Will AT addition change Acks' tune on the Blazers?

It's unlikely.

ORLANDO (-8.5) over Portland

Utah over CHARLOTTE (-3.5)

PHILADELPHIA (-3.5) over LA Clippers

Atlanta (-4.5) over CHICAGO

LA Lakers (-12.5) over NEW JERSEY

Oklahoma City over HOUSTON (-3.5)

MILWAUKEE (-6.5) over Sacramento

Indiana over SAN ANTONIO (-12.5)

Washington over PHOENIX (-10.5)

Sleepy Sunday, Greg sucks. Crank that favorites.

NEW YORK (-5.5) over New Jersey
Cleveland (-6.5) over MILWAUKEE
DETROIT (-2.5) over Washington
Miami (-1.5) over SACRAMENTO
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (-9.5) over Phoenix

Last night: 6-3

Season: 160-130

Acks in flight, Portland all right

INDIANA (-5.5) over LA Clippers

Toronto over CHARLOTTE (-3.5)

BOSTON (-12.5) over Philadelphia

Dallas over HOUSTON (-4.5)

Golden State over SAN ANTONIO (-13.5)

Milwaukee over NEW ORLEANS (-2.5)

Miami over ORLANDO (-9.5)

PORTLAND (-13.5) over New Jersey

SACRAMENTO (-4.5) over New York

Denver (-8.5) over MINNESOTA

Cleveland (-5.5) over DETROIT

PHOENIX (-10.5) over Memphis

Last night: 4-2

Season: 113-94

Massacre a-comin' in Motown?

Denver (-4.5) over INDIANA

Boston (-6.5) over PHILADELPHIA - Even though we're not taking them tonight, this still seems like a good time to mention that the Sixers' decision to return to the old-style look both with regard to uniforms and the court design at Wachovia Center is the early frontrunner for top move of the offseason. Even watching Philly home games on television feels like stepping in a time machine.

MIAMI (-3.5) over Phoenix - The "Shaq's last two stops prior to Cleveland" bowl. We actually flipped a coin to decide this game before Tek made a belated re-entrance to the conference call and demanded Miami. Seriously, we (sans Tek) were that non-committal on this. Good to have our version of Sesame Street's Bert around to keep us decisive.

LA Lakers (-7.5) over OKLAHOMA CITY - Much as all of us like the Thunder this season - and we do quite a bit, especially on nights when they get points - this is still too low to pass on the champs, even without Pau.

DALLAS (-5.5) over Utah - Anyone catch the Jazz getting toasted at home by the depleted Rockets last night? We're going to hold off on Utah for another day or two.

Milwaukee over CHICAGO (-8.5) - Too many puntos.

Orlando (-6.5) over DETROIT - Find us one person who is excited about Pistons basketball this season. Go ahead. We dare you.

CLEVELAND (-11.5) over Washington - At the time of last night's Picksix conference call, no line had come out for this game yet, and the general consensus was to take Cleveland with the presumption that the line would be in the 10-12 range. Consensus besides Tek, that is, who apparently hates the Wizards: "No changes below 25." Personally, I've been rather intrigued by a thus-far healthy Arenas and a blowin'-up Andray Blatche...but at this line, we'll stick with a home team that we're trusting has recovered from last week's malaise.

Atlanta over PORTLAND (-7.5) - Monumental step on the call last night when Tek actually coerced Acks (who usually can't be reasoned with on Portland matters) to negotiate: The world's angriest former Mets fan (as Acks put: "When the Mets extended Omar Minaya, I opted out on renewing my fanship") actually agreed to take Portland if the line came out at under two and a half. He swears he knew there was no way it would be that low and just wanted to get to sleep rather than harangue Tek about Greg Oden until the wee hours of Tuesday morning. But we still say Tek has made one small step for man and one Earth-shattering development for the rest of the Picksix crew.

Last night: 3-2

Season: 28-22

Acks remains reluctant to pick the Blazers

ATLANTA (-12.5) over Minnesota

BOSTON (-15.5) over LA Clippers

MIAMI (-9.5) over Memphis

Chicago (-7.5) over WASHINGTON

Denver over PHOENIX (-3.5)

Philadelphia over PORTLAND (-8.5)

Orlando (-5.5) over NEW YORK

Last night: 4-3

Season: 538-509

Big favorites not rolling it up out west

Chicago (-1.5) over CHARLOTTE - We'll need more points to take the dogs in what should be a lopsided point guard match-up.

LA Clippers (-4.5) over OKLAHOMA CITY - There remains little to like about the Thunder.

New Orleans (-5.5) over MEMPHIS - Sure, the Grizz are hot.  But the Hornets are a lot better.

Denver over HOUSTON (-3.5) - The wins since the Billups acquisition just keep piling up.  At what point this season will the Rockets be completely healthy?

New York over LA LAKERS (-13.5) and Sacramento over PORTLAND (-12.5) - See headline.  We'll pass on the big lines.

Last night: 7-2

Season: 187-172

Travel day at the Picksix

Early-morning flight coming up, so we've got quick picks for the three games with lines out and a promise of two more on the way by this evening:

DETROIT (-4.5) over Portland

Chicago over PHILADELPHIA (-6.5)

LA LAKERS (-12.5) over Toronto

Last night: 4-7

Season: 122-124

Blazer line a misprint?

Milwaukee over ATLANTA (-7.5) - The Hawks have won twice in their last seven games, a four-point victory over Washington and a five-point win over Charlotte.  Not interested.

CLEVELAND (-16.5) over Oklahoma City - The Thunder busted it for new coach Scott Brooks last night...and still wound up losing at the buzzer to Phoenix at home.  Cleveland didn't have to work too hard in wiping out the Knicks last night and should be primed for another cruise control win.

Charlotte over TORONTO (-8.5) - Larry Brown's 'Cats aren't great, but they hang tough.  The 6-7 Raps have yet to sell us hard enough.

BOSTON (-12.5) over Golden State - The champs have played much improved basketball since a poor effort in a home loss to Denver a week and a half ago.

Orlando over PHILADELPHIA (-4.5) - The Magic's success isn't that married to Jameer Nelson's health that we'd pass on getting points here.

New York over DETROIT (-13.5) - Take two for the new-look Knicks couldn't possibly be as ugly as the first try was.  Right?  Right?

Phoenix (-4.5) over MINNESOTA - The Wolves' win over Detroit seems like the aberration that proves the rule.

HOUSTON (-8.5) over Indiana - The Rockets return home after sweeping a three-game Southeast Division road swing, and the Pacers play the tail end of a Texas back-to-back.

San Antonio (-7.5) over CHICAGO - Remember when the Spurs were 1-4 and down two stars?  Well, Ginobili's back, they're 7-6 and we're officially scared of them.

UTAH (-9.5) over Memphis - Lots of not-very-close losses for Memphis.  Deron Williams may play.

Miami over PORTLAND (-15.5) - Yowser, that's a lot of points.

SACRAMENTO (-2.5) over New Jersey - The Nets finishing a back-to-back out West don't thrill us.

Denver (-3.5) over LA CLIPPERS - The Nuggets are 7-2 with Chauncey Billups in the lineup.   We're impressed.

Last night: 1-4

Season: 104-105

Clipped

As utterly ludicrous as this sounds, we actually believed last night, with the Clippers up 81-79 over the Lakers and roughly seven minutes to play, that we had something better than an outside shot to cover a 15 1/2 point line.

Alas, only the truest of saps couldn't see what was to come next: 22 straight Laker points en route to a 106-88 final.

You can't make this stuff up.

On to Thursday's TNT doubleheader...

ORLANDO (-4.5) over Philadelphia - The Sixers have been shaky so far, particularly on the road. They blew a 23-point lead in Atlanta last week and got hammered from start to finish by Miami last night. We'll wait for them to get back home to the Wachovia Center.

Houston (-4.5) over PORTLAND - I present to you one Acks Minakyan, diehard Trail Blazers fan. His thoughts:

"I can get Houston for single digits? I love that Houston line. That's way too...low. Because apparently everyone and [his] mother loves Portland this season. Which is really...stupid, if I've mentioned that before. It's really...stupid. On a scale of one to really...stupid, it's off the charts. They suck. They're going to continue to suck for years to come."

Here's guessing the outlook for Kevin Pritchard's team is a bit rosier than Acks makes it seem. But we do like such a low line for a Houston team that is quite good.

Last night: 7-6

Season: 37-26

The Picksix: Home cookin' for the Blazers?

WASHINGTON (-12.5) over LA Clippers -- Caron Butler is back. The Clips apparently have stopped competing on this trip to the East.

ORLANDO (-11.5) over Indiana -- Another underdog who hasn't exactly been hanging in with anyone of late.

San Antonio (-5.5) over PHILADELPHIA -- Hard to imagine the Spurs' funk will last forever.

Utah (-4.5) over NEW JERSEY -- The Jazz won decisively in Boston last night and should simply have too many weapons for the Nets to handle.

PORTLAND (-9.5) over Minnesota
PHOENIX (-10.5) over Sacramento
GOLDEN STATE (-16.5) over Memphis -- The disparity between the teams that are "anywhere from excellent to decent" and "everybody else" seems greater than ever this season. It will be evident in these three games out West tonight.

Last night: 3-7
Season: 499-476

The Picksix: Blazers running cold

HOUSTON (-11.5) over Miami -- Buzz saw. Again. Nine straight, going for ten. Miami has won one of 25.

San Antonio (-8.5) over MINNESOTA -- Perhaps the Spurs will be buoyed by their new acquisition.

Seattle over PORTLAND (-9.5) -- Can't give this many points with Portland at this point. It's been a while since they were hot.

Last night: 4-6
Season: 416-383

The Picksix: More ping pong ball love

The “Ping Pong Ball!” Blazers win again. The Pacers roll it up on the Knicks. The Magic and Bucks hang tight with the Mavs and Cavs respectively. Now, we just need to remember that the Hawks are hot, and we’ll be all set. All systems are go in Coverland.

Sacramento over NEW JERSEY (-6.5) – The Nets have won one of six, and the Kings are battling hard on a nightly basis. Not really looking to give too many with Vince & Co. right about now.

LA Lakers over CHICAGO (-2.5) – Alert us when Hicag beats a good team that doesn’t reside in Detroit.

Toronto (-3.5) over LA CLIPPERS – The Clippers are in the midst of closing up shop for the season. Toronto has won four of five and will take care of business here.

Last night: 6-2
Season: 184-177

The Picksix: Finally winning a Portland game

What a wonderful Sunday. Celtics win. Celtics cover. The Blazers win their seventh straight, and for the first time we get a cover in one of those games. Kobe does suit up, and the Lakers cruise to victory. The Pistons put the bop down on G-State. A 4-0 day complete with Celtics victory. Life is good in Coverville.

Utah (-3.5) over ATLANTA – As competitive as the Hawks have been, the Jazz finally got a win this weekend (by 21 over Seattle), and they are too good to play bad basketball forever.

Milwaukee over CLEVELAND (-7.5) – That whole “watch out for the us when I get back” pep talk Bron gave the league last week seems to have worked, as the Nets and Sixers were certainly ready to play the Cavs over the weekend. Perhaps a bit too ready for Bron’s liking. We’ll take the point.

Minnesota over MIAMI (-9.5) – Too many points to give with a bad team.

Indiana (-3.5) over NEW YORK – The Pacers continue to battle to get over the .500 mark, while the Knicks come off a relatively good performance against the Nets – which makes another one rather doubtful.

Golden State (-4.5) over MEMPHIS – The runners and gunners from Oaktown should rebound well from a Sunday afternoon pummeling in Detroit.

SAN ANTONIO (-2.5) over Phoenix – The Spurs have long had the Suns’ number, and Phoenix isn’t playing particularly hot basketball right now in the first place. With TD back, the black and silver should take care of business.

Orlando over DALLAS (-6.5) – Neither team has been particularly hot of late, but this seems like too many points to give against a Magic team that should be looking to dig its way out of a recent 1-4 stretch.

PORTLAND over New Orleans (-1.5) – No ping pong balls to be found here.

Last night: 4-0
Season: 178-175

The Picksix: Roy fills up the stat sheet

The near-triple-double has always been a favorite of mine. To that end, props to Brandon Roy, who managed to go for 26 points, 8 boards and 9 dimes last night, which included the crucial lay-up to put the Blazers up for good in their overtime victory over the Bucks last night in Portland. Of course, Roy probably never puts up numbers that high – and we get a cover – if the Blazers don’t blow a lead that was eight points heading into the fourth quarter, but hey, it happens. A new slate of games for Monday night is a new chance for wagering heartbreak.

ORLANDO (-8.5) over Atlanta – D-Ho and the boys have had since Friday night to stew over a loss to the Pacers at home. Pencil Dwight in for something in the range of a quintuple-double this evening.

PHILADELPHIA over Houston (-7.5) – This Rockets team is just confusing. Losing by double-digits to a banged up Toronto team while having both stars healthy makes no sense. Against a Philadelphia team that has been scrapping hard lately, this inconsistent bunch could have its hands full until the end.

Dallas (-7.5) over NEW YORK – After they got wiped out in both ends of a home-and-home with the Sixers, the Knicks aren’t engendering too much enthusiasm from us.

PHOENIX (-10.5) over Miami – As Acks points out, it took a Herculean effort (35 points, 10 dimes) from Dwyane Wade for the Heat to nab a six-point victory over the Clips this weekend. Coming off a loss to the Timberwolves, the Suns could be a tad tougher.

Milwaukee over SACRAMENTO (-3.5) – The Kings without Kevin Martin aren’t a group with which we’re looking to give points too often. Tonight is no exception.

Last night: 3-4
Season: 153-147