Announcement

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 07:45 AM

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

Top six scorers in the NBA:
32.3— Bradley Beal, Wash
30.5— Damian Lillard, Port
29.9— Joel Embiid, Phil
29.3— Stephen Curry, GSt
29.0— Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milw
28.4— Zach LaVine, Chi

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 539,421
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

**********

Armadillo: Thursday's Den: Doing some thinking out loud……

13) NCAA updates:
— Oklahoma’s #2 scorer De’Vion Harmon is out for this week, after testing positive for COVID. Sooners play Missouri in their first round game. Harmon is averaging 12.9 ppg.
— Georgia Tech star Moses Wright, the ACC player of the year, will miss the Yellow Jackets’ first-round game against Loyola-Chicago.

12) Watching lot of exhibition baseball this month, was wondering who has hit the most home runs ever in exhibition games? I’m guessing this information isn’t available and I know it isn’t important, but it would be fun to see.

Searched the Interweb but couldn’t find anything; I did see that in 2000, five Boston pitchers combined to throw a perfect game against Toronto in an exhibition game, but that’s just more useless knowledge.

11) This spring, San Diego Padres’ pitchers are going to the plate with a bat in their hands, but they’re not hitting; they just take three strikes and go back to the dugout, to avoid injury. This is something Oakland’s pitchers did a few years ago, eliminates the risk of a costly injury.

Spring training games have become like basketball scrimmages, where coaches control some scenarios. Pitchers can re-enter, innings were stopped early for the first 10 days of games. It is all about getting pitchers some work, on the mound, not at the plate.

10) Francisco Lindor says he is opening to signing a contract extension with the Mets, but if it isn’t done before the season starts, then he will not discuss a contract extension during the season. This is probably a negotiating ploy, but Lindor does have leverage to get a deal done.

9) Miami Heat traded Meyers Leonard and a 2nd-round pick to Oklahoma City for Trevor Ariza. Miami will be the 35-year old Ariza’s 10th NBA team.

Weird trade; Ariza hasn’t played yet this season, but Miami announced on Twitter that it is hopeful he’ll be available to play this weekend.

As for Leonard, the Thunder said Leonard “will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organization.” When you’re marginal player and you yell out anti-Semitic stuff on the Interweb, your career spirals downward. Quickly.

In other words, he’ll have a lot more time to play video games, now that he is retired.

8) Chicago Bears tried really hard to trade for Russell Wilson; they offered Seattle three 1st-round picks, one 3rd-round pick and two starting players, one of whom was Khalil Mack. Seattle apparently turned them down.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the trade isn’t dead until the NFL Draft happens, but the Bears trading for Andy Dalton says otherwise.

7) With Drew Brees retiring, New Orleans paid its two QB’s this week; they gave Taysom Hill a four-year, $140M deal where the last three years are voidable, and they paid backup Jameis Winston $12M for 2021. Very unusual quarterback room.

Hill has played in 53 NFL games, is 3-1 as a starting quarterback; he’s thrown 134 career NFL passes, run ball 151 times, caught 30 passes. Am curious to see how this plays out.

6) NFL has a great skill of staying in the news 365 days a year, 366 in leap years. Today is March 18 and NFL is in the news as much as March Madness and more than spring training games. Part of it is because the people who run baseball are arrogant imbeciles who won’t market their sport the right way, but that’s another discussion for another day.

5) Thoughts/prayers to former NBA center Shawn Bradley, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed, after a car crashed into his bicycle. Bradley is 7-foot-6; he played 12 years in the NBA, scoring 8.1 ppg.

Since retiring from NBA in 2005, Bradley has been a counselor at a private school in Utah.

4) Couple weeks ago, Rams DT Michael Brockers declared that Matthew Stafford was an upgrade at quarterback for Los Angeles, over the departed Jared Goff. His actual quote:

“Is it a level up? In my heart, deeply, just understanding what he brings, it’s a level up. It’s a level up.”

Since then, the Rams wanted Brockers to re-do his contract, to help get the Rams under the salary cap. The two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, so Brockers is now a Detroit Lion, where one of his new teammates is…..Jared Goff.

Awkward.

3) Iowa State paid former basketball coach Steve Prohm $5.5M to take a hike, after a hideous 2-22 season. Prohm’s Cyclones had made three of previous four NCAA tournaments, but were also a combined 18-54 in conference games the last four years. 18-54 gets you fired.

Less than 24 hours later, word is out that TJ Otzelberger is bolting UNLV to take the Iowa State job; Otzelberger worked as an assistant at Iowa State from 2006-2013, and again three years later. Unnamed sources claim this deal has been done for a month or so.

Here’s the thing; Otzelberger was 28-29 in two years at UNLV and was showing zero signs of any progress. Rebels had very little depth this year; when you play in a league where lot of teams play in higher altitude, you need some depth and UNLV didn’t have much.

Rebel fans can’t be that sad to see Otzelberger go, but the program is now mired in mediocrity— next year they’ll have their fifth head coach in eight years. Richard Pitino just got hired by New Mexico, so UNLV can forget about hiring Rick Pitino as a bombshell replacement, since UNLV and New Mexico are in the same league.

Iowa State will also have to pay $4M or so to UNLV, as part of Otzelberger’s buyout.

2) Richmond 76, Toledo 66— Spiders win their NIT opener, despite being down couple of starters. Richmond had lost their last three games coming in, were down 8 with 15:43 left in this game, but they stormed back for the win and will play in the next round March 25.

1) Western Kentucky 69, Saint Mary’s 67— Big man Bassey had 19 points, 11 rebounds; Hilltoppers blew an 11-point lead, but pulled it out on free throws with 0:03.3 left and move on to the second round.

Saint Mary’s finishes 14-10 after starting out 8-1; first time in 14 years they didn’t win 20 games.

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 07:50 AM

553ORLANDO -554 NEW YORK
NEW YORK is 11-1 ATS (9.9 Units) after 2+ road games in the current season.

557MINNESOTA -558 PHOENIX
MINNESOTA is 1-14 ATS (-14.4 Units) after a game where they allowed a shooting pct. of 55% or higher in the last 3 seasons.

559NEW ORLEANS -560 PORTLAND
PORTLAND is 28-13 ATS (13.7 Units) after allowing 110 points or more 3 straight games in the last 3 seasons.

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, March 18

Utah @ Washington
Jazz (29-10)
— Utah lost three of its last five games.
— Jazz is 2-5 ATS in its last seven road games.
— Over is 7-3 in Utah’s last ten games.

Wizards (14-25)
— Wizards lost six of last seven games (2-5 ATS)
— Washington is 6-4 ATS in its last ten home games.
— Over is 4-1 in their last five games

— Utah won last nine series games.
— Jazz covered four of last five visits to Washington.
— Over is 4-1 in last five series games.

Oklahoma City @ Atlanta
Thunder (17-23)
— Thunder split their last dozen games.
— OKC is 8-4 ATS in their last 12 road games.
— Over is 5-3 in their last eight games.

Hawks (20-20)
— Hawks are 6-0 SU since they fired their coach (4-1-1 ATS).
— Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.
— 15 of Atlanta’s last 20 games went over the total.

— OKC won five of last six series games.
— Thunder is 2-2 ATS in last four visits to Atlanta.
— Last seven series games went over the total.

Orlando @ New York
Magic (13-26)
— Orlando lost eight in row, 16 of its last 20 games.
— Magic is 3-7 ATS in last 10 road games.
— Over is 4-2 in their last six games.

Knicks (20-21)
— New York lost three of its last four games.
— Knicks are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
— Over is 4-1 in New York’s last five games.

— Orlando won six of last nine series games.
— Magic is 2-3 ATS in last five visits to Manhattan.
— Under is 4-1-1 in last six series games.

Minnesota @ Phoenix
Timberwolves (9-31)
— Minnesota lost 15 of last 18, 25 of its last 31 games.
— Wolves are 3-1 ATS in their last four games overall.
— Over is 7-2 in their last nine games.

Suns (26-12)
— Phoenix won 18 of its last 22 games (17-5 ATS).
— Suns are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 home games.
— Over is 7-3 in their last ten home games.

— Suns won/covered last three series games.
— Minnesota is 2-3 ATS in last five visits to Phoenix.
— Three of last four series games stayed under.

New Orleans @ Portland
Pelicans (17-23)
— New Orleans lost four of their last six games.
— Pelicans are 3-4 ATS in their last seven road games.
— Over is 22-5-2 in their last 29 games.

Trailblazers (23-16)
— Portland won six of its last eight games SU.
— You’re reading ***************.com
— Blazers are 7-3 ATS in last ten home games.
— Over is 6-2 in Portland’s last eight games.

— Teams split last ten series games.
— Blazers rallied late to nip New Orleans 125-124 here Tuesday.
— Pelicans are 3-2 ATS in last five visits to Oregon.
— Last four series games went over the total.

Charlotte @ LA Lakers
Hornets (20-19)
— Charlotte won four of its last six games SU.
— Hornets are 9-6 ATS in their last 15 road games.
— Over is 10-0 in Charlotte’s last ten road games.

Lakers (27-13)
— Lakers won five of their last seven games.
— Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
— Over is 3-1-1 in their last five games.

— Lakers won/covered four of last five series games.
— Hornets are 2-2-1 ATS in last five series games played here.
— Last three series games went over the total.

NBA

Thursday, March 18

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Utah @ Washington
Utah
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Utah's last 6 games on the road
Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Utah
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games when playing at home against Utah

Oklahoma City @ Atlanta
Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

Orlando @ New York
Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 6 games when playing on the road against New York
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 7 games on the road
New York
New York is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
New York is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

New Orleans @ Portland
New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New Orleans's last 7 games on the road
New Orleans is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Portland
Portland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games when playing New Orleans
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

Minnesota @ Phoenix
Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
Phoenix
Phoenix is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Phoenix is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

Charlotte @ LA Lakers
Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Charlotte's last 5 games on the road
Charlotte is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
LA Lakers
LA Lakers is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
LA Lakers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

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

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 10:03 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, March 18

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

UTAH (29 - 10) at WASHINGTON (14 - 25) - 3/18/2021, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 26-9 ATS (+16.1 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 3 seasons.
UTAH is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in all games this season.
UTAH is 24-13 ATS (+9.7 Units) as a favorite this season.
UTAH is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
UTAH is 16-3 ATS (+12.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
UTAH is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in non-conference games this season.
UTAH is 15-7 ATS (+7.3 Units) after scoring 115 points or more this season.
UTAH is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
UTAH is 23-9 ATS (+13.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
UTAH is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.

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

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

ORLANDO (13 - 26) at NEW YORK (20 - 21) - 3/18/2021, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ORLANDO is 28-41 ATS (-17.1 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 23-13 ATS (+8.7 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
ORLANDO is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 3 seasons.

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

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

OKLAHOMA CITY (17 - 23) at ATLANTA (20 - 20) - 3/18/2021, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 68-48 ATS (+15.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 49-31 ATS (+14.9 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 36-14 ATS (+20.6 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 220 over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 52-39 ATS (+9.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 34-20 ATS (+12.0 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

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

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

MINNESOTA (9 - 31) at PHOENIX (26 - 12) - 3/18/2021, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 40-61 ATS (-27.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 31-55 ATS (-29.5 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 31-46 ATS (-19.6 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 4-16 ATS (-13.6 Units) against Pacific division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 28-41 ATS (-17.1 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 21-38 ATS (-20.8 Units) after allowing 115 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 4-16 ATS (-13.6 Units) after allowing 130 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 12-24 ATS (-14.4 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 15-26 ATS (-13.6 Units) after scoring 115 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 33-52 ATS (-24.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 28-48 ATS (-24.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 26-12 ATS (+12.8 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 this season.
PHOENIX is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) as a favorite this season.
PHOENIX is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
PHOENIX is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
PHOENIX is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-1 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 4-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

NEW ORLEANS (17 - 23) at PORTLAND (23 - 16) - 3/18/2021, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW ORLEANS is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) after scoring 115 points or more this season.

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

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

CHARLOTTE (20 - 19) at LA LAKERS (27 - 13) - 3/18/2021, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHARLOTTE is 209-259 ATS (-75.9 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
CHARLOTTE is 42-64 ATS (-28.4 Units) in road games after allowing 115 points or more since 1996.
CHARLOTTE is 48-31 ATS (+13.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 15-27 ATS (-14.7 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.

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

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

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 10:11 AM

NBA
Dunkel

Thursday, March 18

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 10:12 AM

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 12:04 PM

Hoop Trends for Thursday March 18
Vince Akins

ATS Play ON Trend of the Day
Matchup: Oklahoma City at Atlanta (7:35 p.m. ET)

-- The Thunder are 10-0 ATS (10.70 ppg) with less than two days rest off a loss in which they scored less than 15% of their points on free throws.

ATS Play AGAINST Trend of the Day
Matchup: Minnesota at Phoenix (9:05 p.m. ET)

-- The Timberwolves are 0-13 ATS (-7.27 ppg) after their opponent shot over 55% from the field.

OU Play OVER Trend of the Day
Matchup: New Orleans at Portland (10:10 p.m. ET)

-- The Pelicans are 15-0-1 OU (12.12 ppg) after Brandon Ingram was their high scorer last game.

OU Play UNDER Trend of the Day
Matchup: Oklahoma City at Atlanta (7:35 p.m. ET)

-- The Thunder are 0-12 OU (-10.42 ppg) off a game as a dog in which they had more turnovers than assists.

Trends are verified using Sports Data Query Language (SDQL)

Announcement

Thursday's NBA Trends and Indexes - 3/18

Thursday's NBA Trends and Indexes - 3/18

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment