With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

Last Night: 3-2
On the Season: 41-40-1
How I feel: Finally over .500

Tonight’s Spreads:

Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers (-7): I’m real tempted to take the Bulls here, given that they rested last night and the Cavs were on the road in a close one, but then reality sets in: Chicago stinks, despite what we thought at the beginning of the year, and Cleveland’s pretty good. At covering, too.

LA Clippers @ Sacramento Kings (-8): Tonight feels like a night of picking the home teams.

Houston Rockets (-5) @ Portland Trail Blazers: Check that statement. Go with the Rockets.

With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

Last Night: 4-4 Against the Spread
On the Season: 12-14-1 Against the Spread

Cleveland Cavaliers (+3) @ Washington Wizards: The Cavs lost last night, and BronBron ain’t happy. Washington’s good, but it’s still kind of hard to take this team seriously without Agent Zero.

Portland Trail Blazers (+4) @ Sacramento Kings: Ever since their 13 game winning streak early in the season, I’ve been a sucker for betting on this Portland team that continues to lose me money. I just know the one time I bet against them, they’ll pull it off. So I’m sticking to tradition. Portland covers.

Golden State Warriors @ Phoneix Suns (-4): Have things finally turned around for the Suns? They don’t play defense, so this game could be tough, but I like that offense at home.

With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

Last Night: 1-2
On the Season: 6-8-1

Portland Trail Blazers (-2) @ Minnesota T’Wolves: It’s too tempting to not bet. Any game where Minnesota is only a two-point dog should be an automatic bet.

Utah Jazz (-2.5) @ Chicago Bulls: The Jazz are rested, and outside of Kirilenko, they’ve got no injury issues. Their defense should be able to lock down Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, which is most of Chicago’s offense. Bet the Jazz heavy.

Memphis Grizzlies @ Phoenix Suns (-15): There’s a rule of thumb to never bet on an NBA team that’s favored by 15 or more, but that rule never saw these Grizzlies.

Toronto Raptors @ LA Lakers (-11): The Raptors have been struggling, and as much as I hate to bet the high spread, without Chris Bosh they don’t have their go-to guy and they don’t have anyone in the middle. Kobe kills it, covers.

With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

Last Night: 1-2
On the Season: 5-6-1

Tonight’s Games:

Celtics (-6) @ 76′ers: C’mon. . .

Hawks (+11) @ Magic: I doubt the Hawks will win, ’cause they’re the Hawks, but take the gift 11.

Lakers (-3) @ Heat: What’s the best way to rebound after losing to the Kings? Play the Heat.

Nets (+14) @ Rockets: I said it last night: If it’s 14 points, take the dog. Sure enough, the Kings won, won me some money, and I’m happy. I’m not saying the Nets will snap the streak, but take the points.

With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

Last night: 2-4
On the season: 4-4-1

Tonight’s games:

Orlando @ Washington (-1): Magic played last night. Wiz didn’t. It’s never a good sign for the team that plays back-top-back, and even without Agent Zero, Wizards are pretty solid.

Cleveland (-2) @ New York: Would you bet on the Knicks? Exactly

Miami @ Toronto (-1.5): Even without Bosh, you have to think they can beat the Heat at home. Miami isn’t big inside, so Toronto should matchup okay.

Boston (-4) @ Detroit: Betting this game will be tough. But I won’t take another team that’s not Boston when the game’s in Boston.

Indiana (+12) @ Houston: No Yao Ming. Too many points. Streaks are bound to break, and Houston’s on a big one. I won’t say upset, but I will bet them to cover the 12. Take Indy.

Phoenix (+6) @ Denver: WAY too many points. When did Melo and AI become something to fear? They’re still sitting ninth in the West, and even with Shaq, I can’t see the Suns losing this one by more than five.

Tonight’s Games:

-New Orleans (-8) @ New York Knicks: One team is the epitome of team, and the other is the opposite. I don’t have to point out which is which.

-Mavericks (+6) @ Jazz: They had to travel across the nation after playing in L.A., but Dallas as a six point dog seems too good. I won’t say they’ll win, but they’ll lose by less than six.

-76′ers (+2) @ Clippers: The Clippers are a mess, and Philly is one of those teams that can surprise you.

Last night: 1-3 against the spread
On the season: 1-3

-Blazers (+4) @ Bulls: The Bulls stink this season, regardless of who their coach is, and the Blazers are one of the hottest teams in the Association. Not to mention, if it wasn’t for Portland, I would have gone 0-4 last night.

-Spurs (+2) @ Nuggets: Rule of thumb in the NBA: If the Spurs are underdogs, bet them.

-Sonics @ Suns (-14): Anothe rule of thumb in the NBA: If the Suns are at home, bet them.

I ran a betting series with the NFL, and actually did quite well (over the course of the season, betting the spread, I’m more than 20 games over .500), and I’ve decided to do a little dancing with the NBA. I won’t comment on each, just put some winners. I’m going to try and pick between 3-5 teams a day — they’ll usually be posted in the day time, but I was unable to get to it today, so night time will have to do. Hopefully I’ll help you out.

-Rockets @ Celtics (-11.5): Would you really pick against the C’s at home?
-Blazers (-4) @ T’Wolves: Would you really pick the T’Wolves?
-Warriors (+6) @ Mavericks: The quick thing to do is take the Mavs at home. It’ll probably be the popular pick. But ‘Nelly knows a thing or two about Dallas, and I’m still not sure the Mavs have taken enough Advil to rid last year’s playoff hangover.
-76′ers @ Jazz (-9.5): Go Kyle Korver!

So my picks two nights ago were pretty bad. And, ya know, I was joking about betting it all on the Wizards. Really. Funny, ha-ha. I wasn’t really serious. Do you think I’d really bet against my favorite team, even if they are completely terrible? [looks around] Anyway. Here we go. I’m feeling a good night, after a 1-3 the other night.

Update

-On the Season: 22-18

Tonight’s Games

Lakers (-1) @ 76′ers: Philadelphia’s been a solid team. But Kobe’s coming off a suspension he’s pissed about. Bryant drops 40, Kyle Korver becomes the latest victim of the follow-through punch, and the Lakers win.

T’Wolves @ Heat (-5): I’m still skeptical betting on this team without Wade, but Shaq’s been playing well, and the Heat have been solid at home. Take Miami to cover.

Pistons @ Nuggets (+2): A sign of desperation: Betting on the Nuggets, who suck. But I’ve got a feeling about this game. Nuggets cover, even win.

Grizzlies @ Hawks (PICK): This is kinda a coin flip. I wouldn’t be too surprised if these two teams somehow made NBA history and tied each other. History aside, Hawks win.

Season Update

-Last Night: 2-2
-Season: 21-16

Tonight’s Games

-Wizards (-2) @ Hawks: Bet it all on this game. EVERYTHING. Seriously, before they adjust the lines. Joe Johnson is out tonight, and so is Marvin Williams, but seriously: Joe Johnson is out tonight. He’s the leading scorer on a team that otherwise can’t score. I know Gilbert’s been struggling, and I know the Wizards have become a tricky team to call. But bet this. Hard. Like, everything. Wizards win. . . easily.

-Cavs @ Pistons (-5): LeBron’s never done well against the Pistons defense. And in this year’s match-ups, the Cavs haven’t done so hot, either. The Pistons are 2-0 against the Cavs this year, never surrendering more than 80 points, and winning by 13 points, on average. Take the Pistons to cover.

-Bulls @ Heat (-1): Bulls are 2-0 in the series, but both games were close, and both games were in Chicago. Heat have been playing well, and Shaq’s actually been playing. They’ve won two straight. Tonight makes it three. Heat cover the one.

-Bobcats @ Suns (-15.5): General rule: Never bet on an NBA game where a team’s favored by 15 points. Another general rule: Never don’t bet on an NBA game where the Suns, at home against the Bobcats, are only favored by 15 points. Suns cover, cruise through this one.