These are from ATSEdge
Milwaukee at OKLAHOMA CITY (-2')
By Bobby Maxwell, Featured Handicapper
We're on a 79-71 Bonus Play run and tonight we're coming with a comp winner on the hardwood as we play the new Oklahoma City Thunder as they open at home against Milwaukee.
The former Seattle Sonics open their new home in Oklahoma City as the Thunder. The arena will be rocking and will motivate the players to come through with a win. Plus they get a Milwaukee team coming in off a loss in Chicago on Tuesday night. So a tired team in a new arena in front of raucous fans means we play the Thunder to win their first ever regular season game.
Oklahoma City has some solid players in Jeff Green, Kevin Durant, Nick Collison and PG Earl Watson. And you know there will be a lot of emotion for these guys as they play their first game in front of the Oklahoma fans.
In two meetings last year, the former Sonics split with the Bucks with each team winning at home, including the Thunder's 104-98 win as a six-point favorite. The home team is 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings between these two and the Thunder, as the Sonics, went 13-3 ATS the last 16 overall meetings witih Milwaukee.
The Bucks are just 3-10 in their last 13 road games, including the 13-point loss in Chicago Tuesday.
Let's go ahead and play the Thunder as these youngsters put on a good show for the new fans. Play Oklahoma City.
2? OKLAHOMA CITY
Milwaukee at OKLAHOMA CITY (-2')
By Sports Gambling Hotline, Featured Handicapper
Big opening night tonight in Oklahoma City, as the Thunder make their NBA debut, and we think the chances are good for a Thunder win, and cover.
Milwaukee does come into town having already played a game, as the Bucks were double-digit losers last night at Chicago.
We feel it is safe to assume that you will see a little added emotion from the Thunder players, as they want to make a good impression in their new city.
The former Sonics did split last year's season series with the Bucks, as the home team won and covered in both meetings.
We see little evidence to think that the home team won't prevail again tonight, especially with the Bucks playing on back-to-back nights.
Too much emotion from the rocking home crowd here, as the home faithful will the Thunder to a win and cover in their first official NBA game.
Play on Oklahoma City.
3? OKLAHOMA CITY
Memphis at HOUSTON (-12)
By Karl Garrett, Featured Handicapper
The G-Man came through with a college football comp play winner last night on Buffalo to make it a 21-13-1 comp play run.
Tonight I like the Houston Rockets to romp past the Memphis Grizzlies.
After watching Memphis is the preseason, my belief is this could be the worst team in the Western Conference, and chances they are going to stay close in this game against the revamped - see Ron Artest - Houston Rockets are slim, and none.
Memphis was able to win just 8 games outright on the road last season, while going just 19-22 against the spread on the road for the year on the highway.
Houston was one of the league's better teams at home where they compiled a 32-12 straight up mark, and a 26-17 spread mark - playoffs included.
The Rockets also won, and covered the last 3 season series meetings against the Grizzlies, and have taken 7 of the last 8 season series meetings straight up, while covering in 5 of those 8.
G-Man has to lay the big lumber on opening night, as this one will get ugly.
Take the Rockets.
1? HOUSTON
New Orleans (-5') at GOLDEN STATE
By Drew Gordon, Featured Handicapper
Easy Bonus Play winner on the Lakers routing the Trail Blazers 96-76, part of my 3-0 Sweep (incl. Freebie) across the board Tuesday! We keep it rolling on the Hardwood Wednesday...
At first glance this game has all the makings of a trap, a top-tier team visiting what will be a bottom feeder this season, and yet a relatively reasonable price. However, this early in the season, oddsmakers are at their most vulnerable, with only sparse information and preseason basketball to use as tools. We'll take the MUCH better (and healthier) team in this one.
First of all, the loss of Baron Davis to the Clippers, Monta Ellis to injury, Pietrus to the Magic, and Barnes to the Suns changes everything. They were going to struggle without Davis anyways, but tack on those other 3 guys mentioned above, and this is a completely different team with A LOT less talent.
Second, let's make something clear, Corey Maggette is a good player, but he's no replacement for Baron Davis. He had a good season on a bad team last year, but has been nothing but a "me-first" player his entire career and cares about nothing more than his stats, period. Also note, Maggette is dealing with hamstring strain and is questionable, which doesn't bode well even if he does play.
Finally, from a match up standpoint, the Hornets have the edge at virtually every position. Paul might have had issues with the speedy Ellis, but no Ellis means Paul can roam free. West, Chandler, and Stojakovic are all coming off strong years and should flourish once again with the league's BEST point guard at the helm. And let's not forget the addition of forward James Posey, an excellent perimeter defender and solid 3-point shooter.
Bottom line, its basically Stephen Jackson and a hobbled Maggette versus the Hornets in this contest, and needless to say, I'll take the Hornets every time. However, before you blow your whole bankroll on this game, remember its still very early, and the Hornets will look sloppy at times. Considering this is the first game of the season for both teams, we'll make this one a small play on the Hornets.
Take New Orleans over Golden State in this NBA match up.
1? NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans (-5') at GOLDEN STATE
By Michael Cannon, Featured Handicapper
A loss on the Blazers last night as Greg Oden gets shut out in his debut. I’m still on a 9-2 run with my last 11 overall Bonus Plays.
Take New Orleans as the road chalk over Golden State.
Huge point guard advantage for the Hornets with Chris Paul. The Warriors no longer have Baron Davis and Monta Ellis is injured and suspended.
The Hornets pushed the Spurs to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals last season after winning a franchise-best 56 games, and they seemed poised to make a deep run this year.
Throw in newly signed James Posey and this team doesn’t have any glaring weakness as it tips off the season tonight.
Golden State is going to need time to try and find scoring after losing Davis and Corey Maggette, their two top scorers from last year.
Take New Orleans minus the points as they grab the win and cover.
3? NEW ORLEANS
Lakers (-9') at CLIPPERS
By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
We're on an 8-2 run with complimentary selections, including four straight since Sunday.
Tonight we play the Lakers over the Clippers.
Just getting warmed up last night with a 20-point win over the Trail Blazers, I'm thinking the Lakers will be just as relentless tonight on the same exact floor, while immediately establishing their dominance in the greater Los Angeles area.
While the Lakers have the same chemistry - if not better with a healthy Bynum in the lineup - the Clippers are dealing with a new lineup and will be looking to find a groove with one another. And this is not the best matchup find it, 'this' being the season-opener and 'this' being their first meeting with the defending Western Conference champions.
The Lakers won all four meetings with their intra-city rivals last season by an average of 26.0 points. Nothing changes in this one, as the Purple and Gold score another double-digit win.
4? LAKERS
