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#197161 - 02/27/10 09:57 AM
Re: 2/27
[Re: malone84]
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Freaksforum VIP
Registered: 05/23/09
Posts: 3972
Loc: new york, usa
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Craig Davis
Saturday's Lineup
50 Dime – WASHINGTON STATE
15 Dime – ILLINOIS STATE
WASHINGTON STATE --- Loving the dogs here today, and I'll start with Washington State at home. Major revenge game, rivalry game, home game. All of these things play in our favor tonight as the Cougar fans have all day to get nice and "waspy" from their pre-game parties so they'll be extra loud when this game tips off. Though it doesn't get as much notoriety as Duke/UNC or Georgetown/Syracuse, the folks up in the Pacific Northwest know how much this means to both teams. And after the beating that Washington put on the Cougars in the last meeting, the coaches, fans and players will be more than motivated to get revenge in their own building tonight.
Washington beat Washington State by 28 in their earlier meeting this year, but a closer look at the numbers saw that Washington State actually owned a 40-36 halftime lead and played well the first few minutes of the second half. But, for whatever reason, Washington State decided they didn't want to play the final 16 minutes and got run out of the gym. This isn't the first time Washington has done this to an opponent and it wasn't the last. That's what they do. They feed off the crowd, especially in the second half, and have often times ruined an opponents' visit to Seattle. But this game, in particular, also showed me that WSU is more than capable of hanging with, and beating, their arch-rival.
Watch for youngster Klay Thompson to absolutely go nuts in front of the home fans tonight. Two reasons. First off, he owes Washington. In the last game vs. Washington he struggled to get 7 total points, including 2-15 shooting from the field and 1-6 from downtown. Thompson has been up and down this year, but he's never posted three straight bad games this season... and since he was very "pedestrian" in his last two games vs. USC and UCLA, he's more than overdue for a big night tonight. Remember, Thompson scored 43 points against San Diego back in November and he started the Pac 10 Conference season with 33 points against Oregon. He was once considered one of the league's best underclassmen, but has fallen on some hard times averaging just 16.3 PPG in conference play.
But if you talk to Washington HC Lorenzo Romar, Thompson is his biggest concern. Romar said he has no doubts Thompson will play better in the rematch because he's seen a couple of shooters like Thompson struggle against the Huskies in Seattle, but then shoot "light's out" in their own gym. Cal's Jerome Randle scored 5 points in Washington but 33 at home while Arizona State's Rihards Kuksiks score 8 at Washington but 27 at home. I'm telling you... watch Thompson tonight... I'm expecting big things.
The Cougars are a respectable 9-4 at home while we all know the struggles the Huskies have away from Edmundson Pavilion (1-6). Not only do they lose on the road, they don't cover either (1-7 ATS in games away from home). Like I said, a home rivalry game with revenge on their minds is enough for me. Plus, I know Washington doesn't play defense, especially on the road, and Washington State does. The Huskies are one team at home and another on the road, and although they don't play good defense at home, it's even worse as a visitor. I'm taking the Cougars as my top play of the day.
ILLINOIS STATE --- Don't often get revenge on the road, but I'm liking my chances with the Redbirds getting nearly ten points today. Northern Iowa destroyed Illinois State in their first meeting, but the Redbirds shot only 37% from the field as a team and 16% from the free throw line. I'm not sure what's more insulting.... the fact they shot 16% or the fact they only got to the line 6 times. Both are pitiful, and I guarantee both will change today. Northern Iowa shot 13 of 16 in the first meeting from the line and although they are a good free throw shooting, they don't often get to the line that much more than their opponent. I think two things are playing against the Panthers in this game other than revenge. First, I'm guessing Northern Iowa isn't really excited about this game. How can they be? They've already wrapped up the regular season conference crown, and they showed just how excited they were about playing out the rest of the schedule by losing to lowly Evansville in their last game. I expect the same team to come out today.
Secondly, without Jordan Eglseder in the lineup because of his suspension, this defense just isn't the same. He scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the last meeting with Illinois State, leading the team in both categories. Without him, the Panthers just aren't the same team. I'm telling you right now, the Redbirds won't score only 44 points again today and I just don't believe the Panthers have the offense to score outside the 50s. ISU has won six straight SU and has covered three of their last four games. Meanwhile, Northern Iowa has lost two of their last four both SU and ATS. Illinois State has quietly crept to #2 in the conference with Wichita State, and a win today would help them in their quest to lock up the second seed in the conference tourney. Bottom line: The Redbirds want this more and are playing better right now.
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#197169 - 02/27/10 10:13 AM
Re: 2/27
[Re: FREAK]
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Freaksforum VIP
Registered: 03/18/06
Posts: 5918
Loc: illinois
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Pick 'n' Roll: Today's best NBA bets
Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers (PK, 211)
Bulls center Joakim Noah visited the doctor on Thursday to get a checkup on his plantar fasciitis and admitted that he was “hurting.”
Coach Vinny Del Negro said he will use his big man sparingly in hopes of preserving him for the playoffs.
Since returning from injury three games ago, Noah’s minutes have been reduced. He played seven minutes in his first game back, 12 in the next and then seven again in Wednesday’s win.
That victory came against the Pacers who are nose-diving faster than any team in the league right now, having dropped 7-of-8 games. They lost Danny Granger for personal reasons for a week and he may still have his mind elsewhere as he went 5-of-14 from the floor in his return.
The Baby Bulls didn’t need much of Noah in the team’s latest win over the Pacers and likely won’t need too much of his services Saturday even though he and Luol Deng are expected to be in the lineup.
Chicago has taken both games versus Indiana this season and have covered in four straight in the series.
Pick: Bulls
Detroit Pistons at Golden State Warriors (-4, 208)
Piston head coach John Kuester could have his mind on things other than basketball when Detroit finishes a four-game road trip Sunday against Golden State.
Kuester lost his father on Saturday and will depart from the team on Sunday night in order to attend a memorial service in Richmond, Va., on Monday.
“A huge influence,” Kuester said of his father. “It wasn’t so much from a basketball perspective, it was from a competitive standpoint. I’ll miss him dearly. He was very influential in my life.”
The Pistons have been playing inspired ball of late, perhaps in conjunction with their coach’s loss. Detroit is 2-1 SU and ATS in their last three and in the lone loss had a 12-point lead and were winning with five minutes to play.
Kuester and his team knows how to slow down an up-tempo team like the Warriors as they held Sacramento to 89 points in Tuesday’s win.
Expect Detroit to give maximum effort against a Golden State team that has lost 13 of its last 16 in order to get one for their “Gipper” before he departs for more somber times.
Pick: Pistons
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