Monday Night Basketball

By Divol



Hapoel Jerusalem v Zadar



8th December 17:00 GMT

I just can't understand this line. I mean I can understand it given the line Jerusalem got against Suilulai, but given Jerusalem's performance in the first two games of the Eurocup; I thought we will see at least 8 points. Gudes had only one point to get to the media in Israel after the second round, actually two points. With Zadar winning in Lithuania, three home wins may not be enough to get to the second round and that this group will probably be decided by home – road baskets between the teams.

Jerusalem easily won against the Lithuanians and almost won in Greece. They will have a very tough road game against Zadar, so they need at least an 8 points win to go there and feel comfortable more or less. Jeter added the needed fire power to the back court, with Simmons struggling a bit in his shots and now Jerusalem has a team that will be very hard to stop below 85 points.

Over is a solid option as well, but I was honestly surprised to see such line and it's a must bet, regardless of the outcome of the match.

Pick: Jerusalem -5.5 -1.90 – 5 units play - Stan James



Maccabi Rishon-Lezion v Elizzur Maccabi Netanya



7th December 19:01 GMT

I would have rather a Netanya win last week and not suffer their first home loss, but I still back Rishon here without a problem. Rishon are 1 - 6 right now and they have a Top 4 roster without a doubt and one of the best coaches in Israel. Rishon started poorly due to injuries, but since McGhee is on the team, Rishon won one and lost one after being really close to winning as well.

Netania are mediocre team that used good schedule and warm home court for a good start. The court in Netaniya is small, much smaller than usual in the league and teams are having trouble playing there.

Rishon are a good set offense team and since they go to the paint, the size of the court should bother them.

Picks:

Rishon +5 - 2 units play - 1.91 odds -10Bet

Rishon to win - 3 units play - 2.8 odds - 10Bet




Utah Jazz v San Antonio Spurs



8th December 02:05 GMT

This is a true must win for the Spurs. In the NBA, there aren't too many games in a regular season that teams mark on their calendar and this is one of those rare games.

Popovich said that the three games against Boston and Denver at home and Utah on a road is a great test for their team. Right now the grade is F. Lost after very poor performance both to Celtics and the Nuggets and now they will play Jazz, a team they truly hate and a team that beat them in San Antonio for the first time in over a decade. Utah now leads 2 – 0 against the Spurs this season and they will do all they can to win it.

Utah on the other hand are also not in good form. They got Memphis and Portland in almost perfect spot for a beat down and took advantage of that, but they barely covered the line against the Pacers and lost to the Wolves.
Kirilnko's injury really hurts them, because SF position is their weakest one, without a doubt.

Both teams have injured players. Spurs will miss Finley, while Jazz have a good chance to miss Kirilenko.
Now if we look at two meetings so far between the teams, we can see that Kirilenko played really well in those games while Finley was really poor in both of the matches, including 0 points in 0 from 6 from the field in San Antonio.

Jazz will not give them the match, since there is rivalry between the teams, but Spurs should come like a wounded, but dangerous animal, to fight for their pride and I'm on them without a doubt.



Pick: Spurs ML, 2.15 –5 units play - Nordic Bet