Daily Three 1/19

  Hello,

  Sorry for the past few days. I think the blogging from the car messed me up, but I am back with the normal three picks. Unfortunately, Saturday was 1-2 day, but it is okay as we shall make up for it tonight.

NHL
New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs -115

So, this happened Tuesday Night.  Yes, that is 6' 3'' Chris Kreider using much smaller Cody Eakin's helmet to bash Cody Eakin in the head. The fight was in retaliation for this run at goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in an earlier game this season.  Did you see how no one on the Rangers went after Eakin after the brutal hit. Brady Skeji is literally watching the play unfold and just skates away as if nothing happens. That is absolutely unacceptable, and honestly, Skeji should have been sent down to Hartford immediately after that game. Stand up for the man that has been the heart of your organization for the past decade. Anyway, Kreider played the role of good teammate, albeit a game too late, and managed to whack Eakin in the head with his own head protector. While that was going on, the Rangers were busy giving up 7 goals and showing how deep their issues on the blue line run. The Leafs got all four lines going right now and just beat this Rangers team a week ago in MSG. Go with Auston Matthews and the Leafs tonight in the Air Canada Center.

NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves -1 at Los Angeles Clippers

Today in BS NBA nicknames, we have the Clippers of Los Angeles. According to the team website, the name came to be in their previous city, San Diego. After moving from Buffalo, the franchise held a fan vote to give the franchise a new nickname. The fans decided on the Clipper, which according to Meriam-Webster is a "a fast sailing ship." The name does make a lot of sense for the city of San Diego, arguably one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the country and a very renown port city. The team lasted in San Diego for six years and moved up the coast to LA where they continued to be the Clippers, which really has no significance in LA at all. So, what ownership decided to do to appease fans in San Diego, did not apply to the new fans in LA. I guess this makes sense for a team that once had an openly racist owner, drafted Michael Olowokandi number one overall in a draft, and continues to allow Doc Rivers to make personnel decisions (Just let the man coach, there is a reason this team can't get past the second round). In more bad news for the franchise, Chris Paul has just been ruled out for the next 6-8 weeks and are already missing Blake Griffin for the time being. The "wonderful" bench that Doc has assembled will have to step up big time to make up for the losses of Paul and Griffin. The line opened up at -2.5 for the Clips, but has already shifted to put the T'Wolves as 1 point favorites. This happened despite 60% of spread bets being on LA according to Sports Insights. This can probably be attributed to the fact that 75% of the money is on Minnesota. Go with Towns and Wiggins to get the big victory in Tinseltown.

NCAAB
Arizona State Sun Devils at UCLA Bruins -19 

Bang bang, bang bang, bang bang. Oh you know what that sounds means. We got ourselves a late night hammer. Yes, Lonzo Ball is awesome, blah blah blah. Yes, finally Steve Alford and son Bryce are no longer being blamed for UCLA's failures, blah blah blah. This segment is dedicated to one of America's most under-appreciated treasures, Bill Walton. Yes, Mr. Walton is a legendary basketball player, but there is just so much more to him than that. He is a Dead Head, a free spirit, a wonderful biker, wearer of all things tie-dye, father of Luke Walton, wonderful commentator, and just all around great person. Just watch this footage of him on the night of the National College Football Championship. Seriously, he is the greatest. There is nothing I look more forward to in the winter than watching him and Dave Pasch calling Pac-12 basketball games late at night. So for all reasons Bill Walton, take his alma tonight, who should win big against the Sun Devils.

Saturday: 1-2
Overall: 22-12-2