(Today’s installment of your faithful reporter’s quest to prognosticate all 1,230 NBA regular-season games this season.)

Warriors (7-18) at Pacers (8-16), 4:05 p.m.
Pick: Warriors +6
The Pacers are only 4-8 when scoring 100 or more points. Finally, a team that plays right into the Warriors’ hands.

Celtics (23-2) at Hawks (15-9), 4:05 p.m.
Pick: Celtics -4
Hawks forward Marvin Williams, as quoted in the Boston Globe: “It might be impossible not to get too hyped up for this game. We played them as well as we ever played them in Boston earlier this year. Now we come back here. They’re playing well and we’re playing well at home. Something’s got to give.”

You’re right. Shove on over, young’un.

Bucks (11-15) at 76ers (10-14), 4:05 p.m.
Pick: 76ers -3.5
Home against Washington. Three days off. Home against Milwaukee. Day off. At Washington. Home against Indiana. Could Tony DiLeo have drawn up a better schedule to start off his NBA career?

Mavericks (13-10) at Raptors (10-14), 4:05 p.m.
Pick: Mavericks -2.5
There’s a fantastic piece by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, one of the most solid reporters in this business, that explodes some of the small-man myths regarding Mavs guard J.J. Barea.

Wizards (4-18) at Pistons (13-9), 4:35 p.m.
Pick: Pistons -10
After three games, I’ve decided that I love the Pistons’ new look as “Small Ball Midwest.” Now, if only Michael Curry would return any of my messages regarding Detroit’s pace of play…

Jazz (15-11) at Nets (12-11), 4:35 p.m.
Pick: Jazz -2.5
I’m thinking Carlos Boozer’s absence might not hurt so much when it’s Yi Jianlian trying to take advantage of it.

Cavaliers (20-4) at Timberwolves (4-20), 5:05 p.m.
Pick: Cavaliers -10.5
At the bottom of the St. Paul Pioneer Press story outlining Kevin McHale’s tin-foil-hat theory that blogs are responsible for the rash of coaching terminations around the league, there was this gem of a quote from Ryan Gomes on what the Timberwolves will do for a defensive stopper in the wake of Corey Brewer’s ACL injury: “Me, Rashad (McCants), Mike (Miller), we’re going to have to split up the time on guarding some of these prolific players.”

Mike Miller. Rashad McCants. Defensive stoppers? Are we sure this wasn’t a Candid Camera put-on or something?

Clippers (7-17) at Bulls (11-13), 5:35 p.m.
Pick: Bulls -3
Eric Gordon’s jumper almost makes the Clippers worth watching. Not worth betting on, but worth watching.

Spurs (15-8) at Hornets (14-7), 6:35 p.m.
Pick: Spurs +2
This is one of those games I ordinarily wouldn’t think of putting money on, because Tyson Chandler’s questionable availability would easily tip the scales for me.

Yesterday: 2-3-1
Season record: 177-182-6

– Geoff