Sunday Basketball Extra

By Divol

Holon v Rishon



22nd November 18:00 GMT

Both teams are without a win, but while Rishon played the top four teams in Israel, Holon also took losses from Ashkelon and Afula. Rishon has a much better roster but they are in a very dangerous spin with 4 losses in a row and just can't afford themselves another loss tonight.

Holon on the other hand looks like they are just waiting for their 5th loss so they can fire their coach. I think that they should ask themselves who can they bring instead for his salary, but the crowd demands coach's head and after this game they will get it. McGee will play tonight for the first time in Rishon and he should really help them in the paint. Tapiro knows that Effi, his favourite coach can lose his job if the team won't start winning soon and should really pick up his game that has been poor lately.

Both teams need the win and want it badly and I believe that in such case, to go with the better team that even gets good odds is a too good of a chance to miss.

Pick: Rishon to win 2.3 odds - 5 units bet - Pinnacle


Toronto Raptors v Orlando Magic



22nd November 17:30 GMT

This is the perfect revenge spot for the Raptors. It's really hard to think of a better situation for them.

Orlando come to the game off a big win in Boston and even though it's one of the hungriest teams in the league, we can still at least hope for some let down after such a huge win. Toronto on the other hand come after very poor trip to the West, losing the last three games, two of them in blow outs (especially the Denver game). They need to stop the bleeding and need it badly.

Toronto have 4 – 1 home record and their only loss was against the Magic. It's not too often that you get second home match in such short time against a rival that gave you your only home loss so far in the league. They must remember that loss and it was a really bad one.
They fell to huge deficits and Bargniani single handily got them back to the game, but than even he couldn't help and missed two crucial three point shots.

It was an early Sunday game as well by the way. In that game Magic shot 17 three pointers with 53% from behind the arc and in a game that Howard shoots better free throws than Calderon, you just know that you won't win this one. This time I think it will be a different game. Williams is just as bad of a defender as Nelson is, but he won't exploit Calderon's defensive weakness. I can't see another 14 of 16 FT effort from Howard with Magic shooting 36 FT of 41 attempts while Raptors made 26 of 35 attempts.

I believe we will see things turned as far as percentage go. On the other hand, I still can't see Magic defending well Bargniani. Lewis just isn't that good of a defender and you got no one else more suited to defend him (and we saw that in the last game between the teams where he just shot over any defender that tried to guard him).

I believe that in four games between the teams this season, all four within two months, Toronto won't get swept. They are a solid, proud team, that has the match ups to play Magic. This is their second and last home game against Orlando and if they lose, I will take them for 10 units again with much better odds in Orlando in a few weeks.

Pick: Toronto to win, 2.3 odds – 5 units play - Bet365