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Last year was the first year I started handicapping the NBA summer league. It seems to be gaining more attraction this year. More books are offering the games and the level of play seems to be better than a year ago. It doesn’t hurt to see new head coaches, either present, or gracing the sidelines (Steve Kerr, Derek Fisher, etc.)

Currently I’m two games above .500 at 5-3 ATS in summer league plays. Today I have two premium plays available. Both plays can be had for $20 by emailing me at notjustagame23@gmail.com.

Todays free play comes in the Philadelphia 76ers vs the Phoenix Suns. Currently this spread sits as the 76ers favored at 2.5 points. The only reason I can figure out why this spread is in Philadelphia’s favor is because they have some players that played in the Orlando summer league. Phoenix has just two games thus far in Vegas.

I like Phoenix tonight as I think they’re a better team overall in the summer league. They could easily be 2-0 if they did not squander a lead against Golden State. One thing I like about the Suns is they let their young big men get experience in the summer league. The prior two seasons the Morris twins were on the floor. This year Plumlee and Len (before injury) have been gaining experience.

Having a presence such as Plumlee in the paint is a huge x-factor in summer league play. Confidence is rising for guard Seth Curry after he willed the Suns back against the Bucks.

Philadelphia has not been able to play four complete quarters on the floor in any summer league game in Vegas thus far. When Nerlens Noel has been on the floor they’ve been a functional team. But tonight his minutes should be relegated to protect his knee.

Take Phoenix tonight

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At 3PM in Las Vegas one of the many Sunday games in action comes in the Sacramento Kings vs Charlotte Bobcats. Totals are awfully tough in any instance. I’m one to play a total 25% of the time (1 out of every 4 handicapped plays). Today I have a five game board and plays can be purchased in the today’s picks section.

For this free play I’m going to harken back to how these teams played in the regular season. You’re likely thinking why is he comparing a completely different looking regular season roster versus a summer league. Well, if you look at the Kings roster it is filled with some of their main components of the regular season. Players such as Ray McCallum, Ben McLemore, and Derrick Williams. McLemore and McCallum were the Kings starting backcourt for a solid month and a half when Isiah Thomas was out with injury.

In addition to that nucleus of players the Kings have first round pick Nik Stauskas. I do not expect these four players from the Kings to play the high amount of minutes they did in game one of the summer league. With that in mind, you’d have to expect their minutes to leave a lot to be desired on the court. Poor shot selection in the summer league is awful for totals. Ten minute quarters truly do go be quickly. A stretch of four misses in a row and seven out of ten empty possessions could erase a quarter.

That doesn’t bode well for a total set at 157.5. Charlotte is set as favorites at 3.5 points for a reason. They’re a defensive laden NBA summer league team. They aren’t going to score a ton of points.

Expect both teams to shoot poor and for this game to fall well below 157.5.

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Over the last month and a half the Marlins and Mets have been involved in three series. Even for division teams that is abnormal for a short stretch. Today, Tom Koehler heads to the mound for the Marlins while Dice-K does for the Mets.

Miami still ranks as one of the better teams in baseball for scoring but is slowly beginning to drop. Their bats have been cold for the last four weeks. Wins they have been able to get as a team have come via a flurry of runs in one inning. They’re just not getting the inning after inning offensive production you’d expect.

Conversely the Mets have hit a bit of a stride thanks to their pitching staff. All five starters have had decent outings as of late, including Dice-K. Many have been waiting for Dice-K to have a major slump and be sent back to the bullpen. Thus far though he has managed each outing fairly well.

With how poor the Marlins are hitting the ball, Dice-K just needs to sustain control with his walks. For Koehler, look for him to command this game after an atrocious outing in Arizona in his last start.

This total is sitting at 7.5 runs -110. Play the first five under as well to offset any possible late inning runs giving up by the Marlins staff.

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The Yankees are struggling to produce runs as of late. Pitching has been erratic for them. By swapping Nuno for Brandon McCarthy the Yankees hope to find the veteran ace that CC Sabathia was supposed to be.

At this stage of the season the Yankees look like a tired old baseball team. The usual reliability of Tanaka came to another blow yesterday. Cleveland jumped on top of several of his pitches for two home runs.

Cleveland is one of those teams that gets hot and cold unlike any other team in baseball. They’ve had a couple of different winning and losing streaks to showcase this.

Josh Tomlin heads to the mound today for the Indians and should find success against the struggling Yankees. In his last three starts he has had two poor performances and one outstanding against the Mariners. Due to his erratic play there is value on the Indians today. They opened around -114 and are now at -120.

Though Tomlin may give up a few runs, I think the Indians bats are confident after success against Tanaka. Tanaka had been 10-0 against teams he was facing for the first time. Breaking that streak has to be a boost of confidence to the Indians.

Take Cleveland to win again against the Yankees.

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The Miami Marlins are reeling but still are in position to get themselves back in their divisional race. Just two weeks ago they were the front runners ahead of the Braves and Nationals. Their recent slump and the Braves/Nationals win streaks have caused a wide gap between them and their division leaders.

In baseball a five game lead can disappear rapidly. Miami has found themselves in several extra inning and one-run games that have been brutal losses. Yesterday they lost to the Cardinals with the bases loaded and 1-out. Casey McGhee hit into a game ending double play. The day before that they lost to the Phillies by giving up two late inning runs.

The story on how the Marlins lose is becoming a repeat story.

One bright spot the Marlins hope to receive dividends is with their young pitcher Andrew Heaney. He has had his problems controlling his command in early innings. This will be his fourth start with a current era of 5.29. It’s much higher than his style of pitching warrants. He just needs to settle down in the early innings.

Timing is everything and today should be the day Heaney fills comfortable. He was on his way to a solid outing last week against Oakland, until a rough 6th inning occurred. After allowing zero runs, he gave up three two-out hits, including a 3-run home run that allotted four runs in the inning.

Look for the Marlins to erase last night’s rough loss and get a win today in St. Louis

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– Fred Jackson- Age has always been a negative when a running back eclipses 30. For Jackson this trend has been correct the past couple of seasons. Once an out of nowhere fantasy stud he has dipped back into the unwanted running back. Injuries have held him back but 2014 could be an upswing for Jackson. His mileage is still low even for his age. Buffalo was one of the first teams to do a time share backfield even as far back as Willis McGahee and Marshawn Lynch. Owners of CJ Spiller know that his work load is as sporadic as it gets. Jackson could surprise some especially in the touchdown category, if the Bills offense maneuvers well.

– Stephan Taylor- Arizona has never been a haven for running backs. They’ve tried over the years with Thomas Jones, Emmitt Smith, Edgerrin James, Beanie Wells, Michael Pittman, and Rashad Mendenhall. An odd mix of drafted backs and second stop running backs. All struggled and have left the Cardinals dependent yet again in the backfield. This year they’re set to entrust their young backs in Andre Ellington and Taylor. Ellington seems destined for a breakout year but Taylor will get a sustained share of carries.

-Vick Ballard- The Colts likely would have saved themselves a first round pick if Ballard did not get hurt last season. Injuries at running back caused the Colts to reach for Trent Richardson. At first people were stunned at how quick the Browns let Richardson go. After a handful of games it was evident why they did so. Ballard is listed as the second back on paper, but may surge past Richardson if he continues to struggle.

– Lamar Miller- Some backs are system backs. Knowshown Moreno is going to have to prove the skeptics wrong. He had a great year for Denver a season ago and got the paycheck he wanted from Miami. The first portion of his rookie contract with Denver left a lot to be desired though. Miller is in the same situation that Moreno was in Denver. He has had the opportunities as a young back but didn’t cash in. His rookie deal still has two years left on it but he needs to show this year if he can cut it. If not Miami may cut him and draft a young back to build off of in 2015.

Others: Jonathan Stewart, Ka’Deem Carey, Terrance West, Ronnie Hillman, Shane Vereen, Khiry Robinson, Andre Williams, Bilal Powell, MJD, LeGarrette Blount, Mike James, and Bishop Sankey