December 23, 2025 • 26 mins
Looking for the best NBA, CFB & NFL picks, predictions, and betting tips for Tuesday, December 23, 2025? Tune in to Profit Picks with expert handicappers Hakeem "Skee" Profit and Rob Veno as they preview today’s biggest matchups with sharp insights and actionable advice.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
What's up everybody. Welcome into another episode of Profit Picks.
If you are new, we do always start this show
by being transparent. And yesterday I did not have a
good day. I went three and five, three and four
in the NBA, and my best bet was in the
NFL was the coach plus six was a loser. So
(00:23):
got to get back on track here today. You know,
it is always good to be back on the show
doing it with you. Are back doing the show with you.
Hopefully yesterday was a little bit better for you.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It was ski. We had two and oh yesterday. Both
came from college though college football game played. The Utah
State team total under twenty four and a half got
the twenty one, so that was a winner. And then
at night, you know, it's becoming a little bit of
a favorite of mine, but cal State Northridge, over the
team total of eighty seven and a half, scored one
hundred last night, something they're starting to do pretty regular.
(01:00):
So we had a two and oh. Nice start to
the week. On Monday, we'll see if we can push
it through here to Tuesday. And I'm through the Christmas week.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
All right, let's uh, let's get see what we can
get out of this humongous Tuesday cards. If you watch
the shelves, they will be a little bit different. I'm
not gonna just deep break down all these games because
it's a lot of back to backs. It's the you know,
last day, last day before everybody goes and does their
Christmas thing. You know, it's not everybody doesn't care about
(01:32):
playing today. So it's tough to put in a pick
on all of these games very early. But Brooklyn and
Philly is one that I was interested in. Opened up
ten for Philly still ten total says that open too.
Eighteen and a half looks like to nineteen and a half.
I disagree with that. Going up the point, I mean,
(01:52):
neither team has been really playing up tempo lately. I
have twenty third and nineteenth in pace over the last
five games. And on the defensive end, I mean, I
think I shout this out the other day, but the
nets nets or the what is that the second best
defensive for the team last five games. I mean I
(02:14):
cast it under with them, I think the other day,
or I cast out on the spread with them because
of their defense. It was something like that. But they've
been playing good defense for a little bit. Now you
look at for the last five games for the Nets
have stayed under this number for the last five meetings,
got Edgecomb still questionable like under in this game, Rob,
you know, what do you think about Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I'll just support your Brooklyn defense. Recent defensive surge lately.
Ski last three opponents against the Nets only averaged eighty
nine point seven points per game. That's crazy good. And
Nick Claxton had a little bit to say about it.
He just said, we're just doing what we do better.
Our defense has been pretty solid this past month. It's
(02:59):
been really good. So we've just got to keep taking
steps in the right direction. But really we've been doing
a good job guarding. We've got a lot of switchable defenders.
We still got areas we can get better, but we
got to keep going. So vote of confidence for the
Nets defense here Philadelphia for what it's worth. Team total
for the Sixers five and one to the over in
(03:20):
their last six Again, I mentioned a lot of times
they're really a pace team, especially if Embid is not
on the floor. MAXI Edgecomb, like you say, maybe a
question mark next to him. I think he's gonna go
just being here in the area. It seems like he's
he may go for this one. So a little bit
of contradiction there between those two. I would probably lean under, though,
(03:40):
because Brooklyn seems to be leaning into the slower pace
and better defense as their new identity, which there was
nothing like that earlier this season, but they seem to
have become a pretty cohesive defensive unit.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
All right now. Washington and Charlotte. Washington has been I mean,
I'm sorry, Charlotte has been good on back to act,
but not necessarily favorites in these games. They open five
and a half, they're looking like seven. Now. I mean,
I can't push the button on the Charlotte minus seven
as bad as Washington is, So maybe I'll just go
(04:16):
with the total. I don't really trust either team to
play defense. I guess I'll lean towards over anything for you,
Charlotte and Washington.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, Charlotte got us home with the show best bet.
Yesterday Charlotte team total over against Cleveland, both teams in
the one thirties. For Charlotte, it was kind of a
bounce back, a real good performance against Atlanta offensively, then
a bad one, then a real good one last night.
I don't know you should be able to follow it
up against Washington. But I think Washington will score on
(04:45):
the Charlotte Hornets here. They just don't play very much defense.
I could take a slight look towards the Wizards team
total over one sixteen, but I don't know that I
would want to exclude Charlotte in this case. Probably a
pass for me, but some form of total. If you're
looking that way, I could endorse that.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
All right. Next game, it looks like Milwaukee and Indiana.
I don't really have any opinion on that game, so
I'm willing to skip if you're willing to skip.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, I would just say that I can't get anywhere
near Milwaukee right now. Ski. Not that I want to
be on Indiana, but it just can't get anywhere near
Milwaukee at this point.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
They shout out to the chat as well. We have
be men in here, Mark and Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Appreciate it. Happy holidays to you as well. Daniel, appreciate
you said. Shout out to Ski and Rob Legends and
Brian sharing on that last game. We just talked about
the Charlotte and Washington. He likes the first quarter over sixty,
so appreciate you guys in the chat. You know I'm
(05:49):
gonna go to the next game that is Raptors and Heat,
And I do have a slight opinion here. I mean,
for one, I don't want anything to do with the
Raptors until our Beard is back. And not only is
r J bard out yaka perdos out. So that makes
me automatically want to fade the Raptors. Makes me look
(06:10):
towards the Miami Heat. And when I think about the Heat,
I mean Bam said it. Yeah, you know, they should
be able to lean on their defense even if they're
not making shots. I think that the Raptors are going
to struggle to score here. I do think this is
a lower scoring game. Looking at the pace last five
games for both of these teams, Raptors are dead last
(06:33):
Heat kind of middle of the pack. Both defenses better
in the offense. Yeah, Raptors are the slowest pace and
the worst offensive rated team last five games. I mean,
that's not the recipe for hundreds. I don't know what
it is. They've gone under those five straight team total hunders,
and all five straight they're averaging ninety nine points per game.
They're allowing one on five point two, but they just
(06:54):
can't score, so I know the defense does get a
little bit worse with out Yako perdo for the Raptors.
That makes me think that we just Raptors team total
under here, just trust the Heat to play defense? Do
we just back the Heat on the spread? What do
you think about this game, Rabo?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, a little contradictory inside my thinking here, Ski, but
my initial thought was to play Miami. I like them
off the back to back losses, and they got me home.
The other night by the hook, I took seven and
a half against the Knicks and Miami lost by seven.
They hung in that game the entire way. So now
(07:35):
the only problem I have with it is it was
three straight road games and now they're home. But the
back to back losses to Boston and New York, I
think is reason enough to look to the Miami side.
There's been a little bit of improvement in their play
since I think we talked about them, maybe, or at
least I had read the quote about them maybe running
(07:57):
out of gas a little bit because they played so fast.
You just mention that their tempo has kind of slid
down recently to the middle of the pack. They're no
longer you know, flying up and down. So maybe a
little different approach here for Miami. Get a couple of
days off after this, but I think they're the right
side at home short price against the Toronto team that,
like you say, all we have to say really about
(08:18):
Toronto is eighty one points against the Nets. I mean,
you got to be better than that, and it's the
third time in their last five that they haven't reached
one hundred. So I'd probably be on Miami here.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, it has to be has to be Miami or nothing.
In that game, Oh, alvs and Pelicans, I mean, do
we still have to break this game down? Raven know
Cavaliers still laying nine points out there. I mean, I
know the Pelicans have to travel on the back to back.
I don't think any situation the Cavaliers should be laying
(08:53):
and expecting to win by double digits. So I means
Pelicans are past. What do you see there from that game?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Well, certainly, I mean current ats form, it's it's all Pelicans, right,
It's now six straight covers for New Orleans. They just
they lose games, but they cover spreads. They beat Dallas
last night out right, they're playing I mean you said
it all. Yes, say they're playing better obviously, doesn't really
(09:21):
matter who's on the floor. They found a way to
play well. And Cleveland again, like you say, we shouldn't
have to talk about it over and over again, but
they keep doing the same thing and they just I
bet against it last night. I bet against their defense,
just straight fade of their defense. This total's going from
two thirty seven and a half all the way to
forty four and a half. For good reason. Cleveland won't
play any defense. They'll try and score. New Orleans will score.
(09:45):
So maybe if you want to look over you could
look that way too. But I'll tell you what point
spread form recently, and for Cleveland, you could bring it
back even more than recently. One team's really good at
making your money with points, and the other team he's
really good at burning your money laying points. So I
think New Orleans decide you want to be hunt.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
All right. Chicago and Atlanta. Speaking of another team that's
been burning money, Chicago one nothing to do with them,
I mean know, absolutely nothing to do with them. It
will be Hawks or a pass here. Chicago doesn't have
anybody on the injury report. That's a good thing for him.
Atlanta will be without Dyson Daniels and Porzingis. But I
(10:27):
still just want nothing to do with the Bulls until
they show me they can consistently play good basketball again.
So just the slightest of leans towards Atlanta for me,
any thoughts for you from you?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
They just played two days ago and scored three hundred
and two points. I mean, come to one fifty. Nobody
cares on either team, and Dyson Daniels, who you just mentioned,
is the only defender that Atlanta has that cares. So
I could see another over. I mean, this thing is
up to fifty three and a half, but when you
(11:02):
can get to three hundred and two to fifty three
and a half, isn't that bad? So maybe you look over.
I won't play ski. I mean it's two teams that
really we don't want anything to do with at this point.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Uh, Denver and Dallas. I don't This is a game
I don't really want anything to do with, honestly, So
I'm willing to skip this one unless you have an opinion.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
The only thing I'll say is Denver did it again.
I mean we sat here on this show and said
how high can they make these Denver numbers total wise
one thirty five last night they got over that one
thirty one and a half. They just keep finding ways
to climb over team totals. If you want to look,
maybe you look there. Underdog's been good too as of late.
(11:46):
It's actually a game where two teams have been playing
pretty well. But yeah, look, somebody just said, let's look
at the Denver team total over.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Yeah, let's go back to that.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
So much sense we can latch onto that.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I guess New York and Minnesota when I see this
line it opened too, and it's all the way up
to seven and a half has to be some injury stuff.
I mean, a lot of these games are gonna have
injury stuff. But yeah, Brunson and Anobi McBride shammit yabu
(12:19):
Setti all out for Minnesota. McDaniel's and Ingles are both out.
That's why the spread looks like the seven and a
half that we're looking at there. Clearly the Knicks are
looking ahead, getting ready for their Christmas Day game. So
just for that reason, it makes me want to look
(12:39):
towards the Wolves. But the Wolves have not shown any
reason the latest kind of a number. They have not
been playing good basketball. So for that reason, I don't
want to push the button. It's tough, but I do
think the Wolves are the right side. What do you think?
You know?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I agree, And the reason you used to start off is,
I mean, it's you can't handicap a game. Sometimes you
can't with just one reason. But the fact that the
Knicks played the noontime game Eastern on Christmas Day, they
just had to leave home to travel to Minnesota, only
to travel back home to get ready for that game.
I just don't know that they care. We talk about
scheduled losses all the time, and it just has the
(13:18):
feel of a scheduled loss for the New York Knicks.
If I was gonna play, it would be Minnesota or nothing.
I think the last game I'm forgetting who Minnesota played
the other night, but they played a pretty solid game. Yeah,
and then Milwaukee came back late, right. They beat Milwaukee
only by three late eleven and a half. So it
was good early, it wasn't good late. Four straight unders
(13:41):
for the Timberwolves, four straight team total unders. They haven't
been really dependable. But I don't want to play the
Knicks here. I just don't think they care too much
about this one.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Yeah, I like the callouts in the chat for Colic.
I do like Colic in general. You know, I've liked
them since he was at Marquette. He will have a
much bigger opportunity without Jason Brunson on the court, so
he should be starting tonight. We've not seen him any
you know, seen him yet without Brunson. But that's just
(14:13):
what's he been doing lately. In general. He's had he averages,
let's see. I don't think that's yeah, twenty five games.
I mean, he's not been getting closed. But he's gonna
have the opportunity clearly one thousand percent, and I think
he's good enough. So I like the looks in the
(14:34):
chat from from Colic. Whether it's siss has double doubled
or same plus seven hundred, a lot of different ways
to look at it. I think that he can. I
think the sists is a safe bet, but I think
he can hit this too. Good stuff from the chat
spurs and okay, see, I guess that's the big game
(14:55):
of the night. Robino opened up six and a half
for okay, see down to five and have mm hmm.
You know, I can't help but think. I mean There
is a lot, a big list of questionables for Okay
seeing this game, but I do think majority of them
are gonna play, especially Chad Hardenstein also missed yesterday, but
(15:20):
I definitely think they were. They're looking forward and ahead
to this game team that knock them out the Cup
chat always, you know, has that matchup versus Wey Wemby's
questionable here too, But I don't know. I can't help
but think this is the get back game for the Thunder.
How are you viewing it? Well?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I agree, and I do think that the two bigs
were rested last night intentionally for this game, you know,
Oklahoma City. I talked about it a little bit before
that Cup game against seeing Antonio that all the quotes
coming out of there, as much as they're winning, they
wanted to win that as well, and they didn't get it.
(16:00):
Again for the second straight year they've been to the
Final four, they haven't gotten it either time. Definitely disappointment
in the quotes afterwards. I just think very seldom can
we attach revenge to games in the NBA. It doesn't
work as an angle for the most part. There's isolated
incidents where it does. I think this is one of
(16:21):
those isolated incidents where it will. I think Oklahoma City's
got a little bit to prove. San Anton kind of
acted like they had won the whole thing after they
beat Okay See that night, so I could see Oklahoma
City winning this game by more than five and a half.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
All Right, we're an agreement on that. Memphis and Utah.
Only way I'm looking is over in these Utah games.
I know it didn't get there last night, but yeah,
the only way to look is over anything from you here.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I'm just checking to see real quick if Jah is
going to be involved tonight. It looks like you.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Questionable?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Is Utah is pretty good at Memphis list hits questionable?
I don't think it matters though, Ski. We talk about
Jazz home games all the time, and they have been
absolutely if you start going through their ledger, their score
totals have been absolutely on fire lately. So over and nothing.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Lakers in Phoenix has to be some injury stuff here
as well. Reeves is questionable, Luca's out, Rui's out, Gabe
is out, and then Grayson Allen is doubtful, Jenlely Green
out for Phoenix. Yeah, I mean they get Reeves in there,
(17:41):
Lakers can still win. But yeah, I'm not really wanting
to lay the points with the Signs. I guess that's
just what I'm thinking. As long as they have Reeves,
they'll have enough scoring and playmaking. We've seen them win
games without Luca already this season, so lean Lakers. I'm
(18:04):
probably not gonna bet anything here from you, Robbie now, So.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
I'm gonna make a quick overall point ski because every
year when we come to the All Star Break and
I handicapped this way, I've been doing it for years,
but I always feel like the games leading up to
All Star Break, defense goes out the window. And this
Christmas Break, I think defense probably goes out the window tonight.
If you're looking at any of these games, you just
have the urge I gotta play. I gotta play. My
(18:30):
first inclination always in these types of games is play over.
I happen to like the over in this one, it's
already been pushed up four points, three and a half points.
I guess you could still get two twenty seven, but
I could see a full out offensive onslaught here by
both teams gets the two forty or something. So for me,
it's one of the ones I like quite a bit.
Today's Lakers Phoenix over the total.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
All right, we'll go to Orlando and Portland. And I
don't think Orlando's on the back to back. Oh wait, wait,
you know so many teams it's just hard to keep
up with it. I know Portland is on the back
to back. Yeah, Orlando did play.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Yesterday, got smacked by Golden State.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yep, so another one of those back to back games.
You never know. It's gonna be interro out right now.
The Silva and Subs are questionable for Portland, Grant is
questionable once again. I mean, I think I would trust
Orlando more than I trust Portland right now, especially if
Grant's not going to play again. Portland has been solid
(19:40):
as a home dog. I think they're seven and one
after yesterday, but and they didn't have to travel. I mean,
I guess you can go with that, but you gotta
expect them to win with this two point spread, and
I just don't want to do that. So lean Orlando
anything from you here.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
You know that's the ski. I mean, the Portland home
dog angle is great, but when it's only one and
a half points, it's hard to consider that a true dog.
So again, if you think they can win out right,
you probably just going to the money line anyway, you're
not taking one and a half. But I won't play
that game too much to consider there. And Orlando just
(20:19):
hasn't been good as of late.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Detroit and Sacramento I want absolutely nothing to do with here, Rovino,
So I'll leave that up to you. If you want
to tackle that game, you.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Could definitely cut it in half and throw Sacramento out
the window. First, Detroit won and covered again last night
on the road. I think it was against Portland, right,
that was the game where Portland home dog, Detroit good
on the road got it done. They just come to
play every single night. For me, it would be even
though it's nine points, it's got to be Detroit or nothing.
(20:52):
Total bit down to two twenty seven and a half.
Not absolutely sure why that would be a thing team
total with Detroit. I just want to look real quick here,
because that went eighteen and a half. I mean, the
way Sacramento gives him up, I wouldn't be surprised. I
guess the best way I would look there is to
the Detroit team total over one eighteen and a half.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
All right, Then last game on the slate today Rockets
and Clippers open five and a half. It says up
to eight and total down from two twenty two to
two nineteen. I mean, I think we can all agree
the Clippers are one of the less ends in the league.
(21:34):
Right Seven and twenty one is their record. He may
just got done saying that he needs to do a
better job getting his team ready for the lesser opponents.
I mean, you got to you got a chance to
do it right here tonight, right after just losing in
the last game. So I like that chance for the Rockets.
(21:59):
I might being to, you know, first half hand, a
full game in this one, but no Clippers won a game, hooray.
But they're gonna have to show me a little more
than just that one game. So I think the Rockets
are the right side here.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
What do you think? You know? And I think it
was a little wake up call in that game they
played a couple of weeks ago or maybe a week ago,
and Clippers only lost by two in Houston, which is
kind of surprising because again there's so much of an
athleticism edge for Houston. I think maybe they take that
(22:35):
game that result find a way to kind of step
on LA here and just again. LA is the type
of team that would absolutely show no interest in a
game two days before Christmas. So even at home, I
don't think there's much home advantage. I really would look
Houston in that game for the main reason that I
(22:55):
think they were kind of surprised and they might have
let up on LA in that game. One fifteen team.
I don't think they let up here.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
All right, that's the NBA slate for today, So Veno,
I know we got a lot of stuff going on.
I did not. I did not get the last you know,
I can go check it out, but I know we
do have five dollars Tuesday. We have that every single Tuesday.
You can go get a best bet from Robino or
(23:24):
myself overall wagers talk for just five dollars. I'm pretty
sure it's full court our life sex Pass. It's still
up and available three days of NBA and college basketball
from like forty nine dollars. Pretty sure this one is
by three days, get one free.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, so we got that one going and yeah, I
don't want to get too far into it. I look
up the next one while I passed it to Robino,
But you know, you can tell me if there's maybe
anything I missed and or anything else you would like
to promote, and if you have a best bet for
the show, we'd love to hear. If you don't, it's
all good.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, I'm not sure if the ten day one still
is going on, SKI, so I'm not gonna go ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
And oh yeah, I'm sorry. There's a there's a Christmas
you can get twenty five percent off anything using code
x miss twenty five. Use code x miss twenty five
you'll get twenty five percent off. So that's a good
one we have right now.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Anything that you like, Yeah, that one I think became
active after midnight, so that's a good one. If you
guys are interested in all sports, go ahead, take your
twenty five percent off with that Christmas code. You know,
best bet SKI. I hate a fourteen game card, and
I'm gonna sit here and have no best bet. But
that's the way I see it here tonight. There's just
(24:47):
nothing that really thrills me to the point of wanting
to make a strong play on anything. I may have
a couple of smaller plays later. I'll just say this
on the way out. Things that I like. Two things
that I like especially more than the rest of the
card is La Phoenix over. I think if you have
to pin me down now, that's probably going to be
(25:07):
the play I lean on tonight and okay, see in
a revenge spot against San Antonio. Those two I have
I have an interest in. We'll see if I get
to the window later, but probably neither one is the
best bet at this point in time.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
All Right, I will have a best bet for today,
And let me just flash this because it is the
last day for this discountant right for NBA through the
finals for myself bourn ninety nine. And yeah, like I said,
it's the last day today. I'm still number one in
the NBA since December of twenty twenty one. So what
am I going to do for best bets here? I
(25:47):
am gonna go with the first game that we talked
about Nets and Sixers. I like that game under you
can still get to nineteen and a half. Like I said,
neither team has been playing with pace. Both defenses have
been surprising good, especially for the Nets side. They're the
(26:09):
number two defensive rated team and they just the Nets
keep going under this number. Every time they play under
this number. I think we'll see another slow pace, more
defensive under in that game. So you know, appreciate you
taking the time to do the show with me. I
hope you. I don't think we'll talk again, so you know,
(26:29):
hopefully you have happy holidays and enjoy your time with
your family. Everybody in the chat, we appreciate you all
tapping into the show and supporting the show. Hopefully you
guys all have happy holidays as well. Yeah, so we'll
be back again afterwards to talk about it. That's the
luck on all your action and we'll get you guys later.
What's up everybody. Welcome into another episode of Profit Picks.
If you are new, we do always start this show
by being transparent. And yesterday I did not have a
good day. I went three and five, three and four
in the NBA, and my best bet was in the
NFL was the coach plus six was a loser. So
(00:23):
got to get back on track here today. You know,
it is always good to be back on the show
doing it with you. Are back doing the show with you.
Hopefully yesterday was a little bit better for you.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It was ski. We had two and oh yesterday. Both
came from college though college football game played. The Utah
State team total under twenty four and a half got
the twenty one, so that was a winner. And then
at night, you know, it's becoming a little bit of
a favorite of mine, but cal State Northridge, over the
team total of eighty seven and a half, scored one
hundred last night, something they're starting to do pretty regular.
(01:00):
So we had a two and oh. Nice start to
the week. On Monday, we'll see if we can push
it through here to Tuesday. And I'm through the Christmas week.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
All right, let's uh, let's get see what we can
get out of this humongous Tuesday cards. If you watch
the shelves, they will be a little bit different. I'm
not gonna just deep break down all these games because
it's a lot of back to backs. It's the you know,
last day, last day before everybody goes and does their
Christmas thing. You know, it's not everybody doesn't care about
(01:32):
playing today. So it's tough to put in a pick
on all of these games very early. But Brooklyn and
Philly is one that I was interested in. Opened up
ten for Philly still ten total says that open too.
Eighteen and a half looks like to nineteen and a half.
I disagree with that. Going up the point, I mean,
(01:52):
neither team has been really playing up tempo lately. I
have twenty third and nineteenth in pace over the last
five games. And on the defensive end, I mean, I
think I shout this out the other day, but the
nets nets or the what is that the second best
defensive for the team last five games. I mean I
(02:14):
cast it under with them, I think the other day,
or I cast out on the spread with them because
of their defense. It was something like that. But they've
been playing good defense for a little bit. Now you
look at for the last five games for the Nets
have stayed under this number for the last five meetings,
got Edgecomb still questionable like under in this game, Rob,
you know, what do you think about Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I'll just support your Brooklyn defense. Recent defensive surge lately.
Ski last three opponents against the Nets only averaged eighty
nine point seven points per game. That's crazy good. And
Nick Claxton had a little bit to say about it.
He just said, we're just doing what we do better.
Our defense has been pretty solid this past month. It's
(02:59):
been really good. So we've just got to keep taking
steps in the right direction. But really we've been doing
a good job guarding. We've got a lot of switchable defenders.
We still got areas we can get better, but we
got to keep going. So vote of confidence for the
Nets defense here Philadelphia for what it's worth. Team total
for the Sixers five and one to the over in
(03:20):
their last six Again, I mentioned a lot of times
they're really a pace team, especially if Embid is not
on the floor. MAXI Edgecomb, like you say, maybe a
question mark next to him. I think he's gonna go
just being here in the area. It seems like he's
he may go for this one. So a little bit
of contradiction there between those two. I would probably lean under, though,
(03:40):
because Brooklyn seems to be leaning into the slower pace
and better defense as their new identity, which there was
nothing like that earlier this season, but they seem to
have become a pretty cohesive defensive unit.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
All right now. Washington and Charlotte. Washington has been I mean,
I'm sorry, Charlotte has been good on back to act,
but not necessarily favorites in these games. They open five
and a half, they're looking like seven. Now. I mean,
I can't push the button on the Charlotte minus seven
as bad as Washington is, So maybe I'll just go
(04:16):
with the total. I don't really trust either team to
play defense. I guess I'll lean towards over anything for you,
Charlotte and Washington.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, Charlotte got us home with the show best bet.
Yesterday Charlotte team total over against Cleveland, both teams in
the one thirties. For Charlotte, it was kind of a
bounce back, a real good performance against Atlanta offensively, then
a bad one, then a real good one last night.
I don't know you should be able to follow it
up against Washington. But I think Washington will score on
(04:45):
the Charlotte Hornets here. They just don't play very much defense.
I could take a slight look towards the Wizards team
total over one sixteen, but I don't know that I
would want to exclude Charlotte in this case. Probably a
pass for me, but some form of total. If you're
looking that way, I could endorse that.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
All right. Next game, it looks like Milwaukee and Indiana.
I don't really have any opinion on that game, so
I'm willing to skip if you're willing to skip.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, I would just say that I can't get anywhere
near Milwaukee right now. Ski. Not that I want to
be on Indiana, but it just can't get anywhere near
Milwaukee at this point.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
They shout out to the chat as well. We have
be men in here, Mark and Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Appreciate it. Happy holidays to you as well. Daniel, appreciate
you said. Shout out to Ski and Rob Legends and
Brian sharing on that last game. We just talked about
the Charlotte and Washington. He likes the first quarter over sixty,
so appreciate you guys in the chat. You know I'm
(05:49):
gonna go to the next game that is Raptors and Heat,
And I do have a slight opinion here. I mean,
for one, I don't want anything to do with the
Raptors until our Beard is back. And not only is
r J bard out yaka perdos out. So that makes
me automatically want to fade the Raptors. Makes me look
(06:10):
towards the Miami Heat. And when I think about the Heat,
I mean Bam said it. Yeah, you know, they should
be able to lean on their defense even if they're
not making shots. I think that the Raptors are going
to struggle to score here. I do think this is
a lower scoring game. Looking at the pace last five
games for both of these teams, Raptors are dead last
(06:33):
Heat kind of middle of the pack. Both defenses better
in the offense. Yeah, Raptors are the slowest pace and
the worst offensive rated team last five games. I mean,
that's not the recipe for hundreds. I don't know what
it is. They've gone under those five straight team total hunders,
and all five straight they're averaging ninety nine points per game.
They're allowing one on five point two, but they just
(06:54):
can't score, so I know the defense does get a
little bit worse with out Yako perdo for the Raptors.
That makes me think that we just Raptors team total
under here, just trust the Heat to play defense? Do
we just back the Heat on the spread? What do
you think about this game, Rabo?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, a little contradictory inside my thinking here, Ski, but
my initial thought was to play Miami. I like them
off the back to back losses, and they got me home.
The other night by the hook, I took seven and
a half against the Knicks and Miami lost by seven.
They hung in that game the entire way. So now
(07:35):
the only problem I have with it is it was
three straight road games and now they're home. But the
back to back losses to Boston and New York, I
think is reason enough to look to the Miami side.
There's been a little bit of improvement in their play
since I think we talked about them, maybe, or at
least I had read the quote about them maybe running
(07:57):
out of gas a little bit because they played so fast.
You just mention that their tempo has kind of slid
down recently to the middle of the pack. They're no
longer you know, flying up and down. So maybe a
little different approach here for Miami. Get a couple of
days off after this, but I think they're the right
side at home short price against the Toronto team that,
like you say, all we have to say really about
(08:18):
Toronto is eighty one points against the Nets. I mean,
you got to be better than that, and it's the
third time in their last five that they haven't reached
one hundred. So I'd probably be on Miami here.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, it has to be has to be Miami or nothing.
In that game, Oh, alvs and Pelicans, I mean, do
we still have to break this game down? Raven know
Cavaliers still laying nine points out there. I mean, I
know the Pelicans have to travel on the back to back.
I don't think any situation the Cavaliers should be laying
(08:53):
and expecting to win by double digits. So I means
Pelicans are past. What do you see there from that game?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Well, certainly, I mean current ats form, it's it's all Pelicans, right,
It's now six straight covers for New Orleans. They just
they lose games, but they cover spreads. They beat Dallas
last night out right, they're playing I mean you said
it all. Yes, say they're playing better obviously, doesn't really
(09:21):
matter who's on the floor. They found a way to
play well. And Cleveland again, like you say, we shouldn't
have to talk about it over and over again, but
they keep doing the same thing and they just I
bet against it last night. I bet against their defense,
just straight fade of their defense. This total's going from
two thirty seven and a half all the way to
forty four and a half. For good reason. Cleveland won't
play any defense. They'll try and score. New Orleans will score.
(09:45):
So maybe if you want to look over you could
look that way too. But I'll tell you what point
spread form recently, and for Cleveland, you could bring it
back even more than recently. One team's really good at
making your money with points, and the other team he's
really good at burning your money laying points. So I
think New Orleans decide you want to be hunt.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
All right. Chicago and Atlanta. Speaking of another team that's
been burning money, Chicago one nothing to do with them,
I mean know, absolutely nothing to do with them. It
will be Hawks or a pass here. Chicago doesn't have
anybody on the injury report. That's a good thing for him.
Atlanta will be without Dyson Daniels and Porzingis. But I
(10:27):
still just want nothing to do with the Bulls until
they show me they can consistently play good basketball again.
So just the slightest of leans towards Atlanta for me,
any thoughts for you from you?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
They just played two days ago and scored three hundred
and two points. I mean, come to one fifty. Nobody
cares on either team, and Dyson Daniels, who you just mentioned,
is the only defender that Atlanta has that cares. So
I could see another over. I mean, this thing is
up to fifty three and a half, but when you
(11:02):
can get to three hundred and two to fifty three
and a half, isn't that bad? So maybe you look over.
I won't play ski. I mean it's two teams that
really we don't want anything to do with at this point.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Uh, Denver and Dallas. I don't This is a game
I don't really want anything to do with, honestly, So
I'm willing to skip this one unless you have an opinion.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
The only thing I'll say is Denver did it again.
I mean we sat here on this show and said
how high can they make these Denver numbers total wise
one thirty five last night they got over that one
thirty one and a half. They just keep finding ways
to climb over team totals. If you want to look,
maybe you look there. Underdog's been good too as of late.
(11:46):
It's actually a game where two teams have been playing
pretty well. But yeah, look, somebody just said, let's look
at the Denver team total over.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Yeah, let's go back to that.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
So much sense we can latch onto that.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I guess New York and Minnesota when I see this
line it opened too, and it's all the way up
to seven and a half has to be some injury stuff.
I mean, a lot of these games are gonna have
injury stuff. But yeah, Brunson and Anobi McBride shammit yabu
(12:19):
Setti all out for Minnesota. McDaniel's and Ingles are both out.
That's why the spread looks like the seven and a
half that we're looking at there. Clearly the Knicks are
looking ahead, getting ready for their Christmas Day game. So
just for that reason, it makes me want to look
(12:39):
towards the Wolves. But the Wolves have not shown any
reason the latest kind of a number. They have not
been playing good basketball. So for that reason, I don't
want to push the button. It's tough, but I do
think the Wolves are the right side. What do you think?
You know?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I agree, And the reason you used to start off is,
I mean, it's you can't handicap a game. Sometimes you
can't with just one reason. But the fact that the
Knicks played the noontime game Eastern on Christmas Day, they
just had to leave home to travel to Minnesota, only
to travel back home to get ready for that game.
I just don't know that they care. We talk about
scheduled losses all the time, and it just has the
(13:18):
feel of a scheduled loss for the New York Knicks.
If I was gonna play, it would be Minnesota or nothing.
I think the last game I'm forgetting who Minnesota played
the other night, but they played a pretty solid game. Yeah,
and then Milwaukee came back late, right. They beat Milwaukee
only by three late eleven and a half. So it
was good early, it wasn't good late. Four straight unders
(13:41):
for the Timberwolves, four straight team total unders. They haven't
been really dependable. But I don't want to play the
Knicks here. I just don't think they care too much
about this one.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Yeah, I like the callouts in the chat for Colic.
I do like Colic in general. You know, I've liked
them since he was at Marquette. He will have a
much bigger opportunity without Jason Brunson on the court, so
he should be starting tonight. We've not seen him any
you know, seen him yet without Brunson. But that's just
(14:13):
what's he been doing lately. In general. He's had he averages,
let's see. I don't think that's yeah, twenty five games.
I mean, he's not been getting closed. But he's gonna
have the opportunity clearly one thousand percent, and I think
he's good enough. So I like the looks in the
(14:34):
chat from from Colic. Whether it's siss has double doubled
or same plus seven hundred, a lot of different ways
to look at it. I think that he can. I
think the sists is a safe bet, but I think
he can hit this too. Good stuff from the chat
spurs and okay, see, I guess that's the big game
(14:55):
of the night. Robino opened up six and a half
for okay, see down to five and have mm hmm.
You know, I can't help but think. I mean There
is a lot, a big list of questionables for Okay
seeing this game, but I do think majority of them
are gonna play, especially Chad Hardenstein also missed yesterday, but
(15:20):
I definitely think they were. They're looking forward and ahead
to this game team that knock them out the Cup
chat always, you know, has that matchup versus Wey Wemby's
questionable here too, But I don't know. I can't help
but think this is the get back game for the Thunder.
How are you viewing it? Well?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I agree, and I do think that the two bigs
were rested last night intentionally for this game, you know,
Oklahoma City. I talked about it a little bit before
that Cup game against seeing Antonio that all the quotes
coming out of there, as much as they're winning, they
wanted to win that as well, and they didn't get it.
(16:00):
Again for the second straight year they've been to the
Final four, they haven't gotten it either time. Definitely disappointment
in the quotes afterwards. I just think very seldom can
we attach revenge to games in the NBA. It doesn't
work as an angle for the most part. There's isolated
incidents where it does. I think this is one of
(16:21):
those isolated incidents where it will. I think Oklahoma City's
got a little bit to prove. San Anton kind of
acted like they had won the whole thing after they
beat Okay See that night, so I could see Oklahoma
City winning this game by more than five and a half.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
All Right, we're an agreement on that. Memphis and Utah.
Only way I'm looking is over in these Utah games.
I know it didn't get there last night, but yeah,
the only way to look is over anything from you here.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I'm just checking to see real quick if Jah is
going to be involved tonight. It looks like you.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Questionable?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Is Utah is pretty good at Memphis list hits questionable?
I don't think it matters though, Ski. We talk about
Jazz home games all the time, and they have been
absolutely if you start going through their ledger, their score
totals have been absolutely on fire lately. So over and nothing.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Lakers in Phoenix has to be some injury stuff here
as well. Reeves is questionable, Luca's out, Rui's out, Gabe
is out, and then Grayson Allen is doubtful, Jenlely Green
out for Phoenix. Yeah, I mean they get Reeves in there,
(17:41):
Lakers can still win. But yeah, I'm not really wanting
to lay the points with the Signs. I guess that's
just what I'm thinking. As long as they have Reeves,
they'll have enough scoring and playmaking. We've seen them win
games without Luca already this season, so lean Lakers. I'm
(18:04):
probably not gonna bet anything here from you, Robbie now, So.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
I'm gonna make a quick overall point ski because every
year when we come to the All Star Break and
I handicapped this way, I've been doing it for years,
but I always feel like the games leading up to
All Star Break, defense goes out the window. And this
Christmas Break, I think defense probably goes out the window tonight.
If you're looking at any of these games, you just
have the urge I gotta play. I gotta play. My
(18:30):
first inclination always in these types of games is play over.
I happen to like the over in this one, it's
already been pushed up four points, three and a half points.
I guess you could still get two twenty seven, but
I could see a full out offensive onslaught here by
both teams gets the two forty or something. So for me,
it's one of the ones I like quite a bit.
Today's Lakers Phoenix over the total.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
All right, we'll go to Orlando and Portland. And I
don't think Orlando's on the back to back. Oh wait, wait,
you know so many teams it's just hard to keep
up with it. I know Portland is on the back
to back. Yeah, Orlando did play.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Yesterday, got smacked by Golden State.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yep, so another one of those back to back games.
You never know. It's gonna be interro out right now.
The Silva and Subs are questionable for Portland, Grant is
questionable once again. I mean, I think I would trust
Orlando more than I trust Portland right now, especially if
Grant's not going to play again. Portland has been solid
(19:40):
as a home dog. I think they're seven and one
after yesterday, but and they didn't have to travel. I mean,
I guess you can go with that, but you gotta
expect them to win with this two point spread, and
I just don't want to do that. So lean Orlando
anything from you here.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
You know that's the ski. I mean, the Portland home
dog angle is great, but when it's only one and
a half points, it's hard to consider that a true dog.
So again, if you think they can win out right,
you probably just going to the money line anyway, you're
not taking one and a half. But I won't play
that game too much to consider there. And Orlando just
(20:19):
hasn't been good as of late.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Detroit and Sacramento I want absolutely nothing to do with here, Rovino,
So I'll leave that up to you. If you want
to tackle that game, you.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Could definitely cut it in half and throw Sacramento out
the window. First, Detroit won and covered again last night
on the road. I think it was against Portland, right,
that was the game where Portland home dog, Detroit good
on the road got it done. They just come to
play every single night. For me, it would be even
though it's nine points, it's got to be Detroit or nothing.
(20:52):
Total bit down to two twenty seven and a half.
Not absolutely sure why that would be a thing team
total with Detroit. I just want to look real quick here,
because that went eighteen and a half. I mean, the
way Sacramento gives him up, I wouldn't be surprised. I
guess the best way I would look there is to
the Detroit team total over one eighteen and a half.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
All right, Then last game on the slate today Rockets
and Clippers open five and a half. It says up
to eight and total down from two twenty two to
two nineteen. I mean, I think we can all agree
the Clippers are one of the less ends in the league.
(21:34):
Right Seven and twenty one is their record. He may
just got done saying that he needs to do a
better job getting his team ready for the lesser opponents.
I mean, you got to you got a chance to
do it right here tonight, right after just losing in
the last game. So I like that chance for the Rockets.
(21:59):
I might being to, you know, first half hand, a
full game in this one, but no Clippers won a game, hooray.
But they're gonna have to show me a little more
than just that one game. So I think the Rockets
are the right side here.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
What do you think? You know? And I think it
was a little wake up call in that game they
played a couple of weeks ago or maybe a week ago,
and Clippers only lost by two in Houston, which is
kind of surprising because again there's so much of an
athleticism edge for Houston. I think maybe they take that
(22:35):
game that result find a way to kind of step
on LA here and just again. LA is the type
of team that would absolutely show no interest in a
game two days before Christmas. So even at home, I
don't think there's much home advantage. I really would look
Houston in that game for the main reason that I
(22:55):
think they were kind of surprised and they might have
let up on LA in that game. One fifteen team.
I don't think they let up here.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
All right, that's the NBA slate for today, So Veno,
I know we got a lot of stuff going on.
I did not. I did not get the last you know,
I can go check it out, but I know we
do have five dollars Tuesday. We have that every single Tuesday.
You can go get a best bet from Robino or
(23:24):
myself overall wagers talk for just five dollars. I'm pretty
sure it's full court our life sex Pass. It's still
up and available three days of NBA and college basketball
from like forty nine dollars. Pretty sure this one is
by three days, get one free.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, so we got that one going and yeah, I
don't want to get too far into it. I look
up the next one while I passed it to Robino,
But you know, you can tell me if there's maybe
anything I missed and or anything else you would like
to promote, and if you have a best bet for
the show, we'd love to hear. If you don't, it's
all good.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, I'm not sure if the ten day one still
is going on, SKI, so I'm not gonna go ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
And oh yeah, I'm sorry. There's a there's a Christmas
you can get twenty five percent off anything using code
x miss twenty five. Use code x miss twenty five
you'll get twenty five percent off. So that's a good
one we have right now.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Anything that you like, Yeah, that one I think became
active after midnight, so that's a good one. If you
guys are interested in all sports, go ahead, take your
twenty five percent off with that Christmas code. You know,
best bet SKI. I hate a fourteen game card, and
I'm gonna sit here and have no best bet. But
that's the way I see it here tonight. There's just
(24:47):
nothing that really thrills me to the point of wanting
to make a strong play on anything. I may have
a couple of smaller plays later. I'll just say this
on the way out. Things that I like. Two things
that I like especially more than the rest of the
card is La Phoenix over. I think if you have
to pin me down now, that's probably going to be
(25:07):
the play I lean on tonight and okay, see in
a revenge spot against San Antonio. Those two I have
I have an interest in. We'll see if I get
to the window later, but probably neither one is the
best bet at this point in time.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
All Right, I will have a best bet for today,
And let me just flash this because it is the
last day for this discountant right for NBA through the
finals for myself bourn ninety nine. And yeah, like I said,
it's the last day today. I'm still number one in
the NBA since December of twenty twenty one. So what
am I going to do for best bets here? I
(25:47):
am gonna go with the first game that we talked
about Nets and Sixers. I like that game under you
can still get to nineteen and a half. Like I said,
neither team has been playing with pace. Both defenses have
been surprising good, especially for the Nets side. They're the
(26:09):
number two defensive rated team and they just the Nets
keep going under this number. Every time they play under
this number. I think we'll see another slow pace, more
defensive under in that game. So you know, appreciate you
taking the time to do the show with me. I
hope you. I don't think we'll talk again, so you know,
(26:29):
hopefully you have happy holidays and enjoy your time with
your family. Everybody in the chat, we appreciate you all
tapping into the show and supporting the show. Hopefully you
guys all have happy holidays as well. Yeah, so we'll
be back again afterwards to talk about it. That's the
luck on all your action and we'll get you guys later.
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