Bruce's Picks (5 Live)
The names have changed, but UCSD still impressing Big West onlookers...
BYU is again being asked to chop lots of lumber in Provo, but results in recent weeks suggest the Cougs are up to the task. Competent recent visitors to the Marriott Center like Cal Baptist and UC Riverside have been run off the court as BYU has made it back into the top ten, fueled by last week's wild comeback win vs. Clemson at the Jimmy V Classic. Super frosh 6-9 AJ Dybantsa (20.9 ppg) is more than living up to the hype, and the Cougs kept extending the lead vs. UCR on Saturday as they hit 59% from the floor. Meanwhile, though UOP might be competitive at its own level in the middle of the WCC, matchups don't look promising here. Play BYU.
As Queens plays at only one speed--fast--the Royals might as well have Lando Norris as coach. The Formula 1 style preferred by Grant Leonard puts up lots of points (85 pg) but gives them up just as fast (86 pg), and Queens is even less inclined to touch the handbrake against power conference opposition, most recently throwing caution to the wind on Sunday at Wake Forest. The result was a 111-73 loss, the fourth time in six games that someone in a Queens game hit the century mark. We suppose many Razorbacks have eyes as big as saucers at this chance to score points, which John Calipari won't discourage, as the Porkers score even more rapidly (88.1 pg) than the Royals. Play Queens-Arkansas Over.
We've thought the Knicks could win the NBA Cup from the outset so not terribly surprised they've made it to the finals at T-Mobile. A veteran team that has knocked on the door in the playoffs, this is a chance to win something for NY and lay the groundwork for bigger things next spring. The Knicks are mostly healthy and the big guns are firing, with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combining for 69 points in the semis win over the Magic on Saturday. Meanwhile we wonder if the Spurs are going to exhale after pitching a near perfect-game when knocking off favored OKC on Saturday, and Wemby, though activated, is likely still on a minutes restriction for SA. Play Knicks (at Las Vegas)
Friday turned into a double whammy for the Grizzlies. First, Zach Edey, whose return to active duty in November coincided with a Memphis revival, was out with an ankle injury. More impactful, negatively, was the return of Ja Morant from his calf strain. Maybe not coincidentally, the Griz has surged to seven wins in nine minus Ja's distracting presence, but upon his return on Friday, he continued his subpar 35% FG shooting (just 7 for 20) in a loss to the Jazz. Simply, Morant is an overwhelmingly negative presence that needs to be traded; in the meantime, we'll even back the Clips, who have had their own issues but did push Minnesota and Houston at the end of their recent road trip. Play Clippers.
Non-sensical, it seems, for Denver to have lost four straight games at home, considering it has won eleven straight on the road! No new injury news on top of Aaron Gordon's absence, and Nikola Jokic was full steam ahead on the just-completed road swing, scoring at a brisk 32 ppg clip across the four wins as the Nuggets reached at least 134 points three of those occasions. Meanwhile it looks like the Rockets have flattened out a bit, struggling in some recent outings and losing their last two on the road at Utah and Dallas. Note Denver handed Houston its only loss in a nine-game stretch in November when the Joker scored 34 in a 112-109 win at Toyota Center on November 21. Play Nuggets
Not exactly Dolphins weather tonight in Pittsburgh, but Miami does have four wins on the spin as Mike McDaniel has found something that works the past month. All a bit unlikely following GM Chris Grier's midseason dismissal and McDaniel apparently just missing a similar fate. While not posting spectacular numbers, Tua Tagovailoa has at least stabilized at QB, running a low-risk offense leaning on the run, and the defense has allowed 17 points or fewer in each of the five wins in the current six-game span. Meanwhile, the Steelers are off of their win at Baltimore, but still fail to convince, as the defense has often leaked (and no TJ Watt tonight) and Aaron Rodgers has been inconsistent at best at QB. Play Dolphins
Goals-goals-goals, lots of them lately for Nashville. The Blues know first-hand after the Preds put seven past them last Thursday at Bridgestone Arena when Steven Stamkos scored four times for just the second time in his career. Though several have chipped in lately for Andrew Brunette, whose team seems to have solved its earlier offensive issues, scoring 35 times across the past nine games. Joel Hofer, in the net for St Louis tonight, came on late last Thursday, and gets another chance tonight after posting some very so-so numbers this season (including 3.10 GAA and .893 saves). Play Preds-Blues Over
It took the powerhouse Avs to cool down the rejuvenated Preds on Saturday night but Nashville still emits go-with vibes. The Blues could attest after getting run off of the ice at Bridgestone Arena by the Preds last Thursday in a 7-2 romp featuring four goals by Steven Stamkos (for just the second time in his career). Nashville had won six of eight, including against the Avs last Tuesday, before losing Saturday in Denver, but importantly for the Preds, the offense looks alive again. Meanwhile, St Louis continues to have issues on offense, held to three goals or fewer in eight straight games. Play Preds on Money Line
After being gifted lowly Wolves in their last outing, things will be a bit more difficult for Man U tonight vs. Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth. The Cherries have seen their offense bog down the last two, but their high-pressing style has the capacity to unnerve foes, too. Bigger news for Man U, which feared it would lose top scorer Brian Mbeumo plus Amad and Noussair Mazraoui to AFCON duty, though FIFA ruled they can stay for Big Monday before heading to their national sides. Mbeumo in particular will be missed for upcoming matches, so his presence is key, but Man U has been a bit unreliable, and Ruben Amorim has injury absences, too (Matthijs da Ligt, Benjamin Sesko, Harry Maguire). Play Bournemouth on Spread
Though on the short end of a 4-0 scoreline at the San Siro vs. angry Inter last week, Cesc Fabregas' Como still punches above its weight in Serie A, unbeaten the previous five away. Along the way, Fabregas has gotten good mileage from 21-year old Argentinian Nico Paz, on loan from Real Madrid but adding much pizzazz with team-best marks in goals and assists (five each). Meanwhile, it's win or bust for Roma, yet to draw in 14 matches, as the jury remains out on Gian Piero Gasperini's move from Atalanta. Consistency is Gasperini's issue; the 3-0 Europa League win over Celtic at midweek was preceded by shutout losses to Cagliari and Napoli. Is this the night for a Roma draw? Play Como on Spread