Schedules are Important. Picks 2/27

One thing I've noticed since starting to keep track is the amount of traveling back to backs. It seems like there are far more back to backs where a team has to travel between the games than where they stay. I don't know if that's true but it certainly seems like it.

I want to talk about a very specific traveling back to back that I know occurred this year. I believe it happened in both the NBA and the NHL. It's the one that happens on the first day of the season. Usually, the season opener is a spectacle where only 2 or 4 teams play and most other teams play the day after. Now, why does there have to be an overlap between opener games and second day games? There's 26 or 28 teams to mix and match. You can't have a day's worth of games just between those teams? They don't all need to play either (in fact, they don't) so you could spread it out even more. I don't know all the details that go into making schedules, it just seems unfair to say to a team (one that's high profile enough to play on the opening night) that they have to start the season with two in a row (not to mention both opponents are playing their first of the season).

Another pet peeve: the day with only one game that's only two weeks into the season. That also seems silly.

The results from yesterday.


Results 2/26

Cleveland (-3.5) over Golden State. I do not feel confident about this pick. Both teams are good enough to win. Home team advantage, I suppose.
Cavaliers won by 11. Won $190.
This was a fun, fast-paced game. Lebron went off for 42 points and that's very difficult to beat (obviously).

Oklahoma City (-4.5) over Phoenix. This is a pick based on energy. Phoenix, despite likely resting at the end of the game, will not have the legs to run with the Thunder.
Suns won by 4 (OT). Lost $100.
In defense of my pick, the Thunder had won 7 in a row and the Suns had lost 5 in a row before their win the night previous. The Suns were up by 10 three minutes and the quarter finished with the Suns up 10. The Suns move at a very fast pace which lends itself to going up by a lot or falling behind by a lot. Kudos to them for pulling it out.


Results: Bets: $200. Winnings: $190. NET: -$10.  Record: 1-1

February Results:   NET: -$64.  Record: 45-41.

I was hoping to hit both (obviously) to give myself some cushion going into the last night of the month for picks.
The playoff race is looking very interesting, especially in the East. The West is pretty fluid from seeds 4 to 6 but the Thunder hold a 1.5 game advantage on the eighth seed. The East has 5 teams within a game of the eighth seed. Currently, the eighth seed in the East is 23-32 (which is pretty sad actually) but it'll be very interesting to watch the next few weeks.

14 games tonight, It's make or break.

Well, and 2 more

The Games 2/27  Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted

 Cleveland (-3.5) over Indiana. I actually thought about this one a bit. It could be a trap, and I don't think Lebron will score 42 again, but that doesn't make me nervous enough to bet against them.

Philadelphia (+8.5) over Washington. The Wizards are in a free fall right now. It's really too bad because they started so well. It's a good time for them to play the 76ers, though I don't think they'll win by that much.

Charlotte (+2.0) over Boston. I always feel like I pick against the Celtics. I just think that Charlotte is aware of their playoff position and will have an extra push which will help them beat a team that they're better than.

Golden State (-1.5) over Toronto. This is a tricky one for me because Toronto is so inconsistent, but I still think Golden State is that good.

Detroit (-13.5) over New York. I'm tired of giving New York credit. 13.5 points is a ton but I'm not taking them out of principle.

Orlando (+11.0) over Atlanta. Orlando has kept games close in recent weeks and I foresee them doing that again. I don't think they win.

Houston (-7.0) over Brooklyn. Another team I pick against (and pay for) all the time. I like Houston in general, and I like them in this game (despite their bad local announcers).

LA Clippers (+5.0) over Memphis. The second meeting in a week between these two teams. I think the Clippers are looking for revenge.

Miami (-1.5) over New Orleans. I like Miami, even without Bosh. Both teams are missing their star big men (Bosh and Davis) and I like the rest of Miami's team more than New Orleans.

Minnesota (+4.5) over Chicago. Yesterday, this spread was 6.5. I  think the Wolves have residual Garnett-fever energy and Chicago is looking pretty "meh" without Rose. Maybe they're starting to rest a bit early in order to maximize playoff energy. I can hope.

Utah (-4.5) over Denver. Utah may be regressing a bit after their hot stretch but I just think Denver is that bad.

San Antonio (-8.0) over Sacramento. I'm banking on this being the game the Spurs turn it around. I don't think that's unreasonable.

Milwaukee (-6.0) over LA Lakers.  I don't care for the Lakers. They've played well recently, though.

Portland (-6.0) over Oklahoma City. I think OKC will be a little tired after their up-and-down dogfight in Phoenix (in overtime no less).

A large night that will determine the results of the month. I like my chances.

Big Ticket. Picks 2/26

The Kid came back last night. Garnett returned to Minnesota and was in the starting lineup. There was a show before he was announced and then the Wolves took a quarter off, then they put on a show again. I was a kid when Garnett started playing. I didn't live in South Dakota when they were truly contending. In reading articles and then watching the spectacle yesterday, I got a taste of what Garnett means to basketball in Minneapolis. It made sense when he left, he had a falling out with ownership and it was time for him to go elsewhere (past time?). But now he's back, and if the Wolves can become competent in the next year or two, this night built a lot of momentum for sustained interest in this team. They will regress, they aren't THAT good, but having a mentor/leader in Garnett on the bench is invaluable. He hardly stopped talking during the game, teaching the other players, talking strategy. "Coach on the floor" is super cliche, but having someone who plays with you and can see what's happening on the court is helpful.

This was crazy. The fervor it caused. Seriously, I encourage you to watch the video. It stops becoming interesting around the 2:45 mark. I believe you get a sense of what he means. This team was 28th in attendance this year. This is a meaningless (in the grand scheme) game against an Eastern Conference team. Except for KG

Also, at the arena store, the Garnett apparel came in at 3pm and between then and the start of the 3rd quarter (about 5 hours) they sold 200 of them. So, money is great for a business.

Anyway here are the games.

 Results 2/25

Miami (-4.0) over Orlando. Odds: 1.95. This is weird. I feel like the spread is pretty low and I get larger payday picking the team I definitely think will win. I'll take it.
Heat won by 3. Lost $100.
Crap. I felt really good about this one. Turns out it went to overtime. What can you do? Turns out the oddsmakers are pretty good at their job

Atlanta (-7.0) over Dallas. Odds: 1.95. I'm banking on the fact Dallas played last night and had to travel and general Atlanta awesomeness (though they've been a litlle less awesome recently)
Hawks won by 17. Won $195.
First quarter was awesome for Dallas, they won the quarter by 12. I was feeling pretty nervous about this pick. Fortunately (for me) that was the only good quarter for Dallas.

New York (+10.5) over Boston. It's the points. I think 10.5 is too much.
Celtics won by 21. Lost $100.
Turns out I gave New York way too much credit, thinking they'd lose be less than 10.

New Orleans (+2.5) over Brooklyn. Odds: 1.86. I feel like I'm picking against the Nets all the time but I'm not going to change my ways.
Pelicans won by 6. Won $186.
C'mon Pelicans. It'll be interesting to see how they close the season. They are trying to get into a playoff spot (and it's not looking good) so do they buckle down or do they fall apart?

Charlotte (+7.5) over Chicago. Derrick Rose is out for the season. That sucks. I'm taking Charlotte though I expect Chicago to win.
Hornets won by 12. Won $190.
Did the Rose news throw the Bulls? Unknown but they did not show well yesterday.

LA Clippers (+3.0) over Houston. In the battle of two teams who always get the benefit of the refs, I'll take the Clippers to come out on top. Despite covering against the Wolves, I wasn't that impressed with Houston.
Rockets won by 5. Lost $100.
Similar to the Pelicans (apart from current playoff position), it'll be interesting to watch the Clippers these next few weeks. They are still without Blake Griffin and I wonder if they'll take the foot off the gas a little in order to enter the playoffs rested.

Minnesota (-2.0) over Washington. I had determined to pick the Wolves no matter what. Then I find out that they're favored. I don't like it, but Kevin Garnett's triumphant return will be crazy.
Wolves won by 20. Won $190.
Wooo!! Kevin Garnett's return was certainly triumphant and the team really came out tight. But they settled down and blew out the Wizards the rest of the way. The Wizards are in bad shape right now. Color me concerned.

Utah (-10.0) over LA Lakers. I can't believe the Jazz are favored by 10. I'm going to ride this train though, it hasn't failed me yet.
Lakers won by 3. Lost $100.
I don't get the Jazz. I thought they were rolling (and in some ways they still are) but losing to the Lakers is bad. Real bad.

Phoenix (-6.0) over Denver. Denver stinks. I'm sure they'll play well tonight, though because of course.
Suns won by 14. Won $190.
Yeah, the Nuggets stink

Memphis (-7.0) over Sacramento. Odds: 1.95. Sacramento is not doing too hot right now. Coaching changes are hard. I like Memphis.
Kings won by 12. Lost $100.
I didn't expect this. Memphis is certainly better, but sometimes you get those games.

Portland (-3.0) over San Antonio. Odds: 1.95. I don't know about San Antonio right now...
Trail Blazers won by 16. Won $195.
San Antonio....

Results: Bets: $1200.  Winnings: $1146.  NET: -$54.  Record: 6-6

February Totals: NET: -$124.  Record: 44-40.

Truthfully, I thought I did well last night. Turns out, I did fine. Unfortunately, in this world, you lose money with "fine". 2 days left to get in the positive.

Two games tonight. TNT Doubleheader tonight.

The Games 2/26   Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

Cleveland (-3.5) over Golden State. I do not feel confident about this pick. Both teams are good enough to win. Home team advantage, I suppose.

Oklahoma City (-4.5) over Phoenix. This is a pick based on energy. Phoenix, despite likely resting at the end of the game, will not have the legs to run with the Thunder.

These small nights always make me nervous.

Garnett's Back. Picks 2/25

It's a big night for the Timberwolves. Kevin Garnett, the undisputed "best player in team history", is back in a Wolves uniform and it's very exciting. I've already heard he's made things much more intense, especially on defense. I think that's a very positive thing. Veteran leadership is often overrated but I think his impact will be tangible.

Not Current

The results from yesterday

 Results 2/24

Golden State (-6.5) over Washington. Odds: 1.86. I'm not sure what to think about Washington right now. However, I continue to like Golden State, so I feel pretty good about this pick.
Warriors won by 7. Won $186.
Close Win! This was a close game throughout but it's not how, it's how many, and Golden State was slightly more than Washington.

Cleveland (-6.5) over Detroit. Odds: 1.86. Similar to the above pick except on a lower scale. I like Detroit less than Washington and Cleveland less than Golden State. The pick is similar, though, I'll take the favorite easily.
Cavaliers won by 9. Won $186.
The Cavs keep rolling though they didn't win by as many as I thought they would.

Indiana (+6.5) over Oklahoma City. Here's the thing, Kevin Durant is out for now. I also know that, despite that, OKC has a better team than Indiana. BUT Indiana is weird and can surprise a good number of teams. I think this is one of those games.
Thunder won by 13. Lost $100.
I was wrong. It wasn't one of those games.

Dallas (-4.5) over Toronto. Toronto will hopefully come out strong after the poor showing yesterday but I think Dallas is better even without considering the consistency issues. Dallas is not a world beater (yet) but I like them better than the Raptors, especially at home.
Mavericks won by 7. Won $190.
Don't know what's going on with the Raptors. To be fair, Dallas is a good team and they had to travel So an overall decent showing but one that still results in a loss.

Results: Bets: $400.  Winnings: $562.  NET: +$162.  Record: 3-1

February Total: NET: -$70.  38-34

Good games. Coming back to breaking even. I have an excellent opportunity to do so tonight with 12 games on the schedule.

The Games 2/25  Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

Miami (-4.0) over Orlando. Odds: 1.95. This is weird. I feel like the spread is pretty low and I get larger payday picking the team I definitely think will win. I'll take it.

Atlanta (-7.0) over Dallas. Odds: 1.95. I'm banking on the fact Dallas played last night and had to travel and general Atlanta awesomeness (though they've been a litlle less awesome recently)

New York (+10.5) over Boston. It's the points. I think 10.5 is too much.

New Orleans (+2.5) over Brooklyn. Odds: 1.86. I feel like I'm picking against the Nets all the time but I'm not going to change my ways.

Charlotte (+7.5) over Chicago. Derrick Rose is out for the season. That sucks. I'm taking Charlotte though I expect Chicago to win.

LA Clippers (+3.0) over Houston. In the battle of two teams who always get the benefit of the refs, I'll take the Clippers to come out on top. Despite covering against the Wolves, I wasn't that impressed with Houston.

Minnesota (-2.0) over Washington. I had determined to pick the Wolves no matter what. Then I find out that they're favored. I don't like it, but Kevin Garnett's triumphant return will be crazy.

Utah (-10.0) over LA Lakers. I can't believe the Jazz are favored by 10. I'm going to ride this train though, it hasn't failed me yet.

Phoenix (-6.0) over Denver. Denver stinks. I'm sure they'll play well tonight, though because of course.

Memphis (-7.0) over Sacramento. Odds: 1.95. Sacramento is not doing too hot right now. Coaching changes are hard. I like Memphis.

Portland (-3.0) over San Antonio. Odds: 1.95. I don't know about San Antonio right now...

Lots of different odds today. I feel pretty good about my picks, though. I hope today is more like yesterday.

Bummer. Picks 2/24

 I watched the Timberwolves/Rockets game last night and I have some non-game comments, mostly about announcers. Here's what I know: I know that local announcers are supposed to talk to the local fans. I know that local announcers don't have as much knowledge about visiting teams. And I also know that local announcers want their team to win. I don't know if they're supposed to be biased but they are. Knowing all these things, I do not like local announcers, with a few exceptions. The Timberwolves guys are really good (RAWR RAWR Bias), but I've heard that from others as well. I found it amusing yesterday when the Rockets' announcers would complain about a call against Houston considering they "root" for James Harden who is the king of drawing phantom fouls. I just wish they realized that other people (not just local fans) watch their games and would rather watch with the tv muted than listen to them talk.
I also don't like it when announcers refer to players by their first names with a few exceptions (Kobe, Lebron, etc). It makes it seem slightly less professional.

Anyway, that's not why you're here. You're here for picks.

 Results 2/23

Miami (-11.5) over Philadelphia. Despite the Chris Bosh news, the Heat received Goran Dragic at the trade deadline whereas Philly sold any and all quality players for picks. I like the Heat and really anyone else who plays Philly until we figure out if these 76ers are as plucky as the last.
Heat won by 11. Lost $100.
Grr. So close. I don't care for the 76ers and their losing badly but not badly enough.

Milwaukee (+7.5) over Chicago. I think this spread is mostly a product of the Bucks playing last night. Chicago has been weirdly inconsistent, though, and that might make the difference in this game (spread-wise anyway)
Bulls won by 16. Lost $100.
It was a poor showing by the Bucks. I get that the Bulls defense is quite good but only scoring 71 in an entire game is disappointing.

Houston (-8.5) over Minnesota. Odds: 1.95. The line and the odds give me pause. I just don't believe in the Wolves. And now that Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett are out, they're pretty thin on dunkers.
Rockets won by 11. Won $195.
I watched this game and it was pretty close for a lot of it. I thought the reffing was pretty bad (confusing might be a better word) and the announcing was worse. Please please please put the Wolves broadcast on League Pass. Jim Petersen and Dave Benz are actually worth listening too no matter who you cheer for.

Toronto (-7.0) over New Orleans. Odds: 1.86. The Raptors have been looking decent again and Anthony Davis is out, again.
Pelicans won by 3. Lost $100.
I'm disappointed in the Raptors. They lost the 4th quarter by 10 points and that should not happen to the second best team in the East. I don't feel like there were many people predicting the Raptors to reach the Finals, but the last week had them beat the Hawks (who are awesome) and lose to the Pelicans (without Davis). It's scary to hope your team "gets hot" to be successful. I'm just not sure how good the Raptors actually are.

Denver (+2.0) over Brooklyn. I do not like this game. I'm banking on the Brooklyn being tired from their road trip (kind of, they played in LA three days ago) and playing in altitude with older guys. Also, Denver sucks but I'm taking them anyway.
Nets won by 28. Lost $100.
Holy cow. The Nuggets sucked. I guess it was a little "pie-in-the-sky" to think a Nuggets team who wasn't that good and then got worse could actually win, but this was very unimpressive.

Boston (+8.0) over Phoenix. I actually like Boston to keep this close, though I don't foresee them winning.
Celtics won by 5. Won $190.
Phoenix is struggling right now. It might have something to do with them trading two of their three point guards. Not saying it was a bad move but it takes some adjusting.

Utah (+5.5) over San Antonio. Odds: 1.95. San Antonio is always a tricky pick. So I'm picking based on Utah, and Utah has been playing pretty well recently. They're showing flashes of quality (like beating Portland on Friday).
Jazz won by 9. Won $195.
Good win by the Jazz who are playing well. Saw on twitter that some NBA reporters are getting worried about the Spurs. Of course, you always worry about the Spurs and then make yourself feel better by saying "It's the Spurs"... We'll see.

LA Clippers (-3.5) over Memphis. Odds: 1.86. I love this rivalry (playoff-based) and I think that Memphis has a very good chance in this game. I'm going with the home team who is playing well, though.
Grizzlies won by 3. Lost $100.
This was a good close game. Though I picked LA, I'm not surprised. It'll be interesting to see how these two teams approach the end of the season. And especially interesting to see how LA does with Blake Griffin out for some time.

Results: Bets: $800.  Winnings: $580.  NET: -$220.  Record: 3-5
February Totals: NET: -$232.  Record: 35-33

There goes my (fake) money

Another bad day and I'm swimming in the negatives. February has been a rough month overall. It's interesting to note that I'm still 2 games over .500 record-wise and that means that I'm $232 in the hole.

Only four games tonight. Fingers crossed.

The Games 2/24 Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

Golden State (-6.5) over Washington. Odds: 1.86. I'm not sure what to think about Washington right now. However, I continue to like Golden State, so I feel pretty good about this pick.

Cleveland (-6.5) over Detroit. Odds: 1.86. Similar to the above pick except on a lower scale. I like Detroit less than Washington and Cleveland less than Golden State. The pick is similar, though, I'll take the favorite easily.

Indiana (+6.5) over Oklahoma City. Here's the thing, Kevin Durant is out for now. I also know that, despite that, OKC has a better team than Indiana. BUT Indiana is weird and can surprise a good number of teams. I think this is one of those games.

Dallas (-4.5) over Toronto. Toronto will hopefully come out strong after the poor showing yesterday but I think Dallas is better even without considering the consistency issues. Dallas is not a world beater (yet) but I like them better than the Raptors, especially at home.

I hope tonight goes well, I think I deserve it (what does that even mean?)

There's Movies in My Sports Blog. Picks 2/23

The Oscars were last night and it was entertaining. Some people won (a few specific) and some lost and some who should have won weren't even invited (*coughLegoMoviecough*). It strikes me every year how uninteresting the award movies look. What I mean by that is, for all their quality, the movies nominated for "Best Picture" are movies that I don't want to see. This year was better than most, to be fair. I am interested in seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Imitation Game. But the movie this year that falls into the category I was talking about is Boyhood. What is it about? As far as I can tell, a kid grows up. The most notable thing about it is that it actually took 12 years to make. That's the same kid, so it's very cool in that way (EXTREMELY artsy). But that doesn't make me want to see it. My favorite movie of the year was Godzilla, and you'll never ever see a movie like Godzilla up for Best Picture. I feel like there is an arrogance inherent in the movie industry where there are movies made for laymen (us) and then there are good movies, made for people who actually know what a good movie is (them). Another way to look at it is that there are movies made to make money (ie superhero movies) and there are movies made to win awards (dramas that are often filled moral questions and self discovery)

I watch movies to be entertained and if I don't feel like I'll be entertained, I don't want to see the movie. That's why I don't want to see Boyhood, it looks boring to me. I watched Slumdog Millionaire, winner of Best Picture 2008, and it was quite good. Extremely good, in fact, and you should see it. But I never really want to see it again. It was just not that entertaining to me. It's quality is almost a separate question for me. It can be great, every Best Picture nominee should be, but not entertaining (as far as I'm concerned). And I lean more to the "I saw it because it was entertaining" than "I saw it because it was good".

That hammer doesn't LOOK that heavy

Anyway, that's a rant that took longer than I wanted. Here are the picks.

Results 2/20

Indiana (-8.5) over Philadelphia. Philly's GM (or Owner, I don't know) gets made fun of a lot for embracing tanking (he continues to trade away decent players for picks and/or bad players). He was at it again this trade deadline. I do not condone this type of shameless tanking, it throws the coach under the bus and I can only assume the players are unhappy knowing that they may be on the team because they're subpar NBA players. All that to say, this team got worse in the last 2 days and I believe that they were pretty bad to begin with. I'll take Indy.
Pacers won by 11. Won $190.
I'm so glad the Pacers won. They've had rotten luck with injuries. And Philly management doesn't deserve to win. Unfortunately, this plays right into their plans of losing and getting a good draft pick.

Orlando (+5.5) over New Orleans. Anthony Davis was injured just before the break. This pick somewhat hinges on his ability to play, but I don't think he is. That makes me think that the Magic could make this a game.
Magic won by 11. Won $190.
Good win by the Magic. Davis went out with an injury and will be gone for at least 2 weeks. So that's fun.

Chicago (-6.0) over Detroit. Chicago's coach has a reputation of playing his players "too much". In quotes because that's a matter of opinion. The break does wonders for a player's energy and I think they come out revitalized.
Pistons won by 9. Lost $100.
Dunno what to make of this Bulls team. Detroit is decent so it's not a bad loss, but this is a game the Bulls definitely should have won.

New York (+7.5) over Miami.Chris Bosh received some really bad news and will be out for a while. He was by far their best player and it'll be interesting to see how they do without him. On the other hand, they traded for Goran Dragic (who I think is great). This is more of a guess.
Miami won by 24. Lost $100.
This was a long shot, I suppose. Miami is still decent, New York still isn't. Still seemed like a little too much of a blowout, I'd say.

Atlanta (-5.5) over Toronto. No reason. I like Atlanta more than Toronto. We'll see if that translates
Raptors won by 25. Lost $100.
That'll teach me for going against Toronto, I suppose. Excellent win. Side Note: I watched a bit of the game on Saturday and the Raptors in the midst of 8 games in a row against teams that are at .500 or better. That is tricky, don't get me wrong, but it seems so much less impressive to me that 4 were before the All-Star break and 4 are after. I feel like having a week off halfway through should make it easier. I dunno.

Cleveland (-3.0) over Washington. Odds: 1.86. The Cavs are pushing toward the postseason. So are the Wizards but Cleveland is better.
Cavaliers won by 38. Won $186.
Holy Cow. This was a blowout. The Wizards are good, too. I don't know what happened.

Phoenix (+1.5) over Minnesota. I'm quite surprised that Minnesota is favored. Both teams made trades, and Phoenix made bigger moves, but Minnesota traded a competent (sometimes decent?) player for a guy who isn't playing yet. It'll be up to two unproven guys to hold down the power forward spot and I don't like their chances. Not one game in.
Wolves won by 2. Lost $100.
I couldn't believe it when this happened. I think this is the second time this year this exact situation has happened. I was surprised the Wolves were favored. Turns out the spread makers know what they're talking about? (See one game above for counterexample)

Milwaukee (-7.5) over Denver. Denver has been very inconsistent (especially when it comes to spreads. Denver also downgraded a bit in quality from the trade deadline.
Bucks won by 8. Won $190.
A close victory. I still don't get either of these teams.

Houston (+2.0) over Dallas. Odds: 1.95. Dallas played yesterday and I don't know if Dwight Howard is back. I generally like Houston's team more than Dallas but I think this could be just a good game.
Mavericks won by 11. Lost $100.
I liked Houston to win this game, but... they didn't. They were down by 20 after three so I was feeling pretty down about it before it was even over.

Portland (-4.5) over Utah. Portland is just better than Utah. And I think they are more than 5 points better.
Jazz won by 16. Lost $100.
Another weird result. I wouldn't have expected this but Utah just took it to them in the second half (elevation playing a role?), winning the half 53-33. Those numbers indicate poor offense by Portland (good defense?) rather than excellent Denver offense.

Sacramento (-3.5) over Boston. George Karl's first game as the coach of the Kings which I believe will give them a boost and Boston has to travel all the way across the country. Give me the Kings.
Kings won by 8. Won $190
I think it'll take until next year before Sacramento is actually going to be decent. An offseason with a new coach should not be underrated.

LA Lakers (+3.5) over Brooklyn. Call it a hunch. That's all it is. Brooklyn is a better team. Give me the Lakers for some reason.
Nets won by 9. Lost $100.
I bet on a hunch. It...didn't work.

Golden State (-8.0) over San Antonio. The Spurs played yesterday and this is a shutdown game candidate despite the recent break.
Warriors won by 11. Won $190.
I actually expected more of a blowout but I'll take the win.


Totals: Bets: $1300.  Winnings: $1136.  NET: -$164.   Record: 6-7

February Totals: NET: +$88.  Record: 32-28


Keeping my head above water. Barely but I'll take it. For a fake hobby, I'm not doing too bad, I think.
 Eight games on the schedule for tonight, kicking off the last week of February.

The Games 2/23  Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted

Miami (-11.5) over Philadelphia. Despite the Chris Bosh news, the Heat received Goran Dragic at the trade deadline whereas Philly sold any and all quality players for picks. I like the Heat and really anyone else who plays Philly until we figure out if these 76ers are as plucky as the last.

Milwaukee (+7.5) over Chicago. I think this spread is mostly a product of the Bucks playing last night. Chicago has been weirdly inconsistent, though, and that might make the difference in this game (spread-wise anyway)

Houston (-8.5) over Minnesota. Odds: 1.95. The line and the odds give me pause. I just don't believe in the Wolves. And now that Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett are out, they're pretty thin on dunkers.

Toronto (-7.0) over New Orleans. Odds: 1.86. The Raptors have been looking decent again and Anthony Davis is out, again.

Denver (+2.0) over Brooklyn. I do not like this game. I'm banking on the Brooklyn being tired from their road trip (kind of, they played in LA three days ago) and playing in altitude with older guys. Also, Denver sucks but I'm taking them anyway.

Boston (+8.0) over Phoenix. I actually like Boston to keep this close, though I don't foresee them winning.

Utah (+5.5) over San Antonio. Odds: 1.95. San Antonio is always a tricky pick. So I'm picking based on Utah, and Utah has been playing pretty well recently. They're showing flashes of quality (like beating Portland on Friday).

LA Clippers (-3.5) over Memphis. Odds: 1.86. I love this rivalry (playoff-based) and I think that Memphis has a very good chance in this game. I'm going with the home team who is playing well, though.

There you have it. My guaranteed to be maybe correct predictions. It'd be nice to have an excellent day to give me that nice cushion. I'm running out of days to recover from bad picks.

Deadline Day is Done. Picks 2/20

The Wolves traded for a soon-to-be 39 year old Kevin Garnett. The more I think about it, the more I warm up to it. I hope this means that he gets reengaged in Minneapolis and then buys the team when he retires. The Wolves need a new owner something fierce and Garnett would be an awesome Mark Cuban-like man upstairs. Speaking of upstairs? Lavine Dunk

The games from yesterday, only two of them.

Results 2/19

Oklahoma City (-5.0) over Dallas. Odds: 1.95. I like the Thunder to do well. They probably don't have access to Enes Kanter (who they just traded for) but they don't have to play Perkins then. The issue could be back-up point guard now that they've traded Reggie Jackson. This might result in them playing Russell Westbrook a ton, which may not be a bad thing for this one game.
Thunder won by 15. Won $195.
The Thunder looked good. They made some interesting moves yesterday and they are certainly making a push toward the postseason. I think they are in a decent position to do so.
 
LA Clippers (+2.5) over San Antonio. The Clippers are playing well and I think they are in position to continue to do after the break.
Clippers won by 4. Won $190.
I feel like this was a case of the Clippers still feeling like they have something to prove and the Spurs having nothing to prove. The danger is thinking that the Spurs don't care. That's not the case, but maybe they just aren't as desperate for regular season success as some other teams. That's just my opinion.

Totals: Bets: $200.   Winnings: $385.  NET: +$185.  Record: 2-0
February:  NET: +$252.  Record: 26-21

Good day. Even with only two games, going undefeated really boosts the whole NET winnings thing.

Most teams are back in action tonight. 13 games on tap.

The Games 2/20  Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

 Indiana (-8.5) over Philadelphia. Philly's GM (or Owner, I don't know) gets made fun of a lot for embracing tanking (he continues to trade away decent players for picks and/or bad players). He was at it again this trade deadline. I do not condone this type of shameless tanking, it throws the coach under the bus and I can only assume the players are unhappy knowing that they may be on the team because they're subpar NBA players. All that to say, this team got worse in the last 2 days and I believe that they were pretty bad to begin with. I'll take Indy.

Orlando (+5.5) over New Orleans. Anthony Davis was injured just before the break. This pick somewhat hinges on his ability to play, but I don't think he is. That makes me think that the Magic could make this a game.

Chicago (-6.0) over Detroit. Chicago's coach has a reputation of playing his players "too much". In quotes because that's a matter of opinion. The break does wonders for a player's energy and I think they come out revitalized.

New York (+7.5) over Miami.Chris Bosh received some really bad news and will be out for a while. He was by far their best player and it'll be interesting to see how they do without him. On the other hand, they traded for Goran Dragic (who I think is great). This is more of a guess.

Atlanta (-5.5) over Toronto. No reason. I like Atlanta more than Toronto. We'll see if that translates

Cleveland (-3.0) over Washington. Odds: 1.86. The Cavs are pushing toward the postseason. So are the Wizards but Cleveland is better.

Phoenix (+1.5) over Minnesota. I'm quite surprised that Minnesota is favored. Both teams made trades, and Phoenix made bigger moves, but Minnesota traded a competent (sometimes decent?) player for a guy who isn't playing yet. It'll be up to two unproven guys to hold down the power forward spot and I don't like their chances. Not one game in.

Milwaukee (-7.5) over Denver. Denver has been very inconsistent (especially when it comes to spreads. Denver also downgraded a bit in quality from the trade deadline.

Houston (+2.0) over Dallas. Odds: 1.95. Dallas played yesterday and I don't know if Dwight Howard is back. I generally like Houston's team more than Dallas but I think this could be just a good game.

Portland (-4.5) over Utah. Portland is just better than Utah. And I think they are more than 5 points better.

Sacramento (-3.5) over Boston. George Karl's first game as the coach of the Kings which I believe will give them a boost and Boston has to travel all the way across the country. Give me the Kings.

LA Lakers (+3.5) over Brooklyn. Call it a hunch. That's all it is. Brooklyn is a better team. Give me the Lakers for some reason.

Golden State (-8.0) over San Antonio. The Spurs played yesterday and this is a shutdown game candidate despite the recent break.

A day like this could make or break the month, especially when there's only one more week of picks in the month.

Home Stretch. Picks 2/19

This is a week later but that's what the All-Star break does. It was an excellent All-Star break for Wolves fans. Wiggins won the Rising Stars MVP and Lavine won the dunk contest (handily I might add). The trade deadline was today and so the makeup of teams might be drastically different. The Wolves traded for a 39 year old for sentimental reasons. I haven't looked at the details yet but I hope they didn't give up much.


Results 2/11 

New York (+5.0) over Orlando. I don't trust the Knicks, not at all. But I also don't trust the Magic. 5 points isn't all that much but I like the cushion it gives.
Magic won by 6. Lost $100.
Stupid Knicks. Couldn't get one more point? That's so Knicks.

Atlanta (-7.5) over Boston. I like Atlanta to roll in this one. They're sending 4 players to the All-Star game, after all.
Celtics won by 1. Lost $100.
The Hawks started the All-Star break a little early. Crazy loss, but they were in tough against the Wolves as well, so maybe they aren't as good as we thought.... (or maybe they were just getting to the break a little early)

Detroit (+6.0) over San Antonio. Call it a hunch, but I imagine that Popovich has started the All-Star break early, which makes this a closer game (or even a Pistons win) than anyone expects.
Spurs won by 14. Lost $100.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Spurs took care of business against a team that's actually decent. Go figure.

Washington (+5.0) over Toronto. I'm sorry. Toronto has played quite poorly recently and I don't care for it. Maybe they'll turn it around but I'm done betting on them just because I hope it happens. The Wizards are good too.
Raptors won by 2. Won $!90.
Nailed it. *Fist Pump*

Golden State (-8.5) over Minnesota. I'm surprised the spread is only 8.5. The Wolves made a couple of trades yesterday and it will be interesting to see how much burn those players get considering we're heading into a break. I expect they'll get more than usual, which means players will be playing who don't know the system (such as it is) and it'll result in them getting rocked by one of the best teams in the league.
Warriors won by 3. Lost $100.
Did not see this one coming. Probably a similar situation to the Hawks except that Golden State didn't lose.

New Orleans (-3.0) over Indiana. I think the New Orleans Davis's want to show off a bit before the break.
Pacers won by 13. Lost $100.
I can't figure either team out so this doesn't surprise me.

Oklahoma City (-5.5) over Memphis. This is another team that I keep expecting to turn the corner. Oklahoma City has underwhelmed even when accounting for the injuries. They are getting by on talent alone. This game is serious, though. The Thunder and Grizzlies hate each other due to meeting in the playoffs a couple times. I think the back to back that Memphis is on does them in.
Thunder won by 16. Won $190.
A surprising dominant win, though it appeared as though the back-to-back really did the Grizzlies in. As predicted. *pats myself on back*

Cleveland (-12.5) over Miami. I think LeBron has a great game against his former teammates. Love is finding his groove too.
Cavaliers won by 20. Won $190.
The Heat are not that great right now and the Cavaliers are looking pretty good. Not that surprising.

Milwaukee (-9.5) over Sacramento. Big line, but the Bucks are good (but 9.5 good?) and the Kings are not. That coupled with the fact that Sacramento played last night and still don't have a good coach encourages me to pick Milwaukee.
Bucks won by 8. Lost $100.
Another close loss. Grr. Oh! and the Kings have signed George Karl to coach them, surprising nobody. Maybe they'll play to their potential

Dallas (-4.0) over Utah. I find this line to be too close. I think Dallas is a much better team than Utah and so I will take the points.
Mavericks won by 5. Won $190.
A close win?!? Feels so good!! This game probably shouldn't have been that close though.

Portland (-13.5) over LA Lakers. Trap game. But Portland is rested while LA is not. And the Lakers stink to begin with. And Portland is good.
Trailblazers won by 16. Won $190.
Another close win!! Not one point close, but 2.5 points is pretty close. The Lakers stink.

Houston (+3.5) over LA Clippers. It's weird. I feel like I continually bet against the Clippers, but I just don't have faith that they've taken the next step. Now, their record indicates that they are quite good, and I believe that. I just don't know why my inclination is to bet against them here. Go figure.
Clippers won by 15. :Lost $100.
Don't know what happened to Houston in this one. Good on LA, quality win.

Totals: Bets: $1200.  Winnings: $950.   NET: -$250.  Record: 5-7
February Totals: NET: +$67   Record: 24-21.

Bummer of a day to go with my good day on Tuesday. Back to where I was hovering around.


The Games 2/19    Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted

 Oklahoma City (-5.0) over Dallas. Odds: 1.95. I like the Thunder to do well. They probably don't have access to Enes Kanter (who they just traded for) but they don't have to play Perkins then. The issue could be back-up point guard now that they've traded Reggie Jackson. This might result in them playing Russell Westbrook a ton, which may not be a bad thing for this one game.

LA Clippers (+2.5) over San Antonio. The Clippers are playing well and I think they are in position to continue to do after the break.

It's a slow day to start the post-break NBA. Under 30 games to go for most (if not all) teams and so the teams who are in danger of missing the playoffs are going to start making a push and the teams who are comfortable in their positions may start to take their foot off the gas.

On Writing and Why Novels are Scary - A Non-Sports post

An unexpected effect of my prolonged unemployment has been my rekindled interest in reading. I've always said that reading is a hobby of mine but in recent years (since I went to university), I preferred the less active time-wasters, such playing video games, to reading. A lot of my choices had to do with the energy required to read, which I felt was more than I could spare. Now that I have more time, reading has reentered my life and it's great.

An unexpected effect of reading more is my desire to write. I'm not talking about picking NBA games every day, which has value as something to do and pay attention to, but creative writing. I am a story teller. I like crafting tales for people to experience. Usually it manifests itself in talking about sports events from the past because new tales are constantly being created. But a desire to write fiction has been growing for a while.

I'm reading a Stephen King book entitled On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft and it is excellent. The first part of the book goes through his life and how he got into writing and various events relating to that. The second part discusses his views on writing as a craft (for example: his absolute disdain for passive tense). I have only read one Stephen King book (The Gunslinger) and I'm unsure how many others I will experience, but this book has fueled my desire to write creatively. If "listening to Stephen King talk about what he does" or "thinking about writing" has appeal to you, I would strongly recommend giving this a read.

I would consider myself a decent (or what Stephen King may call "a competent") writer, I did well on most writing assignments throughout high school and university, and I have story ideas in my head that I want to tell people. My sister is an excellent writer (Read it  https://sarakelm.wordpress.com/ ) so I feel like I must have a writing gene or two in there somewhere. Furthermore, I think it would be awesome to write something and put it out for the world to experience.

But here's the thing, I'm terrified of writing. I've put out a couple of posts that might make you think that I'm comfortable with people reading my stuff. It's different when I write about myself, there's a lot of "I feel this" or "I think that". I'm not trying to take the reader on a journey and I really can't fail to put down what I want to say. It's straightforward. Also, (peek behind the curtain) I don't put a lot of work into posts like this. You're lucky if I read it again after I finish the last paragraph. Does that lower my quality of writing? Yes. But it's not like I'm trying to hook you in for 1000 pages and seven books. My goal is to write what I want and maybe have you finish it and not swear off reading my stuff ever again. And that's part of the problem. If I write what I want to write, I risk people actually having an opinion about it. It's possible to fail at telling a good story. Blogs about my feelings are safe, novels are not.

Another problem is confidence. I am a math person, with a degree in mathematics and statistics, minor in economics. Despite my success, I took the minimum amount of English courses I could in order to graduate, for no other reason than I did not have to take any more to receive my degree. I do not know how to write a story. I have read (though not as much as I should have as I indicated in my first paragraph), but I don't feel confident that that's enough. There are many examples of successful writers who received no formal training but none of them are me and that is something that bothers me. If I'm going to write, I wish to be successful (duh) but I don't know if I have the knowledge to do it.

I love fantasy books. I get my biggest thrills by being transported to another world filled with fantastic creatures and magic. If I am to write, I need to write what I would like to read. I think that that is a fair wish. But I don't just read fantasy books. I read fantasy series. There is a large commitment to writing a fantasy series. But if I'm to be honest, which I should always be (take note, kids), the reason the subject matter makes me nervous is that I'm worried that I will not be taken seriously. Fantasy requires a certain amount of buy-in by the reader in order to keep from being perceived as utterly silly and dumb. The author must earn that buy-in and work hard to avoid being dismissed for being too absurd. I'm afraid that if I put dozens of hours into a book that I then put out for the world to read, only to have my creation look upon with derision because it sucks, that won't suck the reader in enough.

A lot of this writing has been about doubts and things that I can't do/don't have. I believe that I will actually work on a story that could become a novel. However, whether or not that collection of words ever makes it to the point of sharing with others remains to be seen. But, if it reaches that point, it will be shared because, as I noted in a previous post, I don't see the point in creating content if it is not shared. I have a lot of respect for people who complete the process of creating a finished product, like my friend Lindsay Eckert who independently published her book Inglorious Legacy (Shameless Plug!! $20, let me know if you want a copy). Some day, I would like to create something that I like enough to publish. I think it would be fun and rewarding.

It's Possible the Gifs Don't Relate. Picks 2/11

 The Timberwolves made some moves yesterday, which make me excited overall. Got upsidier. But they traded a player that I wrote about earlier, which is too bad. I was hoping he'd stick around and maybe contribute. But alas, that's the business.

Isn't basketball great?

Results 2/10

Detroit (+1.0) over Charlotte. Odds: 1.95. Charlotte is a weird team, I believe I always say that when they play. I think Detroit matches up favorably with them (though they just lost to Minnesota who's weirdly competitive now). Give me the Pistons to bounce back.
Pistons won by 28. Won $195.
Even first quarter led into an uneven second, an even more uneven third, and then a foot-off-the-gas fourth (which Detroit still won).

Memphis (-12.0) over Brooklyn. Brooklyn is another team that will randomly play super well. I like the Grizzlies, in general and I like their chances.
Grizzlies won by 9. Lost $100.
Bummer, the Nets randomly played decent. Not super well, but better than I thought. It was hovering around 14 for most of the fourth before the Nets made a late run and lost only by nine.

Houston (+2.0) over Phoenix. I think Houston is better than Phoenix, but I'm not so sure on the road and without Dwight Howard. Of course, Houston has played well so far without him.
Rockets won by 9. Won $190.
This was a game of extremes. Rockets won the first and fourth quarters by 18(!) and 10 respectively. The Suns won the second and third quarters by 11 and 10 respectively. Crazy.

Chicago (-10.5) over Sacramento. The Kings are reportedly close to hiring George Karl to be their head coach. I love George Karl as a coach and I was sad when the Timberwolves didn't hire him. But he's not their coach yet, they still have Tyrone Corbin running the bench and I like Bulls at home.
Bulls won by 18. Won $190.
The Kings suck without a good coach. With all due respect to Ty Corbin, he's not that great of a coach. They can't get George Karl in soon enough.

Denver (+1.5) over LA Lakers. Denver is a dumpster fire right now but the Lakers aren't good either. It's a battle between two teams I expect to lose. But someone's gotta win. I think it's Denver. Hopefully by more than 1.
Nuggets won by 10. Won $190.
I was a little concerned when the Nuggets were done by 5 after the first. Turns out that was unwarranted as the Lakers prove themselves to be the more dysfunctional team. Congrats?

Totals: Bets: $500.  Winnings: $765.  NET: +$265  Record: 4-1

February totals:  NET: +$317.  Record: 19-14

An excellent night. I'd take winning at that rate every night. It's just funny how quickly fortunes can swing in betting.

 Big night tonight as this is the last real night of basketball before the All-Star break. Twelve games which means that I could go into the break feeling really good about my betting skillz. I just wonder how the games will go because it's the last day before a week off for many teams. Will that make them play harder? Who knows.

The Games 2/11 Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

New York (+5.0) over Orlando. I don't trust the Knicks, not at all. But I also don't trust the Magic. 5 points isn't all that much but I like the cushion it gives.

Atlanta (-7.5) over Boston. I like Atlanta to roll in this one. They're sending 4 players to the All-Star game, after all.

Detroit (+6.0) over San Antonio. Call it a hunch, but I imagine that Popovich has started the All-Star break early, which makes this a closer game (or even a Pistons win) than anyone expects.

Washington (+5.0) over Toronto. I'm sorry. Toronto has played quite poorly recently and I don't care for it. Maybe they'll turn it around but I'm done betting on them just because I hope it happens. The Wizards are good too.

Golden State (-8.5) over Minnesota. I'm surprised the spread is only 8.5. The Wolves made a couple of trades yesterday and it will be interesting to see how much burn those players get considering we're heading into a break. I expect they'll get more than usual, which means players will be playing who don't know the system (such as it is) and it'll result in them getting rocked by one of the best teams in the league.

New Orleans (-3.0) over Indiana. I think the New Orleans Davis's want to show off a bit before the break.

Oklahoma City (-5.5) over Memphis. This is another team that I keep expecting to turn the corner. Oklahoma City has underwhelmed even when accounting for the injuries. They are getting by on talent alone. This game is serious, though. The Thunder and Grizzlies hate each other due to meeting in the playoffs a couple times. I think the back to back that Memphis is on does them in.

Cleveland (-12.5) over Miami. I think LeBron has a great game against his former teammates. Love is finding his groove too.

Milwaukee (-9.5) over Sacramento. Big line, but the Bucks are good (but 9.5 good?) and the Kings are not. That coupled with the fact that Sacramento played last night and still don't have a good coach encourages me to pick Milwaukee.

Dallas (-4.0) over Utah. I find this line to be too close. I think Dallas is a much better team than Utah and so I will take the points.

Portland (-13.5) over LA Lakers. Trap game. But Portland is rested while LA is not. And the Lakers stink to begin with. And Portland is good.

Houston (+3.5) over LA Clippers. It's weird. I feel like I continually bet against the Clippers, but I just don't have faith that they've taken the next step. Now, their record indicates that they are quite good, and I believe that. I just don't know why my inclination is to bet against them here. Go figure.

I'm not going to pick tomorrow's game. I've been experiencing some discomfort in my wrist so this might be the last post until after the All-Star break.

Cheers.

  

Long Time Coming. Picks 2/10

I forgot to post yesterday and I didn't post on Friday so it's been a good long while since I've put my (so far fake) kids' (fake) tuition money up to the fates to do with what they will. If they want my (fake) kids to go to college, they'll multiply my (fake) bets and all will be right. Anyway, how'd THURSDAY go?

Results 2/5

Washington (-1.5) over Charlotte. Charlotte is a weird team. I don't trust them. I like Washington to win this game (by at least 2) despite the traveling back to back that they are on.
Hornets won by 7. Lost $100
Hmm, who would've thought. As I said, Charlotte is a weird team.

Cleveland (-4.5) over LA Clippers. This is more of a gut one. I initially thought Cleveland, then I went to LA, then back to Cleveland. I don't really know, obviously.
Cavaliers won by 11. Won $190.
The Clippers won the 4th quarter by 20 and lost by 11, so you know how the rest of the game went. They also had 5 technical fouls (not good) and Chris Paul told a (not very believable) story about how a rookie female ref gave him a tech and questioned her place in the league. Super unprofessional and not very impressive. I can understand the frustration of the game (down by 29 after three) but come on.


 Dallas (-3.0) over Sacramento. I think Dallas is quite a bit better than a Kings team who is just going downhill, despite playing yesterday.
Mavericks won by 23. Won $190.
Mavericks were just better it seemed. Dominant second quarter carried them.

Phoenix (+4.0) over Portland. My lone underdog, I think Phoenix matches up favorable. We'll see.
Trail Blazers won by 21. Lost $100
Nope, missed this one. It was pretty even going into the 4th quarter and I was feeling pretty good, then the Blazers scored 42 in the 4th and there went my bet.

Totals: Bets: $400.   Winnings: $380.    NET: -$20.  Record: 2-2
February Totals: NET: +$52     Record: 15-13

Wow, this month is very different than the last. Here we are, February 10th and I'm up by $52. It's been pretty even overall, winning about as much as I've been losing. I'm now keeping track of my record since I think that would be interesting to look at too.

Lighter schedule tonight, five games on tap.

The Games 2/10 Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted

 Detroit (+1.0) over Charlotte. Odds: 1.95. Charlotte is a weird team, I believe I always say that when they play. I think Detroit matches up favorably with them (though they just lost to Minnesota who's weirdly competitive now). Give me the Pistons to bounce back.

Memphis (-12.0) over Brooklyn. Brooklyn is another team that will randomly play super well. I like the Grizzlies, in general and I like their chances.

Houston (+2.0) over Phoenix. I think Houston is better than Phoenix, but I'm not so sure on the road and without Dwight Howard. Of course, Houston has played well so far without him.

Chicago (-10.5) over Sacramento. The Kings are reportedly close to hiring George Karl to be their head coach. I love George Karl as a coach and I was sad when the Timberwolves didn't hire him. But he's not their coach yet, they still have Tyrone Corbin running the bench and I like Bulls at home.

Denver (+1.5) over LA Lakers. Denver is a dumpster fire right now but the Lakers aren't good either. It's a battle between two teams I expect to lose. But someone's gotta win. I think it's Denver. Hopefully by more than 1.

There you have it, sorry for the delay.

 

Hey Girl. Picks 2/5

It's exciting times in the NBA. I'm actually watching the Timberwolves as I type. I can't watch them when they lose, and they won yesterday. Love it. Ricky Rubio is GIFtastic

Results 2/4
 
Detroit (+4.5) over Indiana. I'm not sure about this one. I feel like Indiana definitely has an advantage (home court, didn't play yesterday) but I'm not sure how far that extends. Detroit is a better team and is playing better. Indiana's play style hurts them a bit here, they like to muck it up which keeps games close.
Pacers won by 5. Lost $100
Grr. I do not care for losing by a 1/2 point. It's just annoying.

Toronto (-7.5) over Brooklyn. I just recently took Brooklyn in a game like this and got it quite right. Playing each other again so soon favors the Raptors, I believe, and I'm still waiting for Toronto to regain their footing.
Nets won by 16. Lost $100.
Ok, so the Raptors apparently can't beat the Nets. Or maybe the Nets are better than initially thought. The important thing is that the Raptors are struggling and they need to figure it out.

Boston (-3.0) over Denver. Odds: 1.95. Both on a back to back and Boston has a much better coach. Denver is struggling mightily. Unfortunate that Boston is favored, though.
Celtics won by 4. Won $195.
I won a close one! Woo. Go me! But seriously, the Nuggets kind of stink right now.

Atlanta (-5.5) over Washington. Odds: 1.86. Atlanta is coming off a loss for the first time since December. The last time they lost, they went on a 19 game winning streak. Not predicting that here, but there is something to be said about having the pressure of a large winning streak end. Both teams are good, but I think Atlanta is better.
Hawks won by 9. Won $186.
Atlanta with a strong win against a good team after a loss. I think they're ok.

Chicago (+3.5) over Houston. Odds: 1.95. Dwight Howard is out for a few weeks and we'll see how that affects the team. Chicago is still finding their footing but are losing to poor teams and beating good ones. Houston is a good team.
Rockets won by 11. Lost $100.
Hmm, I either gave the Bulls too much credit or I didn't give the Rockets enough credit. Could be either, really.

Milwaukee (-9.5) over LA Lakers. That's a large spread for a Bucks team that isn't fantastic. But the Lakers stink.
Bucks won by 8. Lost $100.
Another close loss. I was a little nervous about this one because I'm not sure the Bucks are THAT good. I'm not super surprised about this.

Minnesota (-2.0) over Miami. This line obviously means some big players for the Heat are out. I can't believe the Wolves are favored and I don't like it. But I'm hoping there's some spark with Ricky Rubio playing his first home game in a while.
Wolves won by 1. Lost $100.
Ok, so I don't know why I thought the Wolves would win. The fact that they did is beside the point. But usually, I believe that if the spread is only 2 or 3, I should just pick the team I think will win since there are not that many games that are that close. This was one of them.

Oklahoma City (+4.0) over New Orleans. I find it difficult to believe that OKC will be continue to play poorly.
Thunder won by 11. Won $190.
The Pelicans are weird. Maybe the Thunder will start turning it around after this.

Orlando (+13.5) over San Antonio. This is a spread pick, it just seems a little high. Go with the gut.
Spurs won by 7. Won $190.
The Spurs are the kings of "win by whatever". That made this game a risk, worked out though.

Memphis (-6.5) over Utah. Odds: 1.86. A close game for the Jazz yesterday and they will likely be somewhat tired today. Memphis is playing quite well. I like them in this game.
Grizzlies won by 10. Won $186.
The Grizzlies look like they are starting to get in a groove.

Golden State (-8.5) over Dallas. Still going with the Warriors. Dallas will provide a challenge but Rondo is still out and that makes a large defensive difference.
Warriors won by 14. Won $190.
Curry scored 51. That certainly helps.


Totals: Bets: $1100.  Winnings: $1137.   NET: +$37


February Total: +$72


Haha Woo. Makin' money.I was feeling pretty down about my chances to be in the green today, then I hit on the last four games and that certainly helps. Not going to make this my full time job any time soon.

For your information, I'm the bag.

It's Thursday, which means that the TNT doubleheader is tonight. Although that used to mean that there were only games, these days that means that there's four games.


The Games 2/5 Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted


Washington (-1.5) over Charlotte. Charlotte is a weird team. I don't trust them. I like Washington to win this game (by at least 2) despite the traveling back to back that they are on.


Cleveland (-4.5) over LA Clippers. This is more of a gut one. I initially thought Cleveland, then I went to LA, then back to Cleveland. I don't really know, obviously.

Dallas (-3.0) over Sacramento. I think Dallas is quite a bit better than a Kings team who is just going downhill, despite playing yesterday.


Phoenix (+4.0) over Portland. My lone underdog, I think Phoenix matches up favorable. We'll see.


This is my last pick blog for the week.
Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

The One Where I Make a Comeback. Picks 2/4

Not the best games last night. Only 2 out of the 5 were in single digits and one of those was Philly/Denver. Not the most intriguing matchup. Coming up on the All Star break too. Obviously I'll take a break during that time too. I'm not going to pick the All Star game.

Results 2/3 

Philadelphia (+8.0) over Denver. Oh my goodness, Denver is impossible to predict. I'm afraid of this game.
76ers won by 7. Won $190
Bad loss for Denver. I don't know if the Nugget's coach is very safe at this point. They've been so inconsistent. It's worrisome.

Boston (-1.0) over New York. I'm picking between coaches in this one. Boston's Brad Stevens is a good coach. New York's Derek Fisher is still kind of an unknown. I'll take the good coach.
Celtics won by 11. Won $190
New York is pretty bad (not Timberwolves bad, but the Wolves have the injury excuse). The Celtics are also pretty bad, but have flashes of promise.

Detroit (-4.0) over Miami. Odds: 1.95. I dunno, I've been really disappointed in the Heat recently. Injuries suck but they also don't correct overnight.
Pistons won by 17. Won $195
Strong win by the Pistons over a decent (maybe?) heat squad.

Golden State (-9.5) over Sacramento. The Warriors are struggling right now. We shall see.
Warriors won by 25. Won $190
Welp. That was a good win for the Warriors. The Kings aren't good but 25 points is a big win over anyone.

Portland (-8.5) over Utah. Picking the good team in this one.
Trail Blazers won by 1. Lost $100
Shouldn't have been this close. I'm worried that the Blazers are starting to get tired. Their bench is much improved over last year but it's still not the greatest.

Totals: Bets: $500.  Winnings: $765.  NET: +$265

February Total: +$35

A good day to counter a bad day. And I come out ahead. Teams are starting to anticipate the All Star break. This motivates some players (the ones who were "snubbed") and some relax, starting their break a little early. We'll see which teams benefit and which suffer a little. Eleven games tonight.

The Games 2/4  Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

Detroit (+4.5) over Indiana. I'm not sure about this one. I feel like Indiana definitely has an advantage (home court, didn't play yesterday) but I'm not sure how far that extends. Detroit is a better team and is playing better. Indiana's play style hurts them a bit here, they like to muck it up which keeps games close.

Toronto (-7.5) over Brooklyn. I just recently took Brooklyn in a game like this and got it quite right. Playing each other again so soon favors the Raptors, I believe, and I'm still waiting for Toronto to regain their footing.

Boston (-3.0) over Denver. Odds: 1.95. Both on a back to back and Boston has a much better coach. Denver is struggling mightily. Unfortunate that Boston is favored, though.

Atlanta (-5.5) over Washington. Odds: 1.86. Atlanta is coming off a loss for the first time since December. The last time they lost, they went on a 19 game winning streak. Not predicting that here, but there is something to be said about having the pressure of a large winning streak end. Both teams are good, but I think Atlanta is better.

Chicago (+3.5) over Houston. Odds: 1.95. Dwight Howard is out for a few weeks and we'll see how that affects the team. Chicago is still finding their footing but are losing to poor teams and beating good ones. Houston is a good team.

Milwaukee (-9.5) over LA Lakers. That's a large spread for a Bucks team that isn't fantastic. But the Lakers stink.

Minnesota (-2.0) over Miami. This line obviously means some big players for the Heat are out. I can't believe the Wolves are favored and I don't like it. But I'm hoping there's some spark with Ricky Rubio playing his first home game in a while.

Oklahoma City (+4.0) over New Orleans. I find it difficult to believe that OKC will be continue to play poorly.

Orlando (+13.5) over San Antonio. This is a spread pick, it just seems a little high. Go with the gut.

Memphis (-6.5) over Utah. Odds: 1.86. A close game for the Jazz yesterday and they will likely be somewhat tired today. Memphis is playing quite well. I like them in this game.

Golden State (-8.5) over Dallas. Still going with the Warriors. Dallas will provide a challenge but Rondo is still out and that makes a large defensive difference.

Large number of games tonight and I'm feeling pretty good about them. I like my chances to give myself a buffer.

Nothing too creative. Picks 2/3

The Wolves have the worst record in the NBA. That stinks. Ricky Rubio is back, though. And that's fantastic. How'd the rest of the games go?

Results 2/2

Charlotte (+7.5) over Washington. Not going to think too hard about this game. I think the spread is too large and Charlotte is an odd team.
Hornets won by 4. Won $190.
Charlotte can be a good team, and they were last night, but they don't show it enough.

Philadelphia (+16.5) over Cleveland. I thought real hard about this one. Philly can get blown out and I'd still win this bet. That's a lot of points they're getting.
Cavaliers won by 13. Won $190.
It's essentially as I said. This game was not close, but it didn't to be to win this bet.

LA Clippers (-9.0) over Brooklyn. Odds: 1.95. The Clippers have been playing a lot better than most people (including me) have been giving them credit for and I think they dominate this game.
Nets won by 2. Lost $100.
I did not expect the Nets to win. I'm not surprised I lost the bet, but for the Nets to actually win the game is surprising.

Toronto (-5.5) over Milwaukee. Odds: 1.95. I don't trust the Raptors at all right now, but I think they should win by more than five at home against the Bucks, who are good but not as good as the Raptors.
Bucks won by 7. Lost $100.

Shouldn't have bet against the Bucks, apparently. Seemed like an ugly game and a 9 to 15 fourth quarter is indicative of that.

Atlanta (-3.5) over New Orleans. How long can this winning streak go? My current strategy is always take the Hawks, and it's looking alright so far.
Pelicans won by 15. Lost $100.

The streak ends here. The Pelicans are another weird team, came up in their favor on this day.

Oklahoma City (-13.5) over Orlando. The Thunder have been weirdly inconsistent and this is a lot of points, I'm going with them under the assumption that they'll turn it around eventually.
Thunder won by 7. Lost $100.
The Thunder are struggling. Not necessarily by losing games, but they have not looked good. I didn't know Durant would be out again, but even when he's in they aren't quite as good as I would expect.

Minnesota (+11.5) over Dallas. I think this could be a sneaky game for Minnesota. Ricky Rubio (the Spanish Unicorn) is reportedly back and the Mavs are missing Rondo. Color me confident.
Mavericks won by 6. Won $190.
Wooooooooo. Ricky Rubio. I'm so glad he's back. Don't even mind the score and the fact I won the bet. Ricky!!
[look up Vines of Ricky Rubio, it's awesome]

 Memphis (-2.5) over Phoenix. Odds: 1.95. Memphis is finding their groove, I guess. Phoenix is good not great. My arguments are flimsy but I stand by them.
Grizzlies won by 1. Lost $100.
 Really? Another close loss? Real annoying.

Totals:  Bets: $800.  Winnings:  $570.   NET: -$230

February total: -$230.

Rough start to the month. Get the bad stuff out now. Five games tonight.

The Games 2/3 Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

Philadelphia (+8.0) over Denver. Oh my goodness, Denver is impossible to predict. I'm afraid of this game.

Boston (-1.0) over New York. I'm picking between coaches in this one. Boston's Brad Stevens is a good coach. New York's Derek Fisher is still kind of an unknown. I'll take the good coach.

Detroit (-4.0) over Miami. Odds: 1.95. I dunno, I've been really disappointed in the Heat recently. Injuries suck but they also don't correct overnight.

Golden State (-9.5) over Sacramento. The Warriors are struggling right now. We shall see.

Portland (-8.5) over Utah. Picking the good team in this one.

Hopefully this day will be a little more successful. Fingers crossed.

No pictures. I couldn't think of anything creative. Sorry.

Bye bye January. Picks 2/2

So long January, it was a decent month in the virtual money world, unless all goes wrong at the last minute. And the Super Bowl is over, which means that the NFL will have less hold over everyone's attention. Let's watch some basketball.

Results 1/30
Philadelphia (+4.5) over Minnesota.  Wait. I can bet against the Timberwolves AND  have them win? I say yes please.
76ers won by 9. Won $190
Well, the Wolves lost, but at least I won the bet?

Houston (-6.0) over Boston. Odds: 1.86. Boston's not that good. Houston is. I'll take the points on the road.
Rockets won by 6 (PUSH). Won $100.
Boo on the Rockets for not getting one more free throw. My life is so hard.

Atlanta (-7.5) over Portland. Odds: 1.95. Such a trap. Such a trap. But I have a "don't bet against the Hawks" strategy right now.
Hawks won by 6. Lost $100
It's a Trap!!
[ACKBAR PICTURE]

Cleveland (-7.5) over Sacramento. Large points, but the Kings are struggling.
Cavaliers won by 11. Won $190.
Wow, this Kings team sucks without Mike Malone coaching them, eh?

Brooklyn (+7.0) over Toronto. I was feeling uncomfortable taking so many large favorites. Toronto has been weirdly weak recently. Maybe Brooklyn has a breakout game today.
Raptors won by 5. Won $190.
Looking back, my logic was largely flawed, but whatever works.

Miami (+8.5) over Dallas. I think the spread is too large for these two teams. Neither have been particularly stellar recently, but I think 8.5 is too much.
Mavericks won by 21. Lost $100
Ok, I was feeling really good about this bet at halftime. Miami was up by 12 and it was looking good. then they got outscored 60-27 in the second half (I think at one point the Mavericks were on a 44-6 run). So it got out of hand, you might say.

New Orleans (+6.0) over LA Clippers. I think I'll just shorten the abbreviation to LA. That and I've taken three underdogs in a row. That's what's important. Also that I think New Orleans has been playing better recently and I look for that to continue at home.
Pelicans won by 5. Won $190.
This was a bit of a toss up game for me, and I guess correctly. Go figure


Golden State (-10.0) over Utah. The Warriors lost recently but I think they get back to dominating against a weak Utah squad.
Jazz won by 10. Lost $100
Uhh, I'm concerned about the Warriors. Probably just a slump before the all star break, but they still shouldn't have lost to the Jazz. Maybe won by 17 instead of 80. I don't know. Definitely didn't expect a loss.

Phoenix (-6.5) over Chicago. I'm taking energy in this game. Chicago just played a double overtime game in Los Angeles and Phoenix loves to run. I like the Suns for sure.
Suns won by 6. Lost $100.
 I hate it when I lose games like this. Half a point? Really? My poor luck in close ones continues.

Totals: Bets: $900.   Winnings: $860.   NET: -$40
January Total and final: +$851.

So I finished on a losing streak. But I close out the month ahead. Not going to make this my full time job. But might as well enjoy it.

February begins at $0 but we'll keep track of my yearly standings.

New month. New outlook. Let's start February out right. Eight games tonight.

The Games 2/2 Odds are 1.90 unless otherwise noted.

Charlotte (+7.5) over Washington. Not going to think too hard about this game. I think the spread is too large and Charlotte is an odd team.

Philadelphia (+16.5) over Cleveland. I thought real hard about this one. Philly can get blown out and I'd still win this bet. That's a lot of points they're getting.

LA Clippers (-9.0) over Brooklyn. Odds: 1.95. The Clippers have been playing a lot better than most people (including me) have been giving them credit for and I think they dominate this game.

Toronto (-5.5) over Milwaukee. Odds: 1.95. I don't trust the Raptors at all right now, but I think they should win by more than five at home against the Bucks, who are good but not as good as the Raptors.

Atlanta (-3.5) over New Orleans. How long can this winning streak go? My current strategy is always take the Hawks, and it's looking alright so far.

Oklahoma City (-13.5) over Orlando. The Thunder have been weirdly inconsistent and this is a lot of points, I'm going with them under the assumption that they'll turn it around eventually.

Minnesota (+11.5) over Dallas. I think this could be a sneaky game for Minnesota. Ricky Rubio (the Spanish Unicorn) is reportedly back and the Mavs are missing Rondo. Color me confident.

Memphis (-2.5) over Phoenix. Odds: 1.95. Memphis is finding their groove, I guess. Phoenix is good not great. My arguments are flimsy but I stand by them.

PSA: I will not be picking on Friday.

Let's kick this month off right.