Saturday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, March 21.
New York Knicks at Orlando Magic, 7:05PM ET
When New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard squared off in the slam dunk contest over All-Star weekend, the 5-foot-9 Robinson came out on top after jumping over his 6-foot-11 counterpart.
Less than two weeks later, Howard’s size was way too much for Robinson and the Knicks.
The Magic will likely again rely heavily on Howard against the undersized Knicks as the teams open a home-and-home series Saturday night in Orlando.
Robinson defeated Howard in the dunk contest finals Feb. 14, leaping over Howard for one dunk that earned him a perfect score in the last round and helped him unseat the All-Star post player as the contest champion.
Robinson and the Knicks, though, couldn’t handle Howard’s size Feb. 25. Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds to lead Orlando (50-18) to a 114-109 road victory. He also had four blocked shots against a small and overmatched New York frontline.
NBA Free Pick: Orlando – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls, 8:35PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers have the NBA’s best road record, and considering they completed a perfect six-game trip earlier this season, a seven-game stretch away from home shouldn’t be too intimidating.
Starting the trip with a win, though, won’t be nearly as easy as it once looked.
The Lakers will kick off a road trip critical to their hopes of earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls, who have strengthened their own playoff hopes by winning seven straight at the United Center.
Los Angeles (54-14) is well on its way to having home-court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs, but Cleveland has seized the best record in the league.
Should the Lakers need a big road win in the postseason, though, they should be in good shape to get it. Los Angeles is a league-best 23-9 away from home and went 6-0 on a road trip from Jan. 30-Feb. 8 that concluded with wins in Cleveland and Boston.
The Lakers, who won 114-106 over Golden State on Thursday, won’t have to face anyone the caliber of the Cavaliers and Celtics on this trip. Atlanta is the only opponent they’ll face that is currently above .500.
NBA Free Pick: LA Lakers – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers, 10:35PM ET
LeBron James has been phenomenal during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ seven-game winning streak, recording four triple-doubles while the Cavaliers have seized control in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
Up for debate, however, is whether they’re the East’s hottest team.
The Atlanta Hawks can safely say that title belongs to them if they can win Saturday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena, where both the Hawks and Cavaliers will look for their eighth straight victory in what could be a second-round playoff preview.
James has put up fantastic numbers all season to emerge as a front-runner for what would be his first MVP award, but his performance over the last two weeks may ultimately put him over the top. The NBA’s reigning scoring champion has nearly averaged a triple-double in leading Cleveland (55-13) to seven consecutive wins, putting up 31.3 points, 10.4 assists and 9.7 rebounds along with 2.4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.
NBA Free Pick: Cleveland – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 3/21/09 10:26AM ET