19.11.2012 NBA Picks: Monday Night Odds & Predictions

By: David Lawrence

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Charlotte Bobcats 

While the Bucks are 6-2 this season, they’ve appeared to be a flawed team at times. They haven’t shot particularly well throughout most of the season and Monta Ellis is a bit off. While they’re supposed to be known as a defensive team, their stop units weren’t effective on Saturday as the New Orleans Hornets scored 111 points. 

Charlotte is a pesky bunch and they’ve been very competitive at home. They are 3-2 in front of their own fans with the two losses coming to Phoenix and Memphis (both by seven points). They’ve won three of their last four games overall and are playing with far more confidence than they were last season.

I know that the Bucks have won all three of their road games this year but those were against Boston (in the opener), Washington and Philadelphia. They’re still unproven away from home in my eyes. 

The NBA odds makers are only listing the Bobcats at +5, and I am looking for the Bobcats to keep this game within the spread and maybe even win it. 

Pick: Bobcats +4.5 +++

Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies 

The Denver Nuggets have been a disappointment on the road throughout the early part of this season and there’s little reason to believe that will change on Monday. They’ll head out on the road to face the Memphis Grizzlies, who have performed like one of the best teams in the leagueto this point in the season. 

Seven of Denver’s first 10 games this season have been on the road and their only two wins have come in Houston and Golden State (needing overtime). Other than that, they’ve been outscored by a margin of 12.2 points per loss on the road.

Memphis has won eight straight games and has beaten some tough competition along the way. They’ve downed the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the previously undefeated New York Knicks. 

They should be able to stay and turn aside a Nuggets team that just hasn’t figured things out on the road yet.

Pick: Grizzlies -6.5 ---

Los Angeles Clippers vs.  San Antonio Spurs

The Los Angeles Clippers are in the midst of a five-game winning streak that started with a home win over San Antonio last Monday. Now the Spurs will have a chance to get some revenge as they’ll be the host this time around.

The San Antonio Spurs are 8-2 on the season and they have only lost at home once this season. That came to the hands of the New York Knicks and that was after blowing a big lead. Otherwise, they’ve been very reliable in front of their home fans as they’ve registered wins over Oklahoma City, Utah, Indiana and Denver by a margin of 15 points per game.

The Clippers have won five straight but only one of those wins came on the road. That was their only true road game of the season so far, so I expect Monday to be an uphill climb for them. Take the Spurs. 

Pick: Spurs -4.5 ---