I am a Lock, I am an Island

Can you bank on these picks? Kobe Bryant thinks so. Celebrity endorsement! You'll see why below...

Oklahoma City (-1) over INDIANA PACERS (-105)

Sure, Indiana is at home. Sure, they have a far superior point differential. Sure, they just manhandled the Legion of Doom behind Brandon Rush and T.J. Ford (of all people). Sure, John Hollinger just wrote a piece declaring that the Pacers may be more likely to make the playoffs. I spit on these facts. And then I stick my tongue out at them. I'm not talking an MJ-type tongue wave. I'm going back to the third grade and putting the scorn (and immaturity) on full throttle. The Thunder are now healthy and a better basketball team. And they're 5-1 on the road. And as of tip-off, Kevin Durant has not been traded to the Pacers.

Kobe Bryant OVER 25.5 points (-115)

Kobe has spent the last three years torching Utah. He gets to go against nemesis Raja Bell. He is averaging 25.3 points per game in limited minutes and should play more tonight because it will be a close game. And most importantly, he is due for a game where I want to throw things at the television because he is shooting too much. Bad for the Lakers. Bad for my television. Good for his point total.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (-4.5) over Dallas Mavericks (-105)

I am a hater. I hate the Mavericks. I don't think Tyson Chandler is any good. I think Caron Butler and Shawn Marion are as redundant as they are washed-up. Even though the Mavericks internal statistics show that Jason Kidd is the best player in the history of basketball, I think he is old and slow and old. Dirk's hair looks stupid cut short. Even Birdman thinks DeShawn Stevenson has weird tattoos. Spurs win. The hate continues.

Previous Locks (11/24): 2-0
Season Locks: 3-1 (up $19.00)

"And I was born a ramlin' gamblin' man" Bob Seger in Ramblin' Gamblin' Man

Thanksgiving

A lazy, hokey post about what I'm thankful for as an NBA fan? Yes, please!

Call me Joseph Bramah Because I'm A Locksmith

Don't call me that. It's a ridiculous name. But for those of you interested, Bramah was an 18th century locksmith and invented the hydraulic press. Wikipedia, for the win! Onto today's locks (picks)...

Chris Bosh OVER 25.5 Points/Rebounds (+105)

Bosh has averaged about 35 total points/boards over the past 4 games and amassed 21 in only 30 minutes in the Legion's first matchup against the Magic even with a horrendous shooting night. He'll have to play big minutes tonight and some of those will come against Rashard Lewis. Plus, who else is going to rebound for the Legion? Udonis Haslem? Ohhhhhh! Too soon? Certainly not.

Jameer Nelson OVER 13.5 points (-105)

Nelson averages 14.3 ppg for the season and more than 15 when playing at home. He struggled in the first game vs the Legion (like everyone else) but minimal interior defense and poor defensive point guards have made the Legion vulnerable against good point guards.  and hell have to score more without Vince Carter.

Previous Locks (11/17): 1-1
Season: 1-1 (If all bets were made to make $10 if successful I am down...$1.00)

"And I was born a ramlin' gamblin' man" Bob Seger in Ramblin' Gamblin' Man

Reason #2147 Phil Jackson Is Awesome

“Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader.” General Motti from Star Wars

Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach are universally regarded as the two best basketball coaches in NBA history. While they are both known as good teachers and tactically proficient, the majority of their successes can be attributed to their motivational techniques (and of course, always coaching teams with multiple Hall of Famers). Jackson and Auerbach always put their players in a position to succeed while doing their best to disrupt their opponents' focus. Auerbach literally fought opposing players and fans in defense of his team. Jackson has never actually gone Van Gundy on the opposition but he has been manipulating referees and opponents through the media for the past twenty years. Most of the first thousand reasons why P-Jax is awesome involve getting Jordan, Kobe and Shaq to all embrace the triangle offense during their respective primes. Many of the rest touch on his player management skills and unmatched ability to wage psychological warfare on an opponent. If there is any doubt about his success there is only one thing to do...Count The Rings (but you'll need more than two hands to do it)! Earlier this week, Jackson added to his reputation as a master manipulator by offering his thoughts on Pat Riley and the Legion of Doom's rough start.

                                                    A potential Finals coaching match-up?