I am using the All Star break to review what I've done so far this season to help me out, not only to identify some spots that aren't working well this season, but also to prepare the second half of the season and to keep me updated about everything that is happening during this break.

I've noticed that since the New Year's day, I had two completely different records on my side and total plays. While I had a record of 41-28 on side plays, my record on total plays was 15-24, which tells me clearly the way I have to embrace from now on: side plays! The implications of this record compells me to focus much more on sides and to be much more selective and cautious regarding total selections, which will be fewer and, I hope, stronger.

As my way to be in this business is that give all the profit I can to my clients, I decided that every client who has bought the first half of the season package will get a full month for free and I am challenging myself that if I don't have more than 7 units of the current MM (1 units as regular play) of profit during this month, then the rest of the season will be for free for these clients. Please contact Marco to get your coupon.

For today, I have two plays (two sides) and I've also written some previews for today's games

 

 

Minnesota @ Washington

In here we have two teams who really wish the season ended at the all star game. The Wolves in the first game after the loss of Al Jefferson lost at home against the Raptors and his absence naturally was a huge handicap for them, after all we are talking about a guy who averaged 23.2 ppg, 11 reb/game and 1.8 blocks/game. The Wolves will use a smaller lineup and naturally will be push the tempo; they will play with undersized for center Kevin Love at center; Ryan Gomes at power forward and Mike Miller being a Small forward. It will be interesting to see if this team wants to compete or they are already thinking in the next season. The last factor is what the Wizards are doing for some time: wishing the new season to come quickly. Only Jamison and Butler are doing their usual numbers but they aren't enough to be competitive and the Wizards are the second worst team of the league. Butler said the following about his team: "You get us all healthy, we can beat anybody, hands down," ? We can be great next year." The key word is "next year"! Saying that, I don't think that we have any kind of value by betting on the Wizards, remember that they are 3-9 ATS & SU as favorite in this season. We are only fading one team just because their best player isn't playing anymore but we really don't know how this team will react. In other words, maybe the young kids of the Wolves are better than the kids of the Wizards.

 

Milwaukee @ Detroit

The Pistons have their worst record following the All-Star break since 2002 and the bad news is that until now they didn't make any kind of deal. They are 5-12 L17 games and not only their offense is a mess right now (it was always a mess since the Iverson-Billups trade) but their defense dropped considerably in the last games by suffering 121, 107, 107 and 99 points L4 games. I remember that the Pistons had a good run in December with 7 consecutive wins and in that span they allowed the opponents scored 98, 88, 76, 83, 75, 92 and 87 points. Without any kind of "D" the Pistons aren't going anywhere. Meanwhile, the Bucks played great after three key players went down due the injuries. Without Michael Redd, Bogut and Luke Ridnour, the Bucks had three home games where they were extremely competitive and scored 121, 124 and 122 points! Ramon Sessions played amazingly well on those contests; the tricky question is to know if the Bucks can play with the same energy on the road where the crowd is not supporting them! 7 points looks like way too many points for the Pistons although I have to understand they are 3-0 SU & ATS against the Bucks in this season despite all the problems in this season.

New Orleans @ Oklahoma City

In the case that you haven't noticed the Thunder are not anymore the worst NBA team and they're not competing to be the worst team ever in the NBA like some experts said after the dismal start of the season by them. In fact they are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games and some of those ATS wins were against Portland, Denver, Houston, Detroit or Utah. All of them have positive records and this shows the competitiveness of the Thunder right now. Today they will face another quality team: the Hornets. The Hornets lost their last 2 games and actually they are 4-6 L10 games. The most dramatic issue is that 8 of those games were played in New Orleans so the Hornets blew a good chance of winning at home. Of course the injury of Chris Paul didn't help at all but the good news is that he's back and only Tyson Chandler remains injured.  The Hornets lost their last 3 road games and they are shortly favored tonight, I remember that they are 7-3 ATS being away favorites but the Thunder wants revenge from the 2 previous losses against the Hornets.

 

New Jersey @ Houston

The Rockets will be without Tracy McGrady for tonight's game and honestly I don't know if it's good or bad for the team, at least we all know is that they he was playing lately maybe it will be good for him and for the team suit up and get better. The Rockets without him had no problem to handle the Kings before the all star break. They allowed only 82 points in that game and that's a defensive improvement taking in account that they suffered 124 points in the previous foe in Milwaukee. Tonight they will face the Nets who are fighting for the playoffs. Vince Carter was linked to some trade rumors but apparently nothing going to happen. The Nets lost their last 2 games against Orlando and San Antonio by 17 and 15 points so they look to bounce back tonight, remember that this team have a better road record 13-13 than home record 11-16 and they can be dangerous.

 

Memphis @ Utah

The Jazz went to the all star break in a good mood as they defeated the Lakers 113-119 at home. They are now 4-1 L5 games and they will play the next 4 games at home, the bad news is that after the Grizzlies they will face Boston, New Orleans and Atlanta. Deron Williams was the hottest player of the league in the last week by reaching 30's points and shooting better than 50% from the field on the last 4 games. Kirilenko and Boozer are still out but a healthy Williams is enough to carry this team on this kind of games. Meanwhile the Grizzlies improved dramatically with their new coach and they are 4-2 L6 games. Note that Rudy Gay is probably for this game and in the last game they went to Philadelphia without Gay and turned that game into a dogfight despite being 11 points underdogs!

 

 

Philadelphia @ Indiana

The Sixers was maybe the only good team of this league that didn't sent any player to the all star game. They are now 14-4 L18 games and this team looks to do the same thing as they did last season: finish strong and go to the playoffs. Their last win against the Grizzlies completed a span of 7 consecutive home games and now they face on the road the Pacers. The Pacers meanwhile won't be in the Playoffs if they continue to lose against "winnable opponents". Mike Dunleavy Jr is out for this contest and the Pacers are an unpredictable team and this will be a tough game for them.

 

Charlotte @ Orlando

The Magic had their worst loss of the season just before the all star break against Denver at home. They scored only 73 points in an amazingly bad shooting night ? only 30.4 % from the field. Turkoglu with 2-12 FG and Lewis 4-13 FG had an awful night and the Magic looks to bounce back tonight. They will face the Bobcats who apparently are completely healthy as Raja Bell and Gerald Wallace are probable for tonight. I don't know if they are ready to compete at 100%, this will be the key factor tonight. 8.5 points looks appellative for the Bobcats, but it's danger to go against a hungry top team who look for the bounce back. 

 

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Good Luck