Classic odds set on the basis of the standings. Bookies completely ignore the power of the teams and clearly make a mistake. Unicaja is no longer the irregular team of the first rounds of ACB and Euroleague (remember two of their three defeats in Euroleague came in overtime). Unicaja is 5-4 in Spanish league after 4 consecutive victories and reached the first victory in Euroleague last week (against Olimpia). Probably Unicaja has started slower because the team have no need to fight for Spanish Cup spot (Cup will be held in Malaga their home town) and because of the absence of Marcus Brown and Daniel Santiago (two key players last season). Anyway is not common to set a 9.5 handicap on a team which have a roster with Jiri Welsh, Carlos Cabezas (world champion), Berni Rodriguez (world champion), Erazem Lorbek and Marcus Brown and Daniel Santiago back on the road. Ok, Panathinaikos is a great team (4-0 in Euroleague) and have home advantage but remember last season when Unicaja won in Athens. For the most brave Unicaja victory (5.75) is great value.

Cleveland 7-3 Memphis 2-8

Grizzlies are missing Pau Gasol and Shane Battier too much. The good results of the team last season was based in its extremely good defense and the good offensive performance of Pau. This year Memphis has lost its best defender Shane Battier (traded to Houston) and is without its best offensive weapon (Gasol will probably be back in December). The result is that they conceed 97.5 points per game (too much for Fratello´s team). They score 94 ppg, that is more than last year due to the transition to a faster style of play more adapted to the players in the roster. Anyway players like Mike Miller and Eddie Jones are missing the extra attention of the rival defense on Gasol (which provided them with plenty of open shots). Just one detail is enough to sum up the situation. At the moment Chucky Atkins is the best scorer of the team. Last night they defeat Orlando taking advantage of the relaxation of the Magic in last quarter and of the excelent performance of Hakim Warrick and the rookie Kyle Lowry. Without fan support and playing in front of a solid team like Cavaliers I don´t think they can repeat such a "miracle" and a double digit defeat should be the logical outcome.

Preseason MIAMI 2-5 , CHICAGO 6-2

First match of the season with the last champion involved in it. MIAMI roster without changes (no draft picks and just Shandon Anderson out of the last year roster). Unlike other leagues an sports, preseason results must not be taken into account (lots of minutes for the new players and those who are not playing a big role in the season). But they are a veteran team and every team of this kind should have learned from Detroit last year disaster. An in-form team during the whole regular season could have problems at play-off time. Pat Riley have probably designed a plan aimed to reach the best form near the play-off and with this kind of roster this means a slow start. Heat probably will not have problems to lead the weak Southeast Division even without playing 100%. Last year they obtained 63% victories and lead by 10 to Washington. So tomorrow we can expect a relaxed team (they will receive their rings before the game) with an out-of-form Shaq (probably overweight) and without Jason Williams (sidelined).

In front of them the young and athletic Bulls will be hungry to defeat the champion. More changes in Chicago. IN (Ben Wallace, P.J.Brown, Howard Eisley, Adrian Griffin, Andriskevicius) OUT (Piatkovski, Chandler, Songaila, Othella Harrington, Jannero Pargo). Bulls keep their main pieces (Hirnich, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni) And add "Big Ben" Wallace to improve their rebounding abilities. Spread +6.5 should be enough and a Bulls victory must not be ruled out.

Something wrong is going on the play of Davydenko. I agree that he is a great player with superb shots and reached excellent results last season especially on clay. But Hernych, Soderling and Karlovic have won Davy in last three weeks of clay season. Three of them with odds over 4. Ok Spadea is not a great claycourter but none of the names above are. Vince lost last week in Barcelona against Costa who was playing the last tournament of his career but without pressure, Albert played the best tennis of the last two years (also defeated Hrbaty and nearly Ferrero). If such a "claycourters" won Davy, why not Spadea.

First match of play-off in Euroleague and bookies have a clear favourite in this game. I don??t think so. Of course Pana as local team, could be considered as a favourite but not with this odds. Tau is in great form and come from a great victory in Spanish ACB (away over R.Madrid). Pana have shown some of its weakness in Top 16 and doesn??t seem the invencible team of the group stage. It was a miracle that made greeks to take the first place of the group. Last year Tau got to the play-offs without field advantage and reached a great victory away over Benneton. Then they defeated CSKA in Moscow in the Final Four. So they are able to take great victories over clear favourites away and if Unicaja and Efes won in OAKA why Tau cannot take a victory in Athens. Great value on Tau.

Important match in the fight for the play offs. Joventut is fourth (17-8) and Gran Canaria is fifth (16-9). Joventut is weakened cause they won??t have Anagonye and Betts. Gran Canaria is a strong team in the paint with Harper Williams and Savane and should take advantage of the injuries of Joventut. Gran Canaria is 7-4 away and only one of the defeats was by double digits (11 points in Girona). My bet is GC will be able to keep the score close and even compete for the match.

Lagun Aro has become in a better team with the signings of Rancik and Stefanovic. They have recently defeated great teams as Akasvayu and Barcelona. It??s true that they have played their best games as a local team (won Unicaja, Tau, Barcelona) but I think they can compete today. Lagun Aro has stepped to the next level in which they should no longer be considered as a relegation contender but as a medium table team. Unicaja is not at their best level of the season and this fact has put them out of the Euroleague and will be without sidelined Garbajosa (their most important player). Even though the normal outcome is Unicaja to win I expect Bilbao can hold the spread.

Crucial match in the fight to avoid relegation. Malaga is nearly out of the first division, specially if they lose this match. R. Sociedad don??t usually fail to win this kind of games and today Anoeta will be completely full of supporters. In a "do or die" situation I expect the quality of the local team to be enough to win a game that is essential for them to continue in first division.

Wizards are in great form scoring 100 or more points in eight of their last ten matches. But we can see that Dallas and Indiana could keep Washington under 100. Nets have a similar defensive level to Mavericks or Pacers (93.2 ppg) and it is difficult to see them receiving triple digits. Just three rivals of their last twenty scored 100 without OT (Sacramento, Minnesota and Indiana) and the total line was under 194.5 even in this matches. There is not an over 194.5 in last 20 games of Nets (regulation without OT).

Last round of season 2000-2001 Osasuna played in Anoeta trying to avoid to be relegated. They needed to win and R.Sociedad didn??t have anything to play for. Of course Osasuna won 0-1 and avoided relegation (Oviedo went straigth to second division). Most of the journalist agreed that something smell "fishy" in that match. For those that doesn??t know about geography I tell them that Pamplona is 80 Km from San Sebastian. So we talk about neighbours.

Now the teams have changed their roles. It??s not the last round but R.Sociedad have a bad calendar with just 4 games at home (10 games left). They desperately need to get points away. Osasuna is playing for a Champions League spot but have 7 points more than the team on fifth place (Sevilla). Some voices in Pamplona have claimed that perhaps it??s time to payback. I think that losing with R.Sociedad is too much for Osasuna??s target but a draw shouldn??t be a surprise to me.

Celtics are trying to keep their last hopes to clinch a spot for the play-off. And their main offensive weapons have to contribute to avoid the team to be out of the postseason places. Paul Pierce and Wally Szerbiack are in top form as they show in Miami last night (they made 34 and 30 points). They have discovered Ryan Gomes in the last part of the regular season and Delonte West is also playing well. Yesterday Celtics shoot over 60 per cent in the first part even though they just finish under 50 per cent (Great defense from Miami in second part).

Since Orlando is aware they are out of play-offs the team is making a more offensive play. Even without Grant Hill, Magic managed to score 100 or more in four of its last five games at home. Just Houston keep them under triple digit. Of course Boston is not one of the best defenses in the league (receive 100 ppg). Moreover Celtics play back-to-back games and I don??t expect his defense to be at his best. Under this circumstances I expect to cover the line easily.