George Mikan ruled the sport before it was fun to watch!
Here are the results of the games/picks from Weds. Nov. 11
(This week I’m making picks/Mike is the house)
Golden State @ Indiana – 5.5
Final Score – Indiana 108 Golden State 94 – Steve
Bulls @ Toronto -5.5
Final Score – Toronto 99 Chicago 89 – Steve
Utah @ Boston -12
Final Score – Boston 105 Utah 86 – Mike
Charlotte @ Detroit -4.5
Final Score – Detroit 98 Charlotte 75 – Steve
Philly @ New Jersey +5.5
Final Score – Philly 82 New Jersey 79 – Steve
Atlanta @ NY Knicks +5.5
Final Score – Atlanta 114 NY Knickes 101 – Steve
Portland @ Minnesota +8
Final Score – Portland 107 Minnesota 84 – Steve
Cleveland @ Orlando EVEN
Final Score – Cleveland 102 Orlando 83 – Mike
Memphis @ Houston -9
Final Score – Houston 104 Memphis 79 – Steve
Dallas @ San Antonio +1.5
Final Score – San Antonio 92 Dallas 83 – Mike
OK City @ LA Clippers -2
Final Score – OK City 83 LA Clippers 79 – Mike
New Orleans @ Phoenix -6.5
Final Score – Phoenix 124 New Orleans 104 – Mike
Daily Total – Steve 7, Mike 5 (Steve +$10) I won 6 of the first 7 and 7 of the first 9 so I was all pumped for a big win but losing the last 3 of the night dampened that.
Overall $ Total – Steve +$20
My picks for Thurs. November 12
Cleveland @ Miami +1
Phoenix @ LA Lakers -7.5

Rafer Alston, the man who made the leap from street legend to NBA journeyman.
Here are the results of the games/picks from Tuesday Nov. 10
(This week I’m making picks/Mike is the house)
Orlando @ Charlotte (+3.5)
Final Score – Orlando 93 Charlotte 81 – STEVE
Washington @ Miami (-8)
Final Score – Miami 90 Washington 76 – STEVE
Denver @ Chi Bulls (+3)
Final Score – Denver 90 Chicago 89 – STEVE
Portland @ Memphis (+6.5)
Final Score – Portland 93 Memphis 79 – STEVE
Houston @ Dallas (-6.5)
Final Score – Dallas 121 Houston 103 – MIKE
OK City @ Sacramento (+2.5)
Final Score – Sacramento 101 OK City 98 – MIKE
Daily Total – Steve 4, Mike 2 (Steve +$10)
Overall $ Total – Steve +$10
My Picks for Weds. Nov 11
Golden State @ Indiana – 5.5
Bulls @ Toronto -5.5
Utah @ Boston -12
Charlotte @ Detroit -4.5
Philly @ New Jersey +5.5
Atlanta @ NY Knicks +5.5
Portland @ Minnesota +8
Cleveland @ Orlando EVEN
Memphis @ Houston -9
Dallas @ San Antonio +1.5
OK City @ LA Clippers -2
New Orleans @ Phoenix -6.5

This is Steve taking over these posts for a while.
Picking NBA games is hard!
Here are the results of the games/picks from Monday Nov. 9
(This week I’m making picks/Mike is the house)
Phoenix @ Philly (-2)
Final Score – Phoenix 119 Philly 115 – STEVE
Utah @ NY Knicks (+6)
Final Score – Utah 95 Knicks 93 – STEVE
Toronto @ San Antonio (-7)
Final Score – San Antonio 131 Toronto 124 – PUSH
Minnesota @ Golden State (-6.5)
Final Score – Golden State 146 Minnesota 105 – STEVE
New Orleans @ LA Clippers (-2)
Final Score – New Orleans 112 LA Clippers 84 – MIKE
Daily Total – Steve 3, Mike 1, Push 1 (Steve +$10)
Overall $ Total – EVEN
My Picks for Tues. Nov. 10
Orlando @ Charlotte (+3.5)
Washington @ Miami (-8)
Denver @ Chi Bulls (+3)
Portland @ Memphis (+6.5)
Houston @ Dallas (-6.5)
OK City @ Sacramento (+2.5)
Today is the day in which I take the $ lead and do not look back all season.

Dear Mr. Jordan,
Can I call you Mike? I know you’re the greatest basketball player that ever lived and I will never have 1/1000th of the skills on the court you possess. But in terms of your reputation as a fearsome gambler, I wonder if perhaps we could one day be peers. I suspect that your incredible wealth means you will always be able to bet with more than me, but if one looks at it as a percentage of how much they are worth, I suspect I bet “more” than you.
Currently I am developing THE SYSTEM, which will allow me to pick the winners of more than 50% of NBA games including the point spread. I wonder if perhaps you, as a both a great basketball player and great gambler, could give me a few ideas on what matters in these match ups. This could really accelerate the development of THE SYSTEM.
Many Thanks,
A Fellow Gambler,
-Mike M.
Results from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday:
Friday: Mike 6, Steve 7 (Steve +$5)
(Total: Mike +5)
Washington @ Indiana (-1) – STEVE
New Jersey @ Philadelphia (-13) – MIKE
Detroit @ Orlando (-14) – MIKE
Atlanta (-2.5) @ Charlotte – MIKE
Denver (-1) @ Miami – STEVE
Phoenix @ Boston (-10.5) – MIKE
Cleveland (-8) @ New York – STEVE
Milwaukee @ Minnesota (-2.5) – STEVE
Toronto @ New Orleans (-5) – MIKE
Oklahoma City @ Houston (-5) – STEVE
Memphis @ LA Lakers (-10) – STEVE
San Antonio @ Portland (-4) – STEVE
LA Clippers @ Golden State (-5.5) – MIKE
Saturday: Mike 3, Steve 4 (Steve +$5)
(Total: Even Steven)
Sunday: Mike 4, Steve 2 (Mike +$10)
(Total: Mike +10)
So, after 96 games I am up $10.00 on Steve.
We’re now back to Steve picking for Week Three. I hope he does terribly.

Basketball. You win some, you lose some, right Mike?

We left off on November 4th after I had some terrific wins, but the next day the tides turned on THE SYSTEM.
Phoenix @ Orlando (-8) – STEVE
Miami @ Washington (-2) – MIKE
Detroit @ Toronto (-8) – STEVE
Indiana @ New York (-4.5) – MIKE
Denver (-9) @ New Jersey – STEVE
Boston (-12) @ Minnesota – MIKE
LA Lakers (-2) @ Houston – STEVE
Dallas @ New Orleans (-4.5) – STEVE
Atlanta (-5.5) @ Sacramento – STEVE
Memphis @ Golden State (-6) – STEVE
I only won 3 out of 9. Ouch. I’m down to $10 won on 68 games.
November 5th there were only two games, and I won one. $10 on 70 games.
Chicago @ Cleveland (-12) – MIKE
San Antonio (-1) @ Utah – STEVE
And now for tonight’s picks:
Washington @ Indiana (-1)
New Jersey @ Philadelphia (-13)
Detroit @ Orlando (-14)
Atlanta (-2.5) @ Charlotte
Denver (-1) @ Miami
Phoenix @ Boston (-10.5)
Cleveland (-8) @ New York
Milwaukee @ Minnesota (-2.5)
Toronto @ New Orleans (-5)
Oklahoma City @ Houston (-5)
Memphis @ LA Lakers (-10)
San Antonio @ Portland (-4)
LA Clippers @ Golden State (-5.5)

Results! THE SYSTEM is paying off!

Denver (-6) @ Indiana – MIKE
Washington @ Cleveland (-11.5) – STEVE
Boston (-7) @ Philadelphia – MIKE
Phoenix @ Miami (-4) – MIKE
Orlando (-6.5) @ Detroit – MIKE
LA Lakers (-8) @ Oklahoma City – MIKE
Milwaukee @ Chicago (-9) – MIKE
Utah @ Dallas (-6) – STEVE
Atlanta @ Portland (-7) – MIKE
Last night was the biggest win we’ve seen in this competition. I added $25 to my winnings, bringing my total to $40 on 59 games.
Is THE SYSTEM this good? Will THE SYSTEM continue to pay off? That would be amazing.
Phoenix @ Orlando (-8)
Miami @ Washington (-2)
Detroit @ Toronto (-8)
Indiana @ New York (-4.5)
Denver (-9) @ New Jersey
Boston (-12) @ Minnesota
LA Lakers (-2) @ Houston
Dallas @ New Orleans (-4.5)
Atlanta (-5.5) @ Sacramento
Memphis @ Golden State (-6)

Not a great start. Down $5 as I only picked 2 of the 5 correct. I am now up $15 on 50 games.
New Jersey 68 @ Charlotte (-7) 79 – Steve
New Orleans 111 (-3) @ New York 117 – Steve
Houston 113 @ Utah (-8) 96 – Mike
Memphis 116 @ Sacramento (-1) 127 – Steve
Minnesota 90 @ LA Clippers (-8) 93 – Mike

Let’s see how THE SYSTEM works on the next nine games.
Denver (-6) @ Indiana
Washington @ Cleveland (-11.5)
Boston (-7) @ Philadelphia
Phoenix @ Miami (-4)
Orlando (-6.5) @ Detroit
LA Lakers (-8) @ Oklahoma City
Milwaukee @ Chicago (-9)
Utah @ Dallas (-6)
Atlanta @ Portland (-7)

Steve’s week of picks comes to a close, and Sunday night I won 4 of the 7 games, with one push, putting me up $20 on the week.
Results (Steve is bolded):
Orlando 125 @ Toronto 116 (-5.5): MIKE
New Orleans 87 at Boston 97 (-11.5): STEVE
Chicago 97 @ Miami 95 (-4): STEVE
Portland 83 at Oklahoma City 74 (-2.5): MIKE
Minnesota 112 @ Phoenix 107 (-13): MIKE
Memphis 123 @ Denver 133 (-10.5): MIKE
Atlanta 110 @ LA Lakers 118 (-8): push
This past week have had 45 games and Steve won 22 of those. He’s .488 for picking winners. Can I beat him?
The difference between Steve and I is that I have a betting system*. Rather than look at which team I think will win based on who is playing and who is injured and who is at home and who had a rough travel night, my system allows me to quickly make my bets with confidence.
My Picks Are Bold:
New Jersey @ Charlotte (-7)
New Orleans (-3) @ New York
Houston @ Utah (-8)
Memphis @ Sacramento (-1)
Minnesota @ LA Clippers (-8)
*(no, my system is not just to pick the visiting team)

The biggest lead of the week is mine! I am up a grand $10 after 38 games of professional basketball. A total of $195 has been bet s far, and I’m up $10.
The Results:
New Jersey 104 @ Washington 123 (-5) – STEVE
Charlotte 79 @ Cleveland 90 (-14.5) – STEVE
Philadelphia 119 (-2) 115 @ New York – MIKE
Sacramento 94 @ San Antonio 113 (-16.5) – MIKE
Portland 107 (-3) @ Houston 111 – MIKE
Detroit 85 @ Milwaukee 96 (-3) – STEVE
Dallas 93 (-4) @ LA Clippers 84 – MIKE

Today’s Games:
Orlando @ Toronto (-5.5)
New Orleans at Boston (-11.5)
Chicago @ Miami (-4)
Portland at Oklahoma City (-2.5)
Minnesota @ Phoenix (-13)
Memphis @ Denver (-10.5)
Atlanta @ LA Lakers (-8)
Will Steve be able to make up the $10 deficit, or will my lead continue? And then, how will it all pan out when it’s my turn to pick the teams?
Steve has been a basketball fan since he was a tiny little kid. I don’t think I ever watched a full game until I moved to Portland, and only in the past two years have I really cared about my home team.
Will a less passionate viewpoint allow me to overcome the odds? Does Steve love of the Clippers and possible other teams/players emotionally blind him from making the right bets? H is picking the Lakers, and I think he hates them, so perhaps he isn’t playing as emotional as I had hoped.