Day 2- Back for more!

OK, I'm back, baby! Day 2!

Following last night's 4-game kick-off, the NBA schedule gives us a nice slate of games tonight (12 in all), in what the majority of the league considers "Opening Night". As was the case with last night's games, the selection of prop lines is somewhat lacking volume, though not in quality. For the time being I am considering this an early-season phenomenon, but if it persists and I am able to find a supplemental source or more robust alternative, these are things that may be looked into. But more on that another time, let's check out some props! Below is the full list of games on tonight's NBA sched (can this catch on? let's see..), along with any props offered by BetUS.com, followed by my picks for tonight.

* Indiana Pacers @ Atlanta Hawks (-8)- This should be a pretty entertaining game. Indy is not bad, and while there's some talk of the Hawks being the "clear" #4 team in East (Washington may have something to say about this), I wouldn't be shocked if they slip a bit this year.
NO PROPS OFFERED

* Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic (-10.5)- Vince Carter's first game with the Magic, who start the season with huge expectations. They must get off to a strong start. Also, I have no idea what to make of Philly. Are they any good? What kind of team are they trying to be?
NO PROPS OFFERED

* Charlotte Bobcats @ Boston Celtics (-10)- A strong, veteran-laden title contender making its home debut against maybe the worst team in the East. B-E-A-T-D-O-W-N
NO PROPS OFFERED

* Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronto Raptors (+7)- After a disappointing start Tuesday night, the Cavs have to travel for the tail end of a back-to-back. With Shaq looking pretty old and no Delonte, expect the Raps to give the Cavs a tough game.

- LeBron James, 44 points + rebounds + assists: This is an awfully high number, certainly within reach, but not an over I'd be comfortable taking in Game 2 of the season, on the road in the second of a back-to-back while working to integrate new personnel. However, and I can't stress this enough- DO NOT take the under in props involving LeBron James. On any given night, he could hit this number by halftime.

- Chris Bosh, 9.5 rebounds: Bosh always seems to get 8-12 rebounds, and this is right in his range. There doesn't seem to be much value on either side here.

* New York Knicks @ Miami Heat (-5.5)- The Knicks start the season against one of their likely Summer of 2010 free-agent targets

- Dwyane Wade, 31 points: See below

* New Jersey Nets @ Minnesota Timberwolves (+1.5)- As an honorary Minnesotan, I really have a soft spot in my heart for the Wolves, but with no Kevin Love and Al Jefferson at less than 100%, I can't think of a single reason to watch this game.
NO PROPS OFFERED

* New Orleans Hornets @ San Antonio Spurs (-9.5)- The Spurs, rested, retooled and generating tons of buzz as a potential 60-win team (happily took them over 54.5 wins) and title contenders (again), open the season at home against the team that could be this season's biggest disappointment. As always, Chris Paul will be a monster, and David West should be solid, but it's difficult to find another major threat on the roster. Toss in the fact that teammates are already questioning Emeka Okafor's toughness, and this will probably be a rocky start to a long season.

- Chris Paul, 32.5 points + assists: Against most teams, this would be a relatively easy over, but the Spurs scheme and execute so well on defense, and they have a PG than can actually stay with CP3. There's a good chance Paul hits this over, but I can't really bless the over here but, as was the case with LeBron, you will not see me taking a Chris Paul under.

- David West, 20 points: A possible over, but not one that I'm in love with, a definitely not worth the wager. He's sure to be Paul's #1 target with Chandler gone and declining Peja Stojakovic heading to the bench, but Duncan and McDyess' D could make life really tough for him.

- Tim Duncan, 10.5 rebounds: At first blush, this number seems like it could be a bit high for an aging Duncan, especially with Antonio McDyess and DeJuan Blair joining the front line. This will likely be the case most nights as the season wears on, but a rested Duncan at home on opening night is probably good for 12-14 boards.

Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder (-6.5)- Only a handful of Kings games will be worth watching this year (none of them due to the Kings themselves) and this should be one of them. OKC's young studs (Durant, Westbrook & Green) should be a really fun teams to watch.
NO PROPS OFFERED (though you'd do well to take the OVER on a Kevin Durant scoring line, if you can find one. And if you do find one, lemme know where!)

* Detroit Pistons @ Memphis Grizzlies (+2.5)- If not for that New Jersey-Minnesota gem, this would be the least compelling game of the night. And it's still not far off.
NO PROPS OFFERED

* Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets (-6)- A great opener. Two of the best teams in the Northwest Division, two elite point guards and a chance for the Nuggets to try and continue last year's great play. There seems to be growing doubt, but I think these guys are for real.

- Carlos Boozer, 31.5 points + rebounds: Most games this season, I would jump on the under for this line (and am still strongly leaning that way), but given the pace that this game is likely to be played at, there will be plenty of points and rebounds to go around. Carlos Boozer missed 45 games last year, opening the door for Paul Millsap, who thrived in Boozer's absence, earned himself more minutes and got paid this offseason.

- Deron Williams, 31.5 points + assists: See below

- Carmelo Anthony, 24 points: See below

* Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors (-6.5)- This should be an entertaining game between two talented, athletic teams facing plenty of questions. Opening night in Portland was less than encouraging for the Rockets, but this is still a solid team with good chemistry, and there's probably no better team in the West to find an offensive groove against than Golden State. The same cannot be said of the Warriors, who seem to have tuned out their coach, are facing chemistry problems in the backcourt and are actively (and publicly) shoppping their second best player and on-court leader.
NO PROPS OFFERED

* Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Clippers (+3.5)- Even without Blake Griffin, (on paper) the Clippers are a deep, well-rounded team. If Baron Davis is anywhere close to 100%, the Clippers will not only run with Nash and the Suns, but should pull out the win without much concern.

- Steve Nash, 10.5 assists: The Suns say they're returning to their uptempo "Seven Seconds or Less" style. If that's really the case, and there's no reason to believe that it's not, this looks like a very attainable number. Ordinarily I'd be all over this, but I'd like to see Nash play a few games first, just to see how his back holds up.

I swear, I will pick an under one of these days! For tonight however, I'm backing three of the league's best players to kick off their respective seasons emphatically:

Dwyane Wade OVER 31 points (-115) vs. New York Knicks- Not gonna make this mistake two nights in a row! An elite, top-5 guy (reigning scoring champ as well), starting the season at home against a terrible team (that may try to sign him next summer) that plays an uptempo game? And the Knicks' will be trying to slow Wade down with Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas and possibly Nate Robinson? Done deal!

Carmelo Anthony OVER 24 points (-130) vs. Utah Jazz- This line almost seems too good. I love it, but wouldn't blame anyone who avoided this line. Year in, year out, Carmelo is a 25-27 ppg scorer. Throw in the fact that the Nuggets are without the suspended J.R. Smith for 7 games, and Melo's scoring numbers should climb even higher. If this one doesn't look fishy to you, POUND IT!

Deron Williams OVER 31.5 points + assists (-110) vs. Denver Nuggets- Under most circumstances, this number would be a bit high (or at least too high to be a good value), but against a handful of teams (primarily Phoenix, Denver and Golden State), games are played at a high tempo and with a ton of possessions. Basically, these games are tailor-made for great point guards. Absolutely love DWill in this game- he may hit this number on points alone!