Happy New Year and welcome to 2016. The Big Dog certainly managed to close 2015 in style, with three consecutive winning days, including a New Year’s Eve double that was never in any doubt. There’s plenty to look at, on a six-game New Year’s Day, including the probability of the defending NBA Champions suffering their first back-to-back losses of the season.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have been tough to follow, in recent times. Although that may have something to do with playing four of their last six games on the road. They have also lost four of six but returning home against one of the worst road teams in the NBA should help steer Paul George and his team in the right direction. Indiana are 11-4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, this season and have won five of their last six at home, all by at least six points. Milwaukee have been simply horrible when away from their gym. Since winning two of their first three road games, the Bucks have lost 14 of 15, with 13 of those losses coming by six points or more (including a 123-86 loss in Indiana, on November 12th). The points spread for the Pacers absolutely picks itself. The Bucks have also continued to struggle defensively, on the road and that’s likely to play into the hands of Paul George, who leads the home side with 24.1 points per game. George hasn’t been as productive lately, scoring at just 16.5 a game, over his last ten and 20.7 in December. However, the Bucks have allowed opponents to score a minimum of 103 points in their last six losses, including a 131-123 defeat in Oklahoma City, just two nights ago. The Big Dog thinks this is the perfect time for Paul George to get back to scoring form and the value is overs, at the price being offered.
Selection #1
Indiana Pacers -5.5 @ $1.95 (William Hill)
Selection #2
Over 22.5 (Paul George Total Match Points) @ $1.95 (William Hill)
Golden State Warriors @ Houston Rockets
If anyone doubted just how important Steph Curry is to the Golden State Warriors, yesterday’s 114-91 loss in Dallas put all those doubts to rest. In only their second loss of the season and the first game without the reigning MVP in uniform, the Warriors were limited to 40.7 percent shooting (36.8 percent from downtown), while the Mavericks shot 51.2 percent overall and 14 of 27 from beyond the arc. Put simply, this did not look like the Warriors we have come to know and love. They will again be without Curry when they close a back-to-back set in Houston, against a Rockets team looking to bounce back from a second-half capitulation. After beating the Spurs 88-84 on Christmas Day, Houston looked set to extend their home winning streak to eight games, when they lead the Atlanta Hawks by 19 in the third quarter. It wasn’t to be though, as the Hawks completed a stunning comeback for a 121-115 win. Despite this result, The Big Dog thinks that seven wins from their last eight home games is the more significant stat and they are certainly meeting the Warriors at the right time. This points line has been set very kindly for the Warriors, just as it was against the Mavericks. After seeing Zaza Pachulia go for 14 points and 15 rebounds, against the Warriors, The Big Dog is also backing Dwight Howard to go large. His season average for total points, rebounds and blocks is 26.2 and less than 10 percent improvement against a team lacking in overall size, is definitely a likely prospect.
Selection #1
Houston Rockets -2.5 @ $1.95 (William Hill)
Selection #2
Over 27.5 (Dwight Howard Total Points, Rebounds & Blocks) @ $1.91 (William Hill)
