NBA PRESEASON
10/27/2014
New Orleans Pelicans vs Orlando Magic
Home - New Orleans Pelicans
Last away matches - W-L-W-L-L-L
New Orleans "Pelicans" are one of the most intrigueing squad in the league. After bad last season, when their starting five players didn't play in tons of games because of injuries, they are back with new hopes and expectations. Ryan Anderson, the sniper beyond the 3pt line is back together with Jrue Holiday, who is mostly known because of numbers of assists he makes per game. Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon seems to be fully fit and ready to play. Omer Asik and the rising superstar Anthony Davis, the protectors of the rim are also fully concentrated to their first gae of the new season at home. "Pelicans" just proved theirselves as very powerful team in pre-season games, where they managed to get 5 wins out of 7. Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon were guiding their team to success in preseason games, but they only played around 25 minutes, so I'm sure "Pelicans" haven't shown their real potential.
Away - Orlando Magic
Last away matches - L-L-W-W-W-L
On the other hand we have still struggling "Orlando Magic" who can't find their way back to play-offs. The team is made of really promising, but not so experienced players, who ain't that high class. Their most important player, I can surely call him team's leader, Victor Oladipo is out for no timeable period because of facial fracture. Tobias Harris and Nicola Vučevič were probably the most important players for "Magic" in preseason games, they scored 30 points average together. Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier might be the only players who can play well enough to keep rotation on, couse other young players just are too weak. Kyle O'Quinn and Aaron Gordon are very unconsistant players, they can score many points in one game and make lots of else for team, but in other game they can be a black hole.
Asian Handicap
Home - (-9.00)
Away - (+9.00)
Pick - New Orleans Pelicans (-9.00)
Odds - 1.85
Stakes - 9/10
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NBA PRESEASON
10/27/2014
San Antonio Spurs vs Dallas Mavericks
Home - San Antonio Spurs
Last away matches - L-L-W-L-L-W
Last season, the San Antonio Spurs were able to climb their way back to the top of the hill and capture their fifth championship since drafting Tim Duncan back in 1997. With the deepest and most unselfish roster in the league, the Spurs just about ticked every box last season: finish the regular season with the best overall record, keep your core players fresh, and develop young talent. As fans of the game, we expected nothing less from the players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but what elevated the Spurs to a new level was Kawhi Leonard who was able to make "the Leap" and claim his first Finals MVP at just 22 years old. Of the roster from last season, the Spurs are returning 14 players and will be introducing the rookie, Kyle Anderson, a player who looked to be one of the steals of the draft, so expect to see San Antonio set the benchmark for the league once again.
Away - Dallas Mavericks
Last away matches - W-L-L-W-W-W
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks finished the 2013-14 regular season with a 49-33 record which was good enough for the eighth seed in the crowded Western Conference, but not quite good enough to get past the Spurs in the first round. Coming off a disappointing finish, the Mavs kept busy in the offseason and signed six new players, the two most notable being the return of Tyson Chandler and the addition of the underappreciated Chandler Parsons. Together with the additions of Jameer Nelson and Raymond Felton, Dallas look to returning as one of the best offenses in the league and a true championship contender in the West.
Asian Handicap
Home - (-4.50)
Away - (+4.50)
Pick - San Antonio Spurs (-4.50)
Odds - 1.93
Stakes - 10/10
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NBA PRESEASON
10/27/2014
LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets
Home - LA Lakers
Last away matches - L-L-W-W-L-L
Coming off a massively disappointing 27-55 season, the only way is up for the Los Angeles Lakers and the first step was to get Kobe Bryant back on the court and playing. Kobe played in five of the seven preseason games for the Lakers and was able to average 26.3 points in his final three, but with good news for the Lakers comes plenty of bad as they learnded that Steve Nash is set to miss the entire season with his ongoing back injury. Fortunately, LA were able to acquire Jeremy Lin in the offseason and he'll surely step in as the starter where he averages 14.4 points, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals. Other offseason additions include Carlos Boozer, Ed Davis and Ronnie Price, but not surprisingly, the majority of the scoring load will fall on Kobe once again.
Away - Houston Rockets
Last away matches - W-L-L-W-L-W
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets finished last season with a 54-28 regular season record and but were eliminated by the Portland Trailblazers in the Western Conference semifinals. After opting not to match Chandler Parons' $46 million offer from the Mavericks and shipping off Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, the Rockets acquired Trevor Ariza and Jason Terry. With Parsons gone, even more of the scoring burden falls on the shoulders or James Harden and Dwight Howard now so I just get the feeling that Houston didn't do enough in the offseason.
Asian Handicap
Home - (+6.50)
Away - (-6.50)
Pick - Houston Rockets (-6.50)
Odds - 2.00
Stakes - 9/10