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Free NBA Picks: Pacers at Warriors Odds
by Dave Schwab - 1/20/2014

Monday’s action in the NBA closes things out with an inter-conference battle between the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena. This game is scheduled to tip off at 10:30 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on TNT.

Free NBA Picks: Bucks at Rockets Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/17/2014

The NBA season is an 82-game grind, so there are going to be bad losses for any team (just ask the two-time champion Miami Heat). The key thing about a bad loss is to immediately put it in the rear-view mirror and move on. Thus, I am very interested to see how Houston responds to an absolutely horrific home defeat on Thursday night to Oklahoma City when the Rockets host the NBA's worst team on Saturday, Milwaukee. There's no reason this shouldn't be a rout, but if the Rockets have a hangover and struggle, or actually lose, then that's on the coach.

Free NBA Picks: Blazers at Spurs Odds
by Aaron Smith - 1/16/2014

When the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs meet on Friday night, two of the very best teams in the Western Conference will square off for the second time this year. Portland beat San Antonio 115-105 at the Rose Garden in November. Portland had the best record in the NBA for much of the early season, but they have slowed down a bit of late.

Free NBA Picks: Knicks at Pacers Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/15/2014

Was the New York Knicks' five-game winning streak fool's gold or was Tuesday's loss at struggling Charlotte just one of those trap games? I lean the latter, slightly. I would argue only two of the Knicks' wins in that five-game run (4-1 ATS) were quality: at Dallas on Jan. 5 and at home against Miami last Thursday on TNT -- a game in which I recommended taking New York and the points.

Free NBA Picks: Nuggets at Warriors Odds
by Aaron Smith - 1/14/2014

The Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors will do battle on Wednesday night on ESPN. Golden State won the only meeting between these two so far this year. After a mediocre start, the Warriors have won 11 of their last 12 games overall. Denver sits only one game above .500 on the season, but the Nuggets have won five of their last six games overall. There’s always a lot on the line when these two teams square off.

Free NBA Picks: Cavaliers at Lakers Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/13/2014

It probably won't be a warm return to Los Angeles on Tuesday night for Cleveland head coach Mike Brown as he faces off against the Lakers for the first time since he was fired by the team early last season. As it turns out, it may have been the best thing to happen to Brown as the Cavs, at least right now, appear to have a brighter future than the Lakers.

Free NBA Picks: Wizards at Bulls Odds
by Dave Schwab - 1/13/2014

The Washington Wizards will pay a visit to the United Center this Monday night to square off against the Chicago Bulls in an Eastern Conference clash. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV.

Free NBA Picks: Bucks at Thunder Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/10/2014

There are mismatches and then there are mismatches. You won't see maybe but a handful bigger than Saturday night's matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks, the only team in the NBA still yet to get double-digit wins, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. To make it even more lopsided, the Bucks had to travel on Friday night after hosting Chicago. The Thunder have been off since Thursday.

Free NBA Picks: Heat at Knicks Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/8/2014

Surprise, surprise, the Miami Heat and New York Knicks are being showcased on the NBA's TNT Thursday doubleheader this week. Those two have to lead the league in such appearances. I rather like this rivalry because the Knicks think they are arch-rivals of Miami. The Heat consider the Knicks an annoying pest like a gnat and miles away from their basketball stratosphere. Of course, Miami won't even acknowledge Indiana as a rival, but that arrogance seems to work well with the Heat.

Free NBA Picks: Celtics at Clippers Odds
by Aaron Smith - 1/7/2014

The Boston Celtics head to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers Wednesday night. Boston has been slumping lately, while the Clippers have been up and down of late. Expectations are obviously much higher for the Clippers, and they are a sizeable favorite in this one.

Free NBA Picks: Raptors at Pacers Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/6/2014

Sometimes there's a thing called addition by subtraction. Rudy Gay was probably the best player on the Toronto Raptors since being acquired last season from Memphis. The problem is that Gay shot too much and, frankly, not well enough. Anyone can average around 20 points a night if they get the ball enough. He also wasn't very good defensively. So in a total salary dump, Toronto traded Rudy Gay to Sacramento in a seven-player deal in early December.

Free NBA Picks: Timberwolves at 76ers Odds
by Dave Schwab - 1/6/2014

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers will square off at the Wells Fargo Center this Monday night as part of a scaled-down three-game schedule in the NBA. The tip-off for this inter-conference clash is set for 7 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on NBA League Pass.

Free NBA Picks: 76ers at Trail Blazers Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/3/2014

Portland's Damian Lillard was the runaway Rookie of the Year winner in the NBA last season, and it looks like the guy he will undoubtedly be checking most of Saturday night, Philadelphia's Michael Carter-Williams, will be the same in 2014. The ex-Syracuse point guard lasted until the 11th overall pick because while he had tremendous size at 6-foot-6, was a deft passer and good defensive player, he simply couldn't shoot.

Free NBA Picks: Nets at Spurs Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/30/2013

In many ways, the overpaid, underachieving Nets are the exact opposite of their Tuesday opponent, the Spurs. It's one of the most class, professional organizations in sports, and you never hear about player in-fighting or locker room issues. Winning helps matters obviously.

Free NBA Picks: Suns at Clippers Odds
by Dave Schwab - 12/30/2013

The Phoenix Suns will try and gain some ground on the first-place Los Angeles Clippers when these two Pacific Division foes clash this Monday night at the Staples Center. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on NBA League Pass.

Free NBA Picks: Timberwolves at Bucks Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/27/2013

In many ways, handicapping Saturday NBA games is the toughest of the week. I write these previews on Fridays to get the information out early and obviously use the opening early lines. However, a lot of teams play back-to-back on the weekends because they want their arenas full on weekend nights when people are out and about. Makes business sense. I was leaning toward Miami at Portland for this Saturday -- a potential NBA Finals preview, although I still think the Blazers are frauds -- but no opening line there.

Free NBA Picks: Grizzlies at Rockets Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/25/2013

The next 2-3 weeks could determine whether or not the Memphis Grizzlies are sellers at the NBA's February trade deadline. Entering Wednesday's action, Memphis (12-15) is 13th in the ultra-deep Western Conference and three games out of the last playoff spot. The reason for the 2-3 week timetable is that is when the team believes center Marc Gasol, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, will return from a severely sprained MCL injury.

Free NBA Picks: Warriors at Nuggets Odds
by Dave Schwab - 12/23/2013

The Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets clash this Monday night at ORACLE Arena in the first meeting between these Western Conference foes since last season’s playoffs. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on NBA League Pass.

Free NBA Picks: Kings at Magic Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/20/2013

ESPN.com will be running a Tank Rank all season, listing the Top 10 NBA teams each week that are in tank mode to ensure they get into the draft lottery for the loaded 2014 class headed by super-freshmen Jabari Parker (Duke), Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) and Julius Randle (Kentucky). I think Parker goes first now, but that's a story for another day.

Free NBA Picks: Suns at Nuggets Odds
by Aaron Smith - 12/19/2013

The Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets enter Friday night’s meeting with identical 14-10 records. Before the season started, many expected the Suns to be among the worst teams in the NBA. Denver had relatively high expectations since they did win 57 games a year ago.