Free NBA Pick for Monday December 18

Written by Alleks

Monday, 18 December 2006

Golden State at New Jersey

Press clippings

"The Warriors look to beat the New Jersey Nets on the road for the first time in nearly 10 years when they meet Monday night."

"Biedrins, who led the NBA in shooting percentage for much of the early going, has gone 5 for 18 in his past two games and was limited to eight points, 10 rebounds and one block Sunday."

``Biedrins is just playing tired, and I don't know what I can do about it,'' Nelson said. ``Probably nothing, because I just don't have enough bodies.''

Golden State certainly has ample opportunity to work on its problems on the road, as it is in the middle of a six-game road trip. It`s one of two six-game trips for the Warriors this season. Poor defense has been Golden State`s main problem on the road, where the Warriors are allowing 115.1 points per game.

``When you are on the road and you stay close you have to be able pick it up another level on the defensive end in order to pull out a victory,`` Warriors point guard Baron Davis said.

New Jersey has lost two straight games while scoring a total of only 160 points and shooting 38 percent from the field.

``We`re disappointed with where we`re at,`` Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. ``We know we have to get better.``

Some of New Jersey`s offensive problems stem from Vince Carter`s struggles. The star swingman has scored just 24 total points in the last two games while shooting 23 percent (9-for-38) from the field.

``I`ll be OK,`` Carter said. ``I don`t worry about it. I just want to be consistent. It hasn`t gone for me these last two games, but there`s plenty more games to play. So I`ll just put this behind me.``

Betting analysis

A lot will depend on NJ ability to react to 2 straight losses from Toronto and Detroit and sure from Vince Carter form who was really bad in last games. But this man usually don't have 3 games under 20 points and sooner or later he will start scoring again and poor Warriors defence is something that could help him to recover. Talking about NJ problem in offense we should remember that Warriors is an open-court team and with such teams NJ usually plays better in offense that with half court teams like Toronto (now it is really looking as half court) and Detroit were. Defensively Nets looking well - 91.8 pts in last 5 games is not bad and this defence should work against tired Warriors which are playing back-to-back game tonight. I know that GS are 4-2 ATS on 0 days rest but till now they covered by loosing a game and 4th time they played at home against Utah in back-to-back night.

Warriors allowed 100+ points in 9 of last 10 games while their defensive skills average is 111.2 in last 10 games. But against Nets they always struggle and last time when they won in New Jersey was Feb. 28, 1997. This time they will play against motivated but not-in-form Nets. But Nets had one rest day more and they are not travelling this time of season and this factor should save energy in their foots against Warriors who have 3rd game in 4 nights and are only 1-8 away from home.

Nets are not team to trust this year but at this moment I see them as a right favorite and I expect them to win by 10-15 points today, maybe the game will be decided in 2nd half when Warriors will miss strength and fatique factor will play against them. And if Nets will start great and Carter will be in-form this game could a blow-out game.

Predicted score: Nets 106 - 94 Warriors