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Studying lines and asking why Vegas has set a certain line can earn you quite a bit of money. Today I’d like to focus on the Toronto and Chicago Bulls game. Chicago is favored by just 4.5 points at home. Chicago is the type of team that does not “wow” as a whole on the court. They win in old school fashion, and do not typically win by double digits.

Toronto has a young cohesive team that has the personnel to give the Bulls fits. Rudy Gay gives any team fits, but Toronto also has a young nucleus with Derozan and Lowry. They’re also playing some of their non starters more minutes to see what type of team they can build on for next year.

Wait for this line to jump to five and take Toronto plus five tonight.

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This is an early game from NBA standards. The only times during the week that games start this early are on Sunday’s. This game is at Oklahoma City where it is a bit of a travel for a New York Knicks squad that played Friday Night against the Bucks. I believe this early start will affect the Knicks into a sluggish performance against a quality team. The Knicks have been a jump shooting team all year, and have been thriving on high percentage makes during Carmelo Anthony’s tear.

They’ll come back down to Earth today, as OKC will take care of business on their home floor. Minus 7.5 to 8 seems like an awfully high number for a team on an eleven game win streak, but is set by Vegas for a reason.

Take Oklahoma City

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I’ll give two free plays for Friday. One is the matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder vs the Indiana Pacers. Finesse vs physicality. With the team that boasts physicality playing at home(Indiana), I believe that edge should prove to be enough. Indiana has really been playing well even without their star in Danny Granger.

A total to play today is the over in Dallas and Sacramento. This will be a patented run and shoot type of game. Sacramento is one of the worst defensive teams in basketball. To stay in any game they know they have to force the tempo offensively.

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Premium plays have been rolling at 9-2 this week. Free plays have won five straight, with a bonus moneyline four team parlay. Today my free play focuses on a total rather than a straight team to play.

Grab the under on 190.5 between the Miami heat and New Orleans Hornets. Coming off their first loss in 27 games, look for the Heat to impose their defensive will for a full four quarters.

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The Lakers are still an average team at best, even though they have revived their season a tad since all star break. In the prior meeting between Milwaukee and the Lakers it was a game of contrasts. The Lakers shot well in the game but kept allowing Milwaukee to hang around. Larry Sanders will give the Lakers trouble again. This will be won by inside interior presence. Take the Bucks tonight.

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Pretty simple analysis today. I like the way Washington has been playing as of late. Memphis is a team that will always rely on their defense. A team playing with confidence such as Washington should have a bit of a home edge. The line is tight at three points which means Vegas likes Washington to keep things close. I do not see Memphis getting a double digit lead at all in ths game.

Take Washington Plus 3