Posts by Edward Brown4

I'm not feeling this Johnson over. Bradley should keep him under wraps here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUhaa-JJB9w

Anthony C (-27.5+) Cleveland vs NY @ 1.85. Fewer minutes due to the blowout potential. Amare is returning to the lineup.

San Antonio (-6.5) vs L.A. Lakers @ 1.85. Kobe is back in action! If the ball keeps spinning like it did during those games without him, even the underdog could pull an upset.

Cleveland (+8.5) vs New York @ 1.85. Two key Cleveland players are sidelined, and honestly, nobody seems to care. It’s a nasty matchup all around.

J. Smith (-16.5+) Atlanta vs Boston @ 1.70. Taking the over. Even though Bass is a defensive powerhouse, Smith tends to go big in high-stakes games.

The Minnesota Timberwolves take it! A solid 2-1 victory. It’s like finding that perfect extra nugget in the bag—unexpectedly great and exactly what you needed to see.
Minnesota looks like they’re just going through the motions lately. In that last matchup, Smith and Kaman absolutely dominated the boards against Peković and Love. Meanwhile, things are heating up big time for the Suns as they push for the playoffs!

Rest in peace to that 2011/2012 Timberwolves squad. A total heartbreak!

With five straight losses now—including that fourth one against a team with zero chance of making the playoffs—Minnesota has officially checked out. They clearly don't care about the season anymore, so I’m checking out too. Why waste precious time analyzing this mess? There is way too much action happening across the league right now to sit around watching Love and Pekovic let themselves get outplayed by players with half their talent.

That loss to the Hornets was really the breaking point. It was painful watching Love get absolutely dismantled by Jason Smith. An MVP candidate simply can't let a rotation player—especially a pick-and-pop specialist who can hold his own defending both bigs—bully him like that. Those 29 points from Love? Just window dressing. They don't hide the embarrassment of Smith dropping 26 on him while shooting a ridiculous 75%.

Once you realize Pekovic let Kaman letting him run wild like that, it’s obvious why the Wolves were doomed. It wasn't just about giving Smith and Kaman wide-open looks all night long—the real kicker was letting them dominate the glass. Without any edge in rebounding, Minnesota simply doesn't have the tools to beat anyone.

Watching this without even a shred of grit or professionalism makes it feel like you're sitting front row at a WWE match. I honestly can't wrap my head around why the front office lets such hard-earned credibility go down the drain like this. Sure, things are brutal right now—dealing with Pekovic's issues, missing Rubio and Reddick, and having a roster full of G-League rejects—but a lack of fire and willpower can only be explained by one thing: they're tanking.

It would be much easier to accept their season if they could actually influence their draft position, but that pick has been sitting with the Hornets for ages. Honestly, they might even be in a better spot than Minnesota right now. They’ve got superior depth with guys like Vasquez, Ayon, and Smith, plus they have twice the salary cap breathing room to make moves. Between those two lottery picks and keeping Eric Gordon via Bird rights, they could build a legitimate young core practically overnight.

Minnesota’s only real shot at landing a decent draft pick rests on Utah actually making the playoffs. If they do, the Timberwolves could snag that 15th or 16th spot—just enough to breathe some fresh life into the roster for next season. Since Utah has lottery protection, they should be safe; it’s tough to climb into that 8th seed when you're staring down the likes of Houston, Denver, and a deep Suns squad.

Looking at it this way, missing out on a top-tier lottery pick in such a loaded draft might actually be the catalyst this team needs. Since they can't rely on a rookie phenom, the pressure is entirely on finding solid starters through free agency—and that’s going to be an uphill battle. Between a lukewarm market and tight constraints, things look tricky. If they don't blow their budget on some nonsensical long-term deal this summer, they might have about $20 million to play with in 2013. But after that? Once those big contracts for guys like Al Horford or Rajon Rondo kick in, the breathing room vanishes.

It looks like that short-term deal for Love was actually a brilliant strategic move. It keeps their cap space flexible enough to hunt for a star who can truly utilize that franchise max they’re sitting on—especially since guys like Peković and Rubio are decent starters, but carry massive question marks. Honestly, pairing Love with Peković is like trying to build a house without any foundation; you just don't get that rim protection you need. And let's be real: trying to assemble a championship roster without a lockdown presence in the paint is an uphill battle.

To balance out his lack of scoring, Rubio is going to need two elite shooters by his side at all times—it’s like trying to fix a broken engine with just tape. Honestly, it's hard to justify paying franchise money to a guy who struggles to crack double digits in scoring. Practically speaking, the Timberwolves are stuck hunting for fringe All-Star talent. With limited opportunities ahead—they'll likely be a playoff team next year, which means losing that crucial high draft pick—they look like the textbook definition of a mid-tier team stuck in neutral. Their only real moves are swapping core players or hitting the reset button entirely, which might happen in three seasons when Love hits his early exit option.

Sure, we can dissect their season and potential, but with less than three weeks left and only about ten games per team on the schedule, my eyes are strictly on the playoffs. It isn't just about the race for those final seeds; it's about watching how the heavy hitters try to build momentum before the real battle begins.

Jefferson over 19.5 at 1.85—Utah is absolutely on fire right now! Three Spurs players are looking questionable tonight, though Duncan looks like a lock to suit up at least
Gasol over 17.5 at 1.85—honestly, it’s a done deal already
DeRozan over 17.5 at 1.85—already said it, it's a lock. Plus, Andrea Bargnani is down to doubtful for Monday against Indiana due to a calf issue
Orlando -6.5 against Detroit at 2.10—the chemistry just isn't there; Detroit has already knocked them down twice this season

04/09/12 G/F Quentin Richardson Back probable Monday vs. Detroit
04/09/12 C Dwight Howard Back expected to miss Monday vs. Detroit
04/08/12 F/C Ryan Anderson Ankle "?" Monday vs Detroit
04/07/12 G/F DeAndre Liggins Migraine "?" Monday vs Detroit
04/06/12 F Hedo Turkoglu Facial out for regular season

edit: enough hype about the Spurs. Let's pivot: Milwaukee Under 103.5. Their defensive matchups are going to be a nightmare

graniteotter6 said:Let's take this step by step:
Don't bank on a bet like "they might just slip up." Momentum is a force of nature—and I don't mess around by waiting for some "maybe next time" blunder.
Indiana vs. Toronto... hmm... lately, that Indiana squad has been playing like they're part of the same reckless club as the Orlando Magic, the Phoenix Suns, and those other teams that just don't know when to quit.
Both of this year's five-point spreads for India are looking like massive underdogs. It's like betting on a local high school team against a powerhouse like Alabama.🤷
I’ll pass on getting too deep into this one. That 99.5 line for Indiana feels like a total setup to bait people into an over—it smells like they're gearing up for a 90-point night, making the under a lock. As for Toronto and whether their star player suits up, if that line were sitting at a steady 95.5, I’d bet my life on the under. But with those books setting it at 89.5, they’ve hit the nail right on the head regarding the risk. You could easily see a wild outlier game here; look at yesterday, when Kleiza was totally MIA and they ended up dropping over 70 points. DeRozan and Calderon are absolute flamethrowers when they get hot, so in my view, the Indiana under lives or dies entirely based on how Toronto shows up.
Don't let the stats fool you when watching OKC—Ersan isn't exactly the only one putting points on the board over there.
I’m with you on that—104.5 is just way too high for Mil. It's like trying to fit a gallon of milk into a shot glass!👍 After breezing through that string of easy opponents lately, they’re finally hitting a brick wall today. It's going to be a tough one!

Edith Piaf: It’s like a total collapse under the weight of everything! 🤣
It’s like playing a hidden hand at a high-stakes table in Vegas—totally unpredictable! 🤣
Check this out: Utah just hit the OVER at 103.5, while at the exact same time, SAS is sliding under 105.5. It’s like watching one side of a seesaw drop while the other shoots up!🤣
Why the sudden pivot? Is everyone just jumping on the "under" bandwagon because they think Timmy sitting out makes it a lock? Or is this just a preemptive strike triggered by our little debate?
Now, this other part really catches my eye. We’re looking at UTE bar 104 while SAS sits stuck at 106. I've never seen anything like it—one side dropping while the other climbs! It's like watching a seesaw that refuses to balance.

Bottom line: I’ll take that two-point win like a housewarming gift, and we can just forget about all those missed three-pointers. Honestly, I'm looking at that 1.9 payout as my little Easter present!

Date | Rank | Athlete | Injury | Status
04/09/12 F/C Tim Duncan Rest "?" Monday vs. Utah
04/09/12 | G/F | Manu Ginóbili | Out | "?" Monday matchup against the Jazz
04/09/12 | PG | Tony Parker | Out | Status check for Monday against the Jazz?

Indiana vs. Boston. A tough night ahead for the Celtics. They need to control the boards, find more depth, and tighten up that passing lane pressure. They also need a lockdown small forward and some solid rim protection for Brad Stevens to work with—plus, they've got to stop giving up easy buckets in transition.

Golden State vs. Denver. Denver is absolutely heating up right now, fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Golden State is playing without Steph Curry, so they’ve been experimenting heavily with rookies and testing out different rotations. Aside from Klay Thompson, it feels like they're still searching for a steady hand.

Granger over 19.5 points. The Celtics currently rank 19th in defensive efficiency against small forwards. Looking at his recent stretch, he's hit the over in about 10 of his last 11 games—provided they weren't total blowouts.

A quick take from the Pacers fans' corner of the forum.

Hey everyone, it's your resident board anthropologist checking in. You know what my favorite thing about Danny Granger is? The constant upward trajectory. He just keeps getting better.

Back when the season kicked off, critics were throwing a lot of shade at Danny:

1. Couldn't create his own look.
2. Struggled with ball handling.
3. Shot too much.
4. Disrupted the offensive rhythm.
5. Chased low-percentage looks.
6. Settled for jumpers instead of attacking the rim to get to the line.
7. Slacked off on the defensive end.

This season is a perfect example of why coaching is everything. Look, I won't pretend that those criticisms weren't valid a year ago. There was some truth to them. But fast forward one year of working under Coach Vogel, and look at the transformation.

1. Danny is creating his own shots now, whether it's attacking the lane or working the post.
2. His handles have leveled up big time. Did you catch that classic 2009-style spin move tonight? Where has that been hiding for the last two seasons?
3. He's fully embraced the "we all score" mentality. Honestly, there have been nights this year where I actually wanted him to shoot *more*. As we head toward the postseason, his volume has increased because he's carrying the load. I'm all for it, because:
4. His shots are almost always within the flow of the offense. It rarely feels forced anymore. Even looking at tonight—sure, the fourth quarter was a bit shaky on efficiency—but generally, he’s just playing within the system.
5. His shooting splits have been climbing all season. Part of that is just finding his rhythm, and part of it is simply being more selective with his shots.
6. He'll always be a shooter at heart, but the man has been relentless about driving to the hoop and hunting for fouls.
7. Defense? He’s never going to be a lockdown perimeter stopper like Paul George, and yeah, Kevin Durant went scorched earth on him tonight with a 40-piece. But the hustle is real. He buys into the scheme and isn't afraid to put his body on the line. How many times has he dove for a loose ball in the last fortnight? Is there any player on this roster with more heart when it comes to saving a possession?

Season after season, game after game, Danny is turning his liabilities into assets.

How can you not pull for a guy like this?

Nicholas Chase34 said:Scola over 16.5 @ 1.85 German Boozer

German Boozer's defensive grit really needs to start paying off out there! 🤣

It looks like we won't be seeing much Boozer alongside Scola tonight. Instead, it's Scola, Joakim Noah, and Asik. Honestly, Noah is easily the best perimeter defender at his position in the NBA, and Asik is more than long enough to cover Scola's parabola.
The total will land under 17.5 HL.

Take Dillon Gay under 19.5. Kevin Durant has been locked in on defense lately, so he should be limited mostly to outside jumpers. As for drives to the rim, Serge Ibaka is among the NBA elite when it comes to shot-blocking—his defensive lateral movement is top-tier, too. Plus, Oklahoma keeps their small forwards shooting under 40% from deep.

Marc Gasol over 15.5. Since Oklahoma 2 is basically the worst defensive unit in the NBA, Chris Hollins shouldn't be playing foolishly. He really needs to adjust the Gameplan to feed Gasol more shots!
The Bucks are facing some serious hurdles today. With Devin Booker averaging a double-double over this last month and Nen fitting in so seamlessly with the Washington Wizards—especially with that defensive boost—both being sidelined or questionable changes everything. Honestly, the Wizards have more to gain from an upset here than a win, whereas a loss for the Bucks would pretty much kill their playoff hopes.
Chicago - Houston at 1.30. It’s a small spread, but Chicago always seems to play with a chip on their shoulder after a loss. Especially playing at home, and especially after getting blown out like they did last night. With Houston missing K. Martin and Lowry, this whole bet really rests on Scola. If they keep the pressure on Scola, a Chicago win shouldn't be in question. We might even see Rose and Hamilton back in the lineup tonight!

Hey everyone!

Bosh over 16.5
He’s sitting at 18.2 PPG this season. He’s really found his rhythm lately, dropping 29 and 23 points in his last two outings, while only missing about 4 shots per game. Detroit has been giving up 23 points to PF players and shooting 27% against them. He's averaging 21.7 PPG on 50.6% shooting. There's some doubt surrounding LeBron due to head, neck, and elbow issues. Even if he does suit up—though he mentioned yesterday he would, but http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AB1EW41WzI—Bosh should be able to pick up some of those extra shots. Plus, if LeBron plays through the injury, he'll likely take fewer attempts himself. Detroit's defense is pretty shaky when it comes to defending mid-range shots from PFs, so Bosh could easily find some easy garbage-time buckets—maybe 2 or 3 right there. In their last meeting, they averaged 25.1 points, and Bosh put up 27.

Bargnani under 17.5
The Knicks have a massive hole in their PF defense (Stats shows they are struggling big time), but when facing an elite PF who serves as the engine of an offense, the coach usually brings in Chandler to handle business. Chandler is easily in the top 5% of defensive players. Bargnani has been out for two months with an injury; he returned on March 10th and just hasn't regained his offensive touch. In his last eight games, he only cleared this line twice—scoring 18 against Memphis and 19 against Cleveland. (Cleveland allowed 27 points to PFs in the NBA without their primary defensive big man, who used to be an All-Defensive selection; against Memphis, the Raptors went for 114 points, so tonight the team should realistically score about 20 points less). The Knicks and Raptors played just three days ago, where Bargnani finished with 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

Ray Allen under 14.5
The Celtics are on a back-to-back, and Ray is 37 now. He’s arguably the greatest shooter ever with the smoothest mechanics you'll see. His whole game relies on the three and shots outside the paint. However, Philly is playing at home and boasts one of the best defenses in the NBA, especially regarding frontcourt coverage. They allow a mere .248 percentage for frontcourt threes, and their perimeter defense is the best in the league, holding opponents to .386 from mid-range and deep. They also rank second in the league at guarding the SG position, allowing only 1.5 to 4.5 made threes per game. Ray will be matched up against sophomore Evan Turner—a fantastic defender who is faster, taller, and stronger than Ray. These teams met once this season when Ray was also on a back-to-back; he struggled with just 2 points on 0-for-5 shooting and two free throws.

Studemire over 17.5
Last year, Stats showed he led the NBA in scoring efficiency relative to minutes played. This season, his productivity has dipped a bit because of all the new offensive talent joining the roster, but the skill is definitely still there. He’s scored 20+ in each of his last two games. While the Raptors are decent at guarding PFs (ranking 12th in the NBA), they struggle against PFs with high-quality mid-range shooting (especially since Bargnani is falling out of the defensive rotation), and Studemire is easily a top-5 player at his position. They've faced off twice this season, with him scoring 21 and 22 points. Since the other PF, Jeffries (who averages 20.3 minutes), is 100% out tonight, Studemire should see plenty of floor time.

Good luck!