2013 NBA Betting: Picks For Games On Monday, January 14
Game 1: Charlotte Bobcats @ Boston Celtics – Monday, January 14
Line: Celtics -11 and the total is 191
At various betting websites in North America or the United Kingdom, you’re not going to get a lot of conflicting opinions on this Monday’s game between the Bobcats and the Celtics. The big point that needs to be kept in mind for this game is that Boston will have two full days off before taking on Charlotte. The Celtics, especially veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, need all the rest they can get. Whenever there’s a break in the schedule, they can recharge and find more lift on their jump shots and more strength in the paint. They don’t have to pace themselves quite as much as they would have to in the second game of a back-to-back set or on a road trip. Boston played Friday night against Houston, so the Celtics will get their two days off without even needing to travel between cities. This is going to be a fresh team, one that should be able to grind down Charlotte’s ineffective offense from start to finish. You don’t have to be a legal online sports betting genius in order to realize that the Celtics, who made a statement to the rest of the NBA with their road win in New York against the Knicks last Monday, still have a lot of pride and competitive vigor. They can still play at a high level on occasion, and they’re not about to lose to Charlotte at home.
NBA Betting Pick: Boston
Game 2: Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls – Monday, January 14
Line: Bulls -4 1/2 and the total is 184 1/2
When you pore over the numbers in an online sportsbook, it’s clear that while the Atlanta Hawks started the season 19-9, they have retained their tendency to be confounding and inconsistent. In recent weeks, the Hawks have served up some clunkers, most noticeably a 16-point loss to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this week. Atlanta scored just 83 points, with its halfcourt offense bogging down against one of the least-imposing front lines in the whole NBA. Atlanta is in the midst of a funk, and since Chicago is one of the better defensive teams in the league, the Hawks’ offense is likely to suffer through a very difficult night in the Windy City. Chicago is in the midst of a multi-game homestand. The Bulls, who host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, get Sunday off and should be adequately prepared to lock down the Hawks on Monday.
NBA Betting Pick: Chicago
Game 3: Los Angeles Clippers @ Memphis Grizzlies – Monday, January 14
Line: Grizzlies -3 and total is 180 1/2
When you step up to the betting window to make an NBA betting pick or a college football betting play, you should generally go with the home team unless there’s overwhelming evidence to pick the road team. This game comes close to meeting that standard, but the sense here is that the Clippers, who have feasted on a lot of bad teams in their big run over the past month, are eventually going to hit a wall and flatten out a little bit. The Clippers have a lot of talent, but they are eventually going to flinch when punched in the mouth by a more powerful opponent. The Memphis Grizzlies are just such a foe, and their strength near the basket is going to bludgeon the Clippers into submission. Take Memphis in what will be a highly anticipated mid-January contest on Monday in the state of Tennessee.
There’s more to be found on the latest betting odds for NBA basketball in 2013.
NBA Betting Pick: Memphis