COVERS - PICK 'N' ROLL
(Tracking Started On 2/22/2011)
13-18-1 (NBA)
12-8-0 (NCAA HOOPS)
SUNDAY 3/20/2011
NBA
New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks (-1)
Carmelo Anthony owes the Knicks a check for his most recent game. The All-Star had just six points, four rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes; he finished 2 of 12 from the floor in a 99-95 loss to the Pistons.
To add insult to injury, Anthony also missed a late layup that could have tied the game. After the loss, he bolted for the team bus, but teammate Amar’e Stoudemire said it was the responsibility of all the players to work harder to execute their coach’s scheme.
"We've just got to buy into Mike D'Antoni's system," he said. "That's the way we're going to win. We've proven that it works with the team we had before the trade. And it can work with the guys we have now."
If there is one team for Anthony to get back on track against, it would be the Bucks. Melo is averaging 26.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists against Milwaukee this season. Equally important, his teams are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS against the Bucks.
"We've got to stress ball movement, especially early in the shot clock," D'Antoni said. "And I told them, at the end of the 24 seconds, that's where their superstardom comes into play. You get them the ball, they'll get you a shot. But before that we have to play as a team, move the ball and get to our spots."
Pick: New York
NCAAB: National Invitation Tournament
Wichita State Shockers at Virginia Tech Hokies (-4.5)
One of the Shockers’ best players is slumping.
Forward Ben Smith, the Missouri Valley Conference’s sixth man of the year, is averaging 5.2 points over his past five contests – about two points below his season average. More troubling, he has lost all semblance of an outside shot, making a mere 4 of his past 20 from beyond the arc.
"Lately, he has not played as well," Shockers coach Gregg Marshall acknowledged. "I don't know whether that's because people are concentrating on him because of the numbers he was putting up. I know he's got to play better than he has in the last several games for us to be successful."
Meantime, the Hokies have played well at home toward the end of the season. Virginia Tech is 4-1 SU and ATS in its past five games in Blacksburg. In the team’s most recent home contest, the Hokies pounded Bethune-Cookman 79-54, covering the 20.5-point spread.
“I’m not gonna lie to you and say I wanna be here,” Hokies star senior Malcolm Delaney said of the NIT. “But I play to win and our whole team has that same mindset. If we’re gonna be on the court, we’re gonna play to win.”
Pick: Virginia Tech
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