NBA Handicapper Ryan Worden Free Pick Cavaliers VS Hornets
NBA Handicapper Ryan Worden Free Pick Cavaliers VS Hornets
Cavaliers -2 O/U 229.5
The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets in their 3rd away game in 4 days and 2nd game of a back to back. Cleveland with two weeks remaining in the regular season is trying to string enough wins together to hold on to the 3rd or 4th seed and give them home court advantage in the first round. On the other hand, Charlotte is almost eliminated as they are 5 games back from the 8th seed with just 8 games to play. In their last 5 games, the Cavs are 5-0 straight and 5-0 against the spread. The total is 3-2. In the last 5 games, the Hornets are 4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS, and 3-2 versus the total.
For this RideTheHotHand.com free pick, I’m going after the total. Lebron James can talk all he wants about home court advantage being meaningless but I don’t believe him. He knows how important it is to secure home-court in the first round at least. He also knows it’s dire the Cavs are playing their best ball on both ends of the floor leading up to that first round series. Therefore I think Cavaliers are going to be tough to beat in these last 7 games mainly because their defensive intensity is going to rise. They have to be playing their best basketball on the defensive end going into the Playoffs and make quick work of their first-round opponent before what will be a grueling 2nd round series vs Boston or Toronto. When you add that to this being the second night of a back to back, 229 points is just too many. Look for Cleveland to hold Charlotte close to the century mark and this game going UNDER the total. Take The UNDER Wednesday Night.