Detroit is coming off a convincing win at home over the Denver Nuggets, a game in which it scored 136 points, including 56 from its bench. The win was the fifth in the past six games for the Pistons, who seem to be peaking at just the right time heading into the playoffs. Cleveland, meanwhile, is still getting comfortable after adding some new pieces at the trading deadline. Settling on a regular rotation has even more difficult for head coach Mike Brown due to injuries, as Sasha Pavlovic missed time and Daniel Gibson still out. As a result, the Cavs come in having lost three of its past four games.

LeBron James hasn’t been a part of problem for Cleveland, as he’s been doing a lot of everything at a high level all season long. The Pistons know all about what the league MVP candidate can do, as they witnessed first hand the dominance of King James last postseason. The current Cavaliers team hasn’t had enough time to gel, though, which makes Detroit an appealing play. Look for James to have another big game as usual, but to come up short as the streaking Pistons’ balance and depth carry them to a win over their rival. My pick Detroit Pistons (-1) , at -105 Bodoglife.com

DETROIT PISTONS OVER CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (-105)

One concept that would-be wise guys get too wound up about is “in season” revenge in college hoops. In fact, that’s really the only justification I can come up with for why Georgia Tech is a -4 favorite in this spot. Unfortunately, handicapping college basketball is much harder than just picking out these “in season” revenge spots and waiting to cash your tickets. More often than not, when one team begins to dominate the head to head matchups its not what the garden variety tout would call a “double/triple/quadruple revenge spot”—its more of an indication of a matchup problem, a coaching mismatch, or the simple fact that one team has the other team’s number.

The Yellow Jackets have been strong on their home floor in recent years, which could be further justification for the price. Upon further analysis, however, it becomes less impressive—while Tech is on a 17-8 SU run in Atlanta they’re only 4-5 SU (4-3 ATS) this season. Miami’s 10-5 ATS mark this season combined with a 6-3 ATS record on the road (6-5 SU) interests me more. Examining the Yellow Jackets home performance this season considering who’ve they’ve beaten and how badly is also instructive—they’re a classic example of a home court “bully”. But while they’ll blow the Tennessee Tech’s and Centenary’s of the world out of the gym, they’re life and death with more evenly matched opponents.

And what of the vaunted “in season revenge” concept? This is the fifth spot this season where Tech is in a position to avenge an earlier road loss, and they’re only 1-3 SU/ATS in the previous four. Miami swept this series SU/ATS last year and have covered 4 of the L5. Tech looked awful in double digit road losses at UConn and Clemson last week. Miami admittedly has had their own ups and downs this year but are off a nice road win at Virginia Tech and will come into this game well rested having last played over a week ago, while the Jackets were last in action on Thursday night.

Looking at the statistics, Miami plays better defense and rebounds the ball better than Tech. With my numbers indicating a SU Hurricane win and considering their recent domination of the series getting points in this spot looks like a gift.

PLAY MIAMI-FL +4 OVER GEORGIA TECH

Pick: MIAMI-FL +4

Scores: Miami (FL) 64 Georgia Tech 63

Result: WIN

Odds: 1.91 (-110)

Sportsbook: Bodog

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Wednesday night offers us possibly the most exciting regular NBA season games of ‘07-08, as the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors do battle. Both teams feature explosive, run-and-gun offenses and provide little resistance on the defensive end. Although Phoenix enters the contest sporting the best record in the Western Conference, it hasn’t looked like itself since the trade of Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal. An already-undersized team without the Big Aristotle in the lineup, the Suns have let teams stay in games by failing to clean up on the glass or make them work for buckets inside. Amare Stoudamire is a force on the offensive end, but the young star has a long way to go on the defensive side of the ball.

Golden State, meanwhile, plays the up-tempo game as well as Phoenix does, in large part thanks to the dramatically-improved Monta Ellis. Few players can score as well as he can from the the guard spot, and few at any position attack the rim with as much ferocity.

He can score in a variety of ways, and his improvement makes the Warriors even more dangerous than they were last season. Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson are having All-NBA-type years, and while they don’t play much defense, they are virtually unstoppable with the ball.

If the Warriors are hitting their 3’s with any consistency, the Suns simply won’t be able to keep up. That’s not something that can often be said about them, but it should prove true Wednesday night. Golden State relishes the underdog role, but they’ll just have to settle for winning as a favorite for once in what should be a statement game out West.

Pick: Golden State -1.5

Scores: Phoenix Suns 118 : Golden State Warriors 120

Result: W

Odds: 1.91 (-110)

Sportsbook: Bookmaker.com

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Two teams headed in opposite directions square off Tuesday night, as the improved Kings visit the reeling Grizzlies. Whatever you knew about Sacramento earlier in this season, throw it out; this is a completely different team with a healthy Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin in the lineup. Martin is one of the best-kept secrets in the NBA, a player who simply knows how to score. He’s struggled a bit of late, but facing a porous Memphis defense should remedy that. While the Kings struggled as far as wins go when two of their stars were out, it did give John Salmons the chance to prove that he can be a valuable contributor. He adds a legitimate threat off the bench who also gets it done on the defensive end.

Following the Pau Gasol trade, the Grizzlies are relying heavily on Rudy Gay and Mike Miller to carry the load, but these two don’t have nearly enough help surrounding them. Mike Conley should become a very good point guard in the future, but he’s not on the same level as Bibby right now. And without Gasol, the Grizzlies don’t have a serious threat in the post to alleviate the pressure on Gay and Miller. The bottom line is that Memphis is neither deep enough nor talented enough to hang with the Kings for 48 minutes. Take Sacramento minus the points.

Pick: Sacramento -5 (L)

Result: Sacramento 94: Memphis 107

Odds: 1.91 (-110)

Sportsbook: Bookmaker.com

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It’s really hard to envision any of these teams losing today. Each of them is head and shoulders better than its opposition, and is currently playing that way. The Lakers are riding high following their trade with Memphis to acquire Pau Gasol, who has helped shoulder the load while Kobe Bryant isn’t 100% with an injured finger. Simply put, the Heat aren’t equipped to either score with the Lake Show or slow down possibly the league’s deepest team on the offensive end. The Pistons are as hot as any team in the league right now, winners of seven straight and playing against a Charlotte team that’s both banged up and simply doesn’t match up well with the Eastern Conference’s finest, let alone anybody else.

Phoenix, meanwhile, is playing shorthanded after the widely criticized trade of Sean Marion and Marcus Banks for Shaquille O’Neal. They get a home game against a Washington team that’s equally shorthanded, however, as All-Star Caron Butler is still sidelined by a hip injury. To make matters worse, guard Antonio Daniels is also banged up with a knee and ankle injury, and might not play today. Even if he does go, he’s going to have a hard time slowing down Steve Nash. So long as the Suns shoot at their typical clip, they should get past the struggling Wizards.

Odds: 1.70 (-143 )

Scores: LA Lakers 104 : Miami 94 | Detroit 113 : Charlotte 87 | Phoenix 108 : Washington 107

Result: WIN

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