MILWAUKEE BUCKS 27-25

What has changed: Milwaukee has performed remarkably well in close games, and like the Jacksonville Jaguars it’s keeping them in the playoff hunt. They have won 16 games that were decided by 6 or less and the few close games that they have lost either featured an injury to Michael Redd or Mo Williams.

They have only one player scoring above 15 PPG and that’s Michael Redd. With Arenas in it is Redd who’s the biggest All-Star left out in the East. Redd is averaging 24.9 PPG and has led the Bucks throughout the year.

Also stepping up has been Mo Williams. Williams has missed the past 14 games to an injury, but before that was averaging 14.7 off the bench. T.J. Ford game back from missing all of last year to get 12.1 PPG and 6.1 assists. Jamal Magloire has been worth the Desmond Mason trade with 10.2 and more importantly 10.1 rebounds.

Andrew Bogut originally had Dwight Howard-like numbers at the start but has slid just a little. Still his 9 PPG and 7.6 rebounds are well appreciated. The man who was supposed to be backing him up, Joe Smith, has missed 37 games this year. Gadzuric hasn’t helped out as much as originally thought and has a chance to be traded before the All-Star break.

Although the Bucks’ record isn’t as good since the last time we checked on them, many of their stats are more polished. The main one is PPG allowed; as of last December they were allowing 99.7 PPG but have now trimmed that to 97.3. Bobby Simmons has nearly doubled his scoring average and isn’t as quiet offensively.

However the Bucks are no longer the best 3P-shooting team in the NBA (they’re 7th). Milwaukee is an offensive team but has fallen considerably. For a while they were right at triple-digits but now are scoring only 95.6 a game. Aside from rebounds their opponents outplay Milwaukee in the majority of the statistics, which is a big reason why winning close games is keeping them in it.

Right now Milwaukee is the #6 seed in the East and has a legitimate chance to get to the second round if they’re healthy. Right now they’d face New Jersey in the first round and if they move up a game they’d play Cleveland in the playoffs. While neither match-ups will give them home-court advantage it’s a far easier alignment than facing Miami. The Bucks are just half a game up on Washington and they play the Heat if they fall to #7. As long as they don’t do that, this team could surprise people come playoff time.

Our Free Betting Baseball Systems are thoroughly researched and documented just like our Articles on Baseball Handicapping at http://www.easybaseballbetting.com.

Stats are through January 28

San Antonio Spurs @ Utah Jazz, January 30: The Spurs have a slim lead in the Southwest Division. San Antonio is 15-4 SU and 10-9 ATS in the last 19 games. The Spurs are 5-3 SU and ATS in the last eight road games. The Spurs are 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS against the Jazz over the last two seasons. The Spurs are 0-2 SU and ATS on the road against the Jazz over the last two seasons. The Jazz is in second back in the Northwest Division. Utah is 10-7 SU and ATS in the last 17 games. The Jazz is 5-3 SU and ATS in the last eight home games.

Phoenix Suns @ Philadelphia 76ers, January 31: The Suns have a slim lead in the Pacific Division. Phoenix is 12-5 SU and ATS in the last 17 games. The Suns are 6-4 SU and ATS in the last 10 road games. The Suns are 3-0 SU and ATS against the 76ers over the last two seasons. The Suns are 1-0 SU and ATS on the road against the 76ers over the last two seasons. The 76ers are in second place in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia is 15-14 SU and 11-17-1 ATS in their last 29 games. The 76ers are 10-4 SU and 6-8 ATS in the last 14 home games.

Detroit Pistons @ New Jersey Nets, January 31: The Pistons have a huge lead in the Central Division. Detroit is 21-2 SU and 12-11 ATS in their last 23 games. The Pistons are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in the last eight road games. The Pistons are 3-0 SU and ATS against the Nets over the last two seasons. The Pistons are 2-0 SU and ATS on the road against the Nets over the last two seasons. The Nets have a slim lead in the Atlantic Division. The New Jersey is 19-16 SU and 16-18-1 ATS in their last 35 games. The Nets are 8-4 SU and 5-6-1 ATS in the last 12 home games.

Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz, February 1: The Nuggets have a lead in the Northwest Division. Denver is 12-6 SU and ATS in the last 17 games. The Nuggets are 8-6 SU and 7-7 ATS in the last six road games. The Nuggets are 3-2 SU and ATS against the Jazz over the last two seasons. The Nuggets are 1-1 SU and ATS on the road against the Jazz over the last two seasons. The Jazz is in second place in the Northwest Division. Utah is 10-7 SU and ATS in the last 17 games. The Jazz is 5-3 SU and ATS in the last eight home games.

Detroit Pistons @ Philadelphia 76ers, February 3: The Pistons have a huge lead in the Central Division. Detroit is 21-2 SU and 12-11 ATS in the last 23 games. The Pistons are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in the last eight road games. The Pistons are 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS against the 76ers over the last two seasons. The Pistons are 1-1 SU and ATS on the road against the 76ers over the last two seasons. The 76ers, in a close race, are in second place of the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia is 15-14 SU and 11-17-1 ATS in their last 19 games. The 76ers are 10-4 and 6-8 ATS in the last 11 home games.

Ken Angland is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Ken_Angland.htm

Born on January 26, 1977, Vince Carter graduated from college in North Carolina and now plays the guard position for the New Jersey Nets. One of the most exciting players in the NBA, Carter was chosen in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. After suffering injuries, Vince Carter regained his momentum with the Nets as one of the leading players in the NBA.

Even before entering the NBA, Carter showed promise as an up-and-coming basketball star. While playing as part of the North Carolina Tar Heel team, he averaged 12.3 points per game. During his junior year, Vince Carter was named First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, Second Team All-America and became a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, which is presented to the nation’s best player.

As he entered the NBA, Vince Carter amazed both teammates and opponents with his acrobatic moves on the court. That same year, he received the Schick Rookie of the Year recognition and became the first Toronto Raptors players to be recognized as an NBA Player of the Week. During the 1999-2000 season, Carter was named to the All-NBA Third Team and was again named the NBA Player of the Week. By 2000-2001, Vince Carter was becoming very popular with fans and was also becoming a well-known name in the NBA rankings. That season, he ranked among the NBA leaders in seven different categories.

When the 2001-2002 season rolled around, Carter was thriving. On March 22, however, he announced plans to undergo surgery on an injured left knee. This misfortune caused him to miss the final 14 games of the season. In the 2002-2003 season, Vince Carter averaged 20.6 points during his 43 games. It was this year that he missed a career-high 39 games due to several appearances on the injured list. The following season found Vince Carter receiving the most votes in the NBA All-Star balloting program for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.

Vince Carter made his mark on the 2004-2005 NBA season, during which he averaged 24.5 points per game and ranked 1st on the team in points. In addition, he was awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the Week and Month and was voted as a starter for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. Vince Carter has managed to find great success both on an off the court. This married father of one was named on of ‘Sporting News 2004 Good Guys’ in professional sports for his activities away from the court. In July 2003, Carter unveiled a professional-sized basketball court, which was funded by his foundation, in Toronto’s Dixon Park. The court is valued at $130,000 and officially opened with Carter sending the first ball through the hoop. In September 2002, he donated $2.5 million for financing the construction of a new gym at his former high school in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Vince Carter their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. Letters and requests should be mailed to:

Vince Carter
New Jersey Nets

390 Murray Hill Pkwy.
East Rutherford, NJ 07073

Read Vince Carter biography or see Vince Carter pictures and many other news and fan resources on http://www.vince-carter.org fan site.