Cnotes 2018 wnba picks,trends,notes,news !

[StarDust Bum]

Top two scoring teams Storm, Wings meet in Seattle

Considering how often their coaches preach defense, it seems strange that Saturday's matchup between the Dallas Wings and host Seattle Storm is between the top two scoring teams in the WNBA.

The Wings (12-8), the hottest team in the league with five consecutive victories, are averaging 87.3 points per game, with the Storm (15-6), who lead the WNBA's overall standings, just behind at 87.0.

"Defensively, I think we're stepping it up a lot on both ends, the post and perimeter game," Wings coach Fred Williams said of his team's winning streak. "We're shooting the ball much better than we did in the first 10 games of the season. It's all coming together. We're just thriving off of that and thriving off the team energy that we have."

Added Wings guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who is eighth in the league in scoring (19.5 points per game) and third in assists (6.5): "Anybody in this league can beat you any night, especially at home. It starts on defense. Being able to rebound, help, get really aggressive on the ball, getting tips. That's when we're playing our best and it definitely translates on offense."

Both teams are coming off games against Los Angeles.

The Wings won 92-77 Thursday night on the road as Diggins-Smith scored 22 points and tied a season high with 11 assists, sparking a 21-2 run in the fourth quarter.

Dallas overcame center Liz Cambage being ejected in the second quarter after getting a second technical foul. Campage is sixth in the league in scoring (19.7 points per game) and second in rebounding (9.4).

The Storm had their five-game winning streak snapped in a 77-75 overtime loss to the Sparks on Tuesday at KeyArena.

Natasha Howard had 18 points and a season-high five blocks for Seattle, and Breanna Stewart, the league's leading scorer at 22.0 points per game, had 14 points and 13 rebounds.

"You know, we were able to separate in the third, but then we were unable to finish plays (in the fourth)," Storm coach Dan Hughes said after his team was outscored 16-6 in the fourth quarter as the Sparks forced overtime. "It's one of those days where I thought defensively we were OK, I think it was a matter of us taking care of the ball and finishing some of the opportunities we had."

The Storm have had three days off since that game.

"We will get some treatment in, watch some video, get a good practice in," Stewart said. "This season is short, so we don't have time keep mulling over a game. Win or lose, you watch film, you move on."

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, JULY 14
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

DAL at SEA 09:00 PM

SEA -5.5
U 173.5

[StarDust Bum]

Stewart scores 35, grabs 10 boards; Storm beats Wings 91-84
July 14, 2018

SEATTLE (AP) Breanna Stewart had a season-high 35 points, including three 3-pointers, and 20 rebounds to help the Seattle Storm beat the Dallas Wings 91-84 on Saturday night.

Natasha Howard scored 17 points and Jewell Loyd added 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Seattle (16-6).

Dallas (12-9) had its five-game win streak snapped.

Stewart was fouled as she hit a short jumper in the lane and missed the free throw, but Howard's offensive rebound and putback gave the Storm an 80-77 lead with 90 seconds to go. Liz Cambage answered with a layup, but was immediately called for a technical foul. Stewart hit the ensuing free throw and then Sue Bird made a 3-pointer from the left wing to push the lead to five with a minute remaining. Loyd, Alysha Clark and Stewart combined to make 7-of-8 free throws from there to seal it.

Cambage led Dallas with 23 points, on 10-of-15 shooting, and Skylar Diggins-Smith had 21 points, seven assists and a season-high five steals. Kayla Thornton added a career-best 18 points.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JULY 15, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
3:00 PM Chicago Sky New York Liberty Westchester County Center
3:00 PM Washington Mystics Atlanta Dream McCamish Pavilion
5:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Indiana Fever Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks Las Vegas Aces Mandalay Bay Event Center
7:00 PM Connecticut Sun Minnesota Lynx Target Center


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WNBA MAY RECORD: OVERALL PICKS

Totals............30 - 22 - 2...57.69%......+29.00

MAY'S BEST BETS:

TOTALS........................11 - 12.................-11.00.......................... ...18 - 8 - 1................+46.00

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WNBA JUNE RECORD: OVERALL PICKS

TOTALS................66 - 53....................55.46%.....................+ 49.50

JUNE'S BEST BETS:

TOTALS................40 - 23....................55.03%...................... +49.50

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WNBA JULY RECORD: OVERALL PICKS.

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

07/14/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
07/13/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -2.00
07/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
07/10/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
07/08/2018 1-4-1 20.00% -17.00
07/07/2018 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
07/06/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
07/05/2018 3-4-1 42.86% -7.00
07/03/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
07/01/2018 3-7-0 30.00% -23.50

TOTALS...........25-31.........44.64%.....-45.50


JULY'S BEST BETS:

07/14/2018.................0 - 1...............-5.50........................0 - 1................-5.50...............-11.00
07/13/2018.................3 - 1...............+9.50.......................1 - 3................-11.50.............-2.00
07/12/2018.................1 - 0...............+5.00.......................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.00
07/10/2018.................3 - 0...............+15.00......................2- 1................+4.50.............+19.50
07/08/2018.................0 - 2...............-11.00.......................1 - 2................-6.00..............-17.00
07/07/2018.................1 - 2................-6.00........................1 - 2......,.........-6.00..............-12.00
07/06/2018.................0 - 1................-5.50........................1 - 0...............+5.00..............-0.50
07/05/2018.................2 - 1...............+4.50........................1 - 3...............-11.50.............-7.00
07/03/2018.................2 - 2................-1.00........................3 - 1...............+9.50..............+8.50
07/01/2018.................1 - 4................-17.00......................2 - 3................-6.50...............-23.50

TOTALS.....................13 - 14..............-12.00......................13 - 16..............-23.00..............-35.00

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

Odds for Monday’s Home Run Derby:

Bryce Harper +300

Jesus Aguilar +350

Max Muncy +500

Freddie Freeman +600

Rhys Hoskins +600

Javier Baez +600

Kyle Schwarber +700

Alex Bregman +900


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

13) No Sunday Night Baseball this week on ESPN? They have a freakin’ softball game on ESPN at 8:00 Sunday night. How about baseball/ESPN actually trying to promote the sport and put the Futures’ Game on Sunday night? You know, the stars of the future?

12) Does baseball need more 8-foot high outfield fences? Spectacular catches like the one Billy Hamilton made in St Louis Friday night make for great highlights.

11) Matt Harvey is 4-1, 2.38 in his last six starts; can the Reds get anything for him at the trading deadline?

10) Mookie Betts is first player with two triples and two runs scored in first two innings of a game since September 23, 1995, when Lance Johnson did it for the White Sox against Minnesota.

9) Mets’ manager Mickey Callaway talked with Dom Smith Saturday; there is concern that Smith has lost focus because he is worrying about getting demoted back to AAA. The Mets are a mess.

8) Players receive a total of $1,500 in meal money during the 12-day Las Vegas Summer League; each player has his own room in a 5-star hotel, and gets a free plane ticket to anywhere in the country when the tournament is finished.

7) Notre Dame alum Jack Cooley is playing in the Las Vegas Summer League for the 6th year in a row; he played in his 32nd summer league game Friday, tying the all-time record (Dionte Christmas).

Cooley has played in 23 NBA games, seven with San Antonio LY.

6) Zac Rosscup will be the 27th different pitcher used by the Dodgers this season, and it is only the All-Star break; their team record is 31, set in 2015, ’16.

5) Quote of the Day, part 2, from Celtics’ Jaylen Brown:
“I think if you can serve in the military at 18, you should be able to play in the NBA. That would be my argument.”

Alrighty then.

4) NBA doings:
— Georges Niang signed a three-year, $5M contract with Utah Jazz that contains a first-year guarantee.
— Jabari Parker signs with the Chicago Bulls, a two-year, $40M deal. In his 4-year NBA career, Parker has missed 145 of 328 games due to injuries.

3) Former Wisconsin/Arkansas coach Bret Bielema is now a defensive assistant coach with the Patriots. New England lost DC Matt Patricia to the Lions last winter.

2) Oakland A’s gave their first-round draft pick Kyler Murray a $4.6M signing bonus; Murray will be Oklahoma’s QB this fall, before starting his baseball career.

Murray’s coach at Oklahoma is Lincoln Riley; he makes $4.8M a year.

1) FBI informed Maryland officials that the state’s voter registration, election management system operate on a software platform owned by a Russian-financed firm, AltPoint Capital Partners, whose largest investor is a Russian oligarch, Vladimir Potanin.

Nothing to worry about there.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA

Sunday, July 15

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Trend Report
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Washington Mystics
Washington is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games
Washington is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Washington's last 10 games on the road
Washington is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Atlanta
Washington is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Washington's last 12 games when playing Atlanta
Washington is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Washington is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Washington's last 19 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta Dream
Atlanta is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 7 games
Atlanta is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Washington
Atlanta is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Atlanta's last 12 games when playing Washington
Atlanta is 10-4-1 ATS in its last 15 games when playing at home against Washington
Atlanta is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Atlanta's last 19 games when playing at home against Washington


Chicago Sky
Chicago is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Chicago is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games
Chicago is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Chicago is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Chicago is 15-8 ATS in its last 23 games when playing New York
Chicago is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games when playing New York
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games when playing New York
Chicago is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against New York
Chicago is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against New York
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chicago's last 9 games when playing on the road against New York
New York Liberty
New York is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games
New York is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New York's last 9 games
New York is 8-15 ATS in its last 23 games when playing Chicago
New York is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 5 games when playing Chicago
New York is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 games when playing at home against Chicago
New York is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of New York's last 9 games when playing at home against Chicago


Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Phoenix is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
Phoenix is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Phoenix is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Phoenix is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
Phoenix is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing Indiana
Phoenix is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana Fever
Indiana is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games
Indiana is 2-23 SU in its last 25 games
Indiana is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Indiana is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Indiana is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Indiana is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indiana's last 6 games when playing at home against Phoenix


Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Los Angeles's last 19 games
Los Angeles is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Los Angeles's last 9 games on the road
Los Angeles is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Las Vegas
Los Angeles is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Las Vegas
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Los Angeles's last 10 games when playing Las Vegas
Los Angeles is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Las Vegas
Los Angeles is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Las Vegas
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Los Angeles's last 19 games when playing on the road against Las Vegas
Las Vegas Aces
Las Vegas is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Las Vegas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Las Vegas's last 5 games
Las Vegas is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Los Angeles
Las Vegas is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Las Vegas's last 10 games when playing Los Angeles
Las Vegas is 13-6 ATS in its last 19 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Las Vegas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Las Vegas's last 19 games when playing at home against Los Angeles


Connecticut Sun
Connecticut is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Connecticut is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Connecticut's last 6 games
Connecticut is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Connecticut is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Connecticut is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Connecticut's last 9 games when playing Minnesota
Connecticut is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Connecticut is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Connecticut's last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Minnesota is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games
Minnesota is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Connecticut
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 9 games when playing Connecticut
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Connecticut
Minnesota is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Connecticut
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing at home against Connecticut

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, July 15

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CHICAGO (7 - 14) at NEW YORK (6 - 14) - 7/15/2018, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 12-23 ATS (-13.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in home games when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 3 seasons.
NEW YORK is 12-23 ATS (-13.3 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
NEW YORK is 3-16 ATS (-14.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
NEW YORK is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 5-4 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 5-4 straight up against CHICAGO 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 (13 - 8) at ATLANTA (11 - 9) - 7/15/2018, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 323-380 ATS (-95.0 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 14-28 ATS (-16.8 Units) as a road underdog of 3 points or less since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 22-41 ATS (-23.1 Units) in road games on Sunday games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 185-235 ATS (-73.5 Units) after a division game since 1997.
ATLANTA is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 4-1 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 5-2 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHOENIX (14 - 8) at INDIANA (2 - 19) - 7/15/2018, 5:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
PHOENIX is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in home games this season.
INDIANA is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 this season.
INDIANA is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in home games in May, June, or July games this season.
INDIANA is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more this season.

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

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LOS ANGELES (13 - 9) at LAS VEGAS (10 - 12) - 7/15/2018, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 144-186 ATS (-60.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
LAS VEGAS is 40-26 ATS (+11.4 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 37-26 ATS (+8.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) on Sunday games this season.
LAS VEGAS is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
LAS VEGAS is 17-35 ATS (-21.5 Units) in home games off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.
LAS VEGAS is 48-70 ATS (-29.0 Units) in home games after scoring 75 points or more since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
LAS VEGAS is 5-4 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 8-1 straight up against LAS VEGAS 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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CONNECTICUT (11 - 10) at MINNESOTA (12 - 9) - 7/15/2018, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Sunday, July 15


Chicago @ New York

Game 613-614
July 15, 2018 @ 4:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago
102.651
New York
104.186
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New York
by 1 1/2
161
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New York
by 4 1/2
165
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago
(+4 1/2); Under

Washington @ Atlanta

Game 615-616
July 15, 2018 @ 3:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
109.596
Atlanta
111.857
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Atlanta
by 2
159
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 1 1/2
167 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Atlanta
(+1 1/2); Under

Phoenix @ Indiana

Game 617-618
July 15, 2018 @ 5:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Phoenix
113.291
Indiana
96.133
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Phoenix
by 17
166
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Phoenix
by 8 1/2
163 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Phoenix
(-8 1/2); Over

Los Angeles @ Las Vegas

Game 619-620
July 15, 2018 @ 6:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Los Angeles
114.993
Las Vegas
108.237
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Los Angeles
by 6 1/2
158
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Los Angeles
by 4
161 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Los Angeles
(-4); Under

Connecticut @ Minnesota

Game 621-622
July 15, 2018 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Connecticut
107.989
Minnesota
110.798
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 3
153
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
N/A

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday's WNBA Best Bets
July 14, 2018

For the remainder of the WNBA regular season through the playoffs, we'll take a look at the best Sunday bets.

It's a busy day on the WNBA hardwood on Sunday with a total of five games. The day gets started with a couple of 3:00 p.m. ET tip-offs. The Washington Mystics (13-8) and Atlanta Dream (11-9) in a key battle in the Eastern Conference. Washington has been a team to key on this season when playing away from home, as they have a sparkling 6-1 ATS mark on the road. Meanwhile, the Dream have posted a so-so 5-4 ATS mark on the home hardwood. That's probably why this game is listed as a pick 'em at most shops.

Washington has managed a 3-0-1 ATS mark in their past four on the road, while going 3-1-1 ATS in their past five games overall. They're also 6-2 ATS in the past eight Eastern Conference battles, too. Their lone non-cover over the past five outings is a 106-89 humbling at home against the Dream on Wednesday night as the 'over' (164.5) easily connected. Atlanta is equally hot against the number lately, going 5-1 ATS in the past six games overall while checking in with an impressive 8-1 ATS mark across their past nine against teams with a winning overall record. However, they haven't been able to string together success lately, going a dismal 8-22 ATS in their past 30 following a straight-up victory.

The struggling Chicago Sky (7-14) are at home against the New York Liberty (6-14) in a battle between two disappointing clubs. The Sky have won just twice in 10 tries on the road this season, while the Liberty are a dismal 3-8 SU on their own court. Neither has been particularly attractive against the number in either situation, as the Sky are 4-6 ATS on the road with the Lib 4-7 ATS in 11 home contests.

This will be the fourth meeting between the teams already this season, and Chicago is 2-1 SU/ATS in three battles this season, including a 103-99 win in New York back on June 29 as 3 1/2-point underdogs. Total bettors will like the fact that the 'over' has connected in each of the three meetings this season. While the Sky are 2-6 ATS in their past eight road games, the Liberty are a dismal 0-4 ATS in their past four home outings and 4-10 ATS in the past 14 overall. However, New York has managed a solid 11-5 ATS mark in the past 16 against Eastern Conference battles. They haven't fared well against Chicago, though, as the Sky is 11-2 ATS in the past 13 trips to New York and 15-7-1 ATS in the past 23 head-to-head battles overall in this series. While the 'over' is 4-1 in the past five meetings, the 'under' is 8-1 in the past nine in New York.

The struggling Indiana Fever (2-19) are at home against the Phoenix Mercury (14-8), a team which has been hot on the road this season. Phoenix already owns a 95-77 win in Indianapolis back on June 29 as 7 1/2-point favorites, so a rematch with the Fever could be just the elixir the Merc need to cure their ills. Phoenix enters on a three-game skid, although they're still a respectable 5-2 ATS over the past seven overall. Phoenix has gotten well on the road, going 9-3 ATS in their past 12 road outings and 5-1 ATS in the past six against Eastern Conference clubs.

The Fever have lumbered through this painful season ticking off plenty of losses and non-covers, too. They're just 2-5 ATS in their past seven against the Western Conference, and 1-7 ATS in the past eight games overall. They have failed to cover in four consecutive home outings, too, while going 1-5 ATS in the past six against teams with an overall winning mark. They enter this game as nine-point underdogs, and could easily slip by double digits to Diana Taurasi and company.

The Los Angeles Sparks (13-9) have been having some uncharacteristic difficulties lately, and they will face the pesky Las Vegas Aces (10-12) this Sunday. L.A. has dropped four of their past five games overall, and they're 1-4 ATS during the stretch. Their defense has gone south during the span, allowing 81 or more points in six of the past nine games.

These teams split a home-and-home back on June 29-July 1, as the Aces won handily by a 94-78 count in the first game to win outright as 6 1/2-point underdogs, while the Sparks protected their home court with an 87-71 victory as 12-point favorites. Los Angeles is favored by just four points in this one on the road. They have not only failed to cover their past two as road favorites, they have lost both games outright. L.A. is just 2-7 ATS in the past nine against Western Conference teams, but they love playing on Sundays. For what it's worth, they're a perfect 7-0 ATS in their past seven appearances on Sunday. The Aces have brought it against good teams, going 4-1 ATS in their past five against teams with a straight-up winning record, but they're just 1-7 ATS in their eight appearances on Sunday and, more importantly, just 4-9 ATS in the past 13 against the West.

The Connecticut Sun (11-10) and Jekyll and Hyde Minnesota Lynx (12-9) do battle in the Twin Cities. These teams have met just once previously, with the Sun coasting to an 89-75 victory back on June 9 as 5 1/2-point favorites. Minnesota enters this game having alternated straight-up wins and losses, and if you believe in those kind of wacky trends, then a win is coming up Sunday. They have alternated covers and non-covers in each of the past eight, and failed to cover last time out, too, so...

The Sun are just 2-9 ATS in their past 11 on the road, and a dismal 1-6 ATS in the past seven against Western Conference teams. They're also just 1-7 ATS in the past eight against teams with a straight-up losing mark. The Lynx aren't much better, going 3-7 ATS in the past 10 against Eastern foes and 4-10 ATS in their past 14 at home. However, as mentioned above, they bounce back after non-covers. They're 6-0 ATS in their past six following an ATS loss, and 4-0 ATS in their past four after a straight-up setback. While the 'over' has hit in four of the past five meetings in the Twin Cities, you might want to look to the under. The 'under' has connected in five of the past six for the Lynx, and it cashed in that earlier battle with the Sun, too. That might be where your best bet is. Overall in this series, the Sun are 4-1 ATS in the past five in Minnesota, and 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings overall.

[StarDust Bum]

SUNDAY, JULY 15
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

WAS at ATL 03:00 PM
WAS -1.0
O 168.0

CHI at NY 03:00 PM
CHI +4.5
U 165.5

PHO at IND 05:00 PM
PHO -8.5
U 163.5

LA at LV 06:00 PM
LV +4.0
O 161.0

CONN at MIN 07:00 PM
MIN -4.5
O 164.0

[StarDust Bum]

Parker scores 34 to lead Sparks in 99-78 win over Aces
July 15, 2018

LAS VEGAS (AP) Candace Parker scored a season-high 34 points and finished one assist shy of a triple double as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Las Vegas Aces 99-78 on Sunday.

Parker- who also had 11 rebounds and nine assists - scored 13 during a 26-5 fourth-quarter run that gave the Sparks a 92-72 lead with 2:16 remaining.

Neither team led by more than six and there were 19 lead changes before Los Angeles (14-9) pulled away. Las Vegas had a 9-2 run to lead 63-62 late in the third quarter.

Chelsea Gray added 22 points, Nneka Ogwumike scored 15 and Essence Carson 11 for the Sparks.

Kayla McBride had 18 points and A'ja Wilson added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Aces (10-13).

MERCURY 101, FEVER 82

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Brittney Griner had a season-high 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help Phoenix snap a three-game skid.

The Mercury (15-8) took the lead for good on the opening basket of the third quarter but didn't pull away until a 15-4 run made it 84-71 early in the fourth.

Diana Taurasi added 22 points for Phoenix.

Candice Dupree passed Becky Hammon (5,841) for ninth on the all-time WNBA scoring list with a jumper on the opening possession of the game. Dupree finished with 23 points and Cappie Pondexter had a season-high 17 for the Fever (2-20).

DREAM 80, MYSTICS 77

ATLANTA (AP) - Brittney Sykes scored 12 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter to help Atlanta beat Washington.

The Dream (12-9) led 74-64 on Sykes' free throws with 5:26 left before the Mystics (13-9) went on an 11-2 run to pull within one. Washington had a chance to go ahead in the final seconds after Monique Currie's defensive rebound with 13.9 seconds left, but Kristi Toliver missed an 18-foot jumper and Angel McCoughtry grabbed the rebound.

McCoughtry sank two free throws with 5.8 seconds left and Tiffany Hayes made two more with 3.0 seconds left to help Atlanta hold on.

Washington opened the game with a 16-2 lead, but Atlanta erased the deficit at 34-all before the end of the second quarter.

Elena Delle Donne had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Mystics.

LIBERTY 107, SKY 84

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Tina Charles scored 21 points and Brittany Boyd added 14 points and 10 assists to lead New York.

The Liberty (7-14), who finished third last year, won consecutive games for only the second time this season. New York outscored Chicago 26-8 in the third quarter to blow open a tight game.

Boyd got her first start of the season and helped New York build a 53-47 halftime lead.

Leading 55-49 early in the third, the Liberty scored 10 straight and Chicago could never recover.

Courtney Vandersloot had 15 points and eight assists for Chicago (7-15), which has lost six of its past seven games.

SUN 83, LYNX 64

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Morgan Tuck had 15 points and Connecticut pulled even with Minnesota in the WNBA standings.

The Sun (12-10) scored 13 straight points to lead 75-48 and had their largest lead at 82-51 with 5:26 left in the fourth quarter.

The game went back-and-forth during the first quarter and then Connecticut pulled away in the second and led 44-33 at halftime. The Lynx (12-10) never got the deficit back into single digits after scoring the first points of the third quarter.

Sylvia Fowles led Minnesota with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The teams are tied for seventh in the playoff standings and would be the last two teams in as it currently stands.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
1:00 PM New York Liberty Dallas Wings College Park Center
7:00 PM Atlanta Dream Connecticut Sun Mohegan Sun Arena

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY JULY 18, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
12:00 PM Seattle Storm Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena
1:00 PM Indiana Fever Minnesota Lynx Target Center

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY JULY 19, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM New York Liberty Atlanta Dream McCamish Pavilion
8:00 PM Washington Mystics Dallas Wings College Park Center
10:00 PM Las Vegas Aces Phoenix Mercury Talking Stick Resort Arena

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Seattle Storm Connecticut Sun Mohegan Sun Arena
9:00 PM Dallas Wings Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena
10:30 PM Indiana Fever Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY JULY 21, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
3:00 PM Washington Mystics New York Liberty Westchester County Center
10:00 PM Minnesota Lynx Phoenix Mercury Talking Stick Resort Arena

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JULY 22, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
3:00 PM Seattle Storm Atlanta Dream McCamish Pavilion
4:00 PM Connecticut Sun Dallas Wings College Park Center
6:00 PM Indiana Fever Las Vegas Aces Mandalay Bay Event Center
6:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA MAY RECORD: OVERALL PICKS

Totals............30 - 22 - 2...57.69%......+29.00

MAY'S BEST BETS:

TOTALS........................11 - 12.................-11.00.......................... ...18 - 8 - 1................+46.00

******************

WNBA JUNE RECORD: OVERALL PICKS

TOTALS................66 - 53....................55.46%.....................+ 49.50

JUNE'S BEST BETS:

TOTALS................40 - 23....................55.03%...................... +49.50

************************


WNBA JULY RECORD: OVERALL PICKS.

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

07/15/2018 2-8-0 20.00% -34.00
07/14/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
07/13/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -2.00
07/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
07/10/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
07/08/2018 1-4-1 20.00% -17.00
07/07/2018 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
07/06/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
07/05/2018 3-4-1 42.86% -7.00
07/03/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
07/01/2018 3-7-0 30.00% -23.50

TOTALS...........27-39.........40.90%.....-79.50


JULY'S BEST BETS:

07/15/2018.................1 - 4..............-17.00.......................1 - 4................-17.00.............-34.00
07/14/2018.................0 - 1...............-5.50........................0 - 1................-5.50...............-11.00
07/13/2018.................3 - 1...............+9.50.......................1 - 3................-11.50.............-2.00
07/12/2018.................1 - 0...............+5.00.......................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.00
07/10/2018.................3 - 0...............+15.00......................2- 1................+4.50.............+19.50
07/08/2018.................0 - 2...............-11.00.......................1 - 2................-6.00..............-17.00
07/07/2018.................1 - 2................-6.00........................1 - 2......,.........-6.00..............-12.00
07/06/2018.................0 - 1................-5.50........................1 - 0...............+5.00..............-0.50
07/05/2018.................2 - 1...............+4.50........................1 - 3...............-11.50.............-7.00
07/03/2018.................2 - 2................-1.00........................3 - 1...............+9.50..............+8.50
07/01/2018.................1 - 4................-17.00......................2 - 3................-6.50...............-23.50

TOTALS.....................14 - 18..............-29.00......................14 - 20..............-40.00..............-69.00

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

[StarDust Bum]

Monday’s 6-pack

Most 3-pointers made in player’s first 2 years in NBA:

1- Damian Lillard (403)
2- Buddy Hield (324)
3- Klay Thompson (322)
4- Stephen Curry (317)
5- Damon Stoudamire (309)
6- Kyle Korver (307)

Quote of the Day
“Nothing ends well, or else it wouldn’t end.”
Bryan Brown, in the movie Cocktail

Monday’s quiz
When was the last time two brothers played in the same All-Star Game?

Sunday’s quiz
Texas Rangers were the Washington Senators before moving to the Lone Star State.

Saturday’s quiz
Houston Astrodome was the first indoor stadium in major league baseball.

******************

Monday’s List of 13: Wrapping up a sports weekend…….

13) 7,874 players entered the Main Event at World Series of Poker; first prize was $8.8M, and the last two guys played heads-up for 10.5 hours and 199 hands before a winner was decided. I tried to stay up for the whole thing, but eventually, I came to my senses.

12) Around 4:40am, ESPN’s hole card camera went down; without that, watching poker on TV is like watching paint dry, but it came back on after a few hands. Analyst Antonio Esfandiari had to leave in the middle because he was playing in a $1M buy-in tournament on Sunday and needed his rest. I wasn’t involved in any million dollar stuff, so I stayed up for a while and watched.

11) At 5:05 am, one of the players, who was wearing a Tim Tebow Florida jersey, was doing jumping jacks during a commercial. He had a Russell Wilson Seahawks jersey on the other night, which made me want to root against him. He finished second, and won $5M, so they were actually playing for $3.8M and the gold bracelet.

10) They were advertising a pay site where you could watch poker tournament 100 days a year. Do other poker players watch these tournaments to scout opponents or to learn stuff? Why else would you pay to watch poker tournaments?

9) Home Run Derby used to be a daytime thing; they had no idea what they had. On the other hand, has the popularity of Home Run Derby hurt the actual All-Star Game?

8) Judge-Trout-Stanton skipping out on HR Derby reminds me of when the NBA had this great 1-on-1 contest for two years in the early 70’s— it was awesome, until Julius Erving’s agent would not let him play, figuring he had nothing to gain by participating.

Dr J’s skipping the event pretty much put the kibosh on it, which was too bad, since it was great theater. Portland’s Larry Steele made the Final Four of the tournament one year; good for him, but no one was turning on their TV to watch Larry freakin’ Steele play 1-on-1.

(No offense to Larry Steele, but you get the point)

The games were to 20, had to win by more than 2 points, I think. May not have this 100% right, but pretty sure Bob Lanier, a 6-11 lefty center won a game 50-46, I think over Connie Hawkins, who was a similar player to Giannis Antetokounmpo in today’s game.

ESPN Classic should run those games back; pretty sure they were on ABC.

7) Could you imagine a Westbrook-Durant matchup in a 1-on-1 tournament on national TV? How great would that be?

7) Tampa Bay C Wilson Ramos tweaked his hamstring Saturday and is likely headed to the DL. Salvador Perez is now the AL starter behind the plate.

5) If you’re the St Louis Cardinals, how do you not hire Joe Girardi as manager, unless you acknowledge that today’s ballplayers are so soft that you have to hire a manager who doesn’t criticize players as much as they sometimes need to be criticized?

4) Miami pitcher Jose Urena put his glove over his mouth during a mound conference during Sunday’s game, which made me think: Are there bilingual lip readers?

3) I’m going to run a couple of lists during the All-Star break about my favorite movies; I’m a big fan of John Grisham’s books, but none of those movies made my non-sports movie list, so I’ll point out here that my two favorite Grisham movies are Runaway Jury and the Pelican Brief.

2) Mets TV guy Gary Cohen was openly questioning Sunday why Jose Reyes is playing every day; you don’t get a lot of stuff like on local TV broadcasts. Honesty.

Speaking of the Mets, my friend Bob reports that Michael Conforto’s career batting average in Met wins in .328, in Met losses .176. Of the 3,300 players with 500+ plate appearances since 1900, that is the widest difference in batting average between wins and losses.

1) Always wanted to research this, but never have; the %age of first-pitch swings the day before the All-Star break, as opposed to all the other days. You know guys have their bags packed for their 4-day vacations. Umpires, too.

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s 6-pack

— Best part of the All-Star Game will be seeing Nick Markakis getting introduced; 2,171 hits, 1,020 runs scored, but his very first All-Star Game.
— Phillies lead the NL East, despite being 7-11 against Marlins/Mets.
— They drew 38,071 fans in Washington Sunday for the Futures game.
— Each NFL team cashed in $255M in revenue sharing LY, up 4.9% from 2016.
— Suns’ Dragan Bender played 110:00 in summer league, took no foul shots. Not good.
— Umpire Ben May has worked 12 games behind plate this year; road team won all 12.

Quote of the Day
“Young guys…….YOU HAVE TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN THE SUMMERTIME TO BE GOOD AT PLAYING BASKETBALL……. ”
Damien Wilkins, who played 10 years in the NBA

Tuesday’s quiz
In the movie Rounders, what actor plays Russian gangster Teddy KGB?

Monday’s quiz
2003 was the last time two brothers played in the same All-Star Game, when Bret and Aaron Boone both made the All-Star team.

Sunday’s quiz
Texas Rangers were the Washington Senators before moving to the Lone Star State.


Tuesday’s List of 13: Some of my favorite (non-sports) movies:

1) Rounders— Movie about a law student/poker player; this movie is credited with helping the poker boom in the late 90’s.

2) Dave— Kevin Kline is hired to “stand-in” for the President because he looks just like him, but then the President has a stroke, and Kline has a new job.

3) The Bodyguard— Kevin Costner is a former Secret Service agent hired to protect a famous singer, who has a contract out on her.

4) Last Vegas— Four senior citizens who are lifelong friends head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party; their 70-year old friend is marrying a 30-year old. Morgan Freeman wins $87K playing blackjack, because, doesn’t everyone win in Vegas?

5) Begin Again— Down and out music producer discovers a talented young singer; together they produce an album, using New York City as the background.

6) Good Will Hunting— Robin Williams is a counselor who tries to help a young delinquent (who is also a Math genius) find his way.

7) The Verdict— Paul Newman is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who has a chance to win a big case and rehabilitate his career.

There is a scene in this movie that would never fly today; Newman’s character has a girlfriend in the movie- turns out she is a double-agent, working for the opposing lawyer to gain intel on the big case.

When Newman finds out, he meets the girlfriend in the lounge of a bar and decks her with one punch. Ouch.

8) Leap of Faith— Steve Martin runs amok as a traveling preacher; Debra Winger is his partner, Liam Neeson is the local sheriff trying to shut his act down. Meat Loaf is part of the music group that travels with the preacher.

9) Let It Ride— Richard Dreyfuss is a degenerate gambler who has one big day at the racetrack.

10) This Is Where I Leave You— After their father dies, four grown siblings return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week.

11) Lincoln Lawyer— Matthew McConaughey plays a lawyer whose office is the back seat of his Lincoln Continental.

12) Prince of Tides— Nick Nolte is a high school football coach from South Carolina who travels to New York and falls for his sister’s therapist (Barbra Streisand).

13) One More Time— Christopher Walken is a past-his-prime lounge singer trying for one last comeback.