GREG GAMBLE’S 2008-09 HARDWOOD Picks: 66-50 ats…57%
NBA 47-36 - NCAA 13-12 - Teasers 6-2 - Church League 69-0
While Joahkim has a special look at times...
...I have feeling he'll be looking more like this after spending the night banging with Mr. Howard!
ORLANDO MAGIC (-2.5) @ CHICAGO BULLS
Coach Stan “the Adult Hedgehog” Van Gundy’s floor-spacing and tall-shooters surrounding Superman is a recipe for disaster for a team like Chicago. If you remember their last match-up at the United Center on New Year’s Eve, Orlando opened a 65-38 halftime lead before coasting to an easy victory. And the only difference tonight, they’ll be catching Mr. Howard playing with a Bron-Bron/Kobe type swagger, rested, and looking to dominate the house that Michael built & Madison Square Garden on a back-2-back (fyi, Michael Jordan not Ruffin).
I have a feeling this might cause some trouble for the Bullies!
Oh wait, never mind...they have Big Brad now!
Especially with rookie headmaster Vinny Del Scott Baio still trying to integrate his shaky defensive game-plan to a bunch of newcomers, this has the makings of a Courtney Love in a bikini-type of dreadful performance. While Tyrus Thomas has been extremely active protecting the bucket of late, with pseudo-PF Rashard Lewis spending 90% of every possession behind the arc, I’m guessing you’ll see more action from the other Thomas…Timmy “No-D” Thomas.
Just like our friend, Stan Van has the boys looking focused!
While Rose against the newly acquired Skip to my Lou (but skipping much slower) & AARP Anthony Johnson scares me a little, with the Magic Freakshow protecting the basket and Derrick looking a lil gased of late, I’m guessing the only way they pull an upset is if Ben Gordon blows-up for 40. But trust me, 6-5 rookie Courtney Lee is a solid defender, has the length to disrupt the miniscule Huskie, and can knockdown his fair share of shots (46-fg%, 43-3pt%) if defensive guru Mickael Pietrus (wrist-quest.) is unable to go…MAGIC BY 7-13 PTS
While the Bears have struggled of late, the Clones haven't looked happy outside their lockers in long, long time!
BAYLOR BEARS (-2.5) @ IOWA STATE CYCLONES
While both teams have been a disaster of late, the (16-10, 4-8) Bears four-guard attack opened the season 15-3 before the big-boys of the Big 12 decided to simply pound them underneath. But luckily, my alma mater’s only scoring big-man, 6-10 So. Craig Brackins (20 ppg & 9 rpg), does the majority his scoring from outside the paint. While I’m sure (13-14, 2-10) ISU will try to keep Brackins inside tonight, he has absolutely no help underneath or on the glass...as for some proof, a 6-1 white senior (did I mention he’s 6-1 & white?) is the team's second leading rebounder (Bryan Peterson 6 ppg 4 rpg 39fg%).
Speaking of the rest of the Clones...TOUCH ME HERE
Just like our friends flawless outfit, Baylor doesn't need much to cover tonight's line!
Speaking of the rest of the Clones, only So. G Diante Garrett (10 ppg, 5 apg, 40-fg%) has the quickness to stay in-front of the Bears lethal 4-guard attack, and trust me, Coach Drew will have those boys running & gunning all night. Even with the horrible stretch Baylor is on, I promise you Drew has them convinced they still have a shot at the Tourney & desperately needs this game to get things rollin'.
As for the "Hilton Magic" thing, I'm goin' w/ Paris ova Ames!
On ISU’s side, after losing a heartbreaker at home this weekend to Kansas State, they're down-n-the-dumps and just waiting to hear that Brackins is going pro at year’s end. As for that thing they call “Hilton Magic” in Ames, IA…sorry Homeboys, I just don’t see the same swagger for the players or from those crazy farm-boys in the crowd…BEARS BY 6-10 POINTS
