NBA Hot and Cold Bets – Week 2
The NBA is now in full swing and our eight-month marathon of the pro basketball season is underway. Matt Fargo will be looking into Hot and Cold NBA bets throughout the season and he takes a look at four big matchups in the first four nights this week that you will not want to miss.
Monday – Golden St. Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
The Warriors are off to a 1-2 start but they have padded the pockets of their backers in all three games, going a perfect 3-0 ATS. Golden St. dropped a tight game at home against New Orleans and then an overtime game in Toronto before taking out New Jersey on Saturday. How long can the Warriors keep this up without a true point guard? My guess is not too long as teams may have been taking them lightly to start the season. Memphis comes in at 1-2 with losses in both road games but winning its lone home contest. The Grizzlies are the lowest scoring team in the NBA while Golden St. is the 4th highest so something is going to have to give here. Memphis will likely get its points here based on the Warriors up and down style.
Tuesday – Boston Celtics at Houston Rockets
The Celtics won their first two games at home before falling in Indiana on Saturday which was a surprisingly big loss. Boston shot a miserable 34.6 percent from the floor including a mere 20 percent (4-20) from long range. It is shooting just 40.9 percent on the season which is the sixth lowest in the league thus far. Even more disturbing is the 66.7 percent shooting from the charity stripe. If the Lakers tumble out in the Western Conference, the Rockets could be the team that goes to the NBA Finals if they can stay healthy. 
Defense is the name of the game in Houston as it is allowing an NBA low 83.3 ppg. The addition of Ron Artest only helps the defense even more. The Celtics won both meetings last season including a 17-point win in Houston. This matchup has under written all over it.
Wednesday – Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are off to a great start as expected, going 3-0 and holding their opponents to 84 ppg which is second best in the league. On the offensive end, they are averaging 105.7 ppg which is third best and their +21.7 ppg scoring differential is easily the largest in the NBA. They have already taken out the Clippers once this season by 38 points and this rematch looks like another easy victory. The Clippers are 0-3 both straight up and against the number as the losses have been by an average of 23.3 ppg. Making matters worse is that point guard Baron Davis is already hurting with a sprained finger and bruised tailbone. He should be back for this game but the last thing the Clippers need is to have him on the bench for an extended period of time. The Lakers won all four meetings last season by an average of 26 ppg. Can you say another blowout?
Thursday – Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic
The Sixers made the playoffs last season despite a 40-42 record and they gave the Pistons a scare in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals before losing the series 4-2. Philadelphia improved itself by signing forward Elton Brand, making the Sixers a legitimate contender. They are off to a disappointing 1-2 start however, losing to the Raptors and Hawks, two teams who were also in the playoffs a season ago. All three games have stayed under the total. Orlando is also off to a disappointing 1-2 start, losing also to the Hawks and Memphis before handily beating Sacramento on Saturday. The Magic won three of the four meetings last season including both games at home by margins of 18 and 16 points. Orlando went 38-14 against conference foes last season and its 50-29-3 ATS record was second best in the NBA. The home team gets the call here.
