NBA Eastern Ugly Underdog
By Tony George
Toronto @ Philadelphia
The Raptors come in here tonight as a 9 point favorite and it looks easy to back to them, they are the better team and Philly has 13 wins on the year. But one has to look at recent rends this time of season as teams become cyclical, and I mean overall stats do not always tell the current picture, it is the last 5 games you want to emphasize in terms of how a team is playing right here, right now. The Clippers were a good bet early on, and now they are in a funk and their best player is out, as an example. Toronto’s recent form is a concern, they have lost 5 in a row and just got beat by the lowly Knicks.
The 76ers have played some good ball as of late, and play some good defense at home as well as they face the high flying Raptors who score 106 ppg on the road. Philly has managed to hold their last 7 opponents at home to 84 ppg and have won 5 out of those 7 home games playing that good defense. Toronto plays little defense as evidenced by them giving up 104 ppg on the road this year so Philly will get some open looks tonight and if they can maintain their defensive prowess they can hang within this generous number. Philly is a respectable 18-10-1 ATS at home this season and I think they give the Raptors all they want tonight and make this a close game.
Free Pro Pick on Philly +9
SHITTY WEEKEND- ***Tell it like it is - I bounce back tonight with a CBB Double Header- Wager with Confidence. I am waxing the books ass tonight.