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#199106 - 03/24/10 01:49 PM
Re: 3/24
[Re: yoder12]
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Member
Registered: 12/19/09
Posts: 1267
Loc: Cleveland, Ohio
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Craig Davis
Wednesday's Lineup
50 Dime – NUGGETS
DENVER NUGGETS --- I should have known better than to release the Denver Nuggets as my free play yesterday, knowing it was a huge look-ahead spot against Boston the night after. My mistake. The good news is I hit my one-and-only premium play on North Carolina yesterday... and another 30 dimes in our pocket. So, my mistake in releasing Denver as a free play last night will be money in our pockets tonight as the Nuggets not only cover the number, they challenge for the outright win.,$$$ Denver's loss combined with Dallas' win over the Clippers last night put those two in a deadlock for the #2 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. You may not think it's that big of a deal, but getting the 2-seed gives that team one more home game in a seven-game series... and chances are these two will be meeting up in the second round (unless Utah makes a run).
Do not, for one second, put any stock into Denver's performance vs. the Knicks last night. They clearly weren't prepared and came in thinking they'd steamroll New York on their way to Boston. Didn't happen. What this loss did was give the Nuggets just their fourth two-game losing streak of the season... a rarity for sure. But what's even more rare for them is a three-game losing streak... which has only happened to them one other time this year. And keep in mind, that two-game losing streak turned into a three-game losing streak because they didn't have Carmelo Anthony for that third game. After dropping tough matchups with Dallas and Portland, Denver went to Sacramento without their star and still nearly won.
Tonight, Carmelo, Billups, JR Smith, Nene... they're all healthy and ready to get back on track after disappointing losses to Milwaukee and New York. The last time these two hooked up in Denver, the Nuggets won by 9 despite shooting just 62% from the free throw line, getting out-rebounded, and shooting a lesser percentage from the field. If Denver had hit anywhere close to their season average from the free throw line (78%), this game would have been a double-digit win. Denver is in the top 5 in free throw shooting in the NBA and this game could very well come down to a battle at the line in the end. The one area the Nuggets did excel in the last meeting was the three-point shooting, and that could also play a big factor tonight. Denver shoots a good 2% better from downtown than Boston, and Boston allows opponents to shoot 4% better than Denver does... that's a big difference.
Look, I understand that Denver isn't the best road team in the NBA, but Boston isn't really a great home team... especially when it comes to covering the number. The Celtics are 18-38-1 ATS in their last 57 home games, they're 4-11-1 in their last 16 vs. teams from the Western Conference, and 1-4 ATS in their last five games vs. teams with a winning percentage greater than .600. Denver, meanwhile, is 5-0-2 ATS in their last 7 in the role of underdog, 19-7 ATS in their last 26 vs. teams from the Atlantic Division, and 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. teams with winning percentages greater than .600. I'm not saying Boston doesn't want to win this game, but I think Denver has more to play for and I remember the last time they had their backs against the wall, they went to Los Angeles and blasted the Lakers with a three-point barrage. I'm not saying they necessarily win tonight, but I just can't see them losing by more than 5. Top play of the day on the Denver Nuggets.
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#199124 - 03/24/10 02:49 PM
Re: 3/24
[Re: FREAK]
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2007 Bad Man Champion
Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 71407
Loc: Time to play the Game
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Bryan Leonard
Free
The Jazz are playing terrific ball right now with their only losses in the past few weeks coming at the hands of New Orleans and Milwaukee, two of the hottest teams in the NBA. Utah is well rested having played at home the last two games plus they have an easy East Coast schedule on this trip. They don't play any of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference. Utah won't take the Raptors lightly if recent history is any indication. Utah pounded both Washington and Minnesota is flat scheduling spots, so they are not taking any opponent for granted. The Jazz have also owned this series winning nine straight against the Canadian club.
Toronto starts a key four game stretch on Wednesday facing Utah, Denver, Miami and Charlotte, four possible playoff teams. The later two being huge in the Raptors quest for playoff seeding. Toronto has won just 4 of their last 14 games but three of those victories were against Minnesota and New Jersey, the dregs of the league. In fact, the three wins before than came against Sacramento, Philadelphia and New Jersey again, so obviously this Toronto team hasn't stepped up when playing high quality opposition.
Utah has Indiana, Washington, New York and Golden State on deck so they have no need to look past Toronto. Look for the Raptor's fade to continue.
PLAY UTAH
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FREAK
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