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BIG AL's #1 AMERICAN LEAGUE TOTAL OF THE WEEK! (Fri)
Al McMordie looks to extend his Win Streak with a BIG TOTALS PLAY in the American League. It's Big Al's #1 American League Total of the Week, and it's out of a SWEET 66% ANGLE! If you enjoyed Big Al's National League Total of the Week on Atlanta/San Francisco 'over' on Tuesday, then you'll love this EASY WINNER! Get on it!
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NBA Playoffs Strategic Adjustments
by: Big Al McMordie
It's the time of the season where NBA coaches REALLY earn their money. The NBA Playoffs is largely about three key points: Talent, defense, and adjustments. Naturally, you can't win without talent on the court. Defense is another key, as well as strategic adjustments by the coaching staff. If you don't think coaching strategy is that important, think again. The Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich have seen it all, winning 4 NBA titles since 1999. They’ve beaten run and gun teams like the Lakers and Suns, and slow down, defensive-oriented teams, such as last year’s NBA Finals against the Cavaliers, a 4-0 sweep, and 2005's Finals vs. the Pistons.
They showcased their experience in the last series, dispatching the talented, veteran Suns again in 5 games. Now a talented young team threatens the defending champs, as the Hornets dominated Game 1, 101-82. New Orleans shot 50 percent from the field, outrebounded the Spurs 50-34 and held Tim Duncan to one of the worst nights of his postseason career. “They’re a hell of a basketball team,” Popovich said. “They can play with anyone. They’re real.” That means three of the six worst losses of the season for San Antonio have come at the hands of New Orleans (the Hornets also won 100-75 and 102-78 in the regular season).
The Hornets present a unique challenge as they have a one-two inside punch of Tyson Chandler and David West, a sparkplug in superstar Chris Paul, and a long-range threat in Peja Stojakovic. Don’t count out the Spurs just yet, as they’ve been through wars like this so many times. Four years ago when the Lakers beat the Spurs in the playoffs, the Lakers simply packed the defensive paint to double team Tim Duncan, and let the San Antonio guards shoot from long range. They failed miserably, so the Spurs went out in the off-season and upgraded their three-point shooting. Shooting the trey was a huge asset as they won the title in 2005 and 2007 with reliable long range threats like Brent Barry, Robert Horry and Manu Ginobili.
Which brings up some interesting strategic moves in other playoff series. The Pistons decided to go physical up-front in Game 1 against Orlando, pushing Dwight Howard out of his comfort zone. It worked, leading to Detroit's 91-72 win. Flip Saunders deployed the team in a zone for the second half, and it flummoxed the Magic. The game got heated at times, leading to technicals against Rasheed Wallace along with Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Howard had just 12 points, eight rebounds after being the first player to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds in three playoff games since Wilt Chamberlain did it in 1972.
Just as important a note to keep an eye on is that Howard injured his left thumb and played with blue tape protecting it. He says it’s fine, but watch his numbers carefully the next few games. The Pistons have a huge edge in the backcourt with Billups and Hamilton, as Orlando has had a shaky backcourt all season. It’s clear the Pistons are going to pack the paint and harass Dwight Howard, daring the Magic guards to beat them. They failed in Game 1, with Orlando shooting 40% from the field and 2-of-15 from long range. Five Orlando guards shot 8-of-23. "We always just try to change it up on Howard," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said. "We sent a lot of bodies at him. We wanted to keep a fresh body on him all the time." Can Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy come up with an adjustment?
Two years ago the Lakers made a clear strategic challenge to the Suns. Phil Jackson didn't want to play the Suns run-and-gun game, and he saw that during the regular season, Kobe Bryant had big games against the Suns, but the Lakers still lost most of them. So he changed strategy, spreading the ball around with Kobe taking fewer shots, and they pushed the ball into the low post to take advantage of the more finesse Suns. They nearly won Game 1 and did win Game 2 on the road as a dog.
In Game 1, Kwame Brown (14 points) and Lamar Odom (21 points) got shots and points, and the Lakers won the points-in-the-paint category, 42-30. In Game 2, Odom had 21, Brown had 12 and they held the Phoenix offense to 93 points and 42% shooting. All of which slowed the pace down, and notice that both games went under the total. Pay close attention to strategic adjustments during playoff series, and less attention to regular season meetings. After all, the Celtics dominated the Atlanta Hawks during the regular season, then lost 3 straight at Atlanta last week. Good coaches will make adjustments, which can influence the side and total. It’s the job of the handicapper to keep up with these moves, and even wager against poor coaches who might not have a clue about adjustments. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.
Big Al McMordie Past Articles
Let The Games Begin!
Football is king and August kicks off the 2008 football season. Yes, exhibition football is largely meaningless for the players and coaches, with starters ... read more
NFL Season Wins Forecast
With the NFL season just around the corner, this is a good time to look at what might happen this fall on the gridiron. Future numbers are out for each ... read more
2008 MLB Season, A Mid-Year Review
It’s almost as if last year’s bizarre football season has carried over into baseball. 2007 was an incredible season of shockers in football. ... read more
Handicapping Baseball Defense
It's important for a team to have strong defense at key positions such as outfield, shortstop and catcher. Defense at centerfield, shortstop and catcher ... read more
Rise and Fall of AL Totals
Successful handicappers need to keep track daily of changes in baseball of things that may influence the side and total of a game. The Red Sox, for instance, ... read more
All Big Al McMordie Past Articles
Big Al McMordie Recent Past Picks
MLB Baseball
New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers Wednesday August 6, 2008 8:05 pm
At 8:05pm our complimentary selection is on the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers. It can't get much more daunting than the situation for Texas' young righthanded starter Tommy Hunter. Just barely 22 years old and still in his first professional season, Hunter will ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Milwaukee Brewers @ Cincinnati Reds Wednesday August 6, 2008 12:35 pm
At 12:35pm our selection is on the Milwaukee Brewers over the Cincinnati Reds. Perhaps the recent shoving match and near fisticuffs in the Milwaukee dugout is just the thing this team needs to remind it that it is in the middle of a dogfight for the NL Central crown. ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants Tuesday August 5, 2008 10:15 pm
At 10:15pm our selection is on the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants 'over' the total. The two lefthanded starters taking the hill, Braves' veteran Mike Hampton, and Giants' youngster Jonathan O. Sanchez have ERAs over ten runs in their last three starts, although to ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Minnesota Twins @ Seattle Mariners Monday August 4, 2008 10:10 pm
At 10:10pm our complimentary selection is on the Minnesota Twins over the Seattle Mariners. Things are looking up for the Twins. Sure, their division rival, the White Sox, might have picked up future Hall-of-Famer Ken Griffey Jr. from the Reds at the trade deadline last ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Arizona Diamondbacks Monday August 4, 2008 9:40 pm
At 9:40pm our selection is on the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks 'under' the total. Prior to the trades of two of the their best offensive players, outfielders Xavier Nady and Jason Bay, the Pirates actually had some pretty decent team hitting statistics. ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Philadelphia Phillies @ St. Louis Cardinals Sunday August 3, 2008 8:05 pm
At 8:05pm our selection is on the St. Louis Cardinals over the Philadelphia Phillies. This game features a matchup of two veteran righthanders whose seasons have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. 28-year-old Brett Myers started the season strong and had some brilliant ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Detroit Tigers @ Tampa Bay Rays Sunday August 3, 2008 1:40 pm
At 1:40 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Tampa Bay Rays over Detroit. I've been on the Tigers a lot this season behind their rookie, Armando Galarraga, but I'm going to fade Jim Leyland's crew this afternoon. After all, Tampa Bay has excelled at home at Tropicana ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday August 2, 2008 10:10 pm
At 10:10pm our complimentary selection is on the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are hoping that their participation in the three-way, deadline deal in which they sent two young players (Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris) to Pittsburgh in exchange for Boston ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
Baltimore Orioles @ Seattle Mariners Saturday August 2, 2008 10:10 pm
At 10:10pm our selection is on the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners 'over' the total. Baltimore may have a 51-56 record and languishing in last place in the AL East, but for anyone watching their games these days, they are delivering a lot of bang for the buck. ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
MLB Baseball
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres Friday August 1, 2008 10:05 pm
At 10:05pm our selection is on the San Francisco Giants over the San Diego Padres. Originally, this was going to be a matchup of perhaps the top two starters in the league as the Giants' 24-year-old righthander Tim Lincecum was supposed to face the Padres' reigning Cy Young ... read more
Big Al McMordie Bio and Picks | Articles By Big Al McMordie
All Big Al McMordie Past Picks