NBA Picks, Saturday

[sani]

Minnesota over Atlanta (+8) @1.91 (www.pointbet.com, www.pinnaclesports.com) Wolves are almost eliminated from playoffs, the key word being ALMOST. KG just isn't the type of player that would give up before it's really over. It's really not impossible for Minnesota to go 6-0 in their remaining games (Atl, GS, @Uta, Sea, @NO, SA), if they can only defeat GS, and if Spurs play their reserves in that last game of the regular season. They will do anything they can to do so, starting with this game against the Hawks. Atlanta is the only team in the NBA still unable to get their home win total to double digits (8-29 home record). They will be without Al Harrington tonight, and the fact that he is their best player says a lot more about Hawks than it does about Big Al. No matter how miserable Minnesota's season has been (by standards they set last year), they still are a team with a lot of depth, and some really good players, plus a truly great one they have in KG. They won 6 of their last 7 games, and even though they probably will miss the playoffs, they just won't allow Atlanta to be the team that puts them out of the postseason. With all this said about 'Wounded Wolves', let's just have a look at Atlanta for a while. They lost 14 straight, 27 of 28 (!!!), and this is their starting lineup: PG Tyronn Lue, SG Josh Childress, SF Josh Smith, PF Jason Collier, C Michael 'Yogi' Stewart. Don't you think this would be bad in Eurolegue as well? Key Factor: Anything but a blowout win for Minnesota would be an upset here. Denver over Seattle (+7) @1.91 (www.cybersportsbook.com) It had to happen, sooner or later. And it was later than anyone expected, but Seattle is running out of gas. Unfortunately injuries helped the cause, but still, Sonics basketball simply isn't playoffs basketball. Lewis and Daniels WILL NOT travel to Denver for this game, Fortson will get limited minutes (if he plays at all) because of sore left shoulder. Seattle needs just one win in 7 games remaining to clinch their division, they don't need to push it and risk another injury or two. And they have a home game against Hornets, that one could be enough. Denver on the other hand wants to climb the ladder as high as possible, they are at #7 right now, but sixth seed and a matchup with banged-up Sonics in the first round of the playoffs is something to play for. They also want to stay hot for postseason, and then try to extend their outstanding run. Last time Nuggets lost a home game to a team other than Phoenix was on January 14th, since that one they have gone 15-1 at Pepsi Center. Even more impressive, all but one of those 15 wins were double-digit victories. And that one was by 9 points (96-87 vs Indiana). Nuggets are simply too hot to handle at this point, undermanned Sonics won't even know what hit them after this game is over. Key Factor: Revenge is best served cold and George Karl will get his share tonight against his former team. Nuggets are 19-1 in the last 20 games that DerMarr Johnson has started. Yes, he will start again.

[oldbigead]

Re: NBA Picks, Saturday Reckon i've got a couple of corkers tonight. Dallas -12.5 is pretty good. But Denver -5.5 is plain ridiculous. I'll be very upset if this loses.