: Texas is 11-10 ATS when playing
the roll of favorite). The "revenge factor" can't be overlooked in this case; lay the points.
Good luck...Larry.
REASON FOR PICK: At 10:30 ET my *8* Las Vegas Insider is on the LA Clippers.
The Jazz are 20-5 since January 6th; that's a winning percentage of .800 over almost two full months. That's impressive, but keep in mind that they're only 14-13 on the road, and they lost in Sacramento Friday, so they are certainly beatable. The Jazz could be without two starters from the last time these teams met; they'll definitely be without Ronnie Brewer, who was traded to Memphis in a salary dump (where he then tore his ACL),
and they may also be missing Andrei Kirilenko, is currently suffering back spasms (note: Utah may be hot right now, but this is a spot that its struggled in all year; a poor 1-3 ATS as a road favorite of 6 1/2 to 9 points). The Clippers have also made two significant trades, and come into this meeting against the Jazz with three new faces in their rotation. But it's the old faces who need to step up; Eric Gordon has been wildly inconsistent lately, veering between big games and disappearing acts. Baron Davis has been ice cold shooting the ball,
even by his standards. Chris Kaman has continued to put up solid offensive numbers, but has allowed the likes of Robin Lopez (30 points) and Spencer Hawes (16 points) to score at will, and has let his team down with unfocused play and an ejection in Phoenix. The Clippers have won three consecutive at Staples Center, pushing their respectable home record out to 17-12 (note: the Clippers are a spectacular 12-3 ATS their last 15 in front
of the hometown crowd). All that said; Drew Gooden is probably better equipped to defend against Carlos Boozer than Marcus Camby, and Baron Davis has been seeming to take on defensive challenges with zeal lately, so I expect him to have a big game against Deron Williams. Although it would probably take the most complete game of the Kim Hughes era
to win this game, I believe this spread is a little high and like the Clippers to do just enough to sneak away with
the ATS victory; grab the points.
Good luck...Larry
REASON FOR PICK: At 7:00 ET my *10* Eastern Conf. "TOW" is on the NY/Cle "over".
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers hope to extend their winning streak to eight games against the New York Knicks when the two clubs collide tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers made it seven wins in a row in this series with a 113-106 victory on February 6 at the 'Q', as James scored 35 of his 47 points in the first half to lead the charge. Cleveland is 2-0 against New York this season and has won seven straight and nine of the last 11 meetings. It is also unbeaten in the last four visits to the Big Apple. James, who leads the NBA with 30.0 points per game, was at it again in Friday's 126-118 overtime victory at Toronto, as he netted 36 points for the Cavaliers, who have won three straight overall and 16 of the past 19 games. Antawn Jamison provided 22 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Now the Cavs are back at home, where they are an NBA-best 25-4. Over their last 25 home games, the Cavs are 23-2 and have averaged 105.3 points on .513
shooting. They also rank third in the NBA in field goal percentage (.487) and second in three-point shooting (.399) (note: the total has gone "over" the number in seven of Cleveland's last nine overall and in four of its last five at home). Losing has been pretty much the norm this season for the Knicks, who sport a lowly 2-12 record in the previous 14 games. In Saturday's 120-109 loss versus the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden, Al Harrington finished with 31 points off the bench for the Knicks, who got 21 points and seven rebounds from All-Star David Lee. Eddie House ended with 15 points off the
bench for New York, which snapped an eight-game skid on Friday with a 118-116 overtime victory over Washington. New York guard Tracy McGrady had zero points in just over 15 minutes of action in the first half. He sat on the bench for the entire second half
due to a sore left knee. The Knicks hope to improve their 8-18 road record this evening and they'll do so with a more concerted effort on the offensive end (note: the total has gone "over" the number in nine of New Yorks last ten overall, and in four of its last five on
the road). Although Shaq will be sitting this one out, I still believe this number is a little low; take the "over".
Good luck...Larry.
REASON FOR PICK: At 9:00 ET my *10* Big Monday "GOW" is on Texas.
The Oklahoma Sooners carry a six-game losing streak into tonight's Big 12 Conference
clash with the struggling Texas Longhorns. Oklahoma's most recent victory came back on
February 6th over the same Texas team that it will face tonight. The six straight losses
since that win have dropped the Sooners to 13-15 overall and 4-10 in conference. They fell
to Baylor on Saturday in a 70-63 final in front of a deflated home crowd. Oklahoma is
generating 72.8 ppg this season, but allowing 73.1 ppg to opponents, but the differential
is certainly more lopsided in league games alone. There are four double-digit scorers in the
fold for the Sooners, who are led by Willie Warren's 16.3 ppg. Tommy Mason-Griffin checks in with 13.9 ppg and 134 assists, while Tony Crocker provides 11.3 ppg. Rounding out the foursome is Tiny Gallon with 10.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg (note: Oklahoma is 1-5 ATS its last six overall; 1-4 ATS its last five on the road). As for Texas, it opened the season with 17 consecutive victories, but the team has gone just 5-7 since. The Longhorns fell to 8-6 in Big 12 action after a 74-58 beating at Texas A&M on Saturday. The hope for Texas tonight is that it can improve its already impressive 14-2 home record. Overall this season, Texas is scoring 81.7 ppg while allowing 68.0 ppg on 39 percent shooting from the field by opponents. As impressive as those numbers are, they were even better when the club was 17-0. Damion James leads the Longhorns with 17.5 ppg, and he is ripping down 10.3 rpg as well. Avery Bradley checks in with 12.3 ppg for Texas, and Dexter Pittman adds 10.4 ppg on 66.3 percent shooting from the floor. James scored 12 points against Texas A&M on Saturday, and Jordan Hamilton added 10 points (note: Texas is 11-10 ATS when playing
the roll of favorite). The "revenge factor" can't be overlooked in this case; lay the points.
Good luck...Larry.
REASON FOR PICK: At 9:00 ET my *10* Big Monday "GOW" is on Texas.
The Oklahoma Sooners carry a six-game losing streak into tonight's Big 12 Conference
clash with the struggling Texas Longhorns. Oklahoma's most recent victory came back on
February 6th over the same Texas team that it will face tonight. The six straight losses
since that win have dropped the Sooners to 13-15 overall and 4-10 in conference. They fell
to Baylor on Saturday in a 70-63 final in front of a deflated home crowd. Oklahoma is
generating 72.8 ppg this season, but allowing 73.1 ppg to opponents, but the differential
is certainly more lopsided in league games alone. There are four double-digit scorers in the
fold for the Sooners, who are led by Willie Warren's 16.3 ppg. Tommy Mason-Griffin checks in with 13.9 ppg and 134 assists, while Tony Crocker provides 11.3 ppg. Rounding out the foursome is Tiny Gallon with 10.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg (note: Oklahoma is 1-5 ATS its last six overall; 1-4 ATS its last five on the road). As for Texas, it opened the season with 17 consecutive victories, but the team has gone just 5-7 since. The Longhorns fell to 8-6 in Big 12 action after a 74-58 beating at Texas A&M on Saturday. The hope for Texas tonight is that it can improve its already impressive 14-2 home record. Overall this season, Texas is scoring 81.7 ppg while allowing 68.0 ppg on 39 percent shooting from the field by opponents. As impressive as those numbers are, they were even better when the club was 17-0. Damion James leads the Longhorns with 17.5 ppg, and he is ripping down 10.3 rpg as well. Avery Bradley checks in with 12.3 ppg for Texas, and Dexter Pittman adds 10.4 ppg on 66.3 percent shooting from the floor. James scored 12 points against Texas A&M on Saturday, and Jordan Hamilton added 10 points (note: Texas is 11-10 ATS when playing
the roll of favorite). The "revenge factor" can't be overlooked in this case; lay the points.
Good luck...Larry.
REASON FOR PICK: At 10:30 ET my *8* Las Vegas Insider is on the LA Clippers.
The Jazz are 20-5 since January 6th; that's a winning percentage of .800 over almost two full months. That's impressive, but keep in mind that they're only 14-13 on the road, and they lost in Sacramento Friday, so they are certainly beatable. The Jazz could be without two starters from the last time these teams met; they'll definitely be without Ronnie Brewer, who was traded to Memphis in a salary dump (where he then tore his ACL),
and they may also be missing Andrei Kirilenko, is currently suffering back spasms (note: Utah may be hot right now, but this is a spot that its struggled in all year; a poor 1-3 ATS as a road favorite of 6 1/2 to 9 points). The Clippers have also made two significant trades, and come into this meeting against the Jazz with three new faces in their rotation. But it's the old faces who need to step up; Eric Gordon has been wildly inconsistent lately, veering between big games and disappearing acts. Baron Davis has been ice cold shooting the ball,
even by his standards. Chris Kaman has continued to put up solid offensive numbers, but has allowed the likes of Robin Lopez (30 points) and Spencer Hawes (16 points) to score at will, and has let his team down with unfocused play and an ejection in Phoenix. The Clippers have won three consecutive at Staples Center, pushing their respectable home record out to 17-12 (note: the Clippers are a spectacular 12-3 ATS their last 15 in front
of the hometown crowd). All that said; Drew Gooden is probably better equipped to defend against Carlos Boozer than Marcus Camby, and Baron Davis has been seeming to take on defensive challenges with zeal lately, so I expect him to have a big game against Deron Williams. Although it would probably take the most complete game of the Kim Hughes era
to win this game, I believe this spread is a little high and like the Clippers to do just enough to sneak away with
the ATS victory; grab the points.
Good luck...Larry
