CRIER'S CORNER - THE CRIER - NOVEMBER 24, 2010

CRIER'S CORNER

Written by: The Crier

Date posted: 11/24/2010

OH MY LORD,

ON THIS DAY OF THANKSGIVING, 

THE CRIER THANKETH THOU, 

FOR GIVING HIM MORE WINNERS THAN LOSERS!

AMEN!

BASKETBALL ACTION

Yesterday’s Record ATS: 4-0
Cumulative Season Record ATS: 68-33


Today’s Action (for reading purposes only):


NBA


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24


NEW YORK at CHARLOTTE* (TOTAL UNDER 205.5)
Hope these teams were on the same plane as they just pitted skills in the Garden last night with Knicks holding on by three thanks to Toney Douglas’ five three-pointers. It’s always a chore to beat teams back-to-back in this scenario and if the Bobcats can win the war on the boards, like they did last night by 11, they should sleep in their own beds happy and a little more tired as will the Knicks in this back-to backer. CHARLOTTE, 93 - 88


NEW JERSEY (+10.5) over BOSTON*
The last time Celts were home they were as flat as a pancake in loss to Thunder. That won’t happen here as Celts come off a great game in Atlanta when they beat the Hawks by 22 in the first half and never looked back. And the win came without spark plug Rajon Rondo, who has a hammy and is questionable here. Nets got a career game from Brook Lopez last night, get a lot of points here, and have an underrated scorer in Anthony Morrow. BOSTON, 107-103


ORLANDO* (-4) over MIAMI
Revenge just might be sweet for the Magic in this game. They were stung when Heat beat them in late October by 26. A key player from that game will be out for Miami as Udonis Haslem, who had 11 and 11 in that win. Haslem has a torn ligament in his foot and his loss is crucial. This is what D. Wade, who is battling a sore wrist, said about him earlier this year, Wade: “UD is the glue guy of this organization. You need a guy like him on every team to be successful. You look for a guy who doesn’t complain, who’s an unbelievable professional.” Enough said. ORLANDO, 105 - 94


GOLDEN STATE (+5.5) over HOUSTON* (TOTAL UNDER 217)
Rockets played Bay Area boys in second game of the year in a back-to-backer losing a barn-burner when the long-ball killed Houston connecting on only 4 of 16. Not happy with what the Rockets displayed in the loss to Phoenix on Monday. Their collective body language was bad, Luis Scola was snapping at his own teammates and Kevin Martin appeared to be sulking. Look for boys from Oakland to rebound here after their best player, Monta Ellis, only shot 7 for 22 in the loss to Denver Monday. GOLDEN STATE, 96-94


NEW ORLEANS at UTAH* (TOTAL OVER 193)
Some consider these two point guards, Chris Paul and Deron Williams to be the best in the league and they are certainly in the conversation. Both teams doing great work with Jazz putting together unbelievable road run already and ‘Orleans posting top numbers in the league. This should be a good one as Utah plus 8 in the scoring ledger while Big Easy guys plus 7. UTAH, 109 - 106


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25


WASHINGTON (+8) over ATLANTA*
Visitors held it together pretty good in only John Wall’s second game of his NBA career in first match-up with ATL this year when he went for 28, had 9 dimes and only 3 turnovers. Gil Arenas didn’t play either and Wiz just lost by 2 buckets. Wall looked like a 10-year pro last night at crunch time when he forced a stupid foul 35 feet away from the hoop, then calmly hit all 3 free throws to force overtime. WASHINGTON, 99 – 98


COLLEGE HOOPS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24


MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE* (-4.5) over EVANSVILLE
Aces in the midst of a holiday-week road grind, culminating with Saturday’s date at Butler – a matchup which means far more to visitor than this one. MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE, 72-61


UTAH STATE* (-10) over UTAH
Obvious WAC favorites replete with veteran leadership, keyed by relentless board-crashing forwards who can shoot, playing on a triple strength floor – what’s not to like - unless Utes stoke up rivalry fires. UTAH STATE, 80-64


WICHITA STATE (-4.5) over VIRGINIA (LAHAINA, HI)
Wahoos can go home happy, now that they’ve captured one scalp – Oklahoma’s. Shockers are legit and headed back to the NCAAs, barring disaster, while Virginia’s at least a year away, and Wichita does what Virginia does, better than Cavs do it. You get past the top in the ACC, and what is there, really? WICHITA STATE, 71-60


LASALLE (+9.5) over MISSOURI (CANCUN, MEXICO)
Marked class difference here, but the increased inside presence which made the difference for Explorers vs. Friars could keep this superficially-close. MISSOURI, 76-73


VILLANOVA (-5.5) over UCLA (MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY)
Bruins can ill-afford to be without F Malcolm Lee (sprained left ankle) n this spot – and Ben Howland’s also waiting out frosh G Matt Carlino’s concussion. Howland’s calling card is defense, but suspect ‘Nova will put this foe to acid test with Gs Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes. ‘Cats put on strong finish and prevail. VILLANOVA, 69-58.


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25


TEXAS A&M (-6) over BOSTON COLLEGE (ORLANDO, FL)
Tellin’ ya – you go below the first flight in this year’s ACC, and you find yourself in some very iffy neighborhoods. TEXAS A&M, 70-58


CALIFORNIA (+5.5) over TEMPLE (ORLANDO, FL)
Tricky intersectional read. Temple’s Temple . . . experienced, tough kids - clearly good enough to be ranked, at this point. Temple’s ranking may serve as a rallying point for the Bears. Let market dictate position. CALIFORNIA, 69-66.


CS NORTHRIDGE* (+17.5) over VIRGINIA TECH (ANAHEIM, CA)
CSN’s HC Bobby Braswell was an assistant to Seth Greenberg at Long Beach, twenty years ago. Braswell has a nice player in Lenny Daniel, and the home advantage, but unless Tech gets victimized by the whistle, as they did against Kansas State, this should not be a hard row to hoe. VIRGINIA TECH, 73-63


OKLAHOMA STATE (-10) over DEPAUL (ANAHEIM, CA)
No light at the end of the tunnel for Blue Demons, who lost to Western Carolina – AT HOME – leading into this. Couple of DePaul homeboys come from Southern California locales, so many happy returns, guys, but State’s Marshall Moses, Kelton Page and Darrell Williams hold the hammers. Williams is JUCO-transfer inside force who also received an offer from De Paul. You’ll see why, as a defense which has averaged five blocks a game this year and menacing offensive rebounding puts DePaul in a bad, bad way. OKLAHOMA STATE, 73-48

THE CRIER