"Always buy the extra half-point"

In case you haven’t heard, the big game of the night and the biggest game of the season for both teams takes place on TNT later this evening when the Suns play the Jazz, where they have had a run of recent success.

“The Picker” is staying away from that game as he tries to run his four-day undefeated streak to five (yes, that’s a stretch, as he took two days off and then went 1-0 on two straight nights), but his substitute (who is on a nice roll of his own) likes the underdog.

“The Picker” hit his only play yesterday, when the Sixers were 9 1/2 point favorites in New Jersey and covered easily, winning by 18. The previous night, he liked the Sacramento Kings as 4 1/2 point favorites in Charlotte and they won by 26.

If only they were always all that easy.

“The Picker” now has a record of 20-17-2. The guy who subbed for him over the weekend, Gus Forrest (artist’s rendition below), has had more winners than losers ( 2-1, 2-1, 3-2, 2-1) for four straight nights and is back for a fifth.

Click here for the odds on all of tonight’s games.

Again, do what you want with this information, but understand that we do not condone or endorse illegal gambling. For those of you in Nevada and outside the United States, a different standard applies.

This is today’s e-mail from “The Picker:”

“Tonight I like Clippers ML (money line), numerous players have said it’s a must win. I’ll take their word for it! Also like Orleans ML. Don’t know why the spread isn’t bigger. They’ve played great as of late, and don’t want to finish with worst record. Warriors on the other hand, are starting FOUR rookies. Although they are playing hard, still not very good! Should be a good night!

But since the Clippers are only 2 to 1 on the money line, The Picker’s pick is being changed to the Clippers getting 1 1/2 points.

On the Hornets-Warriors game, New Orleans is laying 2 1/2 points.

Mr. Forest also likes the Hornets laying 2 1/2 points, plus the Heat getting 7 1/2 points in Boston, and the Suns getting 5 points in Utah.

"Always buy the extra half-point"

Two days off did “The Picker” some good.

He hit his only play yesterday, when the Sacramento Kings were 4 1/2 point favorites in Charlotte and won by 26.

If only they all were that easy.

“The Picker” now has a record of 19-17-2, and he is taking it light again tonight and making only a single pick.

We also have another visit from Gus Forrest, who went 3-2 yesterday with both his misses coming on the Orlando-Denver game, where he liked the Magic getting 10 points in a low-scoring affair. As noted before, when Gus misses, he misses big.

Gus has gone 2-1, 2-1 and 3-2 in his three nights as a guest picker. Tonight, he is making 3 more picks.

Click here for the odds on all of tonight’s games.

Again, do what you want with this information, but understand that we do not condone or endorse illegal gambling. For those of you in Nevada and outside the United States, a different standard applies.

“The Picker” likes the 76ers giving 9 1/2 points in Newark against the Nets.

Mr. Forest likes the under on Washington-Charlotte (190 1/2), the over on San Antonio-Portland (207.5) and the Pacers giving 7 points to the Pistons.

"Always buy the extra half-point"

“The Picker” is back from a two-day timeout after a run of bad picks dropped his record to 18-17-2.

Gus Forrest subbed for the past two nights, going 2-1 both nights. Last night he hit the under on Heat-Wizards and Bucks-Nets and made a bad call with the under 189 1/2 on the Pacers-Sixers, which went to overtime and registered a 215.

When Gus misses, he misses big.

He has agreed to pick again tonight.

But first, “The Picker” has two picks — and his motto comes into play on his second pick.

He likes the Sacramento Kings giving 4 1/2 points on the road against the Bobcats, who have lost 19 in a row. He also likes the Minnesota Timberwolves giving 10 points to the Golden State Warriors — but only if Kevin Love (game-time decision) plays.

Mr. Forrest is making five picks: He likes Orlando as an 11-point underdog in Denver, and the over 203. He also likes New Orleans getting 10 points from the Clippers, along with the over (182 1/2), and the under 187 in the Detroit-Toronto game.

Click here for the odds on all of tonight’s games.

Again, do what you want with this information, but understand that we do not condone or endorse illegal gambling. For those of you in Nevada and outside the United States, a different standard applies.

“I knew I shoulda bet against the Knicks. That was a sucker line — 10 point favorites”

I have deleted the expletives from the above sentence, which was called in to the home office this afternoon by our gangster guest who is filling in for “The Picker” while he licks his wounds from his 18-17-2 record.

That guest picker yesterday was Gus Forrest, who went 2-1 by correctly calling the under in the Oklahoma City-Sacramento game and the over in the Lakers-Spurs game. He missed on the Bobcats, who were 14-point ‘dogs but lost by only five at home to Memphis.

“I’ll still always bet against the Bobcats,” Forrest said, defiantly.

Mr. Forrest agreed to be the picker for tonight’s games, too, because even though he is a ruthless brute, he has a soft side for his old buddy from the ‘hood who is now running a Web site.

“Take the under (194) on the Heat-Wizards game. Gonna be like watching paint dry. I want to say take the Pacers and give the 4 1/2 points, because Philly sucks, but I wonder whether Indiana will tank this one. It’s meaningless for them. Just take the under (189 1/2). And take the under (208) in the Bucks-Nets game.”

There you have it, three picks — all unders.

Click here for the odds on all of tonight’s games.

Again, do what you want with this information, but understand that we do not condone or endorse illegal gambling. For those of you in Nevada and outside the United States, a different standard applies.

Got an e-mail from “The Picker” this morning. He is bummed.

“I’m speechless, guess it’s time to take a day off or two and regroup. Cannot catch a break right now. This is as bad as its ever been for me. Its almost hysterical the way games are ending and such that I’m picking right now.”

He went 0-2 last night, dropping his record to 18-17-2.

Guess he gets the night off.

But …

We can’t leave y’all hanging, so I turned to the guy who went up against the Picker a week ago, back when “The Picker” was hitting at a good clip. He is Guy Forrest, and the picture above is not of him, though it slightly resembles him.

Mr. Forrest didn’t appreciate my mocking comment about his pinkie ring the day after he batted .500, but he told me he wouldn’t break my thumbs this time. He said he’d fill in for “The Picker” tonight.

“I always bet against the Bobcats,” Mr. Forrest said when he called in his picks (He is old school. Doesn’t even use e-mail.) “Give the 14. Easy pick.”

I looked it up after we got off the phone, and Charlotte is an NBA-worst 21-40 against the spread, 9-21 at home.

“Don’t touch the (5 1/2 point) line on the Spurs-Lakers game. Popovich cost me a couple thousand this season,” Mr. Forrest continued. “But take the over 203.5.”

“And I’ll give you one more, and it rhymes: The under on the Thunder.”

So to review, Mr. Forrest likes Memphis -14, Spurs-Lakers over 203.5, and Thunder-Kings under 214.

To see all of tonight’s lines, click here. Note the monster line on the Atlanta-Boston game with Doc Rivers playing his junior varsity.

Again, do what you want with this information, but understand that we do not condone or endorse illegal gambling. For those of you in Nevada and outside the United States, a different standard applies.