Matt's Picks (8 Live)
Matt's Past Picks
Important to me to play one last game because I'm out on the NBA for a while. Not bitter, things are just awful. No chance Wednesday I play the Hawks when Jalen Johnson was ruled out like late. So what I am supposed to do? Wanted to post this last one as to explain why. Used to love, love the NBA. Now I don't recognize it. No one plays anymore. It's a bad, bad product. And this hurts me to say. Player props are a possibility but short of just crazy value I'm gonna sit out. Don't like giving away $$. Maybe Christmas as guys seem to want to play then. Lot of people think the NBA season only starts on Xmas anyways.
Colorado is on pace to be one of the great regular-season teams in history. But No. 1 netminder Scott Wedgewood probably is out again Friday due to injury. Mackenzie Blackwood has been just as good, though -- maybe NHL teams just need to get guys with the last name Wood, which by the way is my family name (just not me). But this is Bullseye Central against a pretty good Islanders team. And -143 for +1.5 compared to -200 on Avs away for Colorado's first game on the East Coast since late-October? (Granted, I could just skip it) No-brainer play even it if loses.
One of our books has 2.5 but overjuiced. I tend to think Man U gets to at least two goals because West Ham pretty much allows at least two every game. But will United get a third and the Hammers one of their own is really what I believe this comes down to. West Ham is without second-leading scorer Lucas Paquetá (3 goals) and United might be missing Bruno Fernandes (2 goals, team-leading 5 assists). Harry Maguire and Benjamin Sesko are still unavailable. None of the past five in the series have topped three total goals scored.
Do I even need to explain this on San Jose for Wednesday? Again, I'm not being offered +1 and that's surely fine -- but if you don't mind paying a little extra, this team just doesn't lose by more than a goal at home. Now 14-2 ATS on home ice after Monday's win over Utah. The Caps will be in the second of a B2B after facing the Kings on Tuesday. No. 1 netminder Logan Thompson is starting there so that should mean No. 2 Charlie Lindgren (4-3-1, 3.12 GAA) on Wednesday.
Remember when the Heat were a low-scoring, hard-nosed defensive team? Those days are long gone as the team ranks second in the NBA at 124.3 PPG. But leading scorer Norman Powell (25.0 PPG) is out, which knocked this down a couple. The Mavs are middle-of-the pack defensively overall but top five against the 3-pointer and have allowed at least 123 points just once in their past eight. Our model has Miami at 121. When the teams met recently in South Florida, the Heat won 106-102. Powell missed that, too, but had since returned and totaled 58 points in the past two.
KenPom ranks Monmouth 32 spots higher. The Hawks have played a pretty tough schedule and this is only their third at home, where they are 2-0. They rank 13th in blocks per game, averaging 5.9. Believe we won fading Princeton earlier this season and the Tigers are winless away including neutral sites. Leading scorer and playmaker Dalen Davis hasn't played in a couple of weeks due to an ankle injury. I'll just have to hope he sits again. Last year Princeton defeated the Hawks 71-67, but did so led by star Xaivian Lee, who dropped 23 points, six rebounds and six assists. He's now at Florida. Davis had 11 points.
Even if I don't love this, just want to play something in the NBA. Never seen so many lopsided games in terms of spreads. Handful of good teams in the league and a bunch of really bad ones. Terrible product right now. The Clippers might be in some turmoil with Chris Paul released overnight. Not that he had been playing much but he's still an immensely popular future Hall of Famer. L.A. has lost five straight and the defense has gone missing despite Kawhi Leonard's return. No Unicorn for the Hawks is not ideal but they should pull this out as the Clips are 2-9 away.