Gold Sheet
CHICAGO 92 - Boston 90—See value in taking points with Boston, as
Chicago has cooled down against the points (2-4 last 6 overall & 0-3 last 3 at the
United Center prior to facing Phoenix on Tuesday). Meanwhile, Celtics are
desperate to gain some traction before the playoffs begin, as Doc Rivers’ team
is a pedestrian 7-8 SU last 15. Boston has gotten a bit deeper since regaining
services of G Delonte West (10 pts. & 5 assists in each of last 2 games) and C
Jermaine O’Neal (6 rebs. in 18 mins. in his first start Sunday vs. Detroit).
Obviously, reinjury to Shaquille O’Neal a bit of a setback, but he’s only played
5 minutes in last 28 games, so what are they missing (besides, early indication
was it’s his calf, not Achilles and he’ll be fine)? Celtic G Ray Allen shot 57% in
3 games against the Bulls, and he’s shown signs of pulling out of his shooting
slump in recent outings. Celtics likely to remember ugly offensive showing in
last game against the Bulls, as Chicago dominated the boards with a 48-27
rebounding edge and Boston managed just 79 points. Derrick Rose had 36
points, but Boston was without Kevin Garnett in that one. 10-BOS -8 110-105
(OT-194), BOS -5' 104-92 (191), CHI -2 90-79 (188); 09-BOS -11' 118-90 (187),
Bos -9' 106-80 (187), Chi +6' 96-83 (194), CHI -4' 101-93 (198) CABLE TV—
TNT
★★★Portland 109 - UTAH 93—While Portland has covered 12 of its last 17
and has climbed to a point that the Blazers are threatening Denver for the 5th
seed, Utah has fallen harder and further than any franchise in the last few
seasons. The Jazz had won just 9 times in their last 37 games prior to visiting
the Lakers on Tuesday, prompting rumors of Jerry Sloan returning to the team
(which Sloan didn’t actually deny). The Jazz have been a low-percentage play
since before Christmas, logging a 14-34 spread mark, and they are just 3-11
against the number in their last 14 at EnergySolutions Arena. Utah’s defense
has been atrocious recently, as the Jazz have yielded 110 ppg in their last 12
through April 4. Injuries have left Utah short at point guard, while Blazers are a
pretty deep team, with Nicolas Batum, Brandon Roy & Rudy Fernandez
contributing effectively off the bench, while recently-acquired Gerald Wallace
has settled in as a starting forward (19 ppg, 8 rpg, 56% his last 10 games). 10-
Utah +3' 103-94 (190), Por +7' 96-91 (192), POR -1 100-89 (188); 09-UTAH -5
108-92 (189), Utah -2' 106-95 (196), UTAH -7' 118-105 (196), Utah +1' 93-89
(OT-192) CABLE TV—TNT
CHICAGO 92 - Boston 90—See value in taking points with Boston, as
Chicago has cooled down against the points (2-4 last 6 overall & 0-3 last 3 at the
United Center prior to facing Phoenix on Tuesday). Meanwhile, Celtics are
desperate to gain some traction before the playoffs begin, as Doc Rivers’ team
is a pedestrian 7-8 SU last 15. Boston has gotten a bit deeper since regaining
services of G Delonte West (10 pts. & 5 assists in each of last 2 games) and C
Jermaine O’Neal (6 rebs. in 18 mins. in his first start Sunday vs. Detroit).
Obviously, reinjury to Shaquille O’Neal a bit of a setback, but he’s only played
5 minutes in last 28 games, so what are they missing (besides, early indication
was it’s his calf, not Achilles and he’ll be fine)? Celtic G Ray Allen shot 57% in
3 games against the Bulls, and he’s shown signs of pulling out of his shooting
slump in recent outings. Celtics likely to remember ugly offensive showing in
last game against the Bulls, as Chicago dominated the boards with a 48-27
rebounding edge and Boston managed just 79 points. Derrick Rose had 36
points, but Boston was without Kevin Garnett in that one. 10-BOS -8 110-105
(OT-194), BOS -5' 104-92 (191), CHI -2 90-79 (188); 09-BOS -11' 118-90 (187),
Bos -9' 106-80 (187), Chi +6' 96-83 (194), CHI -4' 101-93 (198) CABLE TV—
TNT
★★★Portland 109 - UTAH 93—While Portland has covered 12 of its last 17
and has climbed to a point that the Blazers are threatening Denver for the 5th
seed, Utah has fallen harder and further than any franchise in the last few
seasons. The Jazz had won just 9 times in their last 37 games prior to visiting
the Lakers on Tuesday, prompting rumors of Jerry Sloan returning to the team
(which Sloan didn’t actually deny). The Jazz have been a low-percentage play
since before Christmas, logging a 14-34 spread mark, and they are just 3-11
against the number in their last 14 at EnergySolutions Arena. Utah’s defense
has been atrocious recently, as the Jazz have yielded 110 ppg in their last 12
through April 4. Injuries have left Utah short at point guard, while Blazers are a
pretty deep team, with Nicolas Batum, Brandon Roy & Rudy Fernandez
contributing effectively off the bench, while recently-acquired Gerald Wallace
has settled in as a starting forward (19 ppg, 8 rpg, 56% his last 10 games). 10-
Utah +3' 103-94 (190), Por +7' 96-91 (192), POR -1 100-89 (188); 09-UTAH -5
108-92 (189), Utah -2' 106-95 (196), UTAH -7' 118-105 (196), Utah +1' 93-89
(OT-192) CABLE TV—TNT
