KNICKS @ PELICANS: Write-up!

2016 record: 35-20

The pick:

Knicks +3 over Pelicans

Betting angles on NBA games where players choose to play (or not) on a nightly basis are very thin. So there really is no need for an in-depth write-up. But there are a few key points to back the Knicks here.

1. A .500 record or better.

Knicks are currently sitting at 16-15. Lose this game and you have the Rockets up next on the road where the Knicks will be big underdogs (-10 right now) against run and gun D'Antoni on back to back.

Win the game and guarantee you head into the New Year with a >.500 a symbolic representation of a long struggling franchise.

2. A Pelicans win streak that has been favorable.

Pelicans have beaten the Heat, Dallas, and the Clippers in their last 3.

The Heat win was legitimate. Dallas has been one of the worst teams in the league and the Clippers didn't have Paul or Blake that night. But the three game win streak, all games at home with two of the three teams struggling mightily (and the Heat are a bit hobble with Whiteside), is perfect for false confidence and in general, a good betting rule is to fade good teams off winning streaks at the right time.

This is a 12 win team (i.e., Not good) so fading them here is even better.

3. Knicks on a 2 game losing streak

 Again, as a general rule you want hungry teams on losing streaks. This isn't really a streak of sorts but it is a game that they want to win more than others. They lost to the Celtics at home on Christmas (a game they really wanted to cure their Dec 25th woes, a day they do not shine on) and then lost an OT game to the Hawks when Carmelo was dealt a questionable ejection.

I look for the Knicks to preserve a .500 record going into the New Year with a motivated squad including an amped up Carmelo who once again has put precedence on this game.

Anthony: "It's a game we have to win. We have to get it. We thought we could get the game against Atlanta. Friday is something we have to get."

Lip service but far better than hearing "This is just another game on the schedule."

Weird line. Pelicans must win by 4 to cover here in a game the Knicks really will be fighting for. I'll take those odds. I do not like Langston Galloway (and of course Anthony Davis) on the other side of the ball (as an ex-Knick who will look to play above his head) but the Knicks are coming in generally healthy and you can't say that about them most of the time in a game they should win against an inferior team.

Small footnote: Hornacek game to Anthony's defense after the Hawks ejection. Good for scoring points with the team and team unity. Can be used as a rallying starting point.

Quote Originally Posted by Dirk_Werner41:

Love to see you here in the NBA forum with a Knicks play. That used to be your bread and butter, at least in my memory. Thanks for sharing

That is correct!

Started capping only the NBA on Wagerline.

This is a very straight-forward play. No unique angles, only traditional ones which many posters sign-on for. Really shocked this line went from 2.5 to 3. Not sure what the public is seeing here.

Knicks last played Wednesday night. You'd quote that stat for the Rockets game tomorrow.

Navi

Fantasy - The Carmelo Lin clash has as much to do with this cap as your avatar, however true.

good to see u scal lets do this #knicks