Rickenbach *10* Oklahoma City Thunder (+) @ Houston @ 8:05 ET - Tough spot for the Rockets as they are in a back to back situation here having lost at Orlando last night. Now Houston must play their 3rd game in 4 nights and they arrived late last night in Texas after their defeat at the hands of the Magic in Florida yesterday evening. The Rockets must contend with the fresh legs of the Thunder who have been off since Friday! Oklahoma City will have revenge on their minds too as they lost at home to the Rockets in their prior meeting this season and the Thunder were held to just 65 points in that game. Oklahoma City is a much healthier team compared to the one Houston faced two months ago in Oklahoma. The Thunder come into this game having gone 15-7 in their last 22 games. Also, Oklahoma City is 20-6 straight-up when playing with home loss revenge and so we'll gladly play the Thunder in a game that is basically a pick'em line - Thunder are currently 1.5 point dogs as of early Thursday morning. The Rockets are just 5-9 ATS against the Thunder the last 3 seasons. Play Oklahoma City as a *10* Top Play.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Phoenix at Milwaukee @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Milwaukee Bucks host the Phoenix Suns Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Phoenix with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Suns are out for revenge against the Bucks, who upended Phoenix 96-94 at home back on Dec. 15. The Suns look to return the favor when they visit the Bradley Center, where they have covered in five of their last seven games against Milwaukee. 2. Phoenix is rising heading into this matchup, coming off a big win over the Toronto Raptors the game before. The Suns have found another gear on offense, averaging almost 127 points per game in their last three outings and shooting 51.7 percent from the field in that span. 3. Milwaukee has played well against some struggling teams recently but just doesn’t have the fire power to keep up with Phoenix. The Bucks are already down rookie Jabari Parker and center Larry Sanders just up and quit the team. Sixth man OJ Mayo is dealing with an illness Tuesday, as is backup Jared Dudley. Milwaukee relies on its bench a lot – ranked No. 1 in the NBA in points from reserves – and won’t have a much to pull from Tuesday.
Play on Phoenix as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Chicago at Indiana @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Chicago Bulls Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulls could be the hottest team in the NBA right now, rolling into Monday with six straight wins. Chicago is dominating on both ends of the floor, ranked seventh in scoring and 10th in defense. 2. The Bulls backcourt of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler will be too much for Indiana’s guards to handle, most notably George Hill. He just returned from a knee injury and will be put to the test against a very active Chicago backcourt that likes to get to the bucket. 3. Indiana is used to beating up most teams on the boards, however, they’re going up against a towering Bulls frontcourt that helps pull in almost 55 rebounds a night – fourth most in the NBA. Indiana has the same trouble against the Pistons last week, with Detroit fighting hard for every loose ball.
Play on Chicago as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

*8* Philadelphia 76'ers (+) @ Utah @ 9:05 ET - The 76'ers fell apart in the 4th quarter at Portland last night after hanging tough and looking like they were going to stay inside the big number against the Trail Blazers. Now the 76'ers are again getting a big number tonight but they are facing a much weaker foe than Portland. Utah is only 9-20 on the season and note that the Sixers have been playing better, last night notwithstanding, as they had covered 10 of their last 15 games through Christmas Day. Tony Wroten returned for the Sixers last night and he contributed nicely off the bench. Look for another big game from him tonight. Philadelphia has an impressive long-term mark of 57-29 ATS when installed as a road underdog of 9.5 to 12 points. As for the Jazz, they enter this game off of an upset win of Memphis prior to the Christmas break. Note that Utah is an ugly 2-5 ATS this season when they are off an upset win in their prior game.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Portland @ 10:05 p.m. ET
The Portland Trail Blazers host the Philadelphia 76ers Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Philadelphia went into the Christmas break on a high note, taking wins over Orlando and Miami – covering the spread in both road games – including an impressive fourth-quarter comeback in South Beach. 2. The Sixers have been breadwinners against the Western Conference, covering in each of their last six non-conference clashes. Philadelphia played Portland tough at home on Nov. 24, losing 114-104 but covering as 13-point underdogs. 3. The Blazers have been one of the hottest teams in the league, with six wins in their last seven. Those games have come against elite Western Conference competition on the road. Now, Portland has been off for three days and faces a big letdown spot hosting the lowly Sixers Friday night. The Blazers have covered just once in their last five home games.
Play on Philadelphia as an 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on LA Lakers at Chicago @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bulls host the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on LA Lakers with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is under a lot of fire recently but this is Christmas Day, a stage that Kobe knows better than anyone in the league. He took Tuesday off to rest up and will be in top form on Dec 25. 2. The Lakers enter the holiday break off a huge win, stumping the Golden State Warriors 115-105. It was a big game for Los Angeles’ role players, who stepped up with Bryant out of the lineup. The Lakers have a 4-1-1 ATS mark in their last six games heading into Xmas Day. 3. Chicago could be one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, taking a four-game winning streak into the holiday break. However, the Bulls are giving a ton of points to the Lakers and have gone just 4-7 ATS inside the United Center this season. The underdog is also 6-2 ATS in the last eight clashes between these non-conference rivals.
Play on LAL Lakers as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington at New York @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The New York Knicks host the Washington Wizards Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Washington has been elevated to NBA royalty with a spot on the Xmas Day schedule. Expect this young team to jump at the chance to play in the showcase game inside MSG Thursday. 2. The Wizards could have got caught looking ahead to the holiday with back-to-back losses in Phoenix and Chicago before the break. Washington’s offense stumbled, scoring just 92 and 91 points in those defeats, but this is one of the most explosive teams in the NBA, averaging more than 100 points per game while limiting foe to just over 97 points against. 3. The Knicks are a mess, bringing a five-game losing skid into Xmas Day. New York has just one win in its last 10 and has gone just 4-11 ATS inside MSG this season. The Wizards have covered in their last four clashes with the Knicks.
Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Chicago at Washington @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Washington Wizards host the Chicago Bulls Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Chicago is one of the hottest teams in the NBA heading into Tuesday. The Bulls have won six of their last seven while going 5-2 ATS in that span. Chicago is coming off two big wins over Toronto and Memphis, covering the spread in each. 2. Washington lost to Phoenix in its last time out and has failed to cover the spread in six of its last eight games. The Wizards offense is sputtering, scoring 93 points or fewer in four of those outings. 3. Chicago returned star PG Derrick Rose from illness in the win over Toronto and with him and Jimmy Butler in the backcourt, have one of the most explosive guard combos in the NBA. They combined for 56 points versus the Raptors. The Bulls also got big man Taj Gibson back from an ankle injury, giving them more depth in the frontcourt.
Play on Chicago as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

NBA *10* Top Play: Dallas Mavericks (-) points @ 8:35 ET - Quick hoops write-up on a busy Football Saturday. Simply put, this is an amazingly advantageous situation for the Mavs against the Spurs and it's the reason this gets a top play ranking even though Dallas is such a big favorite. Note that San Antonio (with a number of aging veterans) is playing their 8th game in 12 nights. Worse yet, this is the 2nd night of a back to back. Even worse yet, each of the Spurs last two games has gone into TRIPLE overtime! You will rarely ever see such a huge advantage in scheduling as this match-up provides. Note that the Mavericks haven't played since Wednesday while the Spurs come in tired and with significant personnel issues. Tony Parker is listed as doubtful. Kawhi Leonard is out. Tim Duncan is coming off a game in which he played 43 minutes last night. San Antonio is walking into a tough spot here as they are depleted and yet they face a Dallas team with playoff revenge from last year plus with revenge from a tight one point loss early this season in San Antonio. That is a big reason why laying the double digit points here is an easy call. The Mavs won't take their foot off the pedal in this one. Dallas is 27-16 ATS against divisional opponents the last 3 years. The Spurs are 4-7 ATS this season in games against teams with a winning record. Play Dallas minus the big points as a *10* Top Play selection Saturday.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Utah at Orlando @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Orlando Magic host the Utah Jazz Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Utah with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Orlando limps back home after two straight road losses and has only one victory in its last five contests. The Magic are averaging just under 89 points in that span, firing under their season average, and are just 4-5 ATS inside Amway Center this season. 2. Utah picked up a big road win over Miami last time out. The Jazz have turned up the intensity on offense the last two games, scoring 111 and 105 points – well over their season scoring mark of just 96.6 points per game. That offensive push has helped Utah cover in three straight contest heading into Friday. 3. Utah has covered in seven of the previous 10 encounters with Orlando and have gone a perfect 4-0 in its last four trips to the Amway Center.
Play on Utah as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Atlanta at Cleveland @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Atlanta with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Atlanta didn’t let a loss to Orlando throw its off, rebounding with a win over Chicago Monday. The Hawks are holding opponents to an average of just over 88 points per game in this span – a big step up in intensity from their season average of 96.9 points against. 2. Cleveland has also been stacking wins with its own winning run but has stumbled against elite competition recently. The Cavaliers fell to New Orleans and Oklahoma City last week – two teams that rely on defense to get the job done. 3. Cleveland comes into this matchup highly overvalued by the oddsmakers and has failed to cover in four straight games and is 2-6 ATS in its last eight outings.
Play on Atlanta as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Boston @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Boston was putting up big points thanks to a break-neck pace of play, but the Celtics offense has hit a speed bump in their last two outings. Boston scored 87 and 95 points in their last two games respectively, losses to Charlotte and New York – well under their season scoring average of 104.2 points per game. 2. Philadelphia continues to cover, playing better basketball than it was during that embarrassing losing skid. The Sixers held their own against one of the best in the West, losing to Memphis in two overtime periods but covering as 10-point underdogs. The 76ers have covered in seven of their last 10 contests. 3. Philadelphia is getting solid production from its reserves during this stretch. Against the Grizzlies, the 76ers received 40 points off the bench. Leading scorer Tony Wroten provided 17 of those points working his way back from injury. Reserve-made-starter Robert Covington continues to contribute, scoring 24 points versus Memphis, and is averaging more than 19 points over the last six games.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Miami vs. Chicago @ 6:05 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Chicago Bulls Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat are back in South Beach after an extended road trip which ended with a win in Utah. Miami has enjoyed some time off and has a huge Eastern Conference matchup with Chicago. The home teams has covered in each of the last four games between these teams. 2. Chicago’s road record is deceiving. While it looks like the Bulls have rolled over opposition on their own courts, they’ve faced some weaker teams away from the Windy City. Chicago has notable road wins over the Clippers and Raptors, but the remaining victories away from home have come against all teams either at the bottom of the standings or the middle of the pack. They couldn’t cut it against better opposition, like Portland, Sacramento or Denver. 3. There is some added motivation to beat Chicago on the Miami sideline. Former Bulls forward Luol Deng has a bone to pick with Chicago after the franchise cut ties and dealt him for peanuts. He’s not the only one stepping up Sunday. Guard Dwyane Wade, a Chicago native, always gets up to play the Bulls and takes on the challenge of playing fellow Windy City product Derrick Rose, in a battle to see who’s the best to come out of Chicago.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Portland at Indiana @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Portland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Damian Lillard erupted for 35 points in a loss to the Bulls Friday night, shooting 7 for 11 from 3-point range. Lillard is the type of scorer that can carry a team when he has the hot hand. He had just 23 points in his last meeting with Indiana but was overcoming an illness and suffered a hand injury in that 88-82 victory over the Pacers. 2. Indiana is playing its third game in four nights – as are the Blazers – but the Pacers home court edge is no longer an X-factor. They’ve failed to cover in four of their last six home stands (3-7-1 ATS at home on the season) and are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall. A lack of scoring has plagued Indiana, averaging only 93.6 points per game. 3. With both teams coming off Friday night games and playing a tough stretch of schedule, it will be the Blazers’ scoring depth that will prevail. On top of Lillard’s efforts, Portland big man LaMarcus Aldridge also scored 35 points versus the Bulls. Aldridge is a tough matchup, with his ability to stretch the defense with his mid-range shooting or play with his back to the basket.
Play on Portland as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 6* (Regular Play) on Miami at Utah @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Utah Jazz host the Miami Heat Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat look to close out an unsuccessful road swing on a high note with a win in Utah. Last time out, Miami found itself in a tough spot playing the second night of a back-to-back in the altitude in Denver. The Heat have enjoyed a day off and face a Jazz team which they have covered in 13 of their previous 18 encounters with. 2. Utah is ripe for a letdown after snapping a nine-game losing skid against none of other than the San Antonio Spurs. The Jazz have managed to cover just twice in the last nine games. 3. Miami is looking to its defense to help spark some easy offense. The Heat couldn’t get the fastbreak going against the Nuggets but is among the leaders in forcing turnovers - 15.3 opponent turnovers per game. The Jazz played a conservative pace but still cough the ball up 14.9 times per game – 19 times in the win over San Antonio. The Heat are looking to turn those takeaways into buckets Friday.
Play on Miami as a 6* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 6* (Regular Play) on Portland at Chicago @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bulls host the Portland Trail Blazers Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Portland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Blazers are looking to rebounds in a big way after losing outright to Minnesota Wednesday. Portland, which was on a five-game winning streak, was terribly flat in that game and will look for more energy on offense Friday night. 2. With Joakim Noah out with injury, Chicago will have a tough time matching up with Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the most versatile big men in the league. Aldridge had a poor showing against the T-Wolves and his ability to work inside and stretch the defense with his mid-range game will give the Bulls frontcourt fits. 3. The Blazers have dominated the Bulls when it comes to the spread in their recent meetings. Portland has covered in six of their seven previous clashes and has cashed in five of its last seven trips to the Windy City.
Play on Portland as a 6* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas vs. New Orleans @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks host the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks continue to pace the NBA in scoring, averaging 110.4 points a night. Dallas has multiple options on offense – Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons, Monta Ellis – and is a tough team to stop even for the most defensively-sound squads. 2. Both teams are coming off games Tuesday night, so it will be the reserves who make the difference. The Mavs are among the top NBA teams in bench points, with an average of 36.8 points per game. New Orleans, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same depth and gets just 29.4 points per game from its bench. 3. The Mavericks have the size inside to keep the Pelicans off the glass. Dallas center Tyson Chandler is a threat to block shots and averages 11.7 rebounds per night. Nowitzki’s ability to hit from anywhere on the court will stretch the New Orleans defense and pull big men away from the rim, opening up space for Dallas’ other weapons.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Atlanta @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Hawks host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Philadelphia picked up its second win of the season versus Detroit Monday and rides that momentum into Wednesday’s game in Atlanta. The Sixers have covered in five straight games and are 7-1 ATS in their previous eight contests. 2. The Hawks are playing great basketball right now, which is adding a few more extra points to this line. However, Atlanta hasn’t been able to hold home court against Philadelphia in recent meetings, with the Sixers covering in five of their last seven games inside Philips Arena. 3. The 76ers are getting solid production off the bench during their recent turnaround. Philadelphia’s reserves contributed 43 points in the win over Detroit, 38 in the loss to Oklahoma City, and 32 in the victory against Minnesota. Second-year reserve forward Robert Covington has scored 63 total points in that span – an average of 21 points per night – to help boost the Sixers offense.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Toronto at Cleveland @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Toronto with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Cleveland is coming off a blowout game in Brooklyn Monday and could get caught looking ahead to a possible NBA Finals preview with the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, especially since the Cavs rolled Toronto just last Friday. 2. The Raptors have revenge on their minds after getting beat 105-91 by the Cavaliers at home last Friday. Even with leading scoring DeMar DeRozan on the mend, Toronto is trying to stay among the top teams in the East and Cleveland is their biggest competition. 3. In DeRozan’s absence, the Raptors are getting a spirited effort off the bench. Toronto reserves Louis Williams and Patrick Patterson score 26 and 19 points respectively in the win over Denver Monday night. Toronto has been solid on the road, covering in five of their previous six away game. It’s also pulled its socks up on short rest, covering in three of its last five games which were the second halves of back-to-back outings, with a push in that span.
Play on Toronto as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Oklahoma City @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sixers have been a solid bet in recent outings, covering the spread in five of their last six. Philadelphia is finally coming off a win, defeating the T-Wolves 85-77 as a 7-point road underdog. 2. Oklahoma City has returned its two star players in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, boosting this spread even more. The Thunder now have to work those scorers back into an offense that was ranked among the bottom in the league without them. There will be some timing and chemistry issues as Durant and Westbrook play themselves back into form. 3. Philadelphia got a solid effort from its bench in the win at Minnesota, with the reserves chipping in 32 of the team’s total 85 points. The Thunder don’t have much in reserves so the Sixers should be able to produce when they look down the bench Friday night.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Miami vs. Atlanta @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Hawks traveled overnight to South Beach to play the second half of back-to-back games after narrowly defeating an up-tempo Celtics team Tuesday. This is a tough spot against a physical Heat side trying to catch Atlanta in the Southeast standings. 2. Miami has this home stand before hitting the road for an extended road trip Friday. The Heat suffered a rough 107-86 loss in Washington last time out and want to build some steam before hitting the road. 3. The Heat have held home court in previous meetings with the Hawks in South Beach. Miami has won five in a row over Atlanta at home and have covered in 20 of their previous 28 encounters inside American Airlines Arena.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Boston at Atlanta @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Hawks host the Boston Celtics Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Boston with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Celtics run one of the fastest offensive paces in the NBA, ranked third overall in points per 100 possessions (100.0). Their athletic backcourt of Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley is the engine behind that offense. Atlanta’s offense is based more on efficient shooting and plays a much slower pace. The Celtics will set the tempo and bring the Hawks out of their comfort zone, forcing Atlanta to rush on offense. 2. Boston could catch Atlanta looking ahead to its big divisional battle in Miami Wednesday. The Hawks are just ahead of the Heat in the Southeast standings and need that game a lot more than Tuesday’s contest. 3. The Hawks have a tendency to run cold when coming off an extended break. Atlanta hasn’t been on the court since Saturday and is a staggering 6-25 ATS when playing on two-days rest.
Play on Boston as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. San Antonio @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the San Antonio Spurs Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sixers are playing hard despite their 0-16 record to start the season. Philadelphia gave Dallas a run for its money Saturday, losing 110-103 but covering as a 12.5-point home underdog. Value is there with the 76ers, who have covered in three of their last four outings. 2. San Antonio is playing the second game of back-to-back road outings, winning 111-89 in Boston Sunday. The Spurs are one of the oldest teams in the league and have big games in Brooklyn and Memphis coming up. Don’t be surprised if San Antonio is a few steps slower Monday night. 3. The Philadelphia offense, which ranks at the bottom of the league in almost all categories, has shown signs of life recently. The Sixers have cracked the century mark on the scoreboard in two of their last three contests, shooting better than 44 percent and averaging 99.3 points over that span.

Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Dallas @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Dallas Mavericks Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks are ripe for a letdown after taking a big win in Toronto over the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors Friday night. This is the second half of back-to-back games for the aging Mavericks, one of the oldest teams in the NBA, against a young and rested Sixers squad that has been off since Wednesday. 2. The 76ers are starting to show terrific value against the spread. Depending on where you wagered on Philadelphia in Wednesday’s game with Brooklyn, the 76ers could be a perfect 3-0 ATS in their last three games. 3. The Sixers have actually been in plenty of games despite their dismal 0-15 record. Philadelphia was leading into the fourth quarter versus Brooklyn Wednesday but the wheels came off in the final frame. In fact, the 76ers have averaged 25.7 points per fourth quarter in the last three games – compared to an average of just 21.1 points per fourth quarter on the season.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas at Toronto @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Toronto Raptors host the Dallas Mavericks Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks are one of the few teams that can match Toronto’s offensive production, ranking No. 1 in the NBA in scoring with 109.2 points per game. Dallas is shooting a blistering 48.3 percent from the field and would be more than comfortable getting into a shootout Friday night. 2. Toronto, known for its hard-nosed defense, has watched those numbers slip significantly in recent games. The Raptors have allowed 215 points in their last two games, a dangerous regression from their season average of 96.4 points against. 3. Dallas has a big obstacle in the paint in center Tyson Chandler. Not only will he deter the Raptors from attacking the hoop but he’s also a monster on the boards and won’t allow many second-chance buckets. Toronto isn’t a great rebounding team, so if it isn’t getting the looks it needs it could come up short on offense.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Sacramento at New Orleans @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The New Orleans Pelicans host the Sacramento Kings Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Sacramento with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins is a handful, even for Pelicans center and fellow Kentucky alum Anthony Davis. Cousins is averaging more than 23 points and 12 rebounds but is also drawing a ton of fouls on opposing frontcourts. Getting Davis is foul trouble will be key to cracking the Pelicans interior defense Tuesday. 2. Sacramento comes into Tuesday on a two-game winning run, covering the spread in both contests. The Kings are one of the hottest bets in the NBA, with a 7-3 ATS mark in their last 10 outings. 3. Tuesday is setting up as a letdown spot for the Pelicans, who are coming off a four-game road trip. New Orleans has a brief stay at home for this game, then hits the highway for two more away games Friday and Saturday. Sacramento has covered in 18 of the past 25 clashes with New Orleans heading into Tuesday.
Play on Sacramento as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Portland @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Portland Trail Blazers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Blazers are on the other side of the country playing the second game of back-to-back outings, after beating Boston Sunday. Portland could be a little worn down in this game and facing a big pile of points. 2. Philadelphia is back home after a brief stop in New York. The Sixers are a much better offensive club at home, averaging 96.5 points per game – compared to just 82.1 points per road contests. The 76ers shoot 45.2 percent inside the Wells Fargo Center but only 36.9 percent away from Philadelphia. 3. Sixers center Nerlens Noel should matchup well with Portland big man LaMarcus Aldridge. Noel, much like Aldridge is very athletic and will be able to close out of Aldridge around the basket, using his length to protect against that deadly mid-range jumper. Noel is a shot blocking threat and has found his form offensively, which should have the Blazers’ bigs busy all night.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Oklahoma City vs. Golden State @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Golden State Warriors Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Golden State opens an extended road trip in OKC Sunday. The Warriors could get caught looking ahead to the move East, with a game in Miami on Tuesday. 2. The Thunder have lost five straight and that’s puffed up this spread. Oklahoma City is still a tough team inside Chesapeake Energy Arena and while they may not have their same scoring punch with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook out, this team can still defended – ranked seventh in points allowed. 3. The Warriors rely on the 3-pointer to pull away from opponents – shooting 38.6 percent. However, the Thunder don’t allow many open looks on the perimeter, locking down opposing shooters to just 31.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc – fifth in the NBA.
Play on Oklahoma City as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Phoenix at Detroit @ 7:35 p.m. ET
The Detroit Pistons host the Phoenix Suns Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Phoenix with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Phoenix opened its Eastern road trip with a win and cover over Boston. The Suns scored 118 points behind their up-tempo offense. They rank fifth in the NBA in pace – points per 100 possessions (99.3) – and will turn up the intensity against the Pistons team that likes to play a slower rate. 2. Detroit is mired in a nasty skid with only one win in its last six outings. The Pistons offense has been stuck in neutral to start the season, averaging only 93 points per game – 27th in the NBA. Detroit just doesn’t have the fire power to keep pace with Phoenix. 3. The Suns love taking down non-conference opponents, covering five of their last six with Eastern Conference teams. Phoenix is also a solid bet on the road, covering in 30 of its last 45 road tilts.
Play on Phoenix as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Phoenix at Boston @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Boston Celtics host the Phoenix Suns Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Phoenix with this Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Boston is ripe for a letdown after coming close to a stunner against the Cavaliers Friday night. The Celtics fell by one points to LeBron and Co. and have been stewing on that loss for the past few days. 2. Phoenix opened its current road trip with a loss to the Clippers but is looking forward to a move out East. The Suns have covered in four of their last five contests with Eastern Conference opponents and have also come away with the cash in four of their last five visits to Beantown. 3. Boston has been playing a breakneck pace, averaging 98.8 points per 100 possessions. Phoenix can match that up-and-down game, sitting just behind Boston in the pace department. The Suns have a deeper bench to turn to, allowing them to keep up that frantic pace – sitting second in the NBA in bench scoring with 44.1 points per game. Boston doesn’t have that same fire power and will slow down as the reserves come on the floor.
Play on Phoenix as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on LA Lakers vs. Golden State @ 9:35 p.m. ET
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on LA Lakers with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Warriors are playing their third game in four nights when they visit the Staples Center. Golden State beat Charlotte at home Saturday and make the short trip to LA Sunday night. The Warriors rely on their quick pace of overwhelm opponents but could be a few steps slower thanks to a tough schedule. 2. Los Angeles is out for revenge after losing to Golden State earlier this year. The Lakers fell 127-104 but now have the home-court edge. The home team has covered in four of the last five meetings between these California rivals. 3. The Lakers get a much-needed scoring boost from the return of guard Nick Young. Young has been sidelined with a thumb injury and is hoping to improve on his first season with LA, in which he averaged 17.9 points per night.
Play on LA Lakers as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Dallas @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks host the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Books are handing over the ton of points on the Sixers, who have covered in three of their last four games as underdogs. This Philadelphia team is on the rise – if only slowly – but it’s enough to cover these big spreads. 2. The 76ers are expected to have young stars Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel back on the floor Thursday. Carter-Williams was one of the Sixers top players last season in his rookie year and has yet to play this year. Noel has already shown his impact on both ends of the floor and will give Dallas plenty to deal with around the basket. 3. The Mavericks haven’t been able to get the deal done against Eastern Conference opponents recently, failing to cover in each of their last four versus non-conference foes. The Sixers also hold an ATS edge in this matchup, with the underdog coming away as the ATS winner in four of the last five matchups between Dallas and Philadelphia.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Detroit at Washington @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Detroit Piston host the Washington Wizards Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Detroit with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Wizards are coming off a very successful run, winning five of their last six. Washington, however, is coming off back-to-back road games and had played four of those six contests away from home, setting up a letdown in this first outing of an extended home stand Wednesday. 2. Detroit is one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA and will get plenty of second-chance looks at the basket against a Washington squad that has allowed opponents to own the offensive glass with 11.1 offensive boards a game. 3. Detroit has played Washington tough in recent meetings. The Pistons have won and covered in six of their last eight clashes with the Wizards, and have been victorious ATS in four of their last five trips to the nation’s capital.
Play on Detroit as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Cleveland vs. New Orleans @ 7:00p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the New Orleans Pelicans Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Cleveland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Cleveland stumbled out of the blocks to start the season but lived up to its potential with a big win in Denver Friday night. The Cavaliers shot almost 48 percent from the field in a very tough spot in the thin air of the Pepsi Center in the final game of a four-stop Western road trip. 2. Cavaliers big man Kevin Love has the versatility to play the perimeter. His ability to stretch the floor with draw New Orleans center Anthony Davis away from the paint, taking the Pelicans’ premier shot blocker out the equation and opening up the lane for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. 3. New Orleans is bound for a letdown after such a big win over defending champion San Antonio Saturday night. The Pelicans edged the Spurs 100-99 on a last-second bucket from Davis. Now, this young team hits the road to play a Cleveland team that has covered in seven of his last 10 games inside Quicken Loans Arena.
Play on Cleveland as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Toronto @ 7:00p.m. ET
The Toronto Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sixers continue to be undervalued by the betting market, covering in three straight games heading into Sunday. Philadelphia fought hard in a 118-115 loss to Chicago but covered as a 10-point underdog. 2. Toronto is coming off a one-sided win against Washington in which it caught the Wizards on an ice-cold night, shooting only 36 percent from the field and 3 for 19 from beyond the arc. The Raptors have taken advantage of three teams dealing with injuries to key players – Wizards, Celtics and Thunder – and now face a 76ers side get a heaping handful of points. 3. Philadelphia has been a moneymaker in recent games, covering in nine of its last 13 outings going back to last season. The Sixers have also covered the spread in sixth straight games versus Atlantic Division rivals heading to Toronto Sunday.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on San Antonio vs. New Orleans @ 8:35 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Antonio with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Antonio rested up stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili versus Houston the other night and will have those fresh legs against the Pelicans Saturday. 2. The Spurs swept the season series with New Orleans last season and have covered in 12 of their last 16 head-to-head clashes. 3. This is the Pelicans second road game of the season, losing the first at Memphis. New Orleans was just 12-29 SU on the road last season, averaging just 98.3 points per game away from home. The Pelicans have covered in only five of their previous 19 road games heading into Saturday.
Play on San Antonio as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on San Antonio at Houston @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Antonio with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Antonio has been on cruise control to start the season, winning two of its first three games but failing to cover in each outings. The Spurs find their motivation against a Rockets team that is running through competition to start the year. San Antonio will be out to prove that the Western Conference still goes through the defending NBA champs. 2. The Rockets’ record is inflated thanks to an easy starting schedule. Houston took advantage of cupcakes like Los Angeles, Utah, Boston and Philadelphia and only had to step up against Miami. San Antonio exposes Houston’s paper 5-0 start Thursday. 3. The Spurs match up well against the Rockets’ top threat. The backcourt tandem of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have long been a thorn in the side of Houston and Danny Green is a long defender that can force James Harden to alter his shots. Tim Duncan still owns the paint and Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich rested returning center Tiago Splitter against Atlanta last night, knowing he would go head-to-head with Dwight Howard tonight.
Play on San Antonio as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Orlando @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Orlando Magic Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. In a battle of winless teams, the Sixers have the home edge and happen to be underdogs inside the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic are a dismal road bet, covering in only five of their previous 29 away games. 2. Orlando is coming off a hard-fought game in Chicago Tuesday night, running with the Bulls in a 98-90 loss to arguably the second-best team in the conference. Get ready for a letdown when they play the second of back-to-backs in Philadelphia. 3. Philadelphia shows signs of life in a solid effort against the Rockets Monday. The 76ers held their own until the fourth quarter when Houston pulled away. Philadelphia got great production from the starting five – which is a bit of a mish-mash due to injuries – and hit 11 of 22 shots from beyond the arc.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Houston @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Houston Rockets Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. With the Rockets coming into this matchup at 3-0 SU and ATS, and going against a Sixers team at 0-3 SU and ATS, the market it overacting to this mismatch, pushing the value toward the home side. 2. Houston hasn’t truly been tested yet, beating up on weaker opponents in the Lakers, Jazz and Celtics. The Rockets are set up for a massive letdown in Philadelphia, with dates against the Heat and Spurs ahead on the schedule. The Sixers opened the season on the road and ran into a motivated Miami team at home in their most recent contests. 3. Houston hobbles into Philadelphia Monday night with both James Harden and Dwight Howard nursing injuries. The Rockets went their bench early against the Celtics and could look down the pine again, trying to rest up their superstars for those big games on the horizon. This could open the door for a hungry 76ers squad trying to snap an early-season funk. Philadelphia has actually covered the spread in five of their last six home games with Houston, including an overtime victory over the Rockets last November.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Charlotte at New York @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The New York Knicks host the Charlotte Hornets Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Charlotte with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New York is bound for a letdown after throwing a wrench in the plans of LeBron James and the Cavaliers on their opening night. The Knicks took a 95-90 win but looked terrible in their season debut, losing 104-80 to Chicago. 2. Charlotte played Memphis tough Saturday night, losing 71-69 as a 3-point home favorite. This new-look Hornets team has an intimidating frontcourt featuring Al Jefferson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and added some toughness to backcourt with Lance Stephenson this offseason. The Knicks aren’t as physical and could find themselves getting pushed around Sunday night. 3. New York’s offense is still rounding into form under new head coach Derek Fisher. He’s instituting the famed Triangle Offense used during his time in Los Angeles under Knicks new president Phil Jackson. The Triangle is very complex and it will take some time for New York to settle in. The Knicks are shooting 44.2 percent from the field and have committed 30 turnovers in their first two games. Charlotte is one of the better defensive clubs in the NBA, and ranked fifth overall last season, allowing 97.3 points per game.
Play on Charlotte as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Orlando at New Orleans @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The New Orleans Pelicans host the Orlando Magic Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Orlando with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oddsmakers are too high on New Orleans heading into the season. While the Magic have big injuries to start the season, there is great value in Orlando when set as an underdog this size. 2. Orlando has a young squad trying to prove itself and there are plenty of position battles still playing out before the Magic secure a steady starting five. Expect Orlando’s youngsters to be out to impress their coaches in the season opener Tuesday. 3. Orlando has a talented and versatile frontcourt that should keep Pelican star center Anthony Davis busy Tuesday night. Tobias Harris is a bull in the paint and will have the strength advantage over the slender Davis. Orlando big man Nikola Vucevic has the size to matchup with Davis on both ends of the floor and is coming off a stellar season in which he averaged over 14 points and 11 rebounds a game.
Play on Orlando as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Miami at San Antonio @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Miami Heat Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat have their backs to the wall facing elimination in enemy territory. Expect everything the defending champs have in Game 5. 2. Miami has the resiliency to bounce back from two straight losses, going 5-1 ATS in their last six contests coming off a defeat. It’s very tough to beat a team three times in a row – especially the defending NBA champs. 3. San Antonio is operating at such a high level in the finals, there has to be a letdown in Game 5. The Spurs have a strangle hold on the Heat, so there could be a tendency to ease up knowing they will have three more cracks at the title. The Spurs have benefited from sloppy play from the Heat and with Miami tightening up those mistakes, San Antonio won’t be able to score those easy buckets in transition and get their offense rolling.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Miami vs. San Antonio @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the San Antonio Spurs Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat are primed to bounce back after a Game 3 defeat. Miami showed similar resiliency in Game 2 after taking it on the chin in the series opener. The Heat have won 13 straight games after suffering a postseason loss. 2. San Antonio played a near perfect first half in Game 3, shooting a 75.8 percent from the field, however, Miami outplayed the Spurs in the second half of Game 3. San Antonio will be hard pressed to put on another performance like that with Miami tightening up on defense. 3. LeBron James isn’t going to let Kawhi Leonard out-shine him in the finals. Leonard dropped 29 points and limited James to 22 in Game 3. Expect a vengeful King James to set the tone Thursday night and make for an easy cover for Heat backers.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

‎Scott *The Bulldog* Rickenbach NBA *10* Miami Heat @ San Antonio @ 8:00 ET - In recent years, there isn't a much more solid bet then playing the Heat off of a playoff loss. The last dozen times the Heat are off of a playoff loss they've gone a perfect 12-0 straight-up and 8 of those wins have come by a margin of 11 points or more. Of course the beauty of the situation in this Game Two of these NBA Finals is Miami doesn't even have to win by a margin. In fact, they don't even have to win the game for Heat backers to get the cash in this one. The Heat are 4.5 point underdogs at the time of this analysis and, though we'll grab the points, we don't expect to need them. Miami looked like they were going to grab Game One outright on the road Thursday night before LeBron James succumbed to the heat in the AT & T Center as the air conditioning failed and made for oppressive conditions inside the arena. As everyone knows, James and Company will certainly come back with a vengeance tonight and you can also expect the Spurs won't knock down all those 3's like they did in Game One. In fact, San Antonio only had 68 shots from the field Thursday and they were fortunate to get the win in the final minutes as they got some big shots at just the right time. The final margin of 15 points was deceiving and offered up some great line value for this critical Game Two match-up. Look for Miami to take the aforementioned stat to a perfect 13-0 on Sunday night. But certainly grabbing the points is the way to go. The Spurs are only 5-5 straight-up when leading in a playoff series this year and note that before surprisingly shooting "lights out" in Game One of this series, San Antonio had been held to shooting 40.4% or less from the field in 3 of their last 4 games. Look for the Heat to clamp down on defense in Game Two and look for them to also win the turnover battle once again. Play Miami plus the points as a *10* Top Play selection.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Miami at San Antonio @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Miami Heat Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat know how important it is to steal home court away from San Antonio in this series. With last year’s NBA Finals going down to a Game 7, the Heat will try to put the Spurs on their heels from the tip. 2. San Antonio star point guard Tony Parker is nursing an injured ankle and will a step behind in Game 1. Parker’s ability to break down defenders and collapse the defense by getting in the paint is the key cog in the Spurs offense. With Parker not able to explode to the rim, San Antonio won’t be able to find those open looks and will struggle to match Miami’s firepower. 3. San Antonio’s defense has slipped in the postseason. After ranking No. 7 in the NBA during the regular season, the Spurs allowed the Thunder to top the 100-point mark in four of their six games in the Western Conference finals. San Antonio can put up points but doesn’t have the scoring depth to match Miami. Containing LeBron James can sometimes take up to three players, leaving the Heat’s other threats to do damage.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The home teams has dominated in this series, covering in each of the first five games, and have actually been the smart bet whenever the Spurs and Thunder meet. The host has covered the spread in 16 of the previous 22 clashes between these Western Conference powerhouses. 2. The Spurs haven’t shot the ball well inside Chesapeake Energy Arena, going 19 for 53 from beyond the arc in the two road games. San Antonio sunk 13 of its 26 shots from distance in Game 5. 3. San Antonio played about as good as it could in Game 5, shooting over 50 percent from the field, dominating the rebounding and getting big contributions off the bench. That type of effort will be hard to replicate against a desperate OKC side in one of the loudest arenas in the NBA.
Play on Oklahoma City as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma City at San Antonio @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Thunder left the Spurs flat footed in Game 4, beating San Antonio with their speed and athleticism. Oklahoma City forced 13 turnovers – 12 of which were steals – and score quick buckets in transition for 21 fastbreak points. The youth of OKC is overwhelming the aging legs of San Antonio. 2. Serge Ibaka has made a huge difference in this series since returning from calf injury. The Thunder’s center is a mismatch for the Spurs lumbering frontcourt and has kept pesky guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili from getting clean looks at the basket. Ibaka has three blocks and eight rebounds in Game 4. 3. Oklahoma City hasn’t had much trouble with San Antonio – outside of the first two games of this series. The Thunder have dominated their Western rivals when it comes to covering the spread, coming away with the cash in 12 of their last 16 clashes.
Play on Oklahoma City as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Indiana vs. Miami @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Miami Heat Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Pacers have the backs on the ropes in Game 5 and are getting great value in this desperate spot. Expect the home crowd to push Indiana and keep their team alive in the Eastern Conference finals. 2. Miami’s key role players are dinged up for Game 5. Sharpshooter Ray Allen and hard-working forward Chris Anderson are listed as questionable for Wednesday. One of the Heat’s biggest strengths is the play of their role players, allowing the Big Three to rest up. 3. The home teams has been the hot bet when the Heat and Pacers collide, covering in four of their last five encounters. The home team is 3-1 ATS in this series.
Play on Indiana as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. After two one-sided losses to the Spurs in San Antonio, the Thunder showed resiliency with a big victory at home in Game 3. Oklahoma City has swung the momentum and is getting great line value at home for Game 4 Tuesday. 2. The return of center Serge Ibaka is a huge lift to OKC. Not only can the Thunder put a big athletic body on Tim Duncan in the blocks but Ibaka’s shot blocking keeps pesky guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili out of the paint. 3. The home side has dominated ATS recent meetings between the Thunder and Spurs. The host has covered in 12 of the previous 16 clashes between these Western rivals, with San Antonio winning just three times in their past 15 trips to Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Play on Oklahoma City as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Indiana at Miami @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Indiana Pacers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Indiana has controlled this series for the most part, but lapsed down the stretch have allowed wins to slip away. The Pacers can’t afford another late let-up in Game 4 and have a sense of urgency about them with the series swinging back to Indiana after Monday. 2. Indiana star forward Paul George has had a little longer to recover from his brief concussion suffered in Game 2. George went 5 for 13, including a dreadful 1 for 6 from 3-point range in Game 3. Expect a much more focused effort from him on both ends of the floor Monday. 3. While they failed to cover the spread in South Beach for Game 3, the Pacers are still a very profitable 5-2 ATS on the road this postseason. Indiana is getting great line value in Game 4.
Play on Indiana as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Spurs walked over Oklahoma City in the first two games, but the Thunder have had an extended break to figure out how to keep San Antonio out of the paint. Expect a new look OKC squad Sunday. 2. Oklahoma City center Serge Ibaka, who was initially ruled out for the remainder of the postseason with a calf injury, could return for Game 3 Sunday. Ibaka’s injury has been a costly one for OKC, allowing the Spurs to dominate with points in the paint. Having Ibaka’s length inside should drastically help the Thunder. 3. The Spurs have been hot from beyond the arc in the series while Oklahoma City has struggled to match those 3-pointers. With the series shifting to Chesapeake Energy Arena, expect the Thunder to find the bottom of the basket more often from distance.
Play on Oklahoma City as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma City at San Antonio @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oklahoma City has had time to adjust to the loss of center Serge Ibaka and won’t give up the paint so easily in Game 2. Expect Scott Brooks to tinker with his defensive rotation and find a way to plug up those lanes San Antonio took advantage of in Game 1. 2. While the Thunder’s starting five failed to produce outside of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the bench did well to support the starters. Oklahoma City received 47 points off the pine, including 16 points from backup PG Derek Fisher. 3. Despite the Game 1 loss, Oklahoma City still owns San Antonio in recent meetings. The Thunder have covered in 10 of their last 13 clashes with the Spurs and are getting tremendous value on the spread Wednesday night.
Play on Oklahoma City as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Miami at Indiana @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Miami Heat Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat were run out of the gym in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals, so expect the reigning champs to be extra motivated Tuesday night. Miami rebounded from its last lost in the postseason, a one-sided defeat to Brooklyn, with an impressive outing the following game. 2. Miami is reliant on the 3-pointer and didn’t shoot well from beyond the arc in Game 1, knocking down just six of its 23 attempts. Chris Bosh and Ray Allen were a combined 2 for 11, but don’t expect another cold shooting night from the Heat. They will find their range and knot this series up. 3. The Pacers have been terribly inconsistent in the postseason, following strong efforts with lackluster ones. Indiana played perhaps its best game of the playoffs and is ripe for a letdown. The Pacers have been a terrible bet inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, covering the spread in just five of their previous 19 games as hosts.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma City at San Antonio @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Thunder look to be in top form after rolling the Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City won four of the final five games of the series, going 4-1 ATS in that span. OKC is 6-2 against the spread in its last eight postseason contests. 2. The Thunder have been a thorn in the side of the Spurs. Oklahoma City has won and covered in five straight meetings with San Antonio, including two big wins inside the AT&T Center. 3. Spurs point guard Tony Parker limps into Game 1 with a tender hamstring and now must try to slow down Thunder PG Russell Westbrook, who is on a historic pace this postseason. Looking for Westbrook and the Thunder to test Parker frequently Monday.
Play on Oklahoma City as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Indiana vs. Miami @ 3:35 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Miami Heat Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oddsmakers are discounting the Pacers in this Game 1 showdown with Miami. Indiana has one of the best home courts in the NBA and is a steal at this spread. 2. Miami has yet to face a true towering frontcourt in the playoffs – its one biggest weakness. Charlotte center Al Jefferson was playing on one good foot and Brooklyn was without its star center all season. Now is the time for Pacers big man Roy Hibbert to step up. Hibbert has been inconsistent all postseason but found his form against Washington and totaled 45 points in two home games versus Miami this season. 3. This Eastern Conference rivalry has been dominated by the home team when it comes to covering the spread. The host has covered in six of their past eight clashes, with the Pacers covering the points in five of their last seven games versus the Heat inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Play on Indiana as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana at Washington @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Washington Wizards host the Indiana Pacers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Pacers missed an opportunity to close out this series early but now are feeling the pressure being back in DC for Game 6. Indiana won’t let Washington off the hook again. 2. The Pacers took over the Verizon Center, winning both Games 3 and 4 SU and ATS. Indiana has covered in each of their previous four games away from home. 3. Washington is bound for a letdown after playing a near perfect game in Game 5. The young Wizards have impressed but books are giving them too much credit at home in this obvious letdown spot
Play on Indiana as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Brooklyn vs. Miami @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Brooklyn with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Nets are on the ropes, staring elimination in the face. This is a prideful group of veteran who won’t want to exit early. Expect plenty of fight from the visitor Wednesday. 2. Miami guard Dwyane Wade is nursing a hand and hamstring injury and is nowhere near 100 percent. Wade has been big the last two games, scoring a combined 35 points and dishing out six assists. Without him – or with him playing hurt – Brooklyn can throw more bodies at stopping LeBron James. 3. Outside of James’ 49-point performance, Brooklyn did the little things better in Game 4. The Nets starters all contributed and the bench outscored Miami’s reserves 28-16. Brooklyn also won the rebounding war 40-34, including 14 offensive rebounds.
Play on Brooklyn as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

<b>Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Washington</b> at Indiana @ 7:00 p.m. ET<br>

The Indiana Pacers host the Washington Wizards Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Wizards had Indiana on the ropes in Game 4 but let a 19-point lead slip. Washington now faces elimination and will be playing with desperation as a dangerous underdog. 2. The Wizards aren’t afraid of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where they took Game 1 and covered the spread in Game 2. Washington is a perfect 5-0 ATS on the road this postseason. 3. The Pacers have been overvalued at home all playoffs, posting a 2-4 ATS mark as hosts. Indiana has been burning bettors since the regular season, covering in just four of their previous 17 games in Indianapolis.

<br>Play on Washington as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.<br>Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Brooklyn vs. Miami @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets host the Miami Heat Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Brooklyn with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Nets matched the Heat’s star power in Game 3, getting big numbers from their big names. Brooklyn is one of the few teams that can return fire against the Heat’s loaded rosters. 2. Brooklyn’s bench also chipped in with huge contributions, not allowing for a letdown when the starters took a seat. The Nets reserves combined to score 40 points, including 15 points and 10 rebounds from Andray Blatche, who advantage of a weak Miami frontcourt. 3. Brooklyn improved to 5-2 SU and ATS against the Heat this season. The Nets swept the season series with Miami 4-0, covering the spread in all four meetings.
Play on Brooklyn as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on L.A. Clippers vs. Oklahoma City @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The Los Angeles Clippers host the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on L.A. Clippers with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Desperation mode is setting in for the Clippers, who dropped Game 3 inside the Staples Center. Los Angeles can’t afford to let this series go back to Oklahoma City down 3-1 to the Thunder. 2. The Clippers will look to take a page out of the Grizzlies playbook and try to get physical with the Thunder, in order to slow down Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Los Angeles must bully the Thunder’s forwards with their big bodies and hammer on Westbrook when it enters the lane. Expect a much more hardnosed defensive performance from the Clippers Sunday. 3. Los Angeles has been pushed around on the glass, especially the offensive glass where OKC has picked up plenty of second-chance looks and erased the Clippers’ transition attack. Doc Rivers will have his team owning the boards in Game 4, which will jump start L.A.’s up-tempo attack.
Play on L.A. Clippers as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Brooklyn vs. Miami @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets host the Miami Heat Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Brooklyn with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Nets come back home with their backs on the ropes, playing with desperation at home. Brooklyn is getting great value as a slight home underdog. 2. The Nets may have lost both games to start this series but know the Heat aren’t invincible having defeated them four times in the regular season, including twice inside the Barclays Center. 3. The Nets veteran leaders haven’t been at their best in this series but know how to turn it around. Point guard Deron Williams is coming off a bad Game 2 performance but has shown an ability to bounce back and is key to exploiting Miami’s weakness at point guard.
Play on Brooklyn as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana at Washington @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Washington Wizards host the Indiana Pacers Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. After a terrible finish to the season and a rough first round, the Pacers seem to be finding their form. Indiana won Game 2 over the Wizards, who seem to have awoken a sleeping giant in Pacers center Roy Hibbert. Hibbert, who after being a liability for most the postseason, scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds. With the offense running through the big man, Indiana is back on track. 2. Having Hibbert producing like that changes how Washington must defend. The Wizards can no longer cheat on perimeter players and must instead pack the middle, leaving themselves exposed out kickouts on the arc. Indiana hasn’t shot the ball well from outside, but with more space for its shooters, expect those open looks to drop. 3. The Pacers hardnosed defense also showed up in Game 2, making life tough for Washington point guard John Wall, who finished with just six points on 2-of-13 shooting. Wall is the engine that drives the Wizards’ attack and it looks like the Pacers may have figured out a way to shut him down.
Play on Indiana as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Portland at San Antonio @ 9:30 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Portland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Portland was rolled by the Spurs in Game 1 but don’t expect a repeat performance. The Blazers were flat off a seven-game series with Houston and are a much tougher team on the road, going 6-2 ATS in their last eight away from home. 2. Portland couldn’t get hot from beyond the arc in Game 1 – shooting just 4 for 16 – but is too good a shooting team to be cold for long. Portland can explode for huge numbers from distance, as it showed in the opening round of the playoffs. 3. While the Blazers perimeter threats failed in Game 1, forward LaMarcus Aldridge was a star. He scored 32 points and pulled in 14 rebounds despite a slow start to the game. If Portland can get the outside shooting going, Aldridge will find even more room to operate around the key.
Play on Portland as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma City vs. L.A. Clippers @ 9:35 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Thunder will return serve after losing Game 1 at home. Oklahoma City was a victim of a hot shooting night from the Clippers – something that’s tough to replicate on the road. The Thunder were buried under 15 3-pointers in the opener, which completely changes the game. They won’t have to deal with that in Game 2. 2. The Thunder were sluggish on defense in Game 1, coming off a grueling physical series with Memphis. Oklahoma City has now had time to rest up and won’t suffer another letdown against the Clippers Wednesday. 3. Outside of turnovers and poor defense, OKC did a lot of things right in Game 1 but couldn’t answer to L.A.’s hot hand. The Thunder won the rebounding fight, shot almost 46 percent from the field, knocked down 78 percent of their free throws and got 31 points off the bench. That’s usually enough to win a game.
Play on Oklahoma City as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana vs. Washington @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Washington Wizards Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Pacers dropped Game 1 and have seen this show before. Indiana fell behind to Atlanta in the first round and barely made it out alive. Now, down 1-0 to the Wizards, the Pacers push the panic button just two games in and come out strong in Game 2. 2. The Pacers got better production off the bench in Game 1, with their reserves outscoring Washington’s 33-15. If Indiana can gets some of the Wizards starters in early foul trouble, Washington may have to dig deep into a shallow bench. 3. Even with a Game 1 victory, the Wizards have not fared well in Indiana. Washington has won only four times in its previous 13 trips to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which will be rocking in Game 2.
Play on Indiana as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Portland at San Antonio @ 9:30 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Portland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Spurs escaped a seven-game set with Dallas by playing their best game in over a month. However, San Antonio will be hard pressed to repeat that performance in Game 1. The Spurs have slipped and are not their usual selves in the postseason. San Antonio covered just once against the Mavericks and is 2-8 ATS in its previous 10 games going back to the regular season. 2. Portland isn’t intimidated by San Antonio’s strong home court inside the AT&T Center. The Trail Blazers split the season series with the Spurs, including a win in Texas back in January. Portland was a strong bet away from home this season, going 25-16 ATS on the road. 3. Portland matches up well against the Spurs, presenting a younger version of their potent pick-and-roll combo of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge both had tremendous opening rounds and will give aging San Antonio fits in this conference quarterfinal.
Play on Portland as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Miami vs. Brooklyn @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Nets are bound for a letdown after a grueling seven-game series with Toronto. Brooklyn just held on for the win in Game 7 despite a late collapse. The relief and exhaustion from that win will carry over and leave the Nets flat for Game 1 of the second round. 2. Miami has had plenty of rest between rounds, blanking the Bobcats in four straight games. However, don’t expect the Heat to take it easy in this series opener. Brooklyn swept Miami in the regular season, so the Heat aren’t taking any chances and can’t afford to fall behind. 3. The Nets weren’t able to keep Toronto away from the rim in the first round. However, the Raptors couldn’t capitalize on the open shots those drives created. The drive-and-dish is Miami’s bread and butter in the postseason, and Brooklyn will have no answer when it comes to the Heat’s perimeter threats heat up.
Play on Miami as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on L.A. Clippers at Oklahoma City @ 9:35 pm ET The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Clippers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on L.A. Clippers with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. While both teams are coming off tough seven-game series in the first round, the Thunder are coming off a series win over the extremely physical Grizzlies and will be a little worse for wear when this second-round set kicks off. Expect Oklahoma City to be dragging their sneakers Monday night. 2. Los Angeles overcame more than just the Golden State Warriors in the opening round, having to deal with all the controversy and media storm with their owner. The Clippers overcame that mess and are now a stronger team, bounded by their first-round battle. 3. The Chesapeake Energy Arena used to be one of the toughest arenas in the NBA for read team to steal a win in. However, OKC dropped two games at home in the first round and have actually been beat up by the Clippers – when it comes to the spread - on their own court. Los Angeles has covered the spread in 13 of its last 15 trips to Oklahoma City, including their last road game there – a 125-117 victory back in February.
Play on L.A. Clippers as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas at San Antonio @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Dallas Mavericks Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks have the momentum heading in Game 7, having beaten the Spurs at home in Game 6. The AT&T Center is anything but a safe place for San Antonio, which dropped Game 2 at home to Dallas. 2. The Mavericks have covered the spread in all six games this series, while San Antonio – one of the best ATS teams in the NBA – continues to slide against the spread. The Spurs haven’t covered since April 11 – an eight-game ATS skid – and sure sign that this team is stumbling. 3. Dallas is getting major production from its bench players, including 37 points and 20 rebounds in Game 6. The Spurs, on the other hand, haven’t received their usual level of production from their role players, putting all the weight on the aging legs of San Antonio’s veteran superstars.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas vs. San Antonio @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks have managed to cover the spread in each game of this series so far. While this is notable, it should be said that the Spurs have long been one of the best ATS teams in the NBA and this slide is an indicator of just how far San Antonio has fallen. 2. The Mavericks get forward DeJuan Blair back from suspension in Game 6. While Blair isn’t going to move any lines, he is a former Spur with knowledge of the team and has played tough on the inside, keeping San Antonio off the boards. The Spurs had 12 offensive rebounds in his absence. 3. Mavs star forward Dirk Nowitzki caught fire at the end of Game 5 and is found his former after struggling through most of this series. Nowitzki is a tough cover for the Spurs and is able to draw their big men away from the hoop and use his size against smaller defenders.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Toronto at Brooklyn @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets host the Toronto Raptors Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Toronto with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Brooklyn is on the ropes and may not have much left in the tank after battling back from more than 20 points down in Game 5 only to lose by two. 2. Toronto is anything but satisfied with the Game 5 victory, having built a massive lead only to let defense lapses nearly spoil their best offensive performance of the season. The Raptors don’t want to take any chances with the savvy Nets team. 3. Brooklyn isn’t getting the best from its stars. Point guard Deron Williams is in a shooting funk and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were benched in the fourth quarter of Game 5. The longer this series goes, the harder it is on these aging standouts.
Play on Toronto as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana at Atlanta @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Hawks host the Indiana Pacers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Pacers are on the brink of disaster, down 3-2 to Atlanta. Indiana doesn’t want to be the laughing stock of the NBA and will leave it all on the court Thursday night. 2. The Hawks are primed for a letdown in Game 6 after taking a convincing win in Indiana in Game 5. Atlanta has followed each win with a loss so far in this series. 3. Expect Indiana to shake up the lineup for Game 6, going with a smaller unconventional rotation than leans on speed more than size to close out on the Hawks perimeter shooters. Atlanta has been dependent on the 3-pointer in this series so erasing those looks will help Indiana eliminate those defensive breakdowns.
Play on Indiana as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas at San Antonio @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Antonio is no longer invincible at home after getting rolled by Dallas inside the AT&T Center in Game 2. The Mavericks are playing with confidence and hold terrific line value Wednesday night on the road. 2. Spurs starters Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green have struggled in this series. While the two are more known for their defensive contributions, the pair combines to average almost 22 points per game but has been terribly inconsistent in this series. San Antonio needs those points in what is turning into a high-scoring series. San Antonio could be without star point guard Tony Parker Wednesday. Parker is nursing an ankle injury and is listed as questionable. Even if Parker is able to play, he won’t be able to set the pace and get inside the lane with the tender ankle slowing him down.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Chicago vs. Washington @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bulls host the Washington Wizards Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulls are backed into a corner, down 3-1 in the series to the Wizards but have the home court in this do-or-die matchup. Chicago will leave everything on the floor Tuesday night. 2. Washington is coming off a near-perfect game at home and is ripe for a letdown with a two-game buffer built in this series. Don’t expect the Wizards to mirror that effort against a desperate Bulls side. 3. Tom Thibodeau has called out his team’s lack of physical play and said the Wizards were bullying the Bulls in this series. Chicago is one of the more physical teams in the league and boasted the best defense in the NBA during the regular season. Look for the Bulls to turn up the intensity and rough up the Wizards Tuesday.
Play on Chicago as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas vs. San Antonio @ 9:35 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks ride a wave of momentum into Game 4 after taking a 2-1 series lead on a last-second game winner from Vince Carter. Dallas has won two straight over the Spurs, who could be running on empty after plenty of deep playoff runs. 2. San Antonio has always been able to lean on its bench to overcome opponents. But the Spurs reserves haven’t picked up the slack. Dallas, on the other hand, is getting great production from its starting five, with Carter providing pop off the bench. 3. The Mavericks have done a good job matching the Spurs’ physicality and haven’t been pushed around. Dallas battled for 38 points in the paint and kept up with San Antonio on the glass, pulling down 10 offensive rebounds in Game 3.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Toronto vs. Brooklyn @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets host the Toronto Raptors Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Toronto with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Toronto battled hard and covered in Game 3, fighting back from a big deficit to lose 102-98. The Raptors have remained competitive despite some sloppy play, turning the ball over 19 times in Game 3. Toronto is working on trimming those errors and should be much sharper in Game 4. 2. Brooklyn has allowed Toronto to own the fourth quarter in this series. The Raptors have outscored the Nets by 14 points in the final frame the past two games, including 32-25 in the fourth quarter of Game 3. 3. The underdog has been the smart play in this series – and throughout the NBA Playoffs – going 2-0-1 ATS. Taking the points is always smart when these two Atlantic Division rivals collide with the underdog covering the spread six times in the last 10 meetings with two pushes.
Play on Toronto as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma City at Memphis @ 9:35 p.m. ET
The Memphis Grizzlies host the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Thunder have been bullied by the Grizzlies to fall down 2-1 in the series. Expect Oklahoma City to push back Saturday after a tough overtime loss in Game 3. The Thunder have lost three straight games only once this season and are getting solid value with this spread. 2. Kevin Durant had a rare off night in Game 3, more specifically from beyond the arc. Durant was 0 for 8 from 3-point range and just 10 for 27 from the field. The soon-to-be MVP will be out to erase that poor performance and improve his shot selection Saturday. 3. Oklahoma City needs its bench to step up and produce in order to knot this series. The Thunder’s reserves were a nonfactor in Game 3 and average just 17 points per game during the season. The call has been put in for players like Reggie Jackson and Caron Butler to contribute. With a boost from the bench, OKC will avoid another letdown in overtime.
Play on Oklahoma City as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana at Atlanta @ 2:00 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Hawks host the Indiana Pacers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Pacers are in panic mode now after dropping Game 3 in Atlanta. Indiana will be playing with added desperation, which should help wake this team up from its late-season slumber. 2. The Pacers have a deep team and even with some key contributors struggling there is enough fire power and experience to pull them out of this tailspin. Indiana got solid efforts from some reserves in Game 3. 3. Stopping Atlanta is as simple as stopping Jeff Teague. Expect the Pacers to throw a lot at the Hawks high-scoring guard Saturday and try to bully him off the basketball and cool his hot hand.
Play on Indiana as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Chicago at Washington @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Washington Wizards host the Chicago Bulls Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulls are in panic mode after dropping both games to the Wizards inside the United Center. Chicago will tighten up on defense and look to find their form on that end of the floor. 2. The Wizards are bound for a letdown in Game 3 following a come-from-behind push to force overtime and steal Game 2 in Chicago. With the series back in DC, this young team could relax a bit and the Bulls will take full advantage of that. 3. Chicago has been at home in the Verizon Center, covering the spread in six of its previous eight trips to Washington. The road team has been the profitable play when these two squads collide, covering in six straight head-to-head meetings.
Play on Chicago as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Charlotte at Miami @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Charlotte with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bobcats went down swinging in Game 1, despite an 11-point loss. Charlotte ran with the Heat for most of the game despite some playoff jitters that manifested into 15 turnovers. The Bobcats will have gotten those postseason nerves settled in Game 2. 2. Bobcats star forward Al Jefferson injured his foot in Game 1 but told the media he’s playing. Jefferson is as tough as they come and has the physicality to exploit Miami’s shallow frontcourt under the basket. 3. The Bobcats got great efforts from their role players, with 24 points coming off the bench and starters Josh McRoberts and Kemba Walker tossing in 15 and 20 points respectively.
Play on Charlotte as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Portland at Houston @ 9:35 p.m. ET
The Houston Rockets host the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Portland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Portland enters the postseason as the hottest team in the NBA, riding the momentum of a five-game winning streak and closing out the schedule on a 9-1 stretch (6-4 ATS). 2. The Trail Blazers have the fire power to go shot for shot with the Rockets and enter with the hot hand from beyond the arc, shooting 43 percent from downtown during that five-game winning run. Portland is also the top team at the stripe in the league, so those extra points won’t be lost – a huge boost for bettors in the playoffs. 3. The Blazers have won and covered in four straight road games and boast a stellar 25-16 ATS mark away from home on the year. On top of that, the underdog has covered in 11 of the past 18 games between Portland and Houston heading into Game 1.
Play on Portland as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Brooklyn at Toronto @ 12:30 p.m. ET
The Toronto Raptors host the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Brooklyn with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Nets settled for the No. 6 seed in the East, bogged down by their poor start to the season. Brooklyn was the different team after the All-Star break and brings a ton of playoff experience to the table. 2. Toronto has been waiting to make the postseason cut for a long time and is ripe for a letdown in this first game Saturday. The Raptors have a young team and the playoff atmosphere may be a little overwhelming for them in the opener. 3. The Nets were able to rest up their veterans before the playoffs tipped off, getting Deron Williams, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett down time. This may be the most healthy those three stars have been all season.
Play on Brooklyn as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.