Hoopsgooroo
CBB
528 Indiana -8.5 @ 6:30p
530 UConn -14 @ 7p
532 Dayton -7 @ 7p
534 Wright St. +3 @ 7p
538 Ball St. -9 @ 7p
540 Akron -10 @ 7p
544 Rhode Island +7 @ 7p
549 Villanova +2 @ 7p
552 Notre Dame -8 @ 7p
601 Charleston -4 @ 7p
554 Wake +1.5 @ 7:30p
547 N. Carolina -5.5 @ 8p
556 St. Louis -14.5 @ 8p
557 Temple -2 @ 8p
563 Missouri St. +11.5 @ 8p
578 Illinois -3 @ 8:30p
580 Cincinnati -10 @ 9p
NBA
501 Magic -3 @ 7:05p
503 Spurs -7 @ 7:05p
505 Grizzlies -3.5 @ 7:35p
507 Pacers -2 @ 7:35p
510 Celtics -9.5 @ 7:35p
513 Kings +6 @ 7:35p
518 TWolves -10.5 @ 8:05p
519 Nuggets +7 @ 8:35p
526 Clippers -13 @ 10:35p
CBB
528 Indiana -8.5 @ 6:30p
530 UConn -14 @ 7p
532 Dayton -7 @ 7p
534 Wright St. +3 @ 7p
538 Ball St. -9 @ 7p
540 Akron -10 @ 7p
544 Rhode Island +7 @ 7p
549 Villanova +2 @ 7p
552 Notre Dame -8 @ 7p
601 Charleston -4 @ 7p
554 Wake +1.5 @ 7:30p
547 N. Carolina -5.5 @ 8p
556 St. Louis -14.5 @ 8p
557 Temple -2 @ 8p
563 Missouri St. +11.5 @ 8p
578 Illinois -3 @ 8:30p
580 Cincinnati -10 @ 9p
NBA
501 Magic -3 @ 7:05p
503 Spurs -7 @ 7:05p
505 Grizzlies -3.5 @ 7:35p
507 Pacers -2 @ 7:35p
510 Celtics -9.5 @ 7:35p
513 Kings +6 @ 7:35p
518 TWolves -10.5 @ 8:05p
519 Nuggets +7 @ 8:35p
526 Clippers -13 @ 10:35p
My 10* 1st-Half NBA Total of the Year is on Phi/Orl Over at 7:0 5 ET.
The Magic were in a deep funk the last time they met the 76ers, losing 74-69 in Philly back on Jan 31, giving them a FOURTH straight loss. Orlando shot just 33.3 percent in that game (Sixers weren’t much better at 37.5%) and hit rock bottom with a nine point third quarter. However, Orlando has won SIX of eight since and one shouldn’t ignore that the team has topped 100 points in FIVE of those games (scored 99 in a sixth), averaging 98.5 PPG in that stretch. The ever-lovable Dwight Howard is moaning about not getting the ball enough lately but I will point out that in Orlando’s most recent game (a 102-89 home win over Minnesota), all five Magic starters scored in double digits, with Redick chipping in 14 points off the bench. PG Nelson is back from missing five games with a concussion and has averaged 12.4 PPG over his last five plus Jason Richardson, who was out against the Sixers with a knee injury in that Jan 31 game, has been a key in the team’s recent turnaround, averaging 18.1 PPG on 48.9 percent shooting in the team’s last seven games. Now Philly knows more than a little about balanced scoring, as six players are averaging in double figures, with two more averaging 9.0 PPG or more. While starting center Spencer Hawes (10.5-8.3) is expected to miss his fifth straight game and 15th in the last 17 games with a strained Achilles’, all other “hands are on deck.” Either Vucevic (5.6-5.0) or Allen (4.9-4.3) will start for Hawes, joined up front by Brand (10.1-6.9) and the all-around talent of Iquodala (12.4-6.6-5.3). Holiday (14.1-4.8 APG) starts at PG and Meeks (9.1) at SG with Williams (15.9) coming off the bench in the backcourt to lead the team in scoring. Young (12.8-4.8) and Turner (9.0-5.4) are small forwards, who like Williams haven’t started a single game, but continue to make significant contributions. Now Philly is allowing 86.8 PPG (second-lowest in the league) but note that the team allows 92.0 PPG on the road. Also note that in Philly’s 11 road games this year, the Sixers have toped 100 points five times (have reached 98 points in EIGHT of 11) and despite a 79-point effort at New York back on Jan 11, average a healthy 98.4 PPG in all road games this year. The low score in that first meeting keeps this total below 180 (it opened 178 1/2) and recent series history has seen these teams go ‘under’ in FIVE straight games. However, the Magic are playing WAY better than when these teams met the first time around (see above to refresh your mind) and I fully expect them to score right at (or above) the team's recent average of 98.5 PPG over its last eight games. Philadelphia (as documented above) both scores more and allows more away from home and this game is S-O-A-R-I-N-G over the total.
