NBA Eastern Conference Free Picks

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS +9 over Boston Celtics

Wondering why the line is moving away from Boston? Because Charlotte is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against the Celtics. With Boston plummeting against the line lately, a 1-5 ATS record standing as proof, the Celtics are in desperate need of a big spread victory to boost the faith their BetUS Sportsbook online NBA betting faithful have in them. With word swirling around that Stephon Marbury is coming to town, it’s only going to serve as a veritable distraction. It’s not the talent that Boston should be worried about – it’s the media storm that follows Starbury around. Averaging a 10.0 point differential against the opposition is a strong reason to take Boston. But their 1-5 ATS record over the course of their last 6 road games is a heavy reason not to.

Washington Wizards +12.5 over Orlando Magic

This happened last year with the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas bowed out of action and the Wiz took some time to acclimate to the loss of the main cog in their scoring engine. Now they’ve done it, and have gone 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games, as well as 4-1 ATS in their last 5 on the road. Arenas’ loss is glaring, but don’t sleep on Jamieson and Caron “Tough Juice” Butler making up for the deficit.

Orlando has gone a steady 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games, and are nearly invincible against the spread at home. But as expectations mount, Howard is going to be invariably let down by the mistake-prone Hedo Turkoglu and the depleted bench. I like the wily Wizards to start courting betting investors with a strong run to kick off 2009. Bank on it.

Houston and Philadelphia over BETTING COMMUNITY

When you get a game featuring two marquee teams that are ravaged by the injury bug, below expectation and letting down the betting bunches out there, you turn and RUN AWAY. Houston is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games, plus 1-4 SU in their last 5 games. Sure they’re carrying a 9-3 SU record in their last 12 games against Philly, but don’t be fooled. These teams face each other two, maybe three, times a year. I hate Philadelphia. I don’t trust Houston. This matchup is making me angry. Take the home team if you really want to. If you tied my arm behind my back, kicked me in the groin, and covered my face with au jus and unleashed a pack of rabid dogs on my mug, then I’d probably take Houston with a -3.5 point spread. But then again, the latter option sounds better than watching this game.

CHICAGO BULLS -9 over Sacramento Kings

Kevin Martin may be back, but that hasn’t improved Sacramento by much. The Kings are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games and are still sitting on an abysmal 8 victories this season. This matchup is bad for Sacramento, especially as they’re coming in to Chi-town on the back end of a road trip where they haven’t won a single game. Granted, they haven’t lost by a 9-point margin, but they just wrapped up an 8-point loss to the Nets last night. If you don’t think that’s enough to get the Bulls raging towards a spread victory, then God help the lowly Bulls. Seriously.