The Bum's NBA January Trends/News/ Stats/ All You Need To Know !

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NBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, January 13

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MINNESOTA (5 - 31) at INDIANA (15 - 24) - 1/13/2015, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 3-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 3-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ATLANTA (29 - 8) at PHILADELPHIA (7 - 29) - 1/13/2015, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 90-122 ATS (-44.2 Units) versus poor offensive teams - scoring <=91 points/game since 1996.
ATLANTA is 25-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 15-7 ATS (+7.3 Units) as a favorite this season.
ATLANTA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in road games this season.
ATLANTA is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) after scoring 105 points or more this season.
ATLANTA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 3-14 ATS (-12.4 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 20-35 ATS (-18.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 5-3 against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 6-2 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (23 - 15) at WASHINGTON (25 - 12) - 1/13/2015, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 877-768 ATS (+32.2 Units) in all games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 134-94 ATS (+30.6 Units) on Tuesday nights since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 70-39 ATS (+27.1 Units) against Southeast division opponents since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 29-17 ATS (+10.3 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 250-202 ATS (+27.8 Units) after scoring 105 points or more since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 331-400 ATS (-109.0 Units) in home games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 77-117 ATS (-51.7 Units) in home games after a loss by 10 points or more since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 4-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 5-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CLEVELAND (19 - 19) at PHOENIX (22 - 18) - 1/13/2015, 9:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 2-2 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-1 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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GOLDEN STATE (29 - 5) at UTAH (13 - 25) - 1/13/2015, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 21-7 ATS (+13.3 Units) as a favorite this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) after scoring 105 points or more this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 50-34 ATS (+12.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 4-4 against the spread versus GOLDEN STATE over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 6-2 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
6 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DALLAS (26 - 12) at SACRAMENTO (16 - 21) - 1/13/2015, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 115-91 ATS (+14.9 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 41-22 ATS (+16.8 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) in road games in January games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 143-110 ATS (+22.0 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
DALLAS is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) in road games after allowing 105 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 25-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 26-12 ATS (+12.8 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 24-37 ATS (-16.7 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 14-25 ATS (-13.5 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 4-4 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 8-1 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MIAMI (16 - 21) at LA LAKERS (12 - 26) - 1/13/2015, 10:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 2-2 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 4-0 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, January 13

Hot Teams
-- Pacers won four of last five home games (4-4-1 HF).
-- 76ers won three of last four games (6-2 last eight AU). Atlanta won seven in row, 21 of last 23 games (3-1-2 AF).
-- Spurs won four of last five games (5-2 AU). Washington won three of its last four (3-5 last eight HF).
-- Suns won/covered their last three home games (7-5 HF).
-- Golden State won last six games, covered last five (7-5 AF).
-- Kings won three of last four home games (3-5 HU).

Cold Teams
-- Minnesota lost last 15 games, covered one of its last five (4-10 last 10 AU) games.
-- Cleveland lost five in row, eight of last nine games (2-4 AU).
-- Utah lost three of its last four games (5-6 HU).
-- Dallas lost last two games by 13-20 points (8-3 AF).
-- Lakers lost three of last four games, are 10-4-1 vs spread in last fifteen. Miami lost five of its last seven games (6-9 AU).

Series Records
-- Pacers won five of last seven games with Minnesota.
-- 76ers lost their last five games with Atlanta.
-- Wizards lost their last twelve games with San Antonio.
-- Suns won four of last five games with Phoenix.
-- Jazz lost their last five games with Golden State.
-- Kings lost four in row, 19 of last 21 against Dallas.
-- Lakers lost eight of last nine games Miami.

Totals
-- Last four Minnesota road games stayed under.
-- 76ers' last four games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last six San Antonio road games stayed under.
-- Under is 5-1-1 in Cleveland's last seven road games.
-- Ten of last eleven Utah games stayed under total.
-- Seven of last ten Dallas road games went over total.
-- Four of last five Miami road games stayed under.

Back-to-Backs
-- None

East vs West
SU: West 121-71 ATS: West 104-87-1
East teams HF vs West: 25-25
East teams HU vs West: 17-29
West teams HF vs East: 43-40-1
West teams HU vs East: 7-5

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Tuesday, January 13

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. INDIANA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Indiana is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games
Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games

7:00 PM
ATLANTA vs. PHILADELPHIA
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Atlanta is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Philadelphia is 2-15 SU in its last 17 games at home

7:00 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. WASHINGTON
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Washington
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games at home

9:00 PM
GOLDEN STATE vs. UTAH
Golden State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Utah is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Utah is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Golden State

9:00 PM
CLEVELAND vs. PHOENIX
Cleveland is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Cleveland's last 10 games when playing Phoenix
Phoenix is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Phoenix's last 11 games

10:00 PM
DALLAS vs. SACRAMENTO
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Dallas's last 17 games when playing Sacramento
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games
Sacramento is 2-19 SU in its last 21 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Sacramento's last 17 games when playing Dallas

10:30 PM
MIAMI vs. LA LAKERS
Miami is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 4-10 SU in their last 14 games
LA Lakers are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games when playing at home against Miami

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Tuesday, January 13

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Game of the Day: Spurs at Wizards
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San Antonio Spurs at Washington Wizards (-1.5, 194)

The San Antonio Spurs got their trip to the White House and visit with President Obama out of the way on Monday and will get back to basketball when they visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. The Spurs have pulled out of a rut that lasted nearly all of December and are winners of four of the last five. The Wizards earned a big win on Friday over Chicago but were crushed against another East contender in a 120-89 loss at Atlanta on Sunday.

“We played a game (on Sunday) that was not indicative of who we are, and we’ve got to learn from it,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman told reporters. “I think the good thing is we’re playing a mirror image of the team we just played so we know what we have to do to combat the troubles we had (against the Hawks).” Washington guard John Wall had as many turnovers as assists (eight) on Sunday and is averaging five miscues over the last four contests. Wall was outplayed by Cory Joseph and Patty Mills in a 101-92 San Antonio win over Washington on Jan. 3, when the two combined to go 14-of-18 from the floor.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FSN Southwest (San Antonio), CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington)

LINE HISTORY: Most shops opened the Wizards as 2-point faves, but that's dropped down slightly to -1.5.

INJURY REPORT: Spurs - Manu Ginobli (Prob-back), Marco Belinelli (Ques-groin), Kawhi Leonard (Late Jan-hand) Wizards - N/A

ABOUT THE SPURS (23-15): San Antonio did not have Tony Parker available the last time the teams met but the star point guard is steadily increasing his minutes in a return from a hamstring injury. Parker played his third game back on Saturday at Minnesota and delivered 12 points in 25 minutes after being held to a total of 10 points in his first two games back. Kawhi Leonard (hand) is still out but the Spurs may have found a solution in Austin Daye, who had been glued to the end of the bench before drawing the start on Saturday and delivering 22 points and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (25-12): Washington pulled within two points of the Hawks in the third quarter on Sunday before running out of gas and letting the game get out of hand. The big issues were 20 turnovers leading to 31 points and a perimeter defense that surrendered 16 made 3-pointers. The Wizards are in the middle of the pack in the NBA in defensive 3-point percentage, allowing opponents to knock down 35.3 percent, but held the Spurs to 4-of-16 from beyond the arc in the Jan. 3 meeting.

TRENDS:

*Spurs are 1-6 ATS in their last seven following a win
*Under is 4-1 in the Wizards' last five home games
*Spurs are 7-0 ATS in their last seven meetings in Washington
*Over is 9-1 in the Spurs' last 10 games following an ATS win

CONSENSUS: According to Consensus, 53 percent of action is on the Wiz to cover the spread.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Tuesday, January 13


Over cashes for NBA bettors Monday night

Bettors wagering on the over in the Association Monday night went home happy as it went a perfect 4-0 O/U.

Not only did the all the games go over, they went way over, by an average of 20.8 points.

The over has been the slight worse bet than the under this season, cashing 48 percent of the time.


NBA game roundup: Pistons stay hot, beat slumping Raptors

TORONTO -- Guard Brandon Jennings scored 34 points and had 10 assists as the ascending Detroit Pistons defeated the slumping Toronto Raptors 114-111 on Monday.

Guard Jodie Meeks, who had 13 points, hit a decisive 3-pointer in the final minute as the Pistons (14-24) won their second game in a row and their ninth in the past 10 games after starting the season 5-23.

The Raptors (25-12) have lost five of their past six games.

Forward Greg Monroe added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons.

The Raptors, who led by as many as 14 points in the first half and by 12 at halftime, got a career-best 31 points from center Jonas Valanciunas, who also added 12 rebounds.

Toronto trailed by a point and had possession with 14.8 seconds to play. After a timeout, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry missed a shot, and Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit two free throws with 6.6 seconds to play to clinch the win.

Rockets 113, Nets 99

NEW YORK -- Guard James Harden scored 30 points in three quarters to help Houston pull away.

The NBA's leading scorer made nine of 13 shots, sank four of seven 3-point attempts and converted all eight of his foul shots in 30 minutes.

Center Dwight Howard, who got into a first-quarter altercation with Brooklyn forward Kevin Garnett, finished with eight points and five rebounds in 28 minutes.

Garnett was ejected after headbutting Howard.

Center Mason Plumlee collected 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who dropped their sixth straight.

Celtics 108, Pelicans 100

BOSTON - The Celtics rallied from six points down in the final 7:20 to win.

The Boston win came several hours after the two teams were involved in a three-team trade in which Memphis acquired Jeff Green from the Celtics and the Pelicans re-acquired forward Quincy Pondexter.

Boston forward Jared Sullinger, who iced the game with four free throws in the closing seconds, had 27 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Center Anthony Davis, who had all but one of the Pelicans' field goals over the last 10:22, scored 34 points and added nine rebounds and five assists.

Magic 121, Bulls 114

CHICAGO -- Center Nikola Vucevic and guard Victor Oladipo each scored 33 points to help the Magic snap a six-game losing streak.

The Bulls (26-13), in first place in the Central Division, lost for the seventh time to a team with a record currently under .500, five of those games in Chicago.

Forward Pau Gasol scored 28 points to lead five Bulls in double figures.

[StarDust Bum]

Red-Hot Hawks

January 13, 2015

Prior to the start of the 2014-15 NBA regular season, oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag had the Atlanta Hawks listed as a 60/1 betting choice to win the NBA Finals.

With nearly half the season in the books, oddsmakers have made major adjustments in the futures market and Atlanta received plenty of attention. The Hawks are now an 18/1 choice to capture the hardware next June.

When you consider that Atlanta owns a 10-2 record against the Western Conference this season, that feat might not be impossible.

Some might believe there is more value for the Hawks to win the Eastern Conference.

ODDS TO 2014-15 EASTERN CONFERENCE PER SPORTSBOOK.AG

Team Opening (10/31/15) Current (1/12/15)

Cavaliers 5/7 2/1

Bulls 9/4 11/5

Wizards 11/1 6/1

Raptors 13/1 7/1

Nets 18 /1 100/1

Heat 18/1 100/1

Hornets 18/1 100/1

Knicks 23/1 4000/1

Hawks 25/1 4/1

Pacers 40 /1 100/1

Pistons 80/1 50/1

Magic 120/1 500/1

Celtics 135/1 1000/1

Bucks 200/1 100/1

76ers 400 /1 5000/1

Back in October, the Hawks were a 25/1 choice to win the East and that number has dropped to 4/1, which is still a great price for a team that could be the No. 1 seed.

Atlanta has been very consistent this season, playing great at home (16-3) and on the road (13-5). For our purposes, bettors have watched this team go 26-11 against the spread and that includes an eye opening 14-4 ATS mark on the road.

What’s really impressive about Atlanta this season is that it’s only lost back-to-back games twice this season and only three of its eight losses were by double digits.

Should bettors be surprised by Atlanta’s success? I asked that question to VegasInsider.com NBA handicapper Brian Edwards, who grew up a fan of the Hawks.

He said, “I'm very surprised by Atlanta's success. The Hawks were actually No. 2 in the East when Al Horford went out with a season-ending injury last season. His return has been key and is one of several factors that have helped spark this team to 22 wins in its last 25 games. During that stretch, the Hawks have cashed tickets at an incredible 20-5 against-the-spread clip."

“I mentioned Horford, who is the ultimate team player with great touch on his jumper from the elbow and the baseline. Horford and Paul Millsap show up every night and consistently produce numbers. Both have been to the All-Star Game before but probably won't make it this season because they are willingly sacrificing their stats for the better of the team.”

Millsap is averaging 16.9 points per game while Horford has contributed with an average of 14.6 PPG.

While this pair make up one of the most dynamic frontcourts in the NBA, Edwards is a bigger fan of the backcourt.

“The improvement of Jeff Teague has been the biggest thing to me. It'll be a crime if he's not an All-Star, especially after the way he abused Chris Paul in an easy win over the Clippers at Staples Center last week. Teague's stats don't tell the whole story and everyone in the Association knows the Wake Forest product has arrived and is playing as well as any point guard out there,” said Edwards.

“Kyle Korver's shooting has been nothing short of sensational. When you have prime scoring threats in Teague, Millsap and Horford, in addition to the NBA's best shooter from 3-point range and the free-throw line, you are going to be tough to stop offensively.”

Not a lot of the Atlanta players are recognized by the common fan and the same can be said for the coach, who also receives high praise from Edwards.

“Mike Budenholzer, a Gregg Popovich disciple, is starting to look like the next Popovich. After serving under 'Pop' from 1996-2013, Budenholzer has put his stamp on this team. You clearly see it in the offensive execution. Like the Spurs in the Finals last year, the Hawks are always making the extra pass. Also, they're always playing hard and to steal a line from Larry Brown, ‘they play the right way’ on the hardwood,” emphasized Edwards.

On Tuesday, the Hawks look to win and cover their ninth straight game when they visit Philadelphia (7-29 SU, 17-29 ATS).

Oddsmakers made a mistake on this game as they opened Atlanta as a 9 ½-point road favorite. As of Tuesday morning, the number has already spiked up to 11 points. It should be known that the 76ers have weathered the storm and will be looking to win their third straight game.

The Hawks blasted the 76ers 95-79 on Dec. 10 as 13-point home favorites. This was the fifth straight victory for Atlanta against Philadelphia. The team has gone 4-1 ATS during this span.

This will be the first game of a four-game road trip for Atlanta, who heads to Boston on Wednesday.

When playing on back-to-back spots this season, the Hawks have gone 7-3 both SU and ATS.

The matchups against the 76ers and Celtics could certainly be viewed as road traps for the Hawks, especially when you look at the schedule.

After playing these inferior clubs, Atlanta steps up in class with road tests at Toronto on Friday and Chicago on Saturday.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

-- Miami 90, Duke 74-- 'canes were 10-20 on arc; Duke was 10-20 on foul line.

-- Kansas 67, Oklahoma State 57-- Jayhawks took 46 FTs, Cowboys 25.

-- VCU 65, Rhode Island 60-- VCU took URI's best shot, still won.

-- Iowa 77, Minnesota 75-- Richard Pitino's Gophers are 0-5 in conference.

-- Tulsa 66, UConn 58-- Why are these teams in the same league?

-- Boise State 82, UNLV 73 OT-- Ugly end to game for young Rebels.

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Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud......

13) Duke lost consecutive regular season games for first time in six years, and they go to Louisville Saturday. Young teams are going to struggle at some point. Kentucky played consecutive OT games with mid-level SEC teams. Its just inevitable when you go up against older players.

12) Mikhail Prokhorov is selling the Brooklyn Nets, as the Donald Sterling fiasco has had unintended consequences-- owners see how much they can get for their teams, so they jump ship for a big profit. First the Hawks, now the Nets.

11) According to baseballguys.com's Ray Flowers, 694 pitchers threw at least one pitch last year; 139 of them (20.8%) have had Tommy John surgery.

10) NFL coaching stuff: Jets hired Todd Bowles as head coach, Jason Garrett got a five-year extension in Dallas and John Fox is unemployed despite going 48-19 and winning four division titles in a row. I mention it every day because it is disappointing that the world is so bizarre that a guy who is 48-19 would get fired.

9) Dating Tip of the Day: Generally its a terrible idea to take dating advice from me, but this much I know: "You should always try and avoid dating trained/paid killers." Don't believe me? Ask NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who claims his ex-girlfriend was a trained killer, much like Chuck Barris in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Oy.

8) Last three ACC tournament champs: Florida State-Miami-Virginia. No Duke or North Carolina, though one of those two lost all three finals. Surprising fact.

7) In the Pac-12, the lower-seeded team won the last six Pac-12 tourney finals, so that will be an interesting fact to remember come March.

6) Suns 107, Cavaliers 100-- Cleveland is now 19-20. No bueno. How long do they wait before they pull the plug on the coach and bring Mike Brown back (again)?

5) Pirates are giving Korean SS Jing-Ho Kung $16M for four years. Last year, A's signed a Japanese shortstop for decent money and I still haven't seen him play. Lot of artificial turf in Japan; need a better throwing arm and better bat on grass fields.

4) Speaking of which, A's tried to trade for Yunel Escobar in July when Jed Lowrie was hurt and team was sinking; Escobar vetoed the deal. Now A's traded for him and his agent said Escobar is good with the trade-- not sure why he vetoed the trade last summer but was good with it now. Maybe because Joe Maddon went to Chicago.

3) There is a new TV program on WGN about a family that owns a funeral parlor and also dabbles in professional wrestling. Seriously. Wrestling with Death- no way could I make stuff like this up. Real life is much stranger than fiction.

2) Big East has teams in Indianapolis, Omaha, Chicago and Milwaukee, as kids all over America struggle with Geography. I wonder why? UConn and Tulsa are in the same league, as are West Virginia and six schools in OklahomaTexas. Yikes.

1) Odds and ends for Hump Day
-- Odd Fact of the Day: Rex Ryan roots for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
-- I'm afraid the vultures could be circling over UNLV hoop coach Dave Rice soon.
-- Why did Ohio State run the score up in the last minute against Oregon?
-- Islanders shut the Rangers out in Madison Square Garden for first time since 1975.
-- Georgia's best shot blocker is out tonight after getting hit by a car. Colorado State's center Avila is suspended for tonight's game.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, January 14

Hot Teams
-- Hornets won last four games, covered last five.
-- Rockets won/covered last four games (4-1 last five AF).
-- Detroit won nine of its last ten games (1-8 HF).
-- 76ers won three of last five games (1-5 last six AU).
-- Wizards won four of their last five games (2-6-1 AU).
-- Hawks won their last eight games (4-1-2 AF).
-- Mavericks won seven of last nine games (4-4 AU). Denver won last four games, covered four of last five (5-6-1 HF).
-- Golden State won last seven games, covered last six (8-1 last 9 HF). Miami won three of last four games (6-9 AU).
-- Portland won eight of its last nine games (1-3 last four HF). Clippers won five of their last seven games (0-4 AU).

Cold Teams
-- Spurs lost four of last five road games.
-- Orlando lost six of its last seven games (3-7 HU).
-- Memphis lost its last three road games (2-6 last eight AF). Nets lost their last six games (1-5 HU).
-- Pelicans lost three of last four games (5-0 last five AU).
-- Raptors lost five of their last six games (3-7 last ten HF).
-- Bulls lost three of their last four games (2-6 last eight HF).
-- Celtics lost nine of last twelve games (3-1 last four HU).

Series Records
-- Hornets lost ten of last eleven games with San Antonio.
-- Rockets won their last four games with Orlando.
-- Nets won five of last seven games with Memphis (Hollins' old team).
-- Pelicans won their last four games with Detroit.
-- 76ers lost their last five games with Toronto.
-- Wizards won five of last seven games with Chicago.
-- Celtics lost five of last six games with Chicago.
-- Nuggets won five of last seven games with Dallas.
-- Road team won last five Miami-Golden State games.
-- Home side won last seven Clipper-Blazer games; LA lost last three in Portland by 1-4-6 points.

Totals
-- Six of Spurs' last seven road games stayed under.
-- 10 of last 13 Houston road games went over total.
-- Six of last nine Memphis road games went over.
-- Under is 9-4-1 in last fourteen Pelican road games.
-- 12 of last 16 Philly road games stayed under.
-- Eight of last eleven Chicago home games went over.
-- Five of last seven Atlanta road games stayed under.
-- Nine of last twelve Dallas road games went over.
-- Nine of last eleven Miami road games stayed under.
-- Seven of last nine Clipper games stayed under total.

Back-to-Backs
-- Spurs are 3-4 vs spread on road if they played night before.
-- Dallas is 3-5 vs spread if it played the night before.
-- Wizards are 3-2 vs spread on road if it played the night before.
-- Atlanta is 3-2-1 vs spread on road if it played the night before.
-- Dallas is 3-5 vs spread if it played the night before.
-- Miami is 2-3 vs spread on road if it played the night before; Golden State is 3-3 if they played night before.

East vs West
SU: West 123-73 ATS: West 106-89-1
East teams HF vs West: 26-26
East teams HU vs West: 17-29
West teams HF vs East: 44-40-1
West teams HU vs East: 7-6

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Wednesday, January 14

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. CHARLOTTE
San Antonio is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of San Antonio's last 18 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Charlotte's last 18 games when playing San Antonio
Charlotte is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio

7:00 PM
HOUSTON vs. ORLANDO
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Orlando
Houston is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Orlando
Orlando is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Orlando's last 6 games at home

7:30 PM
MEMPHIS vs. BROOKLYN
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Memphis's last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Memphis's last 9 games when playing Brooklyn
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Brooklyn's last 8 games when playing at home against Memphis
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Brooklyn's last 9 games when playing Memphis

7:30 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. TORONTO
Philadelphia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Philadelphia is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

7:30 PM
NEW ORLEANS vs. DETROIT
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
New Orleans is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing New Orleans

8:00 PM
ATLANTA vs. BOSTON
Atlanta is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Boston
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games at home
Boston is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games

8:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. CHICAGO
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Chicago is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Chicago's last 23 games when playing Washington

9:00 PM
DALLAS vs. DENVER
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing on the road against Denver
Dallas is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Denver
Denver is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Dallas
Denver is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Dallas

10:30 PM
MIAMI vs. GOLDEN STATE
Miami is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing Golden State
Miami is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
Golden State is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing Miami
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

10:30 PM
LA CLIPPERS vs. PORTLAND
The total has gone OVER in 11 of the LA Clippers last 15 games when playing on the road against Portland
LA Clippers are 2-9 SU in their last 11 games when playing on the road against Portland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
Portland is 3-7 SU in their last 10 games when playing LA Clippers

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Wednesday, January 14


NBA game roundup: James returns, but Cavs lose again

PHOENIX -- Suns forward Markieff Morris had a career-high 35 points, and Phoenix spoiled Cleveland forward LeBron James' return to action with a 107-100 victory over the Cavaliers at US Airways Center on Tuesday.

James had 33 points, seven rebounds and five assists in his first game of 2015 after missing eight games with knee and back injuries.

James gave the Cavs (19-20) a 97-96 lead with 3:50 remaining before the Suns finished the game on an 11-3 run.

Suns forward P.J. Tucker made four free throws in the final 27 seconds after James' 3-point play made it 103-100 with 51.1 seconds remaining.

Guard Goran Dragic had 18 points and center Alex Len had his second straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Suns (23-18) broke a two-game losing streak.

Warriors 116, Jazz 105

SALT LAKE CITY -- Steph Curry scored 27 points and Golden State used a huge third quarter to defeat Utah at EnergySolutions Arena.

Curry hit 10 of 16 shots and dished out a game-high 11 assists to help the Warriors (30-5) become the third NBA team to hit the 30-win mark.

Center Derrick Favors led Utah (13-26) with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Wizards 101, Spurs 93

WASHINGTON -- Guard John Wall scored 25 points and reserve center Kevin Seraphin dominated the fourth quarter as Washington snapped a 17-game losing streak toSan Antonio Spurs.

Seraphin scored 11 of his 17 points in the final period including nine straight for the Wizards. The lead changed sides seven times in the fourth quarter before Seraphin's putback put Washington ahead for good at 88-87 with 5:44 remaining.

Washington's previous win over San Antonio took place Nov. 12, 2005. None of the current Wizards played in that game, which came five seasons before Wall entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Hawks 105, 76ers 87

PHILADELPHIA -- Red-hot Atlanta rested three starters against Philadelphia, but one of those who remained, Al Horford, more than made up for their absence.

Horford had the first triple-double of his eight-year career, logging 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Atlanta's ninth straight win and its 23rd in the last 25 games.

Reserve guard Kent Bazemore added 17 points and guard/forward Kyle Korver had 15 for the Hawks, who at 30-8 own the Eastern Conference's best record. Amid a stretch in which they will play four games in five nights, they rested guard Jeff Teague and forwards Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll.

Timberwolves 110, Pacers 101

INDIANAPOLIS -- Guard Mo Williams scored 52 points, which is a Bankers Life Fieldhouse record for a visiting player, and Minnesota snapped a 15-game losing streak against struggling Indiana.

Williams scored 37 second-half points, and the Timberwolves scored 41 fourth-quarter points to win for the first time since beating Portland on Dec. 10 in Minneapolis. It was the Timberwolves' first road victory since beating the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 28 at the Staples Center.

Williams' 52 points broke the visitors' record of 49 scored by Amar'e Stoudemire while playing for Phoenix against the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Nov. 5, 2008.

Mavericks 107, Kings 104 (OT)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Guard Monta Ellis scored 28 points and handed out 10 assists, and he knocked down two free throws with 8.7 seconds left in overtime to help Dallas nail down a victory over Sacramento.

Mavericks forward Tyson Chandler finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds, and his two free throws with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter capped Dallas' 14-4 run in the final 4:11 of regulation that forced overtime.

Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins scored 32 points and grabbed 16 rebounds -- his fifth straight double-double -- and added nine assists, but the Kings failed to earn consecutive victories for the first time since November.

Heat 78, Lakers 75

LOS ANGELES -- Guard Mario Chalmers scored 19 points, and Miami captured a low-scoring victory over Los Angeles.

Reserve center Hassan Whiteside had 15 points, nine rebounds and five blocks as the Heat won for the third time in four games. Miami prevailed despite losing guard Dwyane Wade, who left the game in the second quarter with a mild left hamstring strain and did not return.

Shooting guard Kobe Bryant, center Jordan Hill and forward Ed Davis scored 12 points apiece for the Lakers, who dropped their fourth decision in five games.



Heat G Dwyane Wade, doubtful Wednesday

Wade left Tuesday's game due to a left hamstring strain and is not expected to play Wednesday against the Warriors.



Pelicans losing after wins and winning after losses

One of the most confusing storylines of the NBA season revolves around the inconsistent play of the New Orleans Pelicans.

After falling to the Boston Celtics 108-100 Monday in Beantown, the Pels are now 4-14 straight-up in contests coming off of a win. Anthony Davis' squad have fared much better in games coming off of a loss, however, owning a 13-5 SU record in that regard.

That's a trend New Orleans backers need to be aware of as the campaign is reaching the midway point. The Pelicans will be in action once again Wednesday against the up-and-coming Detroit Pistons in the Motor City.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Washington at Chicago
The Wizards head to Chicago tonight where they are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games versus the Bulls. Washington is the pick (+5 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the game Even. Dunkel Pick: Washington (+5 1/2). Here are all of today's NBA picks.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14

Game 701-702: Houston at Orlando (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 124.755; Orlando 114.727
Dunkel Line & Total: Houston by 10; 191
Vegas Line & Total: Houston by 7 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Houston (-7 1/2); N/A

Game 703-704: San Antonio at Charlotte (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 122.503; Charlotte 116.022
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 6 1/2; 189
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 3 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-3 1/2); N/A

Game 705-706: New Orleans at Detroit (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 120.092; Detroit 123.141
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 3; 213
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit by 5; No Total
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (+5); N/A

Game 707-708: Philadelphia at Toronto (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 108.788; Toronto 122.585
Dunkel Line & Total: Toronto by 14; 207
Vegas Line & Total: Toronto by 16; 201 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+16); Over

Game 709-710: Memphis at Brooklyn (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 121.755; Brooklyn 112.958
Dunkel Line & Total: Memphis by 9; 186
Vegas Line & Total: Memphis by 6 1/2; 191 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-6 1/2); Under

Game 711-712: Atlanta at Boston (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 128.151; Boston 115.704
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 12 1/2; 200
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 7; 205
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-7); Under

Game 713-714: Washington at Chicago (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 119.518; Chicago 119.878
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 200
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 5 1/2; 194 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+5 1/2); Over

Game 715-716: Dallas at Denver (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 121.173; Denver 119.628
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 1 1/2; 218
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 2; 212
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (+2); Over

Game 717-718: Miami at Golden State (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 116.658; Golden State 133.561
Dunkel Line & Total: Golden State by 17; 210
Vegas Line & Total: Golden State by 12 1/2; 203 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (-12 1/2); Over

Game 719-720: LA Clippers at Portland (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 121.501; Portland 127.975
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 6 1/2; 211
Vegas Line & Total: Portland by 4; 206
Dunkel Pick: Portland (-4); Over

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, January 14

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HOUSTON (27 - 11) at ORLANDO (14 - 27) - 1/14/2015, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
ORLANDO is 3-1 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 4-0 straight up against ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (23 - 16) at CHARLOTTE (15 - 24) - 1/14/2015, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 3-1 against the spread versus CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 4-0 straight up against CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW ORLEANS (18 - 19) at DETROIT (14 - 24) - 1/14/2015, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ORLEANS is 4-0 against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 4-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHILADELPHIA (7 - 30) at TORONTO (25 - 12) - 1/14/2015, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 52-66 ATS (-20.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 50-64 ATS (-20.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) as a road underdog of 12.5 or more points this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 26-40 ATS (-18.0 Units) after allowing 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 27-42 ATS (-19.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 20-36 ATS (-19.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 40-23 ATS (+14.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in home games after scoring 105 points or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 5-4 against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 6-3 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MEMPHIS (26 - 11) at BROOKLYN (16 - 22) - 1/14/2015, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MEMPHIS is 17-32 ATS (-18.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 46-23 ATS (+20.7 Units) in road games against Atlantic division opponents since 1996.
MEMPHIS is 111-82 ATS (+20.8 Units) in road games in non-conference games since 1996.
MEMPHIS is 35-21 ATS (+11.9 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BROOKLYN is 2-2 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
BROOKLYN is 2-2 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ATLANTA (30 - 8) at BOSTON (13 - 23) - 1/14/2015, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 26-11 ATS (+13.9 Units) in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) as a favorite this season.
ATLANTA is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games this season.
ATLANTA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in January games this season.
ATLANTA is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) after scoring 105 points or more this season.
ATLANTA is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
ATLANTA is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
BOSTON is 184-227 ATS (-65.7 Units) in home games revenging a loss vs opponent since 1996.
BOSTON is 45-76 ATS (-38.6 Units) in home games off an upset win as an underdog since 1996.
BOSTON is 83-118 ATS (-46.8 Units) in home games after scoring 105 points or more since 1996.
BOSTON is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 6-3 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 5-4 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WASHINGTON (26 - 12) at CHICAGO (26 - 13) - 1/14/2015, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 34-22 ATS (+9.8 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 35-23 ATS (+9.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 40-24 ATS (+13.6 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 52-71 ATS (-26.1 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 42-68 ATS (-32.8 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 10-4 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 9-5 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
7 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DALLAS (27 - 12) at DENVER (17 - 20) - 1/14/2015, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DENVER is 49-33 ATS (+12.7 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 210 over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 115-92 ATS (+13.8 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) as a road favorite of 3 points or less over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 41-23 ATS (+15.7 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) in road games in January games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 4-3 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 5-2 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MIAMI (17 - 21) at GOLDEN STATE (30 - 5) - 1/14/2015, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 24-10 ATS (+13.0 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 22-7 ATS (+14.3 Units) as a favorite this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in home games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in home games after allowing 105 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 17-4 ATS (+12.6 Units) after scoring 105 points or more this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
MIAMI is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI is 29-16 ATS (+11.4 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 3-1 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 3-2 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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LA CLIPPERS (25 - 13) at PORTLAND (30 - 8) - 1/14/2015, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA CLIPPERS are 416-483 ATS (-115.3 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
LA CLIPPERS are 200-251 ATS (-76.1 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1996.
LA CLIPPERS are 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
PORTLAND is 60-97 ATS (-46.7 Units) as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 4-3 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
LA CLIPPERS is 5-3 straight up against PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Tip Sheet

January 14, 2015

Wizards at Bulls (-5 ½, 194 ½) – 8:05 PM EST

Washington travels to the United Center tonight with no rest after knocking off San Antonio, 101-93. This game closed as a pick-em or even some books had the Wizards as short home underdogs, but Washington shot 49% from the floor, while John Wall led the way with 27 points. Randy Wittman’s team has lost four of their last five games away from the Verizon Center, which includes defeats to the Thunder, Hawks, Spurs, and Mavericks.

Chicago needs to get back on track, fast. The Bulls lost for the second time in less than a week as a double-digit home favorite, falling to the Magic on Monday, 121-114 as 11 ½-point chalk. The 121 points was the most allowed all season by Chicago, as Orlando shot a scorching 59% from the field on the final game of its road trip. The Bulls are playing with revenge tonight after getting chased out by the Wizards last Friday in D.C., 102-86. Chicago fell behind, 30-13 after one quarter and never recovered, as the Bulls own a 2-8 ATS record since Christmas.

Hawks (-7, 205) at Celtics – 8:05 PM EST

Atlanta can’t stop winning, as the Hawks won for the 14th time in 15 tries in last night’s 105-87 blowout of the 76ers. Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap each sat out to rest on the front-end of a back-to-back, as the Hawks easily covered as 10-point road favorites on Tuesday. Atlanta has cashed tickets in nine straight games, and is 9-0 ATS in the past nine contests away from Philips Arena. Teague and Millsap are each expected to play tonight, as the Hawks go for their second win over the Celtics this season after erasing a 23-point deficit in a 109-105 victory in early December.

The Celtics are still trying to figure out their identity nearly three weeks after trading Rajon Rondo to Dallas, winning just four of 13 games since dealing their veteran point guard. Boston knocked off New Orleans, 108-100 as 5 ½-point home underdogs on Monday, as Jae Crowder (who was acquired in Rondo deal) scored a season-high 22 points. The Celtics have covered three of their past four times in the home ‘dog role, while putting together a 7-4 SU/ATS record in their previous 11 games at TD Garden.

Mavericks at Nuggets (-2, 212) – 9:05 PM EST

It’s an unfavorable scheduling spot for Dallas tonight, who travels to the Pepsi Center with no rest following an overtime victory at Sacramento on Tuesday. The Mavericks erased a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to force OT in a 108-104 triumph to snap a two-game skid, but Rick Carlisle’s team failed to cash as five-point road favorites. Dallas begins a home-and-home set with Denver that wraps up in Texas on Friday, as the Mavs have put together an 0-3 SU/ATS record in its past three games as a road underdog.

The Nuggets have gone through plenty of ups and downs this season, but Denver is currently on an upswing with a four-game winning streak. Brian Shaw’s club has topped the 110-point mark three times during this hot stretch, including a 118-110 triumph at Sacramento on Friday as five-point underdogs. Denver has won five of its past seven games at home, as the ‘under’ has cashed six times in this span. The Nuggets and Mavericks are meeting for the first time this season, as Denver has won each of the past three home matchups.

Heat at Warriors (-12 ½, 203 ½) – 10:35 PM EST

Miami continues its five-game road trip after pulling off a sweep of the Los Angeles teams. The Heat routed the Clippers on Sunday as 10-point underdogs, then held off the underachieving Lakers last night, 78-75 to win consecutive games for the first time since late November. Miami jumped out to an 18-0 lead before the Lakers made it interesting late, but Dwyane Wade exited the game with a strained left hamstring and is likely out tonight. The Heat is riding a five-game ‘under’ streak, while winning five of nine road contests against Western Conference opponents.

The Warriors head home after shooting lights out in a 116-105 victory at Utah last night to cash as eight-point road favorites. Golden State scored 44 points in the third quarter, as the Warriors knocked down 13 three-pointers for their seventh consecutive win. Steve Kerr’s club chased the Heat in their first meeting back in late November, 114-97 as 7 ½-point favorites, outscoring Miami, 23-11, the fifth straight win by a road team in this series.

Clippers at Blazers (-4, 206) – 10:35 PM EST

Two teams that will be fighting for high seeds in the Western Conference playoffs hook up at the Moda Center. The Clippers wrapped up an eight-game homestand at 5-3, capped off by a sluggish loss to the Heat on Sunday afternoon, one day after blowing out the Mavericks by 20 points. Los Angeles has dropped five straight road games, as the last away victory by Doc Rivers’ squad came back on December 10 at Indiana.

The Blazers have won four straight games and eight of their past nine with the lone loss in this stretch coming to the red-hot Hawks. Portland’s defense has stepped up of late, limiting seven of the last eight opponents to 97 points or less, while hitting the ‘under’ five times. The home team has won seven consecutive meetings in this series, as the Clippers held off the Blazers on November 8 at Staples Center, 106-102 as 4 ½-point favorites. Portland put up 38 points in the first quarter, but was held to just 40 points in the second half as the Blazers hit the road after tonight for a back-to-back set at San Antonio and Memphis this weekend.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Oklahoma City at Houston
The Thunder head to Houston tonight and come into the contest with a 5-1 ATS record in their last 6 games versus the Rockets. Oklahoma City is the pick (+1 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Thunder favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (+1 1/2). Here are all of today's NBA picks.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15

Game 501-502: New York vs. Milwaukee (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New York 107.065; Milwaukee 115.299
Dunkel Line & Total: Milwaukee by 8; 194
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 503-504: Oklahoma City at Houston (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 122.695; Houston 121.399
Dunkel Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 1 1/2; 204
Vegas Line & Total: Houston by 1 1/2; 208
Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (+1 1/2); Under

Game 505-506: Cleveland at LA Lakers (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 119.868; LA Lakers 111.425
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 8 1/2; 213
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 5 1/2; 204
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-5 1/2); Over




NBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, January 15

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NEW YORK (5 - 35) vs. MILWAUKEE (20 - 19) - 1/15/2015, 3:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 5-4 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 6-3 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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OKLAHOMA CITY (18 - 19) at HOUSTON (27 - 12) - 1/15/2015, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 127-92 ATS (+25.8 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 9-5 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 9-5 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CLEVELAND (19 - 20) at LA LAKERS (12 - 27) - 1/15/2015, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 13-26 ATS (-15.6 Units) in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 21-35 ATS (-17.5 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 23-37 ATS (-17.7 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
CLEVELAND is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) after allowing 105 points or more this season.
CLEVELAND is 4-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
LA LAKERS are 31-19 ATS (+10.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 3-1 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 2-2 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, January 15

Hot Teams
-- Bucks are 5-3 in last eight games SU, 10-4-1 in last 15 vs spread.
-- Rockets won/covered four of last five games (7-3 last ten HF).

Cold Teams
-- Knicks lost last fifteen games (1-7 vs spread in last eight).
-- Thunder are 5-5 in last ten games (0-5-1 vs spread in last six).
-- Cavaliers lost last six games, nine of last ten (4-8 AF). Lakers lost four of last five games (1-4 last five HU).

Series Records
-- Knicks lost three of last four games with Milwaukee.
-- Thunder lost last two games with Houston, after winning seven of previous seven games with Rockets.
-- Lakers are 6-5 in last eleven games with Cleveland, winning three of last four played here.

Totals
-- Last seven Milwaukee games stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last ten Thunder road games stayed under.
-- Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Cleveland road games.

Back-to-Backs
-- Houston is 7-3 vs spread if it played night before.

East vs West
SU: West 127-74 ATS: West 109-90-2
East teams HF vs West: 26-27
East teams HU vs West: 18-31
West teams HF vs East: 44-40-2
West teams HU vs East: 7-6




NBA


Thursday, January 15

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. BUFFALO
Minnesota is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games
Buffalo is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Buffalo's last 6 games when playing Minnesota

7:00 PM
NY RANGERS vs. BOSTON
NY Rangers are 13-2 SU in their last 15 games
NY Rangers are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games when playing Boston
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Boston is 7-1 SU in their last 8 games when playing NY Rangers

7:00 PM
VANCOUVER vs. PHILADELPHIA
Vancouver is 6-17-1 SU in its last 24 games ,when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vancouver's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games at home
Philadelphia is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games

7:30 PM
COLORADO vs. FLORIDA
Colorado is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games when playing on the road against Florida
Florida is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Florida is 3-11 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Colorado

7:30 PM
EDMONTON vs. TAMPA BAY
Edmonton is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Edmonton is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games

7:30 PM
MONTREAL vs. OTTAWA
Montreal is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Montreal is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games
Ottawa is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Montreal

8:00 PM
DETROIT vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Detroit's last 13 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
St. Louis is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 8 of St. Louis's last 9 games at home

8:30 PM
WINNIPEG vs. DALLAS
Winnipeg is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Winnipeg's last 10 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Dallas is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games at home

9:00 PM
CALGARY vs. ARIZONA
Calgary is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Arizona
Calgary is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games
Arizona is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Calgary
Arizona is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games

10:30 PM
TORONTO vs. SAN JOSE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Toronto's last 11 games on the road
San Jose is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Toronto
San Jose is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home


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NBA

Thursday, January 15


NBA game roundup: Warriors win 8th in a row

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors equaled their 25-year-old franchise record with a 15th consecutive home win Wednesday night, thumping the Miami Heat 104-89. The Warriors won their eighth game in a row overall.

Point guard Stephen Curry had a game-high 32 points, and the Warriors' reserves outscored their Heat counterparts 41-17 as Golden State ran its record to 12-0 against Eastern Conference competition this season.

Curry and backcourt mate Klay Thompson combined for four 3-pointers and 19 points in the first quarter, during which the Warriors built a 26-18 lead. The home team never looked back.

The Heat was playing the second half of a back-to-back without star guard Dwyane Wade, who sustained a hamstring injury Tuesday in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Wade is day-to-day.

Clippers 100, Trail Blazers 94

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Guard Chris Paul sank 10 consecutive free throws over the final 4:35, and Los Angeles topped Portland.

Guard Jamal Crawford came off the bench for 25 points, and Paul finished with 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Paul made only six of 18 shots from the field but was 10-for-10 at the line. Center DeAndre Jordan collected 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Clippers, who won for the sixth time in eight games.

Forward LaMarcus Aldridge scored 37 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who lost for only the third time in 16 outings.

Spurs 98, Hornets 93

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Guard Manu Ginobili came off the bench to score 27 points, and San Antonio snapped Charlotte's five-game winning streak.

The Spurs led by as many as 16 in the first half but had to fight off a Charlotte rally that got as close as one in the final five minutes. Ginobili hit a jumper and a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to push a one-point lead to 91-85 with 3:22 left, and from there the Spurs went on to lead by as many as eight.

Ginobili finished 10 of 14 from the field with three 3-pointers. The Spurs also got 18 points from guard Danny Green, 14 points and 10 rebounds from forward Tim Duncan, and 10 points from guard Tony Parker. The Hornets, who got a game-high 28 points from guard Kemba Walker, were looking for their first six-game winning streak since the 2009-10 season.

Grizzlies 103, Nets 92

NEW YORK -- Forward Zach Randolph collected 20 points and 14 rebounds, helping Memphis dominate the paint en route to a victory over Brooklyn, which dropped its seventh consecutive game.

Playing in his third game following a nine-game absence due to a sore right knee, Randolph shot 8-for-11 and posted his 19th double-double, and center Marc Gasol added 18 points and eight rebounds. The Grizzlies held a commanding 66-40 edge on points in the paint.

Forward Mason Plumlee scored 15 points for Brooklyn, which is winless since Jan. 2.

Pelicans 105, Pistons 94

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Anthony Davis poured in 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and New Orleans opened up a 22-point halftime lead and cruised to a win over Detroit.

Davis, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer, collected his 22nd double-double, and the power forward also added four blocks for the Pelicans. Guard Tyreke Evans supplied 18 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, and forward Ryan Anderson tossed in 17 points.

Point guard Brandon Jennings led the Pistons, who had won nine of their last 10, with 19 points. Power forward Greg Monroe added 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists but saw his streak of consecutive double-doubles snapped at seven.

Magic 120, Rockets 113

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Guard Victor Oladipo scored 32 points, and center Nikola Vucevic had 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead Orlando past Houston.

The Rockets were paced by NBA leading scorer James Harden, who had 26 points and nine assists. Houston center Dwight Howard added 23 points and eight rebounds.

The Rockets had their four-game winning streak snapped, while the Magic won their second consecutive game.

Raptors 100, 76ers 84

TORONTO -- Guard DeMar DeRozan, who missed the previous 21 games with a groin injury, celebrated his return with 20 points, and Toronto defeated Philadelphia.

Raptors reserve guard Lou Williams added 19 points as the Raptors won for the second time in the past seven games. The Sixers took their second loss in a row.

Guard Kyle Lowry scored 18 points and added 12 assists for the Raptors, while center Jonas Valanciunas contributed 12 points and forward Amir Johnson scored 10 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Philadelphia guard Michael Carter-Williams led all scorers with 29 points.

Hawks 105, Celtics 91

BOSTON -- Soaring Atlanta, again resting key players, cruised to its 10th consecutive victory.

On Tuesday night in Philadelphia, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer sat four starters in a victory over the lowly 76ers. On Wednesday, facing another weak opponent, big man Al Horford and key reserve Kyle Korver were inactive, but the Hawks still had no trouble posting their club-record 10th straight road victory.

Forward DeMarre Carroll and guard Jeff Teague led the Hawks with 22 points apiece. Guard Avery Bradley led four Celtics in double figures with 17 points.

Wizards 105, Bulls 99

CHICAGO -- Guard Paul Pierce scored 22 points, and guard John Wall added 21 points and nine assists to lead Washington past Chicago.

Guard Bradley Beal added 17 points, forward Nene had 13 and center Marcin Gortat finished with 11 points and nine rebounds as all five Wizards starters finished in double-figures scoring.

Guard Derrick Rose led all scorers with 32 points for the Bulls, who coughed up a 50-44 halftime lead and were outscored 61-49 in the second half. It was Chicago's second straight loss, both at home, and fourth loss in the past five home games.

Nuggets 114, Mavericks 107

DENVER -- Guard Ty Lawson had 29 points and 12 assists, forward Kenneth Faried scored 22 and pulled down 14 rebounds, and Denver beat Dallas.

Forward Wilson Chandler added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who had to hold on down the stretch for their fifth straight victory.

Guard J.J. Barea led Dallas (27-13) with 17 points. Forward Richard Jefferson scored 16 for the Mavericks, who lost for the third time in four games. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle sat forward Dirk Nowitzki, guard Rajon Rondo and center Tyson Chandler for rest after an overtime game in Sacramento on Tuesday.



Lakers' F Jordan Hill, probable Thursday

Hill is expected to play against the Cavaliers on Thursday despite dealing with a knee injury.


Knicks' F Carmelo Anthony, probable Thursday

Anthony is expected to return to the lineup Thursday against the Bucks after being sidelined with soreness in his left knee.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

-- Georgia Southern 78, UL-Lafayette 70-- Teams are now tied atop Sun Belt.

-- Murray State 92, Belmont 77-- Steve Prohm is 89-27 at Murray State; how is he still coaching there and not at a wealthier school?

-- Utah 76, Arizona State 59-- Big game Saturday; Utes at Arizona.

-- Eastern Washington 92, Portland State 85-- Eagles are 4-0 in Big Sky.

-- Washington State 108, Oregon 99 OT-- Ernie Kent beats his alma mater, has his Coogs 3-1 in Pac-12. Much improved team.

-- Gonzaga 78, Pepperdine 76-- Waves are on their way back- this was good game, but Bulldogs were an awful 14-33 on foul line. 14 for 33. Oy.

**********

Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind.......

13) Good high school basketball event in Springfield, MA this weekend; 14 games with teams from all over the country. Games Monday will all be on ESPNU. Who is paying the freight for all these teams to fly to Massachusetts? It ain't cheap.

12) Washington Redskins hired Bill Callahan as offensive line coach; he had the title of offensive coordinator in Dallas, but thats all it was obviously, a title. Callahan is a good get for Jay Gruden and the Redskins.

11) Two of Rex Ryan's new assistants in Buffalo have famous names; Tony Sparano Jr and Bobby April III, sons of longtime NFL coaches. Don't forget, Rex Ryan is the son of a longtime NFL coach too.

10) 2016 All-Star Game is in San Diego, giving NL the mid-summer classic two years in a row, which is unusual. Going to San Diego is always good, but the HR Derby in Petco Park won't be great-- too big. HR Derby in Cincinnati this July will be very good. Smaller parks make for better home run derbies.

9) A's general manager Billy Beane has made nine trades with nine different teams since Thanksgiving weekend; when Oakland takes the field April 6, only two of their nine hitters will be guys who were on the A's last season.

8) Gonzaga's basketball game at Pepperdine was delayed for 33 minutes after the Zags' team bus got stuck in freeway traffic and got to the gym only 25 minutes before the scheduled gametime. Gonzaga was 14-33 from the foul line in this game; I'm sure they are just glad to get out with a win and get ready for LMU Saturday.

7) How long will Gonzaga big guy Domantas Sabonis stay in Spokane? He is highly skilled, the son of a great player. Young Sabonis will be a high draft pick whenever he decides to go pro. American big kids generally leave school too early-- is there anyone who remembers the Bradley kid, Patrick O'Bryant? He got the Braves to the Sweet 16, went pro and then his career withered and died. That happens too much.

6) Gonzaga was 14 for 33 on foul line last night; Duquesne was 13-34 in a 78-69 loss at Saint Louis Wednesday; how does a team full of kids on basketball scholarships do so poorly on the foul line? I am 55 years old sitting here in sweats watching CSI reruns and I could drive to a gym in ten minutes and make half my foul shots. Oy.

5) North Carolina's last three games were decided by a total of four points; Tar Heels are a good team but a weird one, they're thin in the backcourt in an era when guards are dominating the game. Marcus Paige might be the MVP of college hoop this year.

4) I love my IPhone6, but the whole autocorrect thing bothers me; I'd rather fix my own mistakes than have the phone invent words for me. .

3) May 23 the White Sox will retire Paul Konerko's number 14.

2) Ohio State QB Cardale Jones will stay at Ohio State, which makes sense; he has made three starts in college, no way is he ready for the NFL. Matt Cassel is the one guy who got drafted into the NFL without ever starting a college game-- he backed up Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC, but he is an unusual case.

1) I saw Austin Rivers play AAU ball in Florida the summer before his 10th grade year; he played for team sponsored by Amare Stoudamire (Team STAT). Doc Rivers sat in first row at half court at Poinciana HS that day and gave advice quietly when he could-- now he'll get paid to give his son advice, as the Clippers traded for his son.

They will be the first father/son coach/player combo in NBA history.