Categories
NBA

N.Y. Knicks vs. L.A. Lakers Christmas Day NBA Preview & Free Pick

Knicks vs Lakers NBA Handicapping

Forget Kobe Bryant.

Forget, for now, Steve Nash’s return to the Lakers and what it means.

The Lakers don’t end the nonsense that has been the first two months of the NBA season and start to act like the dominant team we all thought they’d be until Dwight Howard plays like Dwight Howard.

Categories
NBA

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Christmas Day NBA Preview & Free Pick

Celtics vs Nets NBA Handicapping

It kind of sucks to be Doc Rivers these days.

His team has showed little sign of life as it meanders through the first third on the NBA schedule, the new players brought on board to give the team depth haven’t come close to performing the way anyone in Boston thought they would, and on Christmas Day the Celts start a 4-game road trip in Brooklyn and includes three games on the West Coast.

Categories
NBA

Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs Cappers Sunday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Mavs vs Spurs NBA Handicapping

For the Dallas Mavericks, it’s time to start grinding.

It’s been two months since Dirk Nowitzki underwent knee surgery, and while he is expected back shortly after Christmas, the team knows that his return to the lineup means only that his training camp will start.

Categories
NBA

Sacramento Kings vs. L.A. Clippers Cappers Friday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Kings vs Clippers NBA Handicapping

Something’s happening; what it is ain’t exactly clear.

The lyrics from the old song by the 1960s folk group Buffalo Springfield applie now to the Los Angeles Clippers, who have won 11 straight games and demanded a place at the table with the powers (Oklahoma City, San Antonio) of the Western Conference.

Categories
NBA

Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks Cappers Thursday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Heat vs Mavericks NBA Handicapping

Is the NBA on the level?

There are elite teams, of course, but is the playing field level for everyone? Or does the league give a huge edge to superstars, as ref-gone-bad Tim Donaghy alleges?

Categories
NBA

OKC Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Cappers Thursday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Thunder vs Timberwolves NBA Handicapping

Timing has always been a problem in Minnesota.

When the Timberwolves had Kevin Garnett in his prime years, the team just couldn’t figure out a way to assemble enough complementary pieces to make a legitimate move to elite status in the Western Conference.

Categories
NBA

Brooklyn Nets vs. N.Y. Knicks Cappers Wednesday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Nets vs Knicks NBA Handicapping

It’s doubtful that casual NBA fans know that Mike Woodson is the coach of the New York Knicks.

Categories
NBA

Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls Cappers Tuesday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Celtics vs Bulls NBA Handicapping

Is it possible that the Boston Celtics will not make the playoffs?

Miles (59 games) remain on an endless 82-game NBA season, but at this point the Celtics appear to have few answers in a season that has produced a large number of bumps in the road.

Categories
NBA

San Antonio Spurs vs. OKC Thunder Cappers Monday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Spurs vs Thunder NBA Handicapping

The Thunder keep moving the chains.

2008-09 – Last place
2009-10 – Western Conference quarterfinals
2010-11 – Conference finals
2111-12 – NBA Finals

Categories
NBA

L.A. Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Cappers Sunday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Lakers vs 76ers NBA Handicapping

Only a convenient turn in the schedule that took the Lakers to the nation’s capital on Friday night has enabled Mike D’Antoni’s beleaguered team from carrying a 5-game anchor of a losing streak to Philadelphia tonight.

Categories
NBA

Kings vs. Thunder Cappers Friday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Kings vs Thunder NBA Handicapping

With the Sacramento Kings it’s not always about basketball, which seems a little odd. But over the last few years the focus has been on the owners (the Maloof Brothers) or the gasoline-and-fire personality of angry big man DeMarcus Cousins.

Categories
NBA

Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Cappers Wednesday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Spurs vs Trail Blazers NBA Handicapping

Pass, pick, cut to the hoop, layup. Play defense. Do it again. And again. Every game.

Categories
NBA

Lakers vs. Knicks Warriors vs. Heat Cappers Thursday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Lakers vs Knicks NBA Handicapping

The pressure builds and builds and builds on Kobe Bryant’s 34-year-old shoulders as the Lakers stumble through the first part of the season.

Categories
NBA

Warriors vs. Heat Cappers Wednesday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Warriors vs Heat NBA Handicapping

The Warriors come in to this one with four straight road victories and seven wins in their last eight games, but – and it’s a but that would make Sir Mix-a-Lot smile – just about all of it has been accomplished by grabbing low-hanging fruit.

Categories
NBA

Hawks vs. Heat Cappers Monday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Hawks vs Heat NBA Handicapping

In a league season filled with so many throwaway games, it’s nice to be able to check in once in a while on a matchup that has a little juice.

Categories
NBA

Jazz vs. Lakers Cappers Sunday NBA Preview & Free Pick

Jazz vs. Lakers NBA Handicapping

Pau Gasol may or may not play in this one, depending on whether the tendinitis in his ailing knees is acting up.