FiveStarPick.com is starting to heat up as our member plays have hit 8 of 11 against the spread and today we have a full board of action for our members in both college and NBA basketball.  The focus of today’s preview is tonight’s NBA game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat.  Las Vegas sports books list the 76ers as 5-point home favorites with the total set at 193.

When it looked like Philadelphia was finally making a run, things are turning south again as Elton Brand is out for the year and must undergo shoulder surgery.  The Sixers started the season a disappointing 13-20 which lead to the firing of head coach Maurice Cheeks.  Things started to turn around with a recent 10-2 run, but they have since been very shakey and barely squeaked out a Push against the spread at home Thursday night against the Pacers.  The Sixers have a real problem finishing games and have lost eight games this season in which they led after three quarters.

Miami is playing average ball right now with moments of greatness, but has yet to put a major run together. The Heat are 12-11 ATS on the road and coming off a SU loss and an ATS winner in Detroit on Wednesday as 4-point dogs.  Miami is 16-5 following a loss, going 13-8 ATS in those 21 games.

Who covers the spread in tonight’s game?  Step up your game, become a member of our family and find out.  Why not try our service out for 2-days and see if our talent for picking NBA Basketball winners exceeds your expectations?  With over 2300 active members, you owe it to yourself to find out why FiveStarPick.com is the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net.  Our dime bettors were up over $100K in 2008.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

FiveStarPick.com is excited about the next few weeks as bowl season and the NFL Playoffs begin, but tonight we will aim our focus on the NBA Friday night basketball game between the LA Lakers and the Miami Heat.  Las Vegas sportsbooks list the Lakers as 7.5-road favorites with the total set at 205. 

Even with two of their top players feeling ill, the Lakers still find a way to keep winning.  Tonight, they open a four-game eastern road trip against a Miami Heat club that’s lost three in a row. Los Angeles (21-3 Straight Up, 11-12-1 Against The Spread) is looking for its 5th straight victory and 15th in 17 games following Tuesday night’s 116-114 home win over the New York Knicks.

Despite an upper respiratory infection, Lamar Odom recorded season highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Odom was making his first start of 2008-09 in place of Paul Gasol, who was sent home Tuesday night with strep throat.  Odom, who averaged 17.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists with Miami in 2003-04, practiced Wednesday and is expected to play Friday.  That’s good news for Los Angeles, as Odom is averaging 13.3 points, 15.0 boards and 5.7 assists in three games in Miami with the Lakers. He had 15 points, 18 rebounds and six assists in a 104-94 win at AmericanAirlines Arena on Feb. 10.  Gasol didn’t practice Wednesday and is questionable for Friday. Tuesday was his first missed game since being sidelined for nine games with a sprained left ankle from March 16-30.  After shooting 39.7 percent over his previous six games, Kobe Bryant went 12-of-22 from the field against the Knicks and scored 28 points – nine in the final 7:33 of play.

Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat haven’t enjoyed too many of those over the past week.  Miami (12-12 SU, 8-15-1 ATS) lost its third straight Monday night, 98-83 to Milwaukee as Wade missed 11 of 16 shots and finished with 15 points.  Wade averaged 34.8 points and hit 50.5 percent from the field during a four-game winning streak from Dec. 1-8, but is averaging 17.7 points and 33.9 percent shooting during the three-game slide.  Wade leads the league with 28.0 points per game. He averaged 18.5 in two losses to the Lakers last season, though.

It’s time to step up your game and become a member of our family.  Why not try our service out for 2-days and see if our talent for picking NBA Basketball winners exceeds your expectations?  With over 2300 active members, you owe it to yourself to find out why FiveStarPick.com is the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net.  Our dime bettors are up over $100K on the year.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com