#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Current Standings:
1. Atlantic - $3150
2. Pacific - $3050
3. Central - $2950
4. Midwest - $2550

This Sim's Division Representatives:
Atlantic: LogPMess
Central: NickMalone
Midwest: 78
Pacific: Messi 2.0

You may claim a point if you provide a write-up/rationale for at least 5 picks - though feel free to do more! Otherwise, you're just competing for the divisional race which awards 5 points per GM in the winning division at the end of the season.

Pick the 10 games with the spread below from 2/26/14 and rank them in confidence from 10 (most confident) to 1 (least confident). You'll get 10pts for winning your most confident, 9 for second, etc. You will then be paid off the following scale:
1st - $1000
2nd - $600
3rd - $200
4th - Nothing but shame

The team with the minus number is the favorite (needs to win by at LEAST that number). The underdog just has to stay within that number. If the game is marked (pk) there is no spread.

A really good example of this being done was last week's thread, if you need a reference.

2/26/2014
Wizards (-2) @ Nets
Pacers @ Spurs (-7)
76ers @ Clippers (-8)
Hawks (-22) @ Knicks
Cavaliers @ Bucks (-11)
Celtics @ Magic (-5)
Pistons (pk) @ Timberwolves (pk)
Kings (pk) @ Suns (pk)
Mavericks @ Jazz (-13)
Bulls @ Warriors (-8)

Example of picks:
10. Bulls +8
9. Suns (pk)
8. Spurs -7
etc.

Wizards (-2) @ Nets
Wiz kids are just too good for the New Jersey home team. Wiz cover the spread easily

Pacers @ Spurs (-7)
Spurs are very strong at home and the Pacers are less than a 500 team on the road. The spread will keep it close, but I'm going to go with the home team.

76ers @ Clippers (-8)
Durant doing Durant things. Also, Delonte is a beast. Clippers by double digits

Hawks (-22) @ Knicks
Too big of a spread. Even for the Hawks. Knicks at home.

Cavaliers @ Bucks (-11)
Taking a guess on the spread

Celtics @ Magic (-5)
Looking for Hawes to have 20-10 on the road to cap a win for the Celtics.

Pistons (pk) @ Timberwolves (pk)
The talent is too good for the Timberwolves to match

Kings (pk) @ Suns (pk)
Kings because f*ck the suns. Kevin Love gets hurt for 245 days with Turf Toe.

Mavericks @ Jazz (-13)
This is such a large spread, but I'll take the home team by a lot. Rubio will go off.

Bulls @ Warriors (-8)
Steph and Deandre. That's how its gonna go down.

10. Wizards (-2)
9. Kings (pk)
8. Clippers (-8)
7. Warriors (-8)
6. Pistons (pk)
5. Spurs (-7)
4. Cavaliers (+11)
3. Jazz (-13)
2. Celtics (+5)
1. Knicks (+22)

Will submit for Central if Nick doesn't post by 4pm

Wizards (-2) @ Nets - Wizards making moves to bolster it's wing depth with Yi Jian Lian and bringing in Patrick Patterson should help smother New Jersey. Also the point margin itself is way too low for a team that's 15.5 games better than the opposition, even on the road.

Pacers @ Spurs (-7) - The Pacers are a decent road team and while the Spurs have been exceptional at home, the Pacers need this game to keep track with the rest of the Central, jockeying for playoff positioning even in the month of February.

76ers @ Clippers (-8) - An old finals matchup with a lot of new faces in Philly this time around. As long as Durant's healthy, the Clippers should dominate the Kings farm team.

Hawks (-22) @ Knicks - Normally always a risky proposition taking any team with a +20 point spread but the last time these two played in Atlanta, the Hawks almost hit 50 over the Knicks. I'll take the Hawks here even with giving up their point guard to the Knicks.

Cavaliers @ Bucks (-11) - The Cavs are red hot in their last ten games after much of the year could've been in doubt. Only one missing this game is Nic Batum. Cavs may be looking to sell but CP3 and Marc Gasol pull the Cavs back in it. They may not win but that point spread is a bit too much for my liking to pick the always adjusting Bucks.

Celtics @ Magic (-5) - Magic are a really good home team. Boston's always skittish on the road and always seem to find themselves in a unique position. Magic out rebound the Celtics and get just enough from Dragic and Wes to win the game and cover.

Pistons (pk) @ Timberwolves (pk) - Anthony Davis > Draymond Green & Otto Porter. The Pistons should also be a lot better than what their lackluster record always indicates.

Kings (pk) @ Suns (pk) - Kings have dominated the Suns in both matchups they've played against each other so far. Kings have far more and better depth than what the Suns present who may still be without Aaron Brooks for this match. Plus, it also helps dropping that pick just a bit lower with every Suns loss as well.

Mavericks @ Jazz (-13) - The Jazz have seriously overplayed how important Andrew Bogut was to the difference of Paul George and Ricky Rubio. Aminu and Emeka Okafor should be a help with George Hill to at least keep the game close to what the spread currently is.

Bulls @ Warriors (-8) - Warriors at home. Dominant at home too. The Bulls just traded away the most careless guy on the roster in Larry Sanders so for cohesion sake, they may improve but I just happen to like the offensive versatility of what the Warriors are at home.

Pacers @ Spurs (-7) - Eazy's a dick, but the Spurs are good at home and got better today.

Wizards (-2) @ Nets - Wizards continue to roll.

Cavaliers @ Bucks (-11) - Bucks win but Cavs cover

Bulls @ Warriors (-8) - Warriors roll at home

Hawks (-22) @ Knicks - Hawks add another scorer with Middleton

Pistons (pk) @ Timberwolves (pk) - Louis shrug

76ers @ Clippers (-8) - Sixers cover, but Clippers win

Celtics @ Magic (-5) - Celtics should keep it close

Kings (pk) @ Suns (pk) - I like the Suns at hime

Mavericks @ Jazz (-13) - I think the Jazz will win, but not sure if they can cover the 13.

Tallies:
1. Atlantic $1000 37/55
2. Midwest $600 36/55 (so clooooooose)
3. Central $200 27/55
4. Pacific $0 0/55

Current Standings:
1. Atlantic - $4350
2. Central - $4150
3. Midwest - $3750
4. Pacific - $3050