Drive to the Finals Picks - April 19, 2011

The Intuition Statistician:
Must - Carmelo Anthony
Look for a big rebound from Carmelo tonight after his sub par performance in game 1. Carmelo is a competitor with something to prove. He left a playoff contending team in hopes of joining a championship team. If Carmelo had a better performance in Game 1 the Knicks probably would have stolen a win in Boston. There is no way he will not show up two games in a row. Tonight will be a statement game for Carmelo where he looks to tie the series up.





Bust - Jason Kidd
After lighting up the Blazers in Game 1 with six treys, I think there might be some defense played on Kidd tonight in Game 2. Kidd can not create his own shot enough to put up a large points consistently. Therefore, any defense played by Andre Miller should significantly limit Kidd's scoring. I doubt Kidd's 24 point performance is a hot streak that will carry into Game 2. Stay away from Kidd tonight and go with a more reliable option.

Stat Guru


Must - Al Horford
Well we all make mistakes and it looks like I may have made one myself. The Atlanta Hawks are proving they deserve to be back in this playoff rematch against the Orlando Magic. After being torched by Dwight Howard in Game 1, look for Al to reassert himself in this series as one of the premier yet underrated big men in the league. While battling foul trouble maybe tough for Horford, his all around game is one that should not be overlooked.






Bust - Kevin Garnett
Amongst the Big 4 (if I may add Rajon Rondo), Kevin Garnett often gets lost in the mix due to his stats that are often unaccounted for. Don't get me wrong, his presense is always felt on the court but as an overall threat to defenses, KG relies more on his outside game and defensive ability rather than an offensive threat. With STAT on the otherside, look for KG to throw offense away and show why he earned Defensive Player of the Year.



Fantasy Fresh Wes:
Must - LaMarcus Aldridge
I'm not sold on Dallas winning the series yet, but fear this will be my last opportunity to use LA if Dallas gets the victory again tonight. Now that he is the go-to guy for the Blazers, he puts up great numbers and he puts them up consistently. I would be happy with a similar effort from Game 1, but know that this pick may come back to bite me if the series does go the distance.

Bust - Dwight Howard
I know that there is now a sense of urgency to pick D12 after the Hawks pulled off an upset in Orlando's building - but it is a little too soon to count the Magic out. I always say that the series doesn't begin until the second game, and tonight's match up is the perfect example. A Magic win puts them back in the series, and gives them the momentum going forward. A lose may end up being their demise. Either way, Howard is a PRA monster, and I'm not using him until the Magic's backs are against the wall.