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NBA Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
11-25-18	Clippers v. Blazers -170		104-100	Loss	-170	10 h 38 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Blazers. Portland and the Clippers are each sitting on 12 wins, but the Blazers are 7-2 at home while the Clippers are 4-5 on the road. This looks like a good sport for the Blazers to get back on track after a tough loss to the Warriors in Oakland on Friday. Portland has won all four meetings with the Clippers in 2018, two at home and two on the road. They covered the spread in all four games, and the average margin over victory in the two home games was in double digits. I'll take the home favorite to pick up the "W". Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
11-21-18	Nuggets v. Wolves -125		103-101	Loss	-125	18 h 59 m	Show
8*
11-16-18	Nets v. Wizards -7		115-104	Loss	-102	19 h 45 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Washington Wizards. Washington couldn't do anything right at the beginning of the season, but the Wizards come into tonight's game as winners of three straight. They host Brooklyn, and the Nets first game since the Caris LaVert injury went as expected. They fell behind by 20 early in the first half, and went on to lose by a score of 120-113. History certainly favors the home team, the hosts have won the last four head to head meetings. The Nets are 3-12 ATS in the last 15 meetings in Washington. The home team is 20-8 ATS in the last 28 meetings. Nets are also just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss. Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
11-14-18	Heat -124 v. Nets	Top	120-107	Win	100	19 h 19 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Miami Heat. The Brooklyn Nets are a young and exciting team, that has been quite competitive early this year. Losing their leading scorer Caris LaVert to a gruesome injury is sure to take some of the wind out of their sails. They play their first game since the injury, at home versus Miami tonight. The Heat are looking to snap a three game losing skid, and they have lost three straight versus Brooklyn. Goran Dragic sat out two games last week with a sore knee, and he was 0-for-7 for no points in 21 minutes in his first game back. He's coming off a 22-point game against Philly, shooting 8-of-15 from the field. History is certainly on the side of Dragic and the Heat. Miami is 10-4-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings versus the Nets, and 19-7 ATS in their last 26 at Brooklyn. The road team is 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven meetings. Take MIA. GL, Jesse Schule
11-10-18	76ers v. Grizzlies -120	Top	106-112	Win	100	24 h 16 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Memphis Grizz. The Grizz are undefeated at home so far this season, and they host the Sixers on Saturday night. Philly was expected to be one of the top teams in the East this season, but so far they haven't lived up to expectations. While they are just a half game back of Boston in the Atlantic Division, they have lost five of six road games so far. The 76ers are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 road games, and they are 1-9 straight up in their last 10 versus Memphis. The Grizzlies are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games, and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games overall. I don't like the Sixers chances on the road in the second game of a back to back versus the #1 scoring defense in the NBA. Take MEM. GL, Jesse Schule
11-05-18	Pelicans v. Thunder -182		116-122	Win	100	21 h 57 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder lost four straight to start the season, but they come into tonight's home game versus New Orleans looking for a fifth straight win. Russel Westbrook missed the first two games of the season while recovering from an injury, but he's firing on all cylinders now. He dropped 32 points on 13-of-25 shooting in a 128-110 win over the Clippers in his last home game. The Pelicans have lost five straight, and they are at the end of a brutal road trip that has seen them play five games in seven days. History favors the home team here, as the Thunder are 5-2 ATS in their last seven versus New Orleans. This looks like a tough spot for a tired New Orleans team. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
11-03-18	Celtics -147 v. Pacers	Top	101-102	Loss	-147	8 h 26 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. Boston really is the BEAST of the EAST, and I expect them to prove it here in Indiana tonight. The Pacers are returning home after a taxing win at Chicago last night. Victor Oladipo appeared to be drained after the game: "I'm not feeling well, but I don't care, it's time to win," Oladipo told Fox Sports Indiana. "The game ball should go to the bench because we did a terrible job coming out strong. The bench lifted us and we finally got our groove late." The Celtics have won five of the last seven meetings in this series, and four straight at Indianapolis. Boston ranks 1st in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, and they are the only team allowing less than 100 points per game this season. This looks like a tough spot to play a back to back for the home team, and my money is on the visitors. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
11-01-18	Pelicans v. Blazers -178		119-132	Win	100	9 h 25 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Portland Trailblazers. The Pelicans are coming off a 131-121 loss at Golden State last night, and Anthony Davis logged 41 minutes in the game. They play on back to back nights, in their third game in four nights on the road at Portland tonight, and this looks like a lay down spot for the visitors. Portland has a little extra motivation for this game, as they still remember being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by these Pelicans last year. "We have this game circled," Portland point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "We'll have (last season's playoff series) in our minds when we play against them. But it's only going to be the eighth game of the season, and we can't get last year back." The Blazers are coming off back to back wins, and they look good to blow out the Pelicans here in this REVENGE game. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
11-01-18	Bucks v. Celtics UNDER 221.5		113-117	Loss	-108	8 h 14 m	Show
This is an 8* play on MIL@BOS to go Under the total. When an old cat like D-Rose is dropping 50 in a single game, you know that defense is dead in the NBA. Scoring is up, and there's no denying that. The Celtics and the Bucks are two teams that still play a little defense though, ranking 1st and 4th respectively in opponent's scoring average. The Celtics haven't seen any of their games reach 220 points yet this season, and I wouldn't bet on that changing in such a big game here at the Garden tonight. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
10-30-18	76ers v. Raptors UNDER 227.5	Top	112-129	Loss	-108	6 h 25 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PHI@TOR to go Under the total. The Raptors suffered their first loss of the season on the road at Milwaukee last night. Their superstar Kahwi Leonard sat out that game so he could play tonight at home in the second game of a back to back. Leonard is widely considered to be the league's best defender, and with him in the lineup the Raptors have been tough. Leonard has played in five games this season, and only one of those saw more than 227 combined points. Tonight's total is far higher than in any of the previous ten games between Toronto and Philly, and the under looks like a great bet here with this inflated line. While the trends will tell you that these teams have gone over, it's important to know that those trends just don't hold true when you factor in the inflated total. Philly is not one of the better shooting teams in the league, and the Raptors should hold them to under their season average of 112 points per game. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
10-29-18	Blazers v. Pacers -160		103-93	Loss	-160	17 h 41 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers return home from a three game road trip in which they took two of three, winning in San Antonio and Cleveland. They are 2-0 at home, and they were a solid 24-17 at home last year. They host the Blazers tonight, and Portland comes in off a 120-111 loss at Miami. The Blazers are 1-1 on the road and they were 21-20 on the road last season. The Pacers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games and 5-1 ATS in their last six versus Western Conference teams. The Blazers are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games, and they have failed to cover in four straight road games against a team with a winning home record. I'll take the home favorite here. Take IND. GL, Jesse Schule
10-24-18	Lakers -140 v. Suns		131-113	Win	100	20 h 59 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the LA Lakers. LeBron's Lakers debut hasn't gone as well as some might hope, and the Lakers come into Phoenix looking to snap a three game losing skid. They will have to do it without Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram, but I still like LeBron and company to edge out a young Suns team. The Suns are coming off back to back double digit losses to Golden State and Denver, and I think they are going to be a bit star stuck here against the Lakers. Trevor Ariza really struggled in Golden State, shooting just 2-of-12 from the field. The Suns are just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games, and they have failed to cover in four of their last five versus LA. Take LAL. GL, Jesse Schule
10-24-18	Pacers v. Spurs -135		116-96	Loss	-135	18 h 28 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets. Houston is coming off a 115-112 loss to the Clippers in LA, and that game got ugly. An incident involving Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul and Brandon Ingram resulted in all three players being suspended, and there is no doubt the Rockets will miss Chris Paul tonight. That being said, they pushed the Warriors to the brink in a 7-game series in the Western Conference Finals last year, despite CP3 playing hurt and missing two games. James Harden looked sharp in the game at LA, scoring 31 points on 11-of-26 shooting. The Jazz come into Houston tonight struggling offensively. They shot just 35.4 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc in their last game, a home loss to Memphis. I'll take Clutch City as a small home favorite here. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
10-24-18	Jazz v. Rockets -115		100-89	Loss	-115	5 h 23 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets. Houston is coming off a 115-112 loss to the Clippers in LA, and that game got ugly. An incident involving Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul and Brandon Ingram resulted in all three players being suspended, and there is no doubt the Rockets will miss Chris Paul tonight. That being said, they pushed the Warriors to the brink in a 7-game series in the Western Conference Finals last year, despite CP3 playing hurt and missing two games. James Harden looked sharp in the game at LA, scoring 31 points on 11-of-26 shooting. The Jazz come into Houston tonight struggling offensively. They shot just 35.4 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc in their last game, a home loss to Memphis. I'll take Clutch City as a small home favorite here. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
10-23-18	Clippers v. Pelicans -6.5		109-116	Win	102	5 h 22 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Pelicans. The LA Clippers are off to a good start, winning two of their first three. All three of those were home games, and they will play their first road game of the season at New Orleans tonight. The Pelicans finished last season strong, upsetting Portland in the first round of the playoffs, and giving the Warriors a handful in a 4-1 series loss. They have scored 70+ first half points in both of their two games so far, and they won those two games by a combined 30 point margin. New Orleans is 4-1 straight up in their last five versus LA, and they are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games. The Clippers are Clippers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win. This Clippers team doesn't appear to have the talent to hang with a team like the Pelicans on the road. Take NO. GL, Jesse Schule
10-19-18	Celtics v. Raptors -145		101-113	Win	100	18 h 4 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors. Who had the best home record in the NBA last year? It wasn't the Golden State Warriors, or the Houston Rockets, and definitely not the Cleveland Cavaliers. The San Antonio Spurs had a better home record than all of those teams, but still not quite as good as the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics might be the best team in the Eastern Conference when the dust settles, but I wasn't overly impressed with their home win over Philly in their season opener. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward combined to go 6-for-26 from the field, and they were fortunate that Philly couldn't make a shot to save their lives. The Raptors didn't appear to miss a beat after swapping DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard. The two time Defensive Player of the Year scored 24 points and pulled in a dozen rebounds. The home team has won nine of the last 10 head to head meetings, and Boston has lost five in a row in Toronto. I'll take the Raptors as a small home favorite. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
10-17-18	Wolves v. Spurs -145		108-112	Win	100	30 h 17 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the San Antonio Spurs. A lot of people are overlooking the Spurs again this year, but this is a team that has managed to stay among the league's elite for decades. Last year they 33-8 at home, the best home record in the Western Conference. That was with Kawhi Leonard riding the pine all year. Leonard has been dealt to Toronto, and the Spurs get DeMar DeRozan back the other way. They host the Minnesota T-Pups tonight, and this team is dealing with a circus surrounding the Jimmy Butler trade request. The Spurs are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 versus Minnesota, and I like Pop and company to win their home opener. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
06-08-18	Warriors -4.5 v. Cavs		108-85	Win	100	14 h 55 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Warriors. It's hard to see the Cavs having any fight left in this series. I don't think they want any part of going back to Oakland for a Game 5. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson couldn't hit a shot to save their lives in Game 3, and it just didn't matter. You can't count on Curry missing 10 of 11 three-point shot here in Game 4. The Warriors appear to be motivated to end this series in a sweep, and I think they put the Cavs to bed tonight. Take GSW. GL, Jesse Schule
05-31-18	Cavs v. Warriors -11.5		114-124	Loss	-113	58 h 56 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors. The Cavs weren't supposed to be here, but LeBron James has added to his legacy by willing his team to another Finals. Now they face the mighty Golden State Warriors, and this looks like a huge let down spot for LeBron and the Cavs. Keep in mind that the Warriors won last year's Finals in five games. They won Game 1 at home by 22 points, and won Game 2 by 19 points. This time around there is no Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love is banged up. The Warriors have won their last two series openers at home by 20+ points, and in the Western Conference Final in Houston they won Game 1 by 13 points. This series is going to be a massacre, and the only way the Cavs win a game and avoid a sweep, is if the Warriors "allow" it. Take GSW. GL, Jesse Schule
05-28-18	Warriors -5.5 v. Rockets		101-92	Win	100	13 h 58 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors may have dodged a bullet, as they play Game 7 in Houston tonight against a Rockets team that likely won't have veteran PG Chris Paul. Golden State played about as bad as they can play in Games 4 & 5, and still those games each went down to the wire. Paul scored 27 points in Game 4, and scored 20 in Game 5 before going down with an injury in the final minutes. Even if they plays he's likely to be ineffective on a sore hamstring. We've seen this before as things have always ended with bitter disappointment for Paul in the post-season. Klay Thompson is coming off back to back big games, giving the Rockets an awful lot to worry about on defense. The Warriors are a -250 favorite to win this game straight up, but it's interesting you can get them at -163 to win the Championship. Whoever wins this game will be an enormous favorite in the Finals, and I give the Cavs almost zero chance in a rematch of last year's Finals. Take GS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-27-18	Cavs v. Celtics -130		87-79	Loss	-130	30 h 37 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The home team has won all six games in this series so far, and I expect that trend to hold true in Game 7 in Boston. LeBron James scored 46 points in Game 6, and still it was a relatively close game. With no Kevin Love, it's going to be a tough ask for the Cavs to win here on the road with this roster. There is only so much LeBron can do, and there likely isn't a lot of gas left in the tank. A lot of people out there will talk about LeBron's record in Game 7s, and when facing elimination. He's likely never been this shorthanded before, so I don't think it's worth reading too much into his previous success in these situations. I'll take the younger, deeper, more athletic home team. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-25-18	Celtics +7 v. Cavs	Top	99-109	Loss	-105	22 h 5 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. I wouldn't read to much into LeBron James having an off night and looking tired in Game 5, and I expect James and the Cavs to be much better tonight. That being said, they are asked to cover a whopping seven points, which is a few too many in my opinion. After getting blown out in Game 3, I bet on Boston +7 in Game 4. They failed to cover, but it was close. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The Cavs won big (by 32 points) in Game 3 in Cleveland, but I don't think they are 32 points better than Boston. In fact, I don't think they are seven points better than Boston. Prior to Game 3 they had played 13 playoff games, and only two of those were wins by more than four points. The Celtics will surely be better tonight, and I expect a close game from start to finish. Boston is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland, and 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. The Cavs have not been a good bet following a blowout win, going 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win." I expect tonight's game to be the closest game we will see in this series. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-24-18	Warriors +103 v. Rockets	Top	94-98	Loss	-100	11 h 56 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Golden State Warriors. A lot of talk about how the Rockets beat the Warriors in Game 4, and it's all hogwash. The Warriors beat themselves. They played like a team that was far too confident, and showed a lack of respect for their opponent. Kevin Durant and Steph Curry took some terrible shots in the fourth quarter, and it was terrible coaching by Steve Kerr. Golden State started the game on a 12-0 run, and they took a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter. They got exactly what they deserved, and the loss will likely serve as a wake up call ahead of Game 5. Home court advantage hasn't been a factor in this series so far, and with the Warriors covering the spread in 10 of their last 14 at Houston, I can't see betting this game any other way. Take the champs in a must win game. Take GSW. GL, Jesse Schule
05-23-18	Cavs v. Celtics +102		83-96	Win	102	12 h 48 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. After suffering a 32 point loss in Game 3, the Celtics showed a lot more fight in a much closer Game 4. With the series shifting to Boston, I expect to see the Cavs suffer a let down in Game 5. The Celtics are 9-0 straight up at home in these playoffs, and they have covered the spread in five of their last six when coming off a loss. We should expect a strong start from the home team, with plenty of support from a wild crowd. The good news for Cleveland is that their role players have been great over the last two games. The bad news is that Kevin Love has really struggled. He scored just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting in Game 4, and he wasn't much better in Game 3. He appeared to be banged up in the last game, and lingering injuries might be a factor as was the case in the first round versus Indiana. My money is on the home team to bounce back here in this pivotal Game 5. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-22-18	Rockets v. Warriors -8.5		95-92	Loss	-103	13 h 53 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the GSW. I bet on the Warriors in Game 1, and I have several pending bets on the Warriors to win the series. Steph Curry found his shot in Game 3, and that's going to make it awfully tough for Houston to get back in this series. Here is what I said prior to Game 1: "Despite the fact that the Warriors are almost a 2-1 favorite to win the series, they are an underdog in Game 1 at Houston. While the Rockets won the season series, regular season success doesn't always translate into post-season wins. MVP front-runner James Harden comes in ice cold, going just 4-for-22 from beyond the arc in his last three games. He scored just 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in his last game at home versus Utah. The Rockets will need more from Harden if they hope to upset the Warriors. Steph Curry comes in hot, scoring 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting in Game 5 versus the Pelicans. He's 7-of-15 from beyond the arc in his last two games. The Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Conference Finals games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five at Houston." Take the Champs. GL, Jesse Schule
05-21-18	Celtics +7 v. Cavs		102-111	Loss	-110	15 h 8 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Cavs won big (by 32 points) in Game 3 in Cleveland, but I don't think they are 32 points better than Boston. In fact, I don't think they are seven points better than Boston. Prior to Game 3 they had played 13 playoff games, and only two of those were wins by more than four points. The Celtics will surely be better tonight, and I expect a close game from start to finish. Boston is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland, and 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. The Cavs have not been a good bet following a blowout win, going -4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-20-18	Rockets v. Warriors -7.5		85-126	Win	100	11 h 51 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the GSW. I bet on the Warriors in Game 1, and I have several pending bets on the Warriors to win the series. Heading back to Golden State, I feel confident that Curry will find his shot, and the Rockets won't have any answer for KD. Here is what I said prior to Game 1: "Despite the fact that the Warriors are almost a 2-1 favorite to win the series, they are an underdog in Game 1 at Houston. While the Rockets won the season series, regular season success doesn't always translate into post-season wins. MVP front-runner James Harden comes in ice cold, going just 4-for-22 from beyond the arc in his last three games. He scored just 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in his last game at home versus Utah. The Rockets will need more from Harden if they hope to upset the Warriors. Steph Curry comes in hot, scoring 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting in Game 5 versus the Pelicans. He's 7-of-15 from beyond the arc in his last two games. The Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Conference Finals games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five at Houston." Take the Champs. GL, Jesse Schule
05-19-18	Celtics +6.5 v. Cavs	Top	86-116	Loss	-108	84 h 20 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. Surely LeBron isn't going to allow the Cavs to lose at home in Game 3? Well, that's what everyone said about Game 2 in Boston, and despite 42 points and a triple-double, the Cavs suffered another double-digit loss. Bettors must have short memories, because if you go back just a few weeks when the Cavs were struggling against the Pacers, all the so called experts were saying that Philly would sweep the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals. A few days later the Sixers found themselves right where Cleveland is now, heading home down 0-2 and heavily favored in Game 3. Boston won that game and ended up winning the series in five games. Cleveland has eight wins in these playoffs, and six of those have come by four points or less. Asking them to cover almost twice that margin here in Game 3 doesn't seem realistic at all. The Celtics were just a 4.5 point underdog in their last game at Cleveland, and they have covered in five straight visits to Quicken Loans Arena. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-16-18	Warriors v. Rockets +100		105-127	Win	100	13 h 26 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Houston Rockets. I had the Warriors in Game 1, and I also have bets on Golden State to win the series. Here is what I said prior to the first game: "While the Rockets won the season series, regular season success doesn't always translate into post-season wins. MVP front-runner James Harden comes in ice cold, going just 4-for-22 from beyond the arc in his last three games. He scored just 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in his last game at home versus Utah. The Rockets will need more from Harden if they hope to upset the Warriors." Now that Golden State has stolen home court advantage, they could suffer a let down in Game 2. They could have swept both the Spurs and the Pelicans, but they had an off game in each of those series. This is Houston's best shot at winning a game and avoiding a sweep. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
05-14-18	Warriors +110 v. Rockets	Top	119-106	Win	110	84 h 56 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Golden State Warriors. Despite the fact that the Warriors are almost a 2-1 favorite to win the series, they are an underdog in Game 1 at Houston. While the Rockets won the season series, regular season success doesn't always translate into post-season wins. MVP front-runner James Harden comes in ice cold, going just 4-for-22 from beyond the arc in his last three games. He scored just 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in his last game at home versus Utah. The Rockets will need more from Harden if they hope to upset the Warriors. Steph Curry comes in hot, scoring 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting in Game 5 versus the Pelicans. He's 7-of-15 from beyond the arc in his last two games. The Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Conference Finals games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five at Houston. Take the Champs. GL, Jesse Schule
05-13-18	Cavs v. Celtics +2		83-108	Win	100	54 h 29 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. Things change fast in the NBA, and after sweeping the Raptors the Cavs are a favorite on the road in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston. During their first round series versus the Pacers, the Cavs stock was at an all time low. Most experts were picking Philly to win the East. Cleveland was a seven point underdog in Game 1 at Toronto, and they trailed at the half in both of their games north of the border. Now after taking out the favorite Philly in just five games, the Celtics are home dogs. Granted that LeBron's performance has been perhaps the best anyone has ever played in the playoffs, can we simply assume he can keep it up. People seem to be taking that for granted. The Cavs haven't played since Monday, and at the age of 33 and leading the league in minutes, I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron gets off to a slow start in Game 1. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-09-18	76ers v. Celtics -113		112-114	Win	100	10 h 11 m	Show
After going down 0-3 in the series, the Sixers avoided the sweep with a win at home in Game 4. The series shifts back to Boston, where the Celtics have owned Philly. That's true not only in this series, but during the regular season as well. Boston has won seven of the last 10 meetings, and four of their last five home meetings versus Philly. Still the bookmakers opened with Philly as a road favorite in Game 5. Boston plays stellar defense, is well coached, and has a lot more playoff experience than Philly. It's no surprise to me that public money is coming in on Boston, and they will likely be asked to cover a few points by game time. For those of you who do not remember, I bet on Boston to win the East at +$300 before the season started. I also had Boston winning this series, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games." Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-07-18	Raptors v. Cavs -5		93-128	Win	100	7 h 32 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors showed a lot of heart battling back to tie Game 3 in Cleveland in the final seconds, but once again LeBron James crushed their souls. That's the type of loss you just don't expect a team to come back from, especially on the road, facing elimination. We saw this same scenario last year, and the Raptors lost Game 4 at home. They trailed by a dozen at halftime in that game. DeMar DeRozan was benched for the entire fourth quarter of Game 3, after scoring just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting. Who know's where his head is at, but I am guessing that going back to "LEBRONTO" for a Game 5 is not all that appealing right now. Take CLE. GL, Jesse Schule
05-06-18	Rockets v. Jazz +6		100-87	Loss	-105	34 h 33 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Utah Jazz. I had the Jazz in Game 3, and I was a little shocked by their poor effort. I expect a far better effort here at home in Game 4, and perhaps a bit of a let down for the Rockets. Here is what I said prior to Game 3:"After the Jazz evened the series with a shocking win in Game 2 in Houston, it's a little surprising to me how many people are willing to back Houston as a road favorite in Game 3. Utah crushed the Thunder at home in the first round, and they've won seven straight home games dating back to the regular season. Their regular season home finale was a 40 point win over the defending champions Golden State. I am guessing the people who are betting on the Rockets have forgotten that James Harden failed to hit a shot in the first half of his final playoff game last season (Game 6 versus the Spurs). He finished that game 2-of-11 from the field with six turnovers and six fouls. The Rockets lost by 39 points as a favorite. Keep in mind Utah leads the league in opponent's scoring, so don't be surprised if Harden has a tough time scoring here in Salt Lake City. The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last six road games, I'll take the points."Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
05-06-18	Warriors v. Pelicans +5.5		118-92	Loss	-105	29 h 4 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans and the Warriors were both ranked near the top of the NBA in scoring during the regular season, and not surprisingly, they have a history of playing high scoring games. They have gone over in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, but all 10 of those games were in the regular season. The Pelicans are not the same team here in the playoffs that they were when they ranked 29th in the NBA allowing over 110 points per game. The jumped all over the Warriors in the first half of Game 3, leading 62-56 at halftime. I expect some push back from the Warriors here in Game 4, but I still think the Pelicans can keep this game close. The line value here is key, as bettors are looking to back Golden State coming off a loss. Keep in mind the Warriors are a bigger favorite tonight than they were in Game 3, and they have failed to cover in four of their last five at New Orleans. Take NO. GL, Jesse Schule
05-05-18	Raptors +5 v. Cavs		103-105	Win	100	11 h 41 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors. The Eastern Conference Semifinals have been a complete disaster for the Toronto Raptors. Once again regular season success has failed to translate in the post-season. The Raptors appear to have hit rock bottom, and everyone is down on the team right now. The local media is publishing headlines, suggesting the city be renamed "LeBRONTO". If Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have any pride at all, they'll come out swinging here in Game 3. While the Raptors lost both Games 1 & 2 at home, they did take a lead to the locker room at halftime in both those games. I believe that those games were every bit as much a product of Toronto beating themselves, as it was Cleveland beating Toronto. I'll take the points here as I don't think this Raptors team is quite ready to give up. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
05-05-18	Celtics v. 76ers -8.5		101-98	Loss	-107	7 h 39 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Philadelphia 76ers. I bet on the Sixers in Game 2 in Boston, and they came close, but blew it in the final minutes. They return home for Game 3, and I expect them to blow the doors off in a must win game. Here is what I said prior to game 2: "The Sixers came out flat in Game 1, but I expect them to respond with a far better effort in Game 2. The Celtics are still banged up, and Jaylen Brown is not expected to be back for Game 2. Boston shot the ball incredibly well in Game 1, and that's something I don't think the Celtics can count on happening again. They made 18-of-19 free throws, shot almost 50 percent from three-point range and over 48 percent from the field. We can expect a far better effort on defense from Philly, and the law of averages would suggest that those numbers in Game 1 were an anomaly. The same can be said about the Sixers going just 5-for-26 from beyond the arc in the series opener. Philly is 6-1-1 ATS in it's last eight when coming off a loss." Take PHILLY. GL, Jesse Schule
05-04-18	Rockets v. Jazz +5		113-92	Loss	-110	11 h 38 m	Show
This is a 6* play on the Utah Jazz. After the Jazz evened the series with a shocking win in Game 2 in Houston, it's a little surprising to me how many people are willing to back Houston as a road favorite in Game 3. Utah crushed the Thunder at home in the first round, and they've won seven straight home games dating back to the regular season. Their regular season home finale was a 40 point win over the defending champions Golden State. I am guessing the people who are betting on the Rockets have forgotten that James Harden failed to hit a shot in the first half of his final playoff game last season (Game 6 versus the Spurs). He finished that game 2-of-11 from the field with six turnovers and six fouls. The Rockets lost by 39 points as a favorite. Keep in mind Utah leads the league in opponent's scoring, so don't be surprised if Harden has a tough time scoring here in Salt Lake City. The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last six road games, I'll take the points. Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
05-04-18	Warriors -190 v. Pelicans		100-119	Loss	-190	8 h 5 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors. The Pelicans return home down 0-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals, but perhaps they can take some positives away from an improved performance in Game 2. They were an 11 point underdog, and easily covered losing by just five. The final score is a little misleading though, as the Warriors went up by 13 points on a Steph Curry three-pointer with 1:47 left. It was very much a "back door" cover, with the Pelicans scoring 10 of the final 12 points in garbage time. We got a glimpse of vintage Steph Curry in his first game back, he scored 28 points on 8-of-15 shooting in just 27 minutes off the bench. He should have no limitations here in Game 3. These two teams played in the first round back in 2015, and the Warriors won that series in a four game sweep. This Pelicans team may be vastly improved, but perhaps not enough to account for the Warriors adding Kevin Durant. Take GS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-03-18	76ers -165 v. Celtics		103-108	Loss	-165	30 h 36 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers came out flat in Game 1, but I expect them to respond with a far better effort in Game 2. The Celtics are still banged up, and Jaylen Brown is not expected to be back for Game 2. Boston shot the ball incredibly well in Game 1, and that's something I don't think the Celtics can count on happening again. They made 18-of-19 free throws, shot almost 50 percent from three-point range and over 48 percent from the field. We can expect a far better effort on defense from Philly, and the law of averages would suggest that those numbers in Game 1 were an anomaly. The same can be said about the Sixers going just 5-for-26 from beyond the arc in the series opener. Philly is 6-1-1 ATS in it's last eight when coming off a loss. Take PHILLY. GL, Jesse Schule
05-03-18	Cavs v. Raptors UNDER 213		128-110	Loss	-115	9 h 25 m	Show
This is an 8* play on CLE@TOR Under. I had a halftime bet on the Raptors in Game 1 (winner), and here is what I had to say prior to the game: "The Cavs lost two of three road games in their first round series versus Indiana, and if it wasn't for a controversial missed goaltending call in Game 5, they might have lost the series. They have just one off day ahead of Game 1 in Toronto, and I think the Raptors should be able to jump all over them in the first half. Toronto had the best home record in the NBA, and they beat the Cavs by a whopping 34 points at home during the regular season. Kevin Love has been playing through the pain of a thumb injury, and his numbers reflect that. LeBron had to dig deep, giving everything had to in order to will his team to victory in Game 7 versus the Pacers. Don't be surprised if the Cavs are running on empty here in Game 1 in Toronto." LeBron didn't shoot well in Game 1, and it took a comedy of errors by the Raptors to allow Cleveland to come away with a rather fortunate overtime win. I don't like their chances of going back to Cleveland up 2-0. The nder is 15-7 in Raptors last 22 games playing on 1 day's rest. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
05-01-18	Pelicans v. Warriors UNDER 227	Top	116-121	Loss	-107	40 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on NO@GS to go Under the total The total for Game 1 was bet up as high as 227, but came up short landing on 224 after a low scoring second half. I bet on the under, and here is what I said prior to the game: "The Pelicans and the Warriors were both ranked near the top of the NBA in scoring during the regular season, and not surprisingly, they have a history of playing high scoring games. They have gone over in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, but all 10 of those games were in the regular season. The Pelicans are not the same team here in the playoffs that they were when they ranked 29th in the NBA allowing over 110 points per game. The Warriors held the Spurs to an average of less than 97 points per game in their first round series, and they have gone under in five of their last six home games versus a team with a winning record. The Pelicans have failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine road games, and the under is 4-0 in their last four Conference Semi Final games. The Warriors have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams." I am not reading much into the return of Steph Curry, as I don't expect him to log full minutes. I think Kerr will be happy to get Curry some playing time, but I expect Kevin Durant to continue to carry the load. The number still looks a little inflated, and I'll take the under. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-30-18	76ers v. Celtics UNDER 208	Top	101-117	Loss	-110	11 h 6 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PHI@BOS to go Under the total. The pundits are calling for Philly to go all the way to the NBA Finals, but first they have to get past a Celtics team that finished three games ahead of them in the standings. I bet on Boston to win their series versus Milwaukee, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games." They won all four home games in the first round, and held the Bucks under 100 points in each of the last three games in that series. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-29-18	Pacers v. Cavs -5.5		101-105	Loss	-105	26 h 44 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Cleveland Cavaliers 1st Half ML. The Cavs led by 10 at the half in Game 4, and they led by 15 at the half in Game 3. The Pacers had a chance to take a stranglehold 3-1 series lead, but blew it late in Game 4 at home. The series would have been over if it wasn't for a missed goaltending call in Game 5, but instead we have a deciding Game 7 in Cleveland for all the marbles. Historically teams that fail to capitilize on such opportunities tend to run out of chances. LeBron has never played in a Game 7 in the first round, but his last Game 7 was in the NBA Finals versus Golden State. James has also never lost in the first round of the playoffs, and I expect that trend to continue with the Cavs moving on to round 2. Take CLE. GL, Jesse Schule
04-28-18	Pelicans v. Warriors UNDER 224.5		101-123	Win	100	13 h 10 m	Show
This is a 10* play on NO@GS to go Under the total. The Pelicans and the Warriors were both ranked near the top of the NBA in scoring during the regular season, and not surprisingly, they have a history of playing high scoring games. They have gone over in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, but all 10 of those games were in the regular season. The Pelicans are not the same team here in the playoffs that they were when they ranked 29th in the NBA allowing over 110 points per game. The Warriors held the Spurs to an average of less than 97 points per game in their first round series, and they have gone under in five of their last six home games versus a team with a winning record. The Pelicans have failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine road games, and the under is 4-0 in their last four Conference Semi Final games. The Warriors have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-28-18	Pelicans v. Warriors -7.5		101-123	Win	100	13 h 9 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Warriors. The Pelicans and the Warriors were both ranked near the top of the NBA in scoring during the regular season, and not surprisingly, they have a history of playing high scoring games. They have gone over in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, but all 10 of those games were in the regular season. The Pelicans are not the same team here in the playoffs that they were when they ranked 29th in the NBA allowing over 110 points per game. The Warriors held the Spurs to an average of less than 97 points per game in their first round series, and they have gone under in five of their last six home games versus a team with a winning record. The Pelicans have failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine road games, and the under is 4-0 in their last four Conference Semi Final games. The Warriors have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. Take GS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-28-18	Bucks v. Celtics -195		96-112	Win	100	11 h 31 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. I bet on Boston in both the first two games of this series, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games." Boston is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings between the two teams, including a two point loss in Game 4 in Milwaukee. I'll take the home team. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-27-18	Raptors +2.5 v. Wizards		102-92	Win	100	10 h 23 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors. The home team has won all five games in this series so far, but I think the Wizards are going to struggle to keep that trend alive. The Raptors jumped all over Washington in Game 4, leading by double digits at halftime. Toronto couldn't hang on in the second half, and Washington was able to slip away with a 106-98 win. The Wizards are likely going to be without Otto Porter tonight, and that might spell trouble for the home team. Porter is the team's leading scorer behind Bradley Beal and John Wall. Toronto is certainly capable of winning a game on the road, the Raptors had two more wins on the road than Washington had at home during the regular season. The Raptors also won two of three road games in their first round series versus Milwaukee last year, winning in Game 6. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
04-26-18	Celtics +4.5 v. Bucks		86-97	Loss	-108	7 h 25 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics . I bet on Boston in both the first two games of this series, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games." Boston is 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings between the two teams, including a two point loss in Game 4 in Milwaukee. I'll take the points. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-25-18	Jazz v. Thunder -160		99-107	Win	100	11 h 8 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the OKC Thunder ML. Here is what I said before this series started: "The Utah Jazz were one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half of the season, but they ran into a brick wall in Portland in their final game. They play Game 2 on the road at Oklahoma City, and they appear to be catching the Thunder at a bad time. Oklahoma City won four of their final five games, including a win on the road at Houston. Russell Westbrook is playing out of his ******** mind. Paul George averaged almost 28 points per game in his last five, and the Thunder are starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be when they signed George in the off-season. Utah has lost seven of their last eight versus the Thunder, and they are 0-7 in their last seven trips to OKC. " The Thunder return home for Game 5 down 3-1 in the series, and the are on the ropes. I expect the to extend the series at least forcing a Game 6 back at Utah. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
04-24-18	Bucks v. Celtics -145		87-92	Win	100	20 h 44 m	Show
8*
04-23-18	Thunder v. Jazz UNDER 209	Top	96-113	Push	0	21 h 55 m	Show
This is a 10* play on OKC@UTAH to go Under the total. Game 3 in Utah went over the total, and Ricky Rubio scored more points than Russell Westbrook. I don't think either of those two things are happening in Game 4. Utah boasts the NBA's #1 defense, holding opponents under 100 points per game. Both of these teams have played well defensively in this series, and I expect that trend to continue here in Game 4. Recent meetings between these teams have trended under, as they have failed to reach the total in five of the last seven overall. The Thunder have gone under in five of their last six on the road, and eight of their last nine at Utah. These trends go back a lot further, the under is 22-9 in the last 31 meetings. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in nine of the previous 10 head to head meetings. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
04-22-18	Cavs v. Pacers UNDER 205.5	Top	104-100	Win	100	16 h 60 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CLE@IND to go Under the total. The Pacers have a chance to take a stranglehold on this series, heading into Game 4 at home already up 2-1. The Cavs lone win came by a score of 100-97 at home in Game 2, and LeBron scored 46 points in that game. All three games in this series have been low scoring, and I expect another defensive battle in such a high stakes contest tonight. The Pacers were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA after the all start break, and these two teams have failed to reach the total in four straight at Indianapolis. The Cavs are just 5-16-1 ATS in the last 22 meetings between the two teams, yet they are a road favorite here tonight. Kevin Love is banged up, and George Hill could miss tonight's game with a back injury. The under is 15-5 in Pacers last 20 games playing on 1 days rest, and they have failed to reach the total in nine of their last 11 home games. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-21-18	Thunder v. Jazz UNDER 207	Top	102-115	Loss	-105	16 h 46 m	Show
This is a 10* play on OKC@UTAH to go UNDER the total. The Jazz return home with the series tied 1-1 after a 102-95 win in Game 2 in Oklahoma City. Utah boasts the NBA's #1 defense, holding opponents under 100 points per game. Both of these teams have played well defensively in this series, and I expect that trend to continue here in Game 3. Recent meetings between these teams have trended under, as they have failed to reach the total in five of the last six overall. The Thunder have gone under in five straight on the road, and eight straight at Utah. These trends go back a lot further, the under is 22-8 in the last 30 meetings. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in nine of the previous 10 head to head meetings. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
04-21-18	76ers -153 v. Heat		106-102	Win	100	25 h 37 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers are getting a lot of press right now, and I have to admit it's hard not to buy into the hype. They come into Game 4 in Miami with a 2-1 series lead, and leading scorer Joel Embiid is back after sitting out the first two games. Both of Philly's wins in this series have come in blowouts by 20+ points, and there can't be a lot of optimism among players and coaches in Miami that they can compete with this team. Dwyane Wade looked like a 36 year old in Game 3, scoring just eight points on 2-of-10 shooting in 25 minutes. I bet on the Heat in the first half of the last game, and they just barely covered. The Heat have failed to cover in five of their last six home games, and I think it's going to be particularly difficult to put such a brutal loss (in Game 3) behind them. Take PHI. GL, Jesse Schule
04-20-18	Celtics +5.5 v. Bucks		92-116	Loss	-105	11 h 46 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. I bet on Boston in both the first two games of this series, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games." Public money is heavy on Milwaukee in Game 3, despite the fact that Boston has covered in five straight versus the Bucks, including their last two in Milwaukee. I'll take the points as I feel this is an inflated line. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-19-18	Warriors v. Spurs UNDER 207		110-97	Push	0	9 h 19 m	Show
The Warriors head to San Antonio in complete command of this series, and they will be a favorite to win Game 3. The Spurs aren't good enough to compete with the Warriors in this series, but they are sure as hell good enough to steal a game at home. Their Game 2 loss at Golden State was their 10th straight loss on the road, but they have won 11 in a row at home. In fact the Spurs won 33 games on their home court during the regular season, one of those wins coming versus Golden State. The Spurs won that game by a score of 89-75, and they lead 49-41 at halftime. They have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 home games, and they lead the NBA in opponent's scoring average. I expect the home team to come out playing with plenty of emotion here in Game 3, especially in the first half. The Spurs led by a score of 53-47 at the half in Game 2, but went on to lose by 15 points. These two teams have failed to reach the total in eight of the last 11 meetings in San Antonio. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
04-19-18	Blazers v. Pelicans -165		102-119	Win	100	9 h 48 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the New Orleans Pelicans. They say that the playoffs are a whole different monster than regular season basketball, and no team personifies that better than New Orleans. The Pelicans were one of the league's worst defensive teams during the regular season, but they've completely shut down the Blazers in the first two games in Portland. Coming back home, I expect them to be all fired up for Game 3. Down 0-2, the news goes from bad to worse for Portland as starting center Jusuf Nurkic left Game 2 with an injury and did not return. The Pelicans are on a roll, covering the spread in seven straight overall, and four of their last five against Portland. The Trail Blazers are 7-22-2 ATS in their last 31 Conference Quarterfinals games. Take NO. GL, Jesse Schule
04-19-18	76ers v. Heat +2		128-108	Loss	-105	7 h 49 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Miami Heat. I bet on Miami in Game 1, and they were leading at halftime before completely falling apart in the second half. Here is what I said prior to that game: "The Sixers come into the playoffs riding a 16 game winning streak, and it seems that everyone is now ready to #TrustTheProcess. Of course bettors are lining up to back Philly in Game 1 of their first round series versus the Heat, and because of that they are asked to cover a spread a few points higher than it was the last time they played Miami at home. The Sixers split the season series versus the Heat, but only covered the spread in one of the four games. Both the Sixers wins came in games decided by fewer than six points. "They played us hard; they were really physical with us, especially down in Miami," Sixers guard J.J. Redick said. "They run multiple actions on offense so you really have to defend for the whole shot clock. They have a deep roster with a bunch of guys who play hard and play together. It's a big challenge for us." Simply put, I am not ready to buy into the hype here with a young team that has little to no playoff experience. Regular season wins don't count for #### all in the post-season. The Heat are 18-8-2 ATS in their last 28 road games, and 14-6 ATS in their last 20 Conference Quarterfinals games." Of course it all came to fruition in Game 2, and I expect Game 3 in Miami to be a similar story. Take MIA. GL, Jesse Schule
04-18-18	Jazz v. Thunder -178		102-95	Loss	-178	10 h 37 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the OKC Thunder. The Utah Jazz were one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half of the season, but they ran into a brick wall in Portland in their final game. They play Game 2 on the road at Oklahoma City, and they appear to be catching the Thunder at a bad time. Oklahoma City won four of their final five games, including a win on the road at Houston. Russell Westbrook is playing out of his ******** mind. Paul George averaged almost 28 points per game in his last five, and the Thunder are starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be when they signed George in the off-season. Utah has lost seven of their last eight versus the Thunder, and they are 0-7 in their last seven trips to OKC. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
04-17-18	Pelicans v. Blazers UNDER 214		111-102	Win	100	9 h 25 m	Show
This is an 8* play on NO@POR to go Under the total. The Blazers held New Orleans to just 97 points in Game 1, but they were on the wrong side of a close defensive game. I expect Portland to come back an even the series with a win in Game 2, but my money is on the total. Portland ranked 5th in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, and they are going to be playing with desperation here in tonight's game. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, going under in five of the last seven meetings. The under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings in Portland, and 11-5-1 in the last 17 overall. The Blazers have also gone under in five of their last six when coming off a loss. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-17-18	Bucks v. Celtics -125		106-120	Win	100	7 h 51 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-15-18	Jazz v. Thunder -140		108-116	Win	100	28 h 23 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the OKC Thunder. The Utah Jazz were one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half of the season, but they ran into a brick wall in Portland in their final game. They play Game 1 on the road at Oklahoma City, and they appear to be catching the Thunder at a bad time. Oklahoma City won four of their final five games, including a win on the road at Houston. Russell Westbrook is playing out of his ******** mind. Paul George averaged almost 28 points per game in his last five, and the Thunder are starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be when they signed George in the off-season. Utah has lost six of their last seven versus the Thunder, and they are 0-6 in their last six trips to OKC. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
04-15-18	Bucks v. Celtics -160		107-113	Win	100	4 h 40 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-15-18	Bucks v. Celtics UNDER 203		107-113	Loss	-115	4 h 39 m	Show
This is an 8* play on MIL@BOS to go Under. The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
04-14-18	Heat +6.5 v. 76ers		103-130	Loss	-109	11 h 19 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Miami Heat. The Sixers come into the playoffs riding a 16 game winning streak, and it seems that everyone is now ready to #TrustTheProcess. Of course bettors are lining up to back Philly in Game 1 of their first round series versus the Heat, and because of that they are asked to cover a spread a few points higher than it was the last time they played Miami at home. The Sixers split the season series versus the Heat, but only covered the spread in one of the four games. Both the Sixers wins came in games decided by fewer than six points. "They played us hard; they were really physical with us, especially down in Miami," Sixers guard J.J. Redick said. "They run multiple actions on offense so you really have to defend for the whole shot clock. They have a deep roster with a bunch of guys who play hard and play together. It's a big challenge for us." Simply put, I am not ready to buy into the hype here with a young team that has little to no playoff experience. Regular season wins don't count for #### all in the post-season. The Heat are 18-8-2 ATS in their last 28 road games, and 14-6 ATS in their last 20 Conference Quarterfinals games. Take MIA. GL, Jesse Schule
04-11-18	Nuggets +3.5 v. Wolves		106-112	Loss	-110	17 h 2 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets wrap up the regular season on the road at Minnesota, and the winner of this game will advance to the playoffs. Denver has been one of the league's hottest teams heading into the playoffs, winning six straight and eight of their last 10. The same can not be said for the Timberwolves, who are just 6-6 in their last 12 overall. More concerning for Minnesota is the fact that all six of those wins came against non playoff teams. History is certainly on the side of the visitors, who won the last meeting by a score of 100-96. The Nuggets are 20-5-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings in Minnesota. The Nuggets have also covered the spread in five of their last six road games. The underdog has covered the spread in 20 of the last 27 meetings in this series. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
04-11-18	Spurs v. Pelicans UNDER 211	Top	98-122	Loss	-105	17 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on SA@NO to go Under the total. It's not unusual to see teams step up their defensive intensity at this time of year. The Spurs are the league's best defensive team, and they are coming off a 98-85 win over Sacramento. The Pelicans aren't known for their defense, but they have improved here at the end of the regular season. They rank 29th in the NBA, allowing over 110 points per game overall this season. They've allowed less than that in six of their last seven overall however. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in seven of the last 10 head to head meetings. The under is 10-4-1 in Pelicans last 15 versus teams with a winning straight up record, while the Spurs have gone under in four of their last five at New Orleans. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-09-18	Kings v. Spurs UNDER 200		85-98	Win	100	11 h 46 m	Show
This is an 8* play on SAC@SA to go UNDER the total. I cashed in a winner in the Spurs most recent home game, a win over Portland. Here is what I said prior to the game: "Only the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets have more home wins than San Antonio this season, and the Spurs come into tonight's home game against Portland as winners of nine straight in San Antonio. The Spurs have allowed an average of just 99.7 points per game, and they rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Blazers are in a comfortable position in the Standings, and with Damien Lillard nursing an ankle injury, we should see Portland dial it back a little. History certainly favors the Spurs, as Portland has failed to cover in seven of it's last 10 in San Antonio, and the Spurs are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games." The Kings have played really solid defense lately, holding opponents under 100 points in three straight. They won two of those three games outright. The Kings have failed to reach the total in eight of their last nine overall. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-07-18	Blazers v. Spurs -175		105-116	Win	100	10 h 20 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the San Antonio Spurs. Only the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets have more home wins than San Antonio this season, and the Spurs come into tonight's home game against Portland as winners of nine straight in San Antonio. The Spurs have allowed an average of just 99.7 points per game, and they rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Blazers are in a comfortable position in the Standings, and with Damien Lillard nursing an ankle injury, we should see Portland dial it back a little. History certainly favors the Spurs, as Portland has failed to cover in seven of it's last 10 in San Antonio, and the Spurs are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
04-07-18	Nuggets -130 v. Clippers		134-115	Win	100	3 h 30 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers are set to suffer a let down here against the Nuggets, after losing three of their last four overall. Their home loss to Utah by a whopping 22 points was likely the final nail in the coffin, killing any hope of making a playoff run. The Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and only after winning six of their last eight are they even in position to think about the playoffs. You can't really blame the Clippers, who have four PGs sidelined by injury. They simply didn't have enough healthy bodies to throw out there. I like Denver to win a desperation game here in LA. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
04-03-18	Celtics +2 v. Bucks		102-106	Loss	-105	11 h 32 m	Show
8*
04-01-18	Bucks v. Nuggets -168		125-128	Win	100	14 h 22 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets. The Milwaukee Bucks are going to make the playoffs, the only question is who they face in the first round. With Cleveland likely to finish third in the East, moving up in the standings might only increase their chances of facing the Cavs in the first round. Playing on the road at the end of a three game Western Conference swing, I don't see a lot of reason for the Bucks to go all out. The Nuggets on the other hand absolutely need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They are two and half games back of 5th place Minnesota, but they have played one fewer game. They also face the Timberwolves twice, and they have a home game against the Clippers remaining. They are 27-10 in Denver, giving them one of the best home records in the league. The Bucks have a losing record on the road, and they are 4-13-1 ATS in the last 18 meetings in Denver. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
03-30-18	Nuggets v. Thunder UNDER 224.5	Top	126-125	Loss	-110	9 h 23 m	Show
This is a 10* play on DEN@OKC to go Under the total. The NBA Playoffs are just a few weeks away, and as teams jockey for playoff position, we see a lot more intensity on defense. I bet on the under in the Thunder's 108-105 loss to Portland, and here is what I had to say before the game: "Both the Blazers and the Thunder rank among the top defensive teams in the league, ranking 5th and 7th in opponent’s scoring average. The Thunder are just one game back of Portland in the Northwest, and there is just two games separating 3rd place Portland and 6th place New Orleans in the Western Conference standings. The Blazers have won all three of their games against the Thunder this season, and two of those three games fell short of the total. The total for tonight’s game is higher than it was in any of those previous three contests." The Thunder host the Denver Nuggets tonight, and these two teams have gone under in two of three previous meetings this season. Once again, tonight's total is higher than it was in any of those previous three games. I'll place a value bet here on what appears to be an inflated total. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-27-18	Bucks v. Clippers -150		98-105	Win	100	12 h 19 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the #LAC. The Milwaukee Bucks have been terrible on the road this season, with a record of 16-19. They head out West for a road game against the Clippers, and I don't like their chances here against a Clippers team that has a 20-15 home record against superior opposition in the Western Conference. The Clippers trail the 8th place Minnesota Timberwolves by two games in the standings, but since they have played three fewer games they still have a good chance to move up. The Bucks have failed to cover in 11 of their last 15 overall, and they are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine versus teams from the Western Conference. The Clippers are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 versus Eastern Conference teams. The Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games versus teams with a winning home record. Take LAC. GL, Jesse Schule
03-25-18	Heat v. Pacers UNDER 207	Top	107-113	Loss	-105	19 h 41 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MIA@IND to go Under the total. The Pacers are just a game and a half back of the first place Cavs in the Central Division, and they come into tonight's home game versus Miami as winners of 12 of their last 17. During that span they've allowed fewer points than any team in the league, and they now rank in the top 10 in the league in opponent's scoring average this season. Miami ranks 4th overall in the NBA allowing just 103 points per game. All three meetings between these teams went over, but all those games were played before the All Star break when Indiana was struggling defensively. Prior to this season, they have gone under in six of seven games dating back to November of 2015. The Pacers have gone under in nine of their last 10 overall, and they have failed to reach the total in seven straight home teams. I expect another low scoring battle here in Indianapolis Sunday. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-23-18	Clippers v. Pacers UNDER 219	Top	104-109	Win	100	17 h 48 m	Show
This is a 10* play on LAC@IND to go UNDER the total. I bet the under in the Pacers loss at New Orleans on Wednesday, and here is what I said prior to that game: "The Pacers and the Pelicans are two teams that jockeying for playoff position, and they have a history of playing low scoring games. Eight of the last 10 meetings have fallen short of the listed total. Both teams have stepped up their intensity on defense in recent weeks, and the result has been lower scores across the board. That being said, tonight's total is higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings in this series. It's also higher than it was in any of Indiana's last 10 games overall, and nine of those games went under." Tonight's game against the Clippers is quite similar, and I expect another hard battle. The under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings, and the under is 6-0 in Pacers last six home games. The under has cashed in four of the Clippers last five visits to Indiana. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-21-18	Wizards v. Spurs -5		90-98	Win	100	18 h 12 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the San Antonio Spurs. Only the Toronto Raptors have more home wins than San Antonio this season, and the Spurs come into tonight's home game against Washington as winners of four straight. San Antonio has allowed an average of just 85 points during their current home stand, and they rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Wizards have won back to back games, including a 125-124 road win at Boston. That win at the Garden might sound impressive, but keep in mind that the Celtics were playing without four starters in that game. The Spurs are as healthy as they have been all year, and they have a history of beating up on the Wizards. The Spurs are 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in this series, and Washington is just 3-13-1 in their last 17 visits to San Antonio. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
03-21-18	Pacers v. Pelicans UNDER 219.5		92-96	Win	100	10 h 10 m	Show
This is a 10* play on IND@NO to go UNDER the total. The Pacers and the Pelicans are two teams that jockeying for playoff position, and they have a history of playing low scoring games. Eight of the last 10 meetings have fallen short of the listed total. Both teams have stepped up their intensity on defense in recent weeks, and the result has been lower scores across the board. That being said, tonight's total is higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings in this series. It's also higher than it was in any of Indiana's last 10 games overall, and nine of those games went under. The Pelicans haven seen a combined 220 points just once in their last eight games overall. The under is 15-5-1 in the Pacers last 21 road games, and I expect that trend to continue here in New Orleans. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-17-18	Wolves v. Spurs -169	Top	101-117	Win	100	9 h 30 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs dropped all the way to 10th in the West after losing five of six games prior to Tuesday's game against Orlando. Greg Popovich had seen enough, and his team made a statement by blowout out the Magic 108-72. They followed that up with a 98-93 win over New Orleans, and now they are just four point favorite at home against Minnesota two days later. The level of urgency for San Antonio remains high, as they barely cling to the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. The Timberwolves are just a game ahead in the standings, but injuries have taken their toll on Minnesota. Both these teams are monsters at home, and neither team can buy a win on the road. The Spurs have won nine of the last 10 meetings in this series, and without Jimmy Butler, the Wolves are going to struggle on the road in San Antonio. Minnesota has failed to cover in 12 of it's last 16 road games, and the favorite has covered in 10 of the last 13 meetings in this series. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
03-14-18	Wizards +1.5 v. Celtics	Top	125-124	Win	100	13 h 11 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Washington Wizards. The Boston Celtics are coming off a home loss to Indiana on Sunday, and they will be undermanned at home tonight against Washington. Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Daniel Theis will all miss tonight's game, and Al Horford is listed as questionable with an illness. The Wizards have played just as well without John Wall as they did with him, and they come into Boston as winners of five of their last six road games. The Wizards are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games versus teams with a winning home record. Boston on the other hand has failed to cover in five of it's last six home games. I don't think the Celtics have enough healthy bodies to compete with anybody at the moment, home or away. Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
03-13-18	Nuggets -125 v. Lakers	Top	103-112	Loss	-125	12 h 40 m	Show
10*
03-13-18	Magic v. Spurs UNDER 205		72-108	Win	100	10 h 46 m	Show
8*
03-09-18	Warriors v. Blazers UNDER 227.5	Top	108-125	Loss	-105	21 h 26 m	Show
This is a 10* play on GS@POR to go UNDER the total. The Warriors rallied to beat the Spurs 110-107 at home last night, winning their seventh consecutive game. They play on the road in their second game in as many nights at Portland tonight, and Steph Curry is expected to be sidelined with an ankle injury. The total for this game looks a bit inflated, considering that five of their last six overall have seen less than a combined 225 points. Portland ranks 5th in the NBA in scoring defense, and the Blazers have won eight straight. They have allowed opponents to average just under 99 points per game during that winning streak. Curry has missed 15 games this season, and 12 of those games saw the total fall short of 225 combined points. The Warriors have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 road games, while Portland has gone under in eight of their last 10 when playing on two day's rest. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-27-18	Clippers v. Nuggets UNDER 232.5	Top	122-120	Loss	-110	15 h 54 m	Show
This is a 10* play on LAC@DEN to go UNDER the total. Both the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers have been involved in a lot of high scoring games lately. Because of that, the total for tonight's game in Denver is far higher that it was in any of the previous 10 meetings between the two teams. They failed to reach the total in eight of those 10 games, and given the magnitude of tonight's game, we might see both teams play a little harder on defense. Denver is currently holding on to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, just one game up on the ninth place Clippers. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six meetings in Denver, and the under is 35-16 in the last 51 meetings overall. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-26-18	Rockets v. Jazz OVER 212	Top	96-85	Loss	-105	13 h 38 m	Show
This is a 10* play on HOU@UTAH to go OVER the total. The Rockets won 119-114 at Denver last night, and they bring a 12 game win streak into Utah tonight. Playing on back to back nights is a tough spot for Houston, as the Rockets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 when playing the second game of a back to back. It hasn't prevented them from going over the total in four of their last five when playing on back to back nights. They have a history of playing high scoring games against the defensive minded Jazz, going over in six straight, and eight of the last nine head to head meetings. They've gone over in four of their last five at Utah. Given that history, I believe tonight's total is artificially low. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-24-18	Blazers -6 v. Suns	Top	106-104	Loss	-110	16 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers. The Phoenix Suns are dead in the water. They have lost eight in a row and 13 of their last 14 overall. Last night's home game against the Clippers was another double digit defeat, and they play the second game of back to back against Portland tonight. The Blazers are only a game and a half out of first place in the Northwest, and they bring a winning road record into Arizona (16-15). They have won six straight versus the Suns, with two of those wins coming in Phoenix. Both of those games were decided by nine or more points. The Blazers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven visits to Arizona, and they are asked to cover just a half a dozen points here tonight. Portland has been good at beating up on weak teams, covering in four straight against teams with a winning percentage of less than .400. The Suns have failed to cover in seven of their last eight home games against teams with a winning record. The Blazers won by 19 at Utah, and they should have their way with an even weaker Phoenix team tonight. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
02-14-18	Thunder v. Grizzlies UNDER 208.5		121-114	Loss	-110	6 h 54 m	Show
This is an 8* play on OKC@MEM to go UNDER the total. The Grizzlies last game was a 110-92 loss at Oklahoma City, and I had the under in that game. Here is what I said prior to tip off: "The Thunder might be shorthanded tonight, as Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony are both battling injuries. Neither played in a loss at LA on Thursday, and the Thunder scored just 88 points in that game. They face a Grizzlies come in as one of the lowest scoring teams in the league (29th), averaging just 99 points per game. They are also one of the best defensive teams in the league, ranking 5th in opponent's scoring average. The Thunder have failed to reach the total in four straight, while the under is is 19-6-1 in Grizzlies last 26 games playing on three or more days rest. The Grizzlies have really been struggling lately, failing to score 90 points in each of their last three games. Given the history, as well as the injuries, it seems odd that the total for tonight's game is higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings." Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-11-18	Grizzlies v. Thunder UNDER 207	Top	92-110	Win	100	9 h 31 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MEM@OKC to go UNDER the total. The Thunder might be shorthanded tonight, as Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony are both battling injuries. Neither played in a loss at LA on Thursday, and the Thunder scored just 88 points in that game. They face a Grizzlies come in as one of the lowest scoring teams in the league (29th), averaging just 99 points per game. They are also one of the best defensive teams in the league, ranking 5th in opponent's scoring average. The Thunder have failed to reach the total in four straight, while the under is is 19-6-1 in Grizzlies last 26 games playing on three or more days rest. The Grizzlies have really been struggling lately, failing to score 90 points in each of their last three games. Given the history, as well as the injuries, it seems odd that the total for tonight's game is higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-09-18	Clippers v. Pistons -3		108-95	Loss	-115	10 h 28 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons have won five straight since acquiring Blake Griffin from the LA Clippers, and they host LA tonight at the Palace. The Clippers have also won four of five since the trade, although their last two wins came against the likes of Dallas and Chicago. The Clippers are just 11-13 on the road, and the home team is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings between these two teams. The league's leading rebounder Andre Drummond has averaged over 20 rebounds per game over his last five starts. Griffin has wasted no time making a big impression on his new teammates: "He's that type of caliber player, he makes the game easy," Reggie Bullock said. "He can pretty much bully his way through anybody. We give him the ball in the right positions, and he makes the right plays." The Clippers could be without PG Milos Teodosic, who leads the team averaging 5.3 assists per game. Detroit has been a solid bet when playing outside of conference, they are 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 versus Western Conference teams. Take DET. GL, Jesse Schule
02-08-18	Celtics +1.5 v. Wizards		110-104	Win	100	10 h 16 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Wizards won five straight without John Wall, and there is plenty of talk that they may be a better team without the super star PG. The streak ended with a 115-102 loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday, but the controversy continues. "It was funny to me at first just to see some of the things that people were saying and certain type of comments, but like I said, I've seen these guys put in a lot of work every day," Wall said Tuesday on ESPN's "The Jump." "We always say the motto is 'next man up, no matter what.' We moved the ball well early in the season, we just couldn't make shots and we couldn't defend at all. I think now guys are stepping up. The first unit and the second unit are playing very well. "But it was kind of shocking to hear a couple people saying the ball is moving a lot better when that's what I pride myself off of is being happier when my teammates are scoring than I am." The Celtics come in as winners of four of their last five, and their 18 wins on the road are more than Washington has at home. Kyrie Irving is back in the lineup, and he scored 17 points in 22 minutes in the loss to the Raptors. The Celtics are 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings in this series, and the Wizards have failed to cover in five of their last seven home games. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
02-05-18	Blazers v. Pistons -125		91-111	Win	100	9 h 28 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Detroit Pistons. Detroit is 3-0 since acquiring Blake Griffin in a blockbuster trade with the Clippers, and tonight's home game against Portland appears to be a favorable matchup. The Blazers lost at the buzzer in Boston on Sunday, and playing on the road in the second leg of a back to back after Super Bowl Sunday isn't an ideal spot. Andre Drummond went off for 23 points and 20 rebounds in a win over the Heat on Saturday, and so far the team chemistry for the new look Pistons looks better than ever. Detroit is 4-0 straight up in the last four head to head meetings in this series, and the home team is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings. The Blazers have failed to cover in six of their last eight road games, and they are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven road games versus a team with a winning home record. Take DET. GL, Jesse Schule
02-04-18	Blazers v. Celtics -120		96-97	Win	100	5 h 25 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. No Kyrie Irving, no problem for the best defensive team in the NBA. The Celtics have won back to back home games without leading scorer Kyrie Irving, and I like Boston as a short favorite at home versus Portland on Super Bowl Sunday. Boston's young players have stepped up, with both Terry Rosier and Jason Tatum delivering career best performances in the win over Atlanta. Boston boasts a 20-8 record at home, while the Blazers are just flirting with .500 on the road. Boston has covered the spread in five straight overall, and they held the Knicks to just 73 points on Wednesday. The Blazers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six road games versus a team with a winning home record. I like Boston here in a Super Bowl Sunday matinee at The Garden. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
02-01-18	Raptors -3 v. Wizards	Top	119-122	Loss	-110	21 h 30 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Toronto Raptors. The Eastern Conference appears to be a two horse race, and the Raptors are just 1.5 games back of Boston. They come into tonight's game at Washington as winners of three of their last four, and they have one of the better road records in the league. The Wizards haven't missed a beat since losing John Wall to a knee injury. They won on the road at Atlanta, and they won a close game at home versus Oklahoma City. Tonight's game will be their third straight game without Wall, and I think they are going to struggle against one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference. Since 2015, the Raptors have won all four of their games at Washington, covering the spread in three of those games. The Wizards have failed to cover in five of their last six home games, and they are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 overall. I like Toronto to take advantage of an undermanned Wizards team here in such a key game. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
01-31-18	Knicks v. Celtics UNDER 208		73-103	Win	100	20 h 13 m	Show
This is an 8* play on NYK@BOS to go UNDER the total. The Celtics were 2-2 on a four game road trip out West, and they are trying to recover from their toughest stretch this season. The host the Knicks tonight, and they come in as losers of five of their last seven. This should give them a sense of urgency to get back on track, going back to playing the same style that has them sitting in first place in the East. They have 36 wins on the season, only the defending champion Golden State Warriors have more. The Toronto Raptors are only one game back, and the Celtics can't afford to drop points here at home against an inferior New York team. Boston has been the best defensive team in the NBA for most of the year, but they have recently slipped to second in the league in opponent's scoring average. The last three head to head meetings between these two teams have all gone under, and four of the Knicks last five visits to the Garden have failed to reach the total. Boston has gone under in seven of it's last eight versus teams with a losing record. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-30-18	Blazers v. Clippers UNDER 221		104-96	Win	100	27 h 18 m	Show
This is an 8* play on POR@LAC to go UNDER the total. The Clippers host the Blazers in their first game without Blake Griffin. The Blazers come in as winners of five of their last six, and during that span they gave up an average of just over 102 points per game. They rank in the Top 10 in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, surrendering just over 103 points per game this season. The Clippers had been playing some high scoring games with Griffin in the lineup, but they will be shorthanded here tonight, with Avery Bradley injured and Tobias Harris unlikely to play. These two teams have failed to reach the total in six of the last 10 heat to head meetings, and tonight's total is higher than it was in any of those previous contests. Only one of the previous 10 meetings in this series saw as many as 220 combined points. The under is 17-7-1 in the Trail Blazers last 25 games following an ATS win. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-30-18	Thunder -135 v. Wizards		96-102	Loss	-135	8 h 52 m	Show
88
01-29-18	Heat v. Mavs UNDER 197		95-88	Win	100	10 h 59 m	Show
This is an 8* play on MIA@DAL to go UNDER the total. The Miami Heat are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, ranking 3rd in opponent's scoring average. They have allowed fewer than 100 points in three straight games, and they have only scored 100+ points in one of their last five overall. They are on the road at Dallas tonight, and the Mavericks boast a Top 10 defense as well. The Mavs have failed to score 100 points in four straight games. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in six of the last seven meetings. The Mavs have gone under in four straight, and five straight when playing on one day's rest. Dirk Nowitzki has failed to score in double digits in three of his last four games, and he scored a combined 18 points on 6-of-22 shooting in his last two games. These two teams are both content to play old school basketball, and that should translate into another low scoring game in Big D. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-27-18	Hornets v. Heat -4.5	Top	91-95	Loss	-107	12 h 42 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Miami Heat. The Heat led by 12 points halfway through the fourth quarter in an 89-88 loss to Sacramento on Thursday, and such a devastating loss should provide plenty of motivation as they get set to Host Charlotte tonight. The Hornets are just 6-13 on the road, and they have lost five straight in this series versus Miami. The Heat covered the spread in all five of those games, and they are asked to cover just a handful of point here tonight. The Heat have been a great bet when coming off a loss, covering the spread in seven of their last eight such situations. The Hornets are coming off a blowout win at home over Atlanta last night, and Charlotte has failed to cover in four of it's last five when playing the second leg of a back to back. They are also 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win. Take MIA. GL, Jesse Schule
01-26-18	76ers v. Spurs -3.5		97-78	Loss	-108	11 h 24 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Antonio Spurs. The best home record in the league belongs to these San Antonio Spurs, who are 20-3 on their home floor. They host the Philadelphia 76ers tonight, and the Sixers own a .500 record on the road. The majority of those road wins would have come against the weaker opposition in the Eastern Conference, and they are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven visits to San Antonio. The Spurs have covered the spread in six of their last seven home games, and 11 of their last 16 versus teams from the Eastern Conference. They are coming off a blowout road win at Memphis, playing without their leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge, who took a rest day. Aldridge took a well deserved break after scoring 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting in a 114-102 win over the Cavs on Tuesday. The Spurs have only lost three home games all year, and one of those losses came against these Sixers. Revenge is on the menu tonight. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule

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