Sunday's Basketball

By Divol

San Antonio Spurs v Phoenix Suns



28th February 18:00 GMT

No one has ever accused me of being a Spurs fan but I do think that they are a good bet for the coming weeks, especially when short favourites at home as they are today. Suns been for many years the team that Spurs rolled over. Yes, they have had a lot of close games and many stories, but in the end Spurs usually win those games and today shouldn't be any different.

Parker I believe and hope will play, since food poisoning doesn't take more than 24 – 48 hours to recover from and he is a miss match against Nash. Duncan should come to work as well, while we will see a Blair – Lopez match up and I can see Blair winning it, despite the difference in size between them. Spurs usually go off on the first weeks after ASG so they have a chance to secure a playoff position and allow their star players some rest before the playoffs start.



Pick: Spurs -4, 2.02 – 3.5 units play - Pinnacle


Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets



28th February 20:30 GMT

Lakers have had a rest, Kobe is rested and healthy and Lakers are hungry and angry with revenge on their mind coming to play Denver today. I usually don't rate regular season games too highly but if Denver gets to sweep Lakers in Staples Center 2 – 0, it will give them huge boost for the rest of the regular season and more important, for when they play each other in the playoffs again. Lakers know it. Kobe was mad as hell at himself after the last loss to Denver. I hope he won't force himself on the game and as long as he stays focused, I can easily see a blow out in Staples Center tonight.

The small doubt surrounding K-Mart only adds to the confidence, since he is maybe even more important against the Lakers than Carmelo. Nuggets’ big guys will get in to foul trouble. Bynum, Gasol and Odom are a very tough trio to play against and they need Nene and Martin with Birdman coming from the bench to match them, something that Malik Allen just can't do.



Pick: Lakers -6, 1.89 – 5 units play - Pinnacle


Netaniya v Ashkelon



28th February 16:00 GMT

I will continue to look for a chance to fade Netaniya and this is a great chance I believe. Ashkelon look really good recently and showed great spirit when coming from behind and beating Bney Ha Sharon. Baxter had his father die and the team allowed him to miss the game today to fly to the funeral, but he said he will stay and leave after the game. I believe that he will give his heart out today and the rest of the team will follow him.

Pick: Ashkelon +5, 1.93 – 4 units play - Pinnacle


Galil v Rishon Le Tzion



28th February 14:10 GMT

Galil are having trouble recently finding their game, while Rishon also has trouble after the injury of Johnson and the release of Markovich, leaving them with only one big man in the roster. Still, 9 points is a lot to give in such a game. I believe we will see a fight and a tight match here and with such a big line, even if things go wrong, there is always a decent chance for a back door cover. Galil has trouble because they play without a real Center as well and Rishon will benefit from that. As long as the back court of Rishon manages to stay close to Galil's and it is possible, I believe we will see a close game and maybe even surprise at the end.

Pick: Rishon +9, 1.90 – 3.5 units play - VCBet

Divol