We endured the inevitable rough patch post All-Star break and have bounced back in the last two feature days with a couple of 2-1 performances to take our season tally to 58-53-1. We’ll be looking for a 3-0 today as we preview some of the key games in the NBA this Saturday, the 11th of March including the ESPN televised Golden State at Minnesota.
Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves (12pm AEDT)
By their own lofty standards, the Warriors are struggling mightily at the moment and are now in danger of losing their 1st seed in the West to a surging San Antonio. Golden State are now just 2 games up on the Spurs after having lost 3 games since the All-Star break already. Obviously the injury to superstar Kevin Durant hurt them more than anything else, however, both Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have been going through a horror shooting slump of late. With a game in San Antonio coming up on Sunday, they will attempt to use this game to regain some form.
Minnesota have been maintaining the inconsistency they’ve displayed throughout the year post All-Star break, going 4-2 with a few good wins and a few bad losses mixed in there. In their defence, they’ve had one of the harder schedules since the break with games against top seeded Western Conference teams in the Clippers, Jazz, Spurs and Rockets. It doesn’t get any easier against the Warriors either, who are still an elite team despite their current problems.
It’s a tough game to pick given the Wolves have the home court advantage here. Golden State’s lines have been getting shorter and shorter as they’ve gone 1-7 against the spread over their last 8 games. I think this is the game where they snap the streak and cover, however, as the line is a few points to short for my liking.
TIP: Golden State Warriors -5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Brooklyn Nets at Dallas Mavericks (1pm AEDT)
It might be the first time we’ve previewed the Nets all year, and for good reason. Not only are they the worst team in the league and an extremely boring watch, they are awfully hard to predict. With a 28-33-2 record against the spread this year, they are capable of producing surprise performances and often keep the game closer than it should be.
Contrary, the Mavericks are one of the better teams against the spread in the NBA this year at 36-27. They have been great since the All-Star break, going 5-2 and showing some real signs of improvement. Recruit Nerlens Noel has been some much-needed support for Dirk Nowiztki down low as the German veteran passed 30,000 points a few nights ago.
It’s a fairly high line here, but the Mavericks have a clean bill of health for the first time in a while and at home against a Lopez-less Nets team they should be able to cover.
TIP: Dallas Mavericks -12 - $1.95 at William Hill
Washington Wizards at Sacramento Kings (2.30pm AEDT)
Another two teams we have rarely previewed this year have been the Kings and Wizards. The Kings fooled everyone into thinking they would be okay without star DeMarcus Cousins with a 16 point win over the Nuggets in their first game post break. Since then, however, the kings have lost 6 games in a row and are looking like the worst team in the West. Of those 6 losses, they’ve only covered the spread 2 times and face an 8-point line against the Wizards.
After a very shaky start to the season, the Wizards have stamped themselves a massive East contender. They’ve lost just 6 of their last 29 games, due mostly to the outstanding play of guard combo John Wall and Bradley Beal.
I don’t usually like to take 3 favourites to cover in the same day, but the Kings and Nets are arguably the worst two teams in the league, who are both without their star centres, one due to trade and the other to injury. I think the Wizards cover here.
TIP: Washington Wizards -8 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Always Gamble Responsibly.
