3 Free Basketball Picks – 1/24/06

Free Basketball Pick #1

Pacers @ Cavaliers: Indiana is a full force at last (minus Ron Artest, of course) or as close as they’re going to get. These two teams would meet in the playoffs if they started today. The Pacers have the fourth best defense in the league. What is Cleveland’s identity other than Lebron James? We have to say that defense wins this one even on the road. Predicted score: Indiana wins 94-92

Free Basketball Selection #2

Grizzlies @ Heat: Mike Fratello returns to Miami where he was broadcasting before taking the Memphis job. The Grizzlies do extremely well against Eastern teams, which is because they are further East in Memphis than at least 5 other Eastern Conference teams (and don’t have to travel much). Expect road-inspired performance in this game. Predicted score: Memphis wins 94-90

Free Basketball Selection #3

Bobcats @ Spurs: Charlotte doesn’t excel when she’s healthy. But take out Emeka Okafor, Kareem Rush, Melvin Ely and possibly Brevin Knight and you have one substitution per team cut in half. The Spurs never blow teams up quickly. It happens in the 3rd quarter. So here goes another game that we expect a lot more from the same Spurs. Predicted Score: San Antonio wins 89-72