Portland Trail Blazers-Philadelphia 76ers: The Gambler

Opponent: @ Philadelphia

Line: -1.0

Gambler's Record: 14-15-1

Beware the 76ers

In the Brandon Roy era there are two teams that seem genuinely to have Portland's number. The first is the Cleveland LeBrons, which is completely understandable. The second is the rudderless 76ers, a team that hasn't made the playoffs since '05.

Philadelphia has some talented players, but let's not confuse them with a good basketball team. For whatever reason the Blazers are 2-5 against the 76ers since Roy was drafted.

Three of those losses came in the Rose Garden, but the two losses in Philly are the most jarring. One loss was a 21-point slaughter, and the other was a crushing defeat that saw a 20-point lead evaporate faster than Lane Kiffin's credibility.

All of this leads me to tonight. Will Brandon play? Won't he? Will it matter?

A good gambler is always aware of the stats and numbers that surround any given game, but a great gambler knows when to trust his instincts and go with his gut.

The Blazers' lineup is returning to an uneven state of flux, and that's not a good thing. The rotation has swelled to nine players over the last few games, and as key players return from injury, guys are going to start looking over their shoulders and playing scared.

Everyone is going to have to redefine their role on the team, and those are growing pains of which I want no part. Factor in the house of horrors that has been Philadelphia, and you can see where this is going.

Take the 76ers.