Opening night for the league may be over, but it is the first game of the season for twenty-two teams this evening. There are twelve games in all but I will be only picking four of them. I've learned my lesson with hockey that trying to pick the entire schedule every night will just end up with sorrow for yours truly. Instead, I will hand pick my selections and give you a brief explanation as to my reasoning why. I was 2-1 yesterday with the lone blemish coming from the defending champion Spurs not covering the number against Dallas, though the champs were victorious.
All picks made on the NY Post Line. Home team in all CAPS.
Chicago +1 NEW YORK
How the Knicks are giving points here is just ludicrous. They are at home but the Bulls are the vastly superior team barring injury. Unless Derrick Rose blows out his knee during the opening handshakes, I think the Bulls cruise here.
PHOENIX -9 LA Lakers
The Lakers looked as bad as everyone predicted they would be last night against Houston. They were ran off the court at home and to make matters worse lost lottery pick Julius Randle to a broken leg. Kobe shouldn't be getting big minutes in a back to back, even if it is a short flight to Phoenix. The Suns waves of transition should run the Lake Show into the ground by halftime.
Oklahoma City +8.5 PORTLAND
I am aware that there is no Kevin Durant for OKC. But did Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka get hurt too? Portland needs to make a statement early on in 2014-15 that last year was not a fluke. They may win tonight, but they aren't putting a hurting on a team of the Thunder's caliber.
Houston -6 UTAH
Houston did exactly what they were supposed to do on Opening Night against a bad team. They travel just east to Salt Lake City to take on their second bad team in two nights. Some say that Utah may be this year's Phoenix but I'm not buying it. Houston records their second straight cover on the road.
Last Day's NBA Record: 2-1
2014-15 NBA Record: 2-1
All-Time NBA Record: 76-44-1
Last Day's All Picks Record: 6-1
All-Time Picks Record: 246-208-5