Announcement

**Udog** · 12-11-2018, 08:31 AM

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

Highest payrolls in the NBA:

6) Portland Trailblazers $131,747,436

5) Houston Rockets $134,843,975

4) Toronto Raptors $141,265,305

3) Golden State Warriors $145,699,527

2) Oklahoma City Thunder $146,463,850

1) Miami Heat $158,203,135

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Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Den: Nobody asked me, but…….

13) Saturday night the Chicago Bulls lost by 56 points to Boston- they lost at home, 133-76, which is obviously not good and it came a couple games after a coaching change.

But this is worse; on Sunday, the Bulls refused to practice, because new coach Jim Boylen held a couple of two-hour practices earlier in the week. During the season with lot of games, NBA teams don’t have 2-hour practices very often.

Chicago is 6-21, last in the Eastern Conference; their team payroll is $103,926,708, which is 2nd-lowest in the NBA. Their team sucks, but guys get mad when the coach shows them up by subbing out five guys at a time- they revolt at practicing. How do you get better?

I’m getting old…..lol

12) Baseball’s winter meetings are this week in Las Vegas, good chance to think ahead to next spring and also to feel warmer. Thinking about baseball takes some of the chill out of the air.

11) ESPN’s Sunday night baseball games will move up an hour next year, starting at 7:00 instead of 8, which means there will be overlap with the 4:00 games on DirecTV, which is fine.

10) Tampa Bay Rays went 44-34 LY when they used an “opener” to pitch the first inning of a game; they’ve said they will use that tactic again in 2019.

9) Oakland Raiders fired GM Reggie McKenzie Monday; when you’re paying the coach $100M over ten years, you have to give him control of the franchise, so they told McKenzie to take a hike. Dallas/Chicago are two of the hottest teams in the NFL, thanks in large part to players they got from Oakland, which stockpiled draft picks as it prepares to move to Las Vegas in 2020.

8) 32-year old backup QB Josh Johnson, on his sixth NFL team, led two TD drives Sunday against the Giants; he said he used the Madden NFL video game in order to learn some of the names on the Redskins’ roster- he played Sunday despite only being on the team for five days.

Johnson was picked in the AAF draft last week; not sure now if he’ll play in the new spring league, if he finished the season with Redskins, which he figures to do.

Mark Sanchez said last week that the first time he talked to LT Trent Williams was in the huddle on the field in the Redskins’ loss at Philadelphia LW. Hard to win that way.

7) Tennessee 76, Gonzaga 73— Impressive win on a neutral floor for Rick Barnes’ Volunteers; they made 12-29 on the arc, with Schofield going 6-10.

6) I wonder how Michael O’Keefe’s acting career would’ve turned out if he hadn’t played golf against Judge Smails in Caddyshack.

5) Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell agreed to a contract extension through 2024 and has gotten $1M in additional salary for his assistant coaches, good news for Cyclone fans.

4) Kansas State is expected to hire North Dakota State’s Chris Kleiman its football coaching job; he is expected to accept the job but he is also expected to coach North Dakota State as far as they go in I-AA Playoffs. Kleiman is 67-6 at NDSU and has won three national titles.

3) Oakland A’s new AAA affiliate will be called the Las Vegas Aviators, a logo that I predict will take off in popularity.

2) Harold Baines is in the Baseball Hall of Fame? I’m not buying that, but it guarantees that Edgar Martinez is getting in down the road, which is a good thing.

1) I don’t get why the Heisman Trophy TV show is an hour long; a complete waste of 45 minutes. Introduce the four finalists and tell us who won; dragging it out to an hour must make money or they wouldn’t do it, but I never watch it- just let me know who won.

Best thing about the college football playoff is that it has taken a lot of the focus away from this individual award. I remember Joe Tessitore talking about the Heisman during a game on Labor Day weekend a few years ago, thats how ridiculous it had gotten.

**Udog** · 12-11-2018, 08:46 AM

NBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, December 11

Portland @ Houston

Game 531-532
December 11, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Portland
111.317
Houston
121.855
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 10 1/2
221
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
by 6
219 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(-6); Over

Phoenix @ San Antonio

Game 533-534
December 11, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Phoenix
100.946
San Antonio
121.155
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Antonio
by 20
231
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Antonio
by 12 1/2
218
Dunkel Pick:
San Antonio
(-12 1/2); Over

Toronto @ LA Clippers

Game 535-536
December 11, 2018 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toronto
116.853
LA Clippers
119.138
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Clippers
by 2 1/2
214
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
by 4
No Total
Dunkel Pick:
LA Clippers
(+4); N/A

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, December 11

Portland won its last two games but they’ve lost last four road games; Trailblazers 2-6 vs spread in last eight games as a AU. Over is 8-3-1 in their last dozen games. Houston lost seven of its last nine games; they’re 4-6 vs spread as HF. Rockets’ last three series games stayed under. Rockets won seven of their last nine games with Portland; over is 7-3 in last ten series games. Blazers are 2-2 vs spread in their last four trips to Houston.

Suns lost their last nine games; they lost in OT to the Clippers Monday. Phoenix is 3-10 vs spread on the road. Six of their last eight games stayed under. San Antonio is 3-2 in its last five game; they’re 8-5 vs spread at home this year. Over is 12-3 in their last 15 games. Spurs won eight of their last ten games with Phoenix, covering three of last four; Suns are 0-3 vs spread in their last four visit to the Alamo. Five of last six series games stayed under.

Toronto lost three of its last four games; they’re 1-4 vs spread in last five home games. Raptors’ last five games stayed under the total. Clippers are 2-3 in their last five games; they’re 8-2-1 vs spread at home this year. Under is 5-3 in their last eight games. Clippers won three of last four games with Toronto; four of last six series games stayed under the total. Raptors are 3-2 vs spread in last five series gams played here.

NBA

Tuesday, December 11

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Trend Report
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Portland Trail Blazers
Portland is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games
Portland is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
Portland is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Portland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 6 games on the road
Portland is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Portland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Portland's last 25 games when playing Houston
Portland is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Houston
Portland is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Portland's last 19 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston Rockets
Houston is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games
Houston is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Houston's last 11 games
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games at home
Houston is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Portland
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Houston's last 25 games when playing Portland
Houston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Portland
Houston is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Portland
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Houston's last 19 games when playing at home against Portland

Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Phoenix is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Phoenix is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games on the road
Phoenix is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games when playing San Antonio
Phoenix is 2-14 SU in its last 16 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing San Antonio
Phoenix is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Phoenix's last 7 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
San Antonio Spurs
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Antonio's last 7 games
San Antonio is 18-7 ATS in its last 25 games at home
San Antonio is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games at home
San Antonio is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games when playing Phoenix
San Antonio is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Antonio's last 6 games when playing Phoenix
San Antonio is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Antonio's last 7 games when playing at home against Phoenix

Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Toronto is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games
Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games on the road
Toronto is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing LA Clippers
Toronto is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Toronto's last 15 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
LA Clippers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
LA Clippers is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 10 of LA Clippers's last 15 games
LA Clippers is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games at home
LA Clippers is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 6 games at home
LA Clippers is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Toronto
LA Clippers is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of LA Clippers's last 15 games when playing at home against Toronto

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**Udog** · 12-11-2018, 10:00 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, December 11

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PORTLAND (15 - 11) at HOUSTON (11 - 14) - 12/11/2018, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 4-3 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 6-2 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

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PHOENIX (4 - 23) at SAN ANTONIO (13 - 14) - 12/11/2018, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 9-18 ATS (-10.8 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 9-18 ATS (-10.8 Units) in the first half of the season this season.
PHOENIX is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
PHOENIX is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 1060-932 ATS (+34.8 Units) in all games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 840-718 ATS (+50.2 Units) as a favorite since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 35-20 ATS (+13.0 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 14-3 ATS (+10.7 Units) in home games in December games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) in home games in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 158-114 ATS (+32.6 Units) on Tuesday nights since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 216-165 ATS (+34.5 Units) in home games after a win by 10 points or more since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 426-349 ATS (+42.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
PHOENIX is 179-140 ATS (+25.0 Units) after allowing 115 points or more since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 6-3 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 7-2 straight up against PHOENIX 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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TORONTO (21 - 7) at LA CLIPPERS (17 - 9) - 12/11/2018, 10:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Udog** · 12-11-2018, 02:51 PM

Tuesday's Tip Sheet
Kevin Rogers

Game of the Night: Raptors (-4 ½, 223 ½) at Clippers – 10:35 PM EST

The Clippers (17-9 SU, 15-11 ATS) snapped a two-game losing streak in Monday’s 123-119 overtime triumph at Phoenix, but failed to cash as 9 ½-point favorites. The Suns took an early 10-point lead before the Clippers outscored Phoenix in the second quarter, 37-27. Phoenix rebounded to take an 11-point advantage in the fourth, but Los Angeles rallied again to force overtime. The Clippers beat the Suns for the second time in two weeks behind Tobias Harris’ 33 points and rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor.

Los Angeles has struggled to cover numbers of late by posting a 1-3 ATS mark in December, including poor offensive efforts in losses to Miami (98 points) and Memphis (86 points). The Clippers have been tremendous at home since losing the season opener at Staples Center to the Nuggets. Doc Rivers’ squad owns a 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS mark in its last 10 home contests, although the nine-game winning streak at Staples was snapped by Miami on Saturday in a 121-98 setback as 9 ½-point favorites.

The Raptors (21-7 SU, 13-15 ATS) embark on a four-game west coast trip, which continues to Golden State (Wednesday), Portland (Friday), and Denver (Sunday). Toronto remains atop the Atlantic Division in spite of dropping back-to-back games to Brooklyn and Milwaukee. In Sunday’s home setback to the Bucks, the Raptors built an early lead but Milwaukee rallied back for a 104-99 triumph as 4 ½-point underdogs. Serge Ibaka led Toronto with 22 points, while Kawhi Leonard poured in 20 points, but Kyle Lowry was held scoreless in 33 minutes on 0-for-5 shooting from the floor (all three-point attempts).

Toronto has hit the UNDER in five consecutive games following a five-game OVER streak, as the Raptors have allowed 106 points or fewer in each of the past five contests. Nick Nurse’s club owns a 1-5 ATS mark in the last six games, including failing to cover on the road at Brooklyn and Cleveland.

Last season, the Clippers pulled off the two-game season sweep of the Raptors, including a 96-91 victory at Staples Center as a six-point underdog last December. Both matchups finished UNDER the total, while three of the last four meetings in Los Angeles have gone UNDER.

Blazers at Rockets (-6 ½, 221) – 8:00 PM EST

This series was owned by Houston (11-14 SU, 9-16 ATS) last season, as the Rockets pulled off a four-game sweep of Portland. However, the Blazers (15-11 SU, 13-13 ATS) rebounded in the first matchup this season by routing the Rockets at Toyota Center, 104-85 as 4 ½-point underdogs on October 30. James Harden sat out due to injury for Houston, who shot 32% from the floor and converted only 10-of-43 attempts from three-point range.

The Rockets won eight of 10 games to start November following a dreadful 1-5 start, but Houston has been grounded once again. Mike D’Antoni’s team has dropped seven of the last nine games, including getting swept on a three-game road trip at Minnesota, Utah, and Dallas. The Rockets led the Mavericks by eight points with three minutes remaining on Saturday, but Dallas outscored Houston, 13-2 to pick up a 107-104 win.

The Blazers begin a quick two-game road trip that continues to Memphis on Wednesday. Portland bounced back from a three-game skid to knock off Phoenix and Minnesota at the Moda Center, capped off by an eight-point win over the Wolves on Saturday. However, the Blazers need to fix their road woes, as Terry Stotts’ squad has lost six of the last eight away from Portland since handling Houston in late October.

Suns at Spurs (-12 ½, 218 ½) – 8:35 PM EST

San Antonio (13-14 SU, 13-13-1 ATS) is creeping back towards the .500 mark following a pair of double-digit home wins over the Lakers and Jazz. The Spurs improved to 9-4 at AT&T Center after cruising past Utah on Sunday, 110-97 to avenge a 34-point setback in Salt Lake City last Tuesday. DeMar DeRozan continues his solid debut season in San Antonio by scoring 26 points on Sunday, while Rudy Gay posted a double-double (23 points, 15 rebounds) to give the Spurs their third straight win in the role of a home underdog.

The Spurs own a 4-3 SU and 3-4 ATS mark as a home favorite this season, while laying their biggest number of the season tonight. San Antonio has split a pair of meetings with Phoenix as both matchups with decided by 20+ points. The Spurs ripped the Suns in Phoenix on Halloween night, 120-90, but the Suns picked up revenge in the next matchup in the Valley, 116-96 on November 14 as six-point underdogs.

Phoenix (4-23 SU, 9-18 ATS) is riding a nine-game skid following last night’s four-point overtime setback to the Clippers, but the Suns snapped an eight-game ATS slide by covering 9 ½ at home. The Suns have won only once away from Talking Stick Resort Arena in 13 tries with the lone victory coming at Milwaukee as 13 ½-point underdogs, 116-114 on November 23. Phoenix owns a 4-5 ATS ledger as a double-digit underdog, while going 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS with no rest this season.

**Udog** · 12-11-2018, 02:55 PM

Hoop Trends - Tuesday
Vince Akins

ATS Play ON Trend of the Day:

-- The Clippers are 10-0 ATS (+7.70 ppg) with less than two days rest off a win as a favorite when they won 2 straight vs current opponent and it is before the All-Star break.

ATS Play AGAINST Trend of the Day:

-- The Raptors are 0-15 ATS (-7.13 ppg) as a favorite with rest off a home game when they lost 2 straight vs current opponent.

OU Play OVER Trend of the Day:

-- The Spurs are 15-0 OU (+13.20 ppg) as a home favorite off a double-digit home win in which they had more than eight times as many field goal attempts as turnovers and it is before the All-Star break.

OU Play UNDER Trend of the Day:

-- The Suns are 0-11 OU (-12.55 ppg) as a 8+ dog with less than two days rest after playing as a home dog when they lost as a dog in each of their last two games.

**Udog** · 12-11-2018, 05:24 PM

By: Monique Vág

Needing a win at home

The Rockets have only managed to win two of their most recent nine games, but return home where they have won five of their most recent six contests. In the head-to-head versus the Trail Blazers, Houston has won four of their last five games.

Expect James Harden to carry this team to victory as they get a much needed win with the Lakers and Grizzlies coming up next. Take the Rockets to cover as 6-point home favorites.

Taking advantage of the long ball

Last year in the first meeting between the Blazers and Rockets in Portland, James Harden had one of his best games of the year shooting 16 of 29 from the floor, including four of seven from beyond the arc, for 48 points. Attacking the rim paid off as he got to the free throw line 14 times that game.

Look for Harden to take advantage of a defense allowing opponents to shoot 37 percent from beyond the arc, and take Over his points, rebounds and assists total of 44.5.

A shot at redemption

San Antonio is trying to make it three straight victories today against Phoenix, after some impressive offensive showings over their last few games.

The Suns have only managed to win one of their most recent nine games and have posted a 1-12 record away from home this season.

This game has a little bit of extra incentive for the Spurs who hope to avenge their 116-96 loss on November 14th to the Suns. The Spurs should be able to shut down an already low-scoring Suns team and cover the 12-point spread.

Fading Suns

The Suns have been held under 100 points in four of their most recent six games, and play against a Spurs team eager to regain their defensive identity.

Phoenix enter today ranked 29th in the Association averaging 102.8 points per contest and have really struggled early in games on the road, averaging only 23.7 first quarter points per game and 50.5 for the half. Look for the sluggish start to continue as the Spurs stay locked in on defense and take Phoenix's team total Under 102.

Can Lowry break out of his dry spell?

Tonight's game between the Raptors and Clippers looks like the perfect opportunity for Kyle Lowry to get back on track. Toronto's point guard has been in a slump ever since sitting out a December 1st game against the Cavaliers. Lowry is in a favorable matchup versus a Clippers team allowing opposing point guards to post 23.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game.

It is imperative, even if shooting poorly, that Lowry continues finding the open man and adds to his league-leading assist average of 10 per game. Take Over his assist total today of 8.5.

Announcement

Tuesday's NBA Trends and Indexes - 12/11

Tuesday's NBA Trends and Indexes - 12/11

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