Tuesday, December 13th, 2005
NBA
Spurs (16-4) vs. LA Clippers (14-6)
Spurs are coming off a loss to the Hawks, who snapped a 7 game loosing streak. The Hawks are easily the worst team in the NBA and the Spurs are the best team in the NBA. And the Clippers are for real this year. They are actually the best team in LA. The Spurs are the best team in Texas (did I say that?). The Spurs seem to have a problem winning on Saturday… not sure why that is. They take off the weekend, maybe? Anyway, this one is in San Antonio and the Spurs have a 9-1 record at home. This should be a good game, but still will go to SA simply because the Clippers have trouble on the road. The score, I will say 105-93.
Wednesday, December 14th, 2005
NBA
Rockets (7-12) vs. Golden State Warriors (12-8)
Rockets have a three game win streak right now, which should be in consideration. Coming into today, Golden State is on a two game slide, loosing to two respectable teams (Phoenix and Detroit). Seattle shouldn’t put up to much of a problem, although the Warriors are going to have to put up some points to take it away from them. The Warriors are slightly better at home than on the road, and Houston is pretty much even Steven wherever they play. My gut for whatever reason says Houston, since Golden State is playing back-to-back games, but logic says Warriors can beat Houston even under such conditions. And I will go with logic today. Maybe tomorrow, after gut proves right, will I go with that. 100-92.
Mavs (15-6) vs. Suns (13-7)
Ah, the whole reason for putting these picks together. So much grief and rig-a-ma-roo over one game in a 82 game season. Let me say it now – GO MAVS!! – and there you have it. So, let’s look at the stats which will justify my picking the Mavs, because we all know I will pick the Mavs, right? Mavs play hard on the road and at home, look at the records. Phoenix has barely been on the road thus far this season. I need I remind everyone that Phoenix started the season 0-1? The Suns had a 17 point lead and then lost… tisk, tisk, tisk. Mavs coming off a loss and Phoenix coming off of two. Phoenix can score points, but can’t tell that by the last three games. Dallas seems to lack “the put away” and when they get a strong lead, it diminishes. (Is this football or basketball?) So, I think being two quality teams, it will be a close one, at least in the fourth quarter and the Mavs will walk away a winner unless Phil Jackson hits Dirk in the head and walks away… OK, well he didn’t hit him in the head, but he walked away without showing concern. Very unprofessional in my mind and it caused his team to do the same, again unprofessional. Score: 108-103.
NHL
Stars (19-7-1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (19-10-1)
Do note, the Stars have won 11 of their last 13 and play as a team. A very solid team this year… even better than last year, in which they went undefeated, but winless as well. You know what bums me out, I tried to sign up my son to be a junior Star and they mailed me back a letter saying they don’t do that anymore. WHAT? A sport that is coming off a long work stoppage and not wanting to re-gather a fan base? I simply don’t understand that. Very well, I have only been to two games since they moved here, and maybe that will stay the case for a while longer. As far as points are concerned, these two teams are even. 39 points for each team. Dallas leads their division, Buffalo is second in theirs. Stars have won 5 in a row, Buffalo only 3, but the last loss for Buffalo was a 5 to zero shutout given from San Jose. Stars on average have given up 2 goals over the last 5 games, while scoring more than 3 ½ goals in the process. Buffalo has injuries and Dallas does not. Dallas will win and Buffalo win not. Houdini says the score will be 4-2.
The Mavericks are now 20-13 and two games behind the division leading Spurs. The Clippers are 8-25 and 19 1/2 games behind the division leading Lakers. The Lakers now have the #1 record in the NBA, better than the Celtics and better than the Cavaliers. The Cavs have the best defense right now, yielding 89.4 points a game, while the Lakers have the best offense with 107.2 points a game. As it stands now, the Clippers have one of the worst offenses. 
Forecast: This one is at the AAC. Dallas will win this one, and it won't be close. The Mavericks are coming off a loss, an embarrassing loss, to the Grizzlies. They won't make it two in a row to sub-quality teams. Score: 105-89.
Forecast: Mavs tear up the Clippers with a 118-98 stomping.
