When last we met six nights ago we had our best collective night of NBA gambling of the season. We’re nearing full “dgen” mode. Call your bookies, place your bets. Hide yo kids, hide yo wife. We’re on a heater.
Blazers -4 @ Cavaliers
Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand! Ride the hot hand!
Does that clear it up for everyone? Ok, good. The Blazers are 21-4 and are only favored by four against the lowly Cavaliers. Yea, because Kyrie Irving and Andrew Bynum’s one knee are going to take down Rip City. The only reason to bet against the Blazers tonight would be if you truly take past results in a particular city into consideration. Portland has lost seven of it’s last nine game in Cleveland. Fortunately for the Blazers, this isn’t quite the same team any more. Damian Lilliard and LaMarcus Aldridge have formed one of the three best tandems in the NBA and there is no way the Cavs are going to be able to control them tonight. The only way Cleveland can win this game is if the Blazers beat themselves. With the way Rip City is playing I would bet against that happening. Blazers by 9.
Thunder -2 @ Nuggets
Speaking of riding the hot hand, is there any team in the NBA that is hotter than the Oklahoma City Thunder? The Thunder have won fourteen of their past fifteen games, with their lone loss coming against the Rip City Blazers in Portland. While the Thunder have been playing a fantastic brand of basketball, the Nuggets haven’t played too horribly themselves. Denver is 14-9 and have improved since a sluggish start left them with more questions than answers about the 2013-2014 team.
The question tonight comes down to how comfortable you feel with betting against the Nuggets in Denver. The altitude factor is SO REAL in Colorado and opponents usually have a difficult time adjusting to the circumstances. Can the Thunder overcome the altitude and run it down the Nuggets throat? The reason I believe the Thunder will win, and cover, tonight is that younger players usually have an easier time adapting to the altitude and it shouldn’t slow down the hotter and more talented team. Thunder by 7.
Kings +1.5 @ Bobcats
Despite the fact that the Sacramento Kings are a disappointing 7-15, they should be favored against the Charlotte HorBobNetCats. The “HBNC’s” have dropped their past three games and five of their last seven. They may be only 10-14; however, this is a deeply flawed team and franchise. Never bet on MJ as an owner. Always bet on MJ in everything else in life. Mostly because you know he does.
Rudy Gay has looked like a competent NBA player in his first couple of games for the Kings and it seems like Sacramento may have found its rhythm against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. The combination of Gay, DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Williams should be enough to take care of the “HBNC’s”, especially considering Charlotte couldn’t score more than 95 points in a game even if they had Kevin Durant on the squad. Kings by 6.
Season: 11-9-1
P.S. If you are interested in the other two games tonight I would lean towards taking the Pelicans (+8.5) over the Warriors and the Grizzlies (-2.5) over the Lakers (it makes me sad that Kobe is the best tanking tool the Lakeshow has).
Jason Gold is the Founder and Co-Editor in Chief of SportsMoneyLife.com. Follow Jason on Twitter @TheSportsGuy33.
About Jason Gold