Tonight on the national TNT Doubleheader, we were hoping to get two inter-conference matchups of four teams that were supposed to contend. However, the Eastern Conference squads have not held up their end of the bargain and find themselves as big betting dogs tonight.
San Antonio Spurs @ Chicago Bulls
Odds: Spurs -6
The Spurs are beginning to look like their old championship selves again. San Antonio has thoroughly beaten Portland, Utah and Denver over the past several days and the Spurs have not only won, but have won comfortably. They have been buoyed by the return of Kawhi Leonard, the do-everything forward who makes San Antonio such a complete team because he can defend, rebound, take the ball to the rim, or shoot from outside and he’s averaged 16.3 points and 9.3 rebounds over his last three. Leonard is a highly important player who covers a lot of territory and makes things easier for his teammates, who don’t have to initiate plays as much. They can simply participate in plays and be more mentally ready to do whatever they have to do. San Antonio is now on a four-game winning streak and has gone 8-2 in its last 10 games. The Spurs look like a team ready to return to the top of the West.
Chicago, on the other hand, needs the All-Star break right now. The Bulls look tired, none more so than Derrick Rose. While his numbers look good, his field goal percentage has been fading, shooting below 37% over his last two games. This team is supposed to have a lot of depth but right now, they look beat up. Part of it is in fact because of injuries as Joakim Noah – one of their energy guys – will be out again tonight. As is Mike Dunleavy. It seems that things are going to get worse before they get better. Chicago has lost two in a row and is 4-6 in its last 10. Hard to believe but this Championship contender is a six-point home dog in this spot. That’s because they’re just a 12-10 at the United Center (compared to 15-9 on the road).
It’s wild to see them as such a big home dog but that just shows which way momentum is going for both sides. Take the Spurs. Pick: Spurs -6
Brooklyn Nets @ Los Angeles Clippers
Odds: Clippers -11.5
This is a game in which the Clippers are the obvious choice. Los Angeles hasn’t been brilliant this season but it has been solid, winning two-thirds of its games, being on track for a 54-win season in a very tough Western Conference. The Clippers have won two in a row and seven of their last 10. Some lineup sorting is occurring with the team having recently acquired Austin Rivers, the son of head coach Roc Rivers, but the Clippers aren’t letting it affect them all that much. Los Angeles is averaging 106.7 points per game, which is higher than every Eastern Conference team and is fourth overall in the NBA. This is a team that, on its own, should feel confident against anyone in the league with the exceptions of the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.
Against Brooklyn at home, the Clippers should feel very comfortable. The Nets are a mess, with ownership likely to change and star players not getting the job done. The team is 2-8 in its last 10 games, a terrible stretch for an organization that expected to contend for championships. The Nets are 17-24, which is absolutely unacceptable when you look at the talent they have: Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Jarrett Jack, and others. Garnett is about to retire, Johnson is averaging only 15.9 points per game, which is far less than the Nets expect, and while Williams got hot early in the season, he has cooled off since, averaging under 14 points per game and struggling to get regular minutes. He didn’t play in Wednesday night’s game against Sacramento, so he might not be available for this one either. So many guys are not pulling their weight. The Clippers have to think they can dictate from start to finish.
Los Angeles feasts on losing teams as they are 18-4 against sub-.500 teams this season. Thursday should be another one as they should get a big win. Pick: Clippers -11.5
