COVERS - PICK 'N' ROLL
(Tracking Started On 2/22/2011)
1-1-0 (NBA)
1-1-0 (NCAA HOOPS)
THURSDAY 2/24/2011
NBA
Boston Celtics at Denver Nuggets (3.5)
Nuggets coach George Karl joked after his team’s 120-107 win over Memphis that his team plays better with a shorter bench. Maybe he should try suiting up just nine players again when his team hosts the Eastern Conference leading Celtics.
Well, or maybe just do whatever caused his team to shoot a blistering 12-of-28 from beyond the arc.
"I've been told by a lot of owners that I coach better when I have a shorter bench," Karl said. "I think everybody knows I enjoy these type of games where you have to mix and match some situations and circumstances and find some success."
But now, Karl must face a totally different challenge. Instead of relying just on a nucleus of remaining players, he must integrate forwards Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, centers Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufos and guard Raymond Felton into the lineup with a mere day of practice. Don’t expect the team to again feature a gaudy, 28-13 assist-to-turnover advantage against one of the league’s top defensive squads.
The Celtics have a day of rest and already have proven their ability to keep pace in an up-and-down game. Boston posted a convincing, 115-93 win in Golden State on Tuesday. The Celtics actually outscored the Warriors in fast break points that game, 30-22.
"We wanted to run. We wanted to push it up and see if we can beat them down the floor,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “But what we didn't want to do is once we didn't have that quick layup or quick open shot, we wanted to set up and execute and go to the post. I thought we did a better job of that offensively in the second half and I thought that allowed us to set our defense."
Look for them to dust that game plan off against the mix-and-matched Nuggets.
Pick: Boston
NCAA
Georgia Bulldogs at Florida Gators (-5.5)
The Bulldogs should call themselves “The Fighting Mad Max’s,” because they truly are road warriors.
Georgia is an outstanding, 7-2 SU and 7-1 ATS in lined away games this season. The seven road wins are the most for the Bulldogs in 16 years.
“In order to have success on the road, it is truly because you have good players – guys who have bought in,” Georgia coach Mark Fox said. “And that is the reason this year, too."
Another key for the Road Dawgs is the team’s outstanding defense. While the team’s shot comes and goes, opponents are averaging a mere 65.5 point per game this season, the 108th best mark in the country. Even better, teams are making a lowly 39.8 percent of their jumpers, 26th best nationally.
And the Gators have been far from dominant at home this season. The team is a solid 12-3 SU on its own floor, but a pathetic 3-9 ATS in lined games. In fact, just seven of those 12 home victories have come by more than six points.
Florida also could take a big hit to its front court depth. Senior forward Chandler Parsons averages 10.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this year, but has been out with a hip injury for nearly two weeks. His status is questionable against Georgia.
Pick: Georgia
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