NBA on Christmas 2011: Picks Against the Spread for Each Game
The NBA season is sitting under a Christmas tree with all of us starring at the big package just counting down the days until Sunday.
Opening day provides us with five terrific games with must-watch storylines in all of them. Who is too old? Who needs a fast start? How fast can new players adjust? Plenty of unanswered questions that have yet to be figured out remain.
Here are the first five predictions of the year with the spreads being the bow on top:
(Courtesy of Covers.com)
Boston Celtics +3.5 at New York Knicks
The Celtics know they must get off to a quick start and the beginning of the season is going to be imperative. They need to rack up the wins early so they can get a solid amount of rest later.
Boston has almost the same exact team as last season and will be much more cohesive than a Knicks team working in a ton of new players. Tyson Chandler needs time to adjust to just how bad the rest of his team plays defense.
When you consider the Celtics are 16-6 ATS in their last 22 games at Madison Square Garden and the road team is 4-0 ATS in their last four in this series it makes this bet even easier.
Prediction: Celtics 95 Knicks 92
Miami Heat -4 at Dallas Mavericks
The Heat have been thinking about the Mavericks since June. The bitter taste of the 2011 Finals has not left them and you can bet they’re dying for this rematch.
The Heat are essentially the same exact team aside from the addition of Shane Battier and should be one of the hardest teams to beat in the first month of the season. The villains are pissed.
The Mavs will be fresh off receiving their rings and I expect an emotional letdown once the festivities end and the game begins.
Prediction: Heat 92 Mavericks 85
Chicago Bulls -1 at Los Angeles Lakers
Wow, the Lakers aren’t favored at home…that means everyone already knows.
They know that the Lakers are old, mentally unstable and potentially without Kobe Bryant. Andrew Bynum will be suspended and the point guard matchup in this game couldn’t be more one-sided.
The Bulls are much more balanced, younger and have a better coach…and the MVP.
Prediction: Bulls 102 Lakers 90
Orlando Magic +7.5 at Oklahoma City Thunder
Sure the Magic have little hope of being a contender this season, but it’s not like Dwight Howard is going to completely mail in the season. He knows if he wants to be traded he has to play well and should be able to dominate a Thunder front line that will really struggle to keep him out of the paint.
The Thunder have the clear-cut advantage in the backcourt and I think the combination of that and the home crowd keep this one from being an upset. Yet when you consider these are two of the top defensive teams from last year, this game is going to be extremely low scoring.
Prediction: Thunder 88 Magic 83
LA Clippers -5 at Golden State Warriors
It’s going to take time for Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups to become comfortable with their new teammates, so it’s a good thing they play the Warriors in Game 1.
With the legal drama Monta Ellis is suddenly dealing with, the injury to Stephen Curry and a new head coach in Mark Jackson, this team is already somewhat in disarray.
The lobs and subsequent dunks are going to be coming early and often in this high-scoring affair.
Prediction: Clippers 112 Warriors 99
