NBA PRESEASON
10/30/2014

Orlando Magic vs Washington Wizards

Home - Orlando Magic
Last away matches - L-L-L-W-W-W

The Orlando Magic were crushed by the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, as they struggled from the field were sloppy with the ball. The Magic shot 38.1 percent from the field and turned the ball over 18 times. Tobias Harris led the way with 25 points, Nikola Vucevic grabbed 23 rebounds and rookie Aaron Gordon scored 11 points off the bench. The Magic held their own for much of the game but were outmaned by Anthony Davis in the paint and simply didn’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up. The Orlando Magic are a young team that’s going to need some time to become more competitive in this league. However, a combination of Gordon and Elfrid Payton has the potential to be very effective this season. Tobias Harris is questionable for this game with a knee injury.

Away - Washington Wizards
Last away matches - L-L-L-W-W-W

The Washington Wizards are coming off a Wednesday loss to the Miami Heat, a game in which they were outscored by 10 points in the second half. The Wizards have to be somewhat disappointed with the results, as they shot a solid 48 percent from the field and turned the ball over only 14 times. Drew Gooden and Marcin Gortat each scored 18 points while John Wall had 16 points and 11 assists. Paul Pierce was 6-10 from the field in his Washington debut and racked up five assists. Nene Hilario and DeJuan Blair, who missed the game due to suspension, are expected to participate in this game. The Washington Wizards played well enough to win the game in Miami, but now have to be pleased to get majority of their team back heading into this matchup.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+4.00)
Away - (-4.00)
Pick - Washington Wizards (-4.00)
Odds - 1.91
Stakes - 9/10
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NBA PRESEASON
10/30/2014

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Detroit Pistons

Home - Minnesota Timberwolves
Last away matches - L-W-W-W-L-W

The Timberwolves opened their season on the road for the first time since 2000-01 with a 105-101 loss Wednesday at Memphis. Thaddeus Young, who was acquired from Philadelphia in the three-team deal that sent Kevin Love to Cleveland, scored 26 on 10-of-18 shooting in his Minnesota debut. Despite being without Love, who averaged 12.5 rebounds in his final season with the club, the Timberwolves held a 47-33 rebounding advantage against a Grizzlies squad that finished fifth last season with an average rebounding margin of plus-3.2.

Away - Detroit Pistons
Last away matches - L-W-L-W-L-L

The Detroit Pistons lost to the Denver Nuggets during their season opener on Wednesday, 89-79. Josh Smith led the way with 25 points and Spencer Dinwiddie scored 15 points off the bench. While Andre Drummond shot 50 percent from the field and grabbed nine rebounds, he wasn’t nearly as aggressive and dominant as he was in the FIBA tournament. Detroit clearly missed Greg Monroe on the offensive end and the glass, but the big man is expected to miss this game as well to finish up his suspension. The Detroit Pistons need to discover more offensive weapons, as shooting 36.9 percent from the field simply isn’t going to cut it against anybody in this league. Expect guys such as Caron Butler and D.J. Augustin to be more aggressive off the bench in this matchup.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+4.00)
Away - (-4.00)
Pick - Minnesota Timberwolves (-4.00)
Odds - 1.90
Stakes - 10/10
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NBA PRESEASON
10/30/2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks

Home - Cleveland Cavaliers
Last away matches - L-W-W-W-W-L

All eyes will be on the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers tonight as they look to kick off their season with a win at home. After going just 33-49 last season, the Cavaliers took Andrew Wiggins with the first overall pick and looked to be fully set to rebuild around Kyrie Irving. Scrap that idea. LeBron James decided to return home which meant that the Cavs were able to draw in Kevin Love and the new Big Three of the NBA was formed. Most people have the Cavs winning it all this season, including the bookies, but it remains to be seen how well the new team can gel together in just one season. This team has looked fantastic in the preseason games but the real test begins tonight.

Away - New York Knicks
Last away matches - L-W-W-L-W-W

York Knicks kept busy in the offseason themselves and hired Derek Fisher as the new head coach to employ Phil Jackson's famous triangle offense. It's a system that many have struggled to learn in the past and it looks like the Knicks haven't quite gotten it down pat yet. Last night, Carmelo Anthony scored just 14 points as the Knicks got absolutely destroyed by the Bulls 104-80. The late scratching of Jose Calderon didn't help the cause but to be fair, he wouldn't have had that much impact because the Bulls simply played at a much higher level across the board.They are working their way through a new system on offense, the Cavs will be working out how to play with a new roster so don't be surprised if this game is full of turnovers and sloppy mistakes. It's tough to lay so many points on a team that has yet to play a game, but all I know for sure is that the Knicks struggled mightily last night and I'm not expecting their problems to improve overnight.

Asian Handicap
Home - (-11.50)
Away - (+11.50)
Pick - New York Knicks (+11.50)
Odds - 2.02
Stakes - 8/10
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NBA PRESEASON
10/30/2014

Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz

Home - Dallas Mavericks
Last away matches - L-W-L-L-W-W

Dallas Mavericks are coming off a loss of their own, but there's no real shame in falling one point shy of knocking off the defending champs on the road. Monta Ellis poured in 26 points while Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points as the Mavericks fell to the Spurs by 101-100 on opening night. Chandler Parsons who signed with the Mavs in the offseason struggled his way to just five points on two of 10 shooting, but had a wide open three just bounce off the rim with 0.4 seconds remaining. Parsons will still be thinking about the missed shot, but I wouldn't put too much blame on him because both Nowitzki and Ellis passed up the ball in that possession.

Away - Utah Jazz
Last away matches - W-L-L-W-W-W

The Utah Jazz are expected by most people to finish right at the bottom of the Western Conference like last season, but there are plenty of positives to draw from their 104-93 loss against the Rockets last night. Sure, a loss is still a loss, but Alec Burks led the way with 18 points, Derrick Favors added 16 and Trey Burke had 15 points as the Jazz hang tough in a game they would've lost by 20 last season. There's still plenty of work to do on defense because the Rockets were allowed to shoot 14 of 27 from the three-point line, but the Rockets led by as many as 13 points in the third before the young Jazz stormed back to within three points to start the fourth.

Asian Handicap
Home - (-11.00)
Away - (+11.00)
Pick - Dallas Mavericks (-11.00)
Odds - 1.98
Stakes - 10/10
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NBA PRESEASON
10/30/2014

LA Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Home - LA Clippers
Last away matches - L-L-L-L-L-L

The Los Angeles Clippers will be eager to write off the ugliness of last season after they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs following the Donald Sterling dramas. In the summer, LA signed Spencer Hawes and Jordan Farmar who will both play significant roles on this team, but probably their biggest move was taking in the excitable Steve Ballmer as their new owner. Finishing last season as the league's best offense, the Clippers did little to improve their defense. However, you just feel that the key players just need to stay healthy and we will see the LA right near the top of the Western Conference.

Away - Oklahoma City Thunder
Last away matches - L-L-W-L-W-W

The Oklahoma City Thunder hope Kevin Durant can get over his injury quick because even with Russell Westbrook pouring in 38 points last night, they still lost to the Trailblazers by 106-89. Lance Thomas added 14 points off the bench and Serge Ibaka had 10, but the Thunder completely fizzled out in the fourth quarter where the Blazers outscored them by 31-12. Durant did say after he had surgery that he won't rush his rehab at all, but after what I saw last night, his patience will surely be tested for a while.

Asian Handicap
Home - (-11.50)
Away - (+11.50)
Pick - Oklahoma City Thunder (+11.50)
Odds - 2.02
Stakes - 10/10