NBA 3rd Feb.

[TazaD]

Clippers -3 League: 12-5 (Av. win 5.0) away 4- fav, 1 day off a 10- ats win as away 4- fav, if opp is off any ats loss. [LAC] Pretty much a play against the slumping Celtics, who have av. just 85.8 ppg in their last 3. Things don't figure to get any better against a Clipper team who have the second best shooting % allowed in the NBA! (42.8%...second only to SA). The Clips have scored 105.4 ppg in their last 5, scored 100+ in 7 of their last 10 and in 5 of their last 6 on the road! Also, the Clips are an impressive 14-1 ats as a fav of 3 -7!, so they know how to close out games. Minni -2 League: 10-17 (Av. loss 4.9) home 4- dog, 1 day off a 10- ats win as home 5+ dog. [Port] 3-11 (Av. loss 4.1) if opp is off an ats loss. League: 31-23 (Av. win 3.8) away 4- fav, 1 day off a 10- ats loss as away 5+ dog. [Min] 9-2 (Av. win 7.8) if opp was last a home 5+ dog. Two things in play here...Portland being over-rated off a decent performance v. SA, but as we saw today, I think SA are quite happy just to concerve energy and WIN games on this road trip, rather than blowing them out...and Minni are being under-rated after a series of tough games. Their last 6 games have been against; Detroit, @ Memphis, @ Houston, @ SA, Boston and @ Detroit! Tough stretch. And, for all of Portland's recent success, I think their only GOOD performance was taking Dallas to OT (but stil losing by 6). Minni have some ground to catch up, and will expect to win gams like this from now on.