ANDRE GOMES
NBA – 733 San Antonio Spurs @ 734 Indiana Pacers
Play #1
“We’ve done what you do,” West said. “We’ve had team meetings. We’ve had players-only meetings. We’ve had players and the coaches (meetings). We’re kind of looking for answers right now, and things don’t get any easier.”
The Pacers are really struggling lately and they will face tonight, a Spurs’ team that is simply in another level right now.
IND’s problems aren’t the usual “lack of effort or desire”. Note that despite all these late struggles, IND’s defense has been consistently great! They are playing their usual brand of excellent defensive basketball! However, the same thing can’t be said about their offense.
IND just can’t get deep post positions in a consistent basis, they aren’t “screening” well and they are struggling to hit outside shots. Lowly teams have been able to hang around w/ them because they can defend decently the Pacers’ offense.
On the other end, SAS can beat a franchise record tonight if they defeat the Pacers. Unlike the Pacers, we have a confident team w/ a second unit that can easily outscore their opponents’ starting lineups.
In the first H2H game between these two teams, the Pacers went to SAS and beat the Spurs 111-100! They scored 111 points… Why? Well, w/ just 26 points in the paint + 26 FTM’s, the Pacers hit:
5-12 FG (42%) from 10-15 feet
11-18 FG (61%) from 16-23 feet
9-19 3pts (47.4%)
That was the time when Paul George couldn’t miss mid/long range jumpers…time has changed and for tonight I expect some payback from the Spurs.
Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 733 San Antonio Spurs (-4) @ -110
NBA – 735 Toronto Raptors @ 736 Miami Heat
Play #2
It was tough for me to watch the Magic hit 55.1% of their shots last night vs. TOR and still score only 93 points as our Triple Dime Play w/ OVER 194 pts fell short by 3 points.
Nevertheless, TOR’s perimeter defense once again was subpar as the Magic did some nice damage via PNR’s by their guards. In my opinion, Lowry & DeRozan’s big minutes and increased “fatigue” have been the biggest reason for this TOR’s defensive slump as of late and being this contest @b2b spot, this won’t help the Raptors tonight.
In yesterday’s game, TOR had more than 30% of their offensive production via PNR Ball Handler plays w/ a decent 0.87 PPP mark. I was expecting such good numbers from them via PNR’s because they were facing the subpar ORL defense. Well, for tonight they will face #1 defense in the league vs. PNR Ball Handler plays in the Heat and so, I expect a natural letdown from the Raptors tonight. The fact that MIA is 3-0 vs. TOR so far in this season isn’t a coincidence – they really matchup well vs. TOR!
Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 736 Miami Heat (-5.5) @ -110
NBA – 747 New York Knicks @ 748 Utah Jazz
Play #3
Because the Hawks are imploding down the stretch, the Knicks have a great chance to grab the final seed for the playoffs but they just have to win games like today’s contest @UTA.
Both teams are playing @b2b spot and both had to travel so we are dealing w/ similar physical spot for both of them.
I understand that we should not trust the Knicks to be consistent but they really have a favorable matchup vs. the Jazz in here.
UTA’s perimeter defense is atrocious! In the L10 games, they are allowing 49.1% from 3pts land – FORTY NINE PERCENT! Obviously, this is the worst mark in the league during that stretch by a wide margin (ranked #29 DEN is allowing 40.7%).
We all know that NYK attempts a ton of treys per game so I expect them to explore this massive UTA’s defensive weakness. Also, after facing Andre Iguodala last night, Carmelo Anthony will face R. Jefferson in this contest – also a favorable matchup.
On the other end, UTA keeps playing w/ Kanter & Favors as their starters on the frontcourt. With both players on the court at the same time, UTA’s offensive numbers have been terrible because their floor spacing is subpar in a similar way of HOU’s situation w/ Howard & Asik early on the season. Amare Stoudemire has been decent lately and I expect NYK’s to match well vs. UTA’s big men.
With NYK having a substantial edge on the perimeter, I expect them to win this contest by a safe margin.
Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 747 New York Knicks (-3.5) @ -110