Karl Garrett
20 DIMERS - CLEVELAND CAVS, PHOENIX SUNS, TAMPA BAY (Sonnanstine over Hendrickson)
20 DIMER - CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Philadelphia picked the wrong time to go into a funk. Sure, the Sixers are in the playoffs, but after losing 3 in a row - inlcuding a double-digit loss last night at Chicago - the 76ers may wind up as the 8th seed before the season is all said and done.
That would be bad news, as tonight's foes is the one they would wind up playing, and as well all know, playing Cleveland is no picnic for anyone, especially not the 76ers who are 0 for their last 4 straight up against the Cavs, and 0-3 against the spread in the last 3 showdowns!
Overall, Cleveland has won 8 of the last 10 meetings, with 6 covers along the way.
Yes, the Cavaliers do have a Sunday showdown at home with Boston, but with the chance they may be playing Philly in the 1st round, the G-Man doubts the Cavs will take Philadelphia lightly.
Lay the points here.
20 DIMER - PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns will be missing the playoffs for the first time since the '04 season, but this team still has pride, and this is a cheap price when you consider Phoenix has won ALL 10 of the last 10 series meetings, and they have covered in 6 of the last 8 series showdowns.
Yeah, Memphis is on a 6-game cover streak, but let's be serious at this near pick price, who would you rather side with?
I know my answer, and it is a 20 Dimer on the Suns baby!
20 DIMER - TAMPA BAY RAYS (Sonnanstine over Hendrickson)
Here is another case of a very cheap road favorite, much like the Cavs, and the Suns I just listed above.
Tampa Bay took 2 out of 3 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, and now the sledding gets considerably easier against a Baltimore team that somehow took 2 of their opening 3 against the Yankees.
I don't think the O's will be so lucky this weekend, as Tampa thoroughly dominated them in last year's season series, going 15-3 overall against their division rival.
That 15-3 mark includes a nice 7-2 ledger at Camden Yards, one of those wins tossed by tonight's starter Andy Sonnanstine who went 8 innings while allowing just 1 run to score in a start against Baltimore last May.
Mark Hendrickson counters, and the lanky lefty was no mystery to Tampa hitters last season, allowing 8 runs in just 10 innings in a pair of July starts that saw him absorb losses in both starts!
Have to back the defending AL East champs at this reasonable price.
Today's Complimentary Selection
It is a 12-4 comp play run for the G-Man coming into Friday's NBA action!
While it may a little too late for the Bobcats, I am rolling with Charlotte to cover the road impost at Oklahoma City tonight.
Charlotte still has a playoff pulse, but they must win out, and hope for some help from above. Hey, stranger things have happened, and the fact remain the Thunder are crawling to the finish line right now, losers of 9 of their last 11 straight up.
The points haven't been much of a help for Okie City either, as they have dropped 8 of those 11 against the math.
The Bobcats just ended a 3-game slide with a win over Philadelphia the other days, and they have won the last 3 meetings against Oklahoma City, going 2-0-1 against the spread in those 3.
G-Man laying the small road chalk, and backing the Bobcats.
3♦ CHARLOTTE
(on a 1♦ to 5♦ basis)