Wednesday Tips

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Wednesday Tips



The Wednesday NBA card is filled up with 11 games for bettors to wager on. There are several crucial Western Conference showdowns, but we'll begin with two Eastern Conference squads trying to get back on track in Beantown.

Heat (24-24 SU, 23-25 ATS) at Celtics (30-16 SU, 19-26-1 ATS)

Boston and Miami meet up for the third time this season, but the first matchup at TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics have knocked off the Heat twice, with Boston shooting over 52% from the floor in each win in South Florida.

The Heat looks to snap a two-game skid after dropping back-to-back games to the Bucks. This has been a tough road for Miami, playing three of the last four away from the AAA, and now starting a three-game trip in Boston. Erik Spoelstra's club is 1-4 SU/ATS the last five, while scoring 92 points or less four times in this span.

The C's bounced back from a three-game skid with Monday's victory at Washington. Home is not where the heart (or money) is for Boston backers, going 0-5-1 ATS the last six at the Garden. Facing a Heat team coming off a loss isn't a positive sign for the Celtics, either. Boston is 4-14 ATS this season when facing a club that lost its last game, including a 1-8 ATS mark at home.

On the flip side, the Heat is 8-17 SU/ATS against teams off a victory, as Miami is 1-7 SU/ATS the last eight in this situation. The Celtics have won each of the last four meetings at home, but Miami has managed a pair of covers, including a 112-108 overtime loss as seven-point 'dogs with Dwyane Wade out due to injury last season.

Thunder (27-21 SU, 29-19 ATS) at Hornets (26-22 SU, 23-25 ATS)

Life without Chris Paul continues for New Orleans, hosting Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The Hornets have split the first two games without their All-Star point guard, beating the Grizzlies and falling to the Suns. The Thunder, meanwhile, starts a three-game road trip in the Big Easy following Tuesday's home victory over the Hawks.

Oklahoma City will be looking to avenge a 97-92 setback against New Orleans at the Ford Center earlier this month, as the Hornets picked up the cash outright as 4 ?-point 'dogs. The Hornets have owned the Sonics/Thunder franchise recently with ten straight victories in the series. However, New Orleans has managed a 6-4 ATS mark, with five of the last seven games finishing 'over' the total.

The Hornets have fared well against the number without Paul in the lineup, compiling a 7-3 ATS mark, while going 5-5 SU. The 'over' has turned into a strong play for the Hornets recently, finishing 'over' in five of the last six games. The lone 'under' came three points short of going 'over' in Monday's 109-100 home loss to the Suns.

The Thunder is 9-2 ATS and 6-5 SU the last eleven games on the road, with four SU losses by three points or less.

Blazers (29-21 SU, 27-22-1 ATS) at Jazz (29-18 SU, 28-17-2 ATS)

For the second time in a week these Northwest Division rivals hook up, but the venue shifts to Salt Lake City. Utah is rolling, winners of six straight and 10 of 11. The Blazers are treading water without Brandon Roy, picking up victories over the Mavs and Bobcats the last five days.


One win during this streak for the Jazz came at the Rose Garden last Wednesday, 106-95. The game was pretty much decided in the first six minutes as Utah jumped out to a 21-2 advantage and never looked back. Carlos Boozer injured his calf in that game, but Paul Millsap has stepped in and the Jazz have not missed a beat. Millsap put up 32 points and 14 rebounds in Friday's win over Sacramento, then followed that effort up with a 25 point, 9 rebound performance against Dallas.

Portland is 5-0 ATS the previous five road contests, including the last four without Roy. The home team has dominated the series, winning eight of the last nine matchups. However, Utah broke that streak with last week's victory in Portland. The Jazz knocked off the Blazers in Salt Lake, 108-92 in late November, the fourth consecutive SU/ATS home victory in the series.

The Jazz has made bettors money at Energy Solutions Arena, going 14-4-1 ATS the last 19 at home, including a 6-1-1 ATS run since January 6.

Suns (29-21 SU, 26-24 ATS) at Nuggets (33-15 SU, 22-24-2 ATS)

The Phoenix Suns have gone from a team that couldn't buy a win away from the Valley to a team that can't lose on the highway. Alright, maybe back-to-back road wins isn't establishing a huge hot streak, but the Suns have to start somewhere. Phoenix is off victories at Houston and New Orleans, heading to Denver to battle the Nuggets.

Carmelo Anthony has missed each of the last five games with a sprained ankle, and is 'questionable' for Wednesday's contest. The Nuggets haven't missed a beat without 'Melo, going 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS. Denver failed to cover as 11-point home favorites against Sacramento, edging the Kings in overtime, 112-109.

The Suns have been up-and-down since a 14-3 start, riding a three-game winning streak for the first time since late November. Phoenix has continued to put up plenty of points, tallying over 100 points in 21 of its last 22 games (the only game below 100 was a 99-spot at Charlotte). The 'over' has been profitable on the road as of late, as Phoenix has nailed the 'over' in five of the last seven on the highway.

The Nuggets needed a massive rally last time they saw the Suns, coming back from a 17-point deficit for a 105-99 home victory in mid-December. Phoenix cashed as nine-point road 'dogs, as Alvin Gentry's squad is 7-7 ATS when receiving points on the road.

It's been all about the home teams in this series, winning each of the previous ten meetings. The 'over' has been drilled seven times, while the favorite has covered seven times.

 

[Lumi]

Trend Report - Wednesday

Trend Report - Wednesday

Trend Report - Wednesday

Heat at Celtics ? The Heat are 9-0 ATS (12.1 ppg) since March 08, 2008 after a double digit home loss in which they allowed at least 50% from the field. The Heat are 7-0 ATS (9.8 ppg) since March 18, 2008 when they have a revenge game on the road tomorrow. The Celtics are 9-0 ATS (9.2 ppg) since April 12, 2002 after a win in which they attempted at least 10 fewer three pointers than their season-to-date average. The Celtics are 9-0 ATS (7.2 ppg) since January 03, 2007 with at most one day of rest after a road win in which they scored less than 10% of their points from the three-point line.

Clippers at Hawks ? The League is 9-0 ATS (7.4 ppg) since January 02, 2008 on the road after a road win in which they shot less than 60% from the free-throw line.

Thunder at Hornets ? The League is 0-10 ATS (-7.0 ppg) since April 16, 2008 as a dog after a home loss in which they had at least thirty assists. The Hornets are 6-0 ATS (6.1 ppg) since January 11, 2008 at home with at most one day of rest after a game at home in which they allowed at least 50% from the field.

Trailblazers at Jazz ? The Trailblazers are 7-0 ATS (11.9 ppg) since April 16, 2008 on the road after a double digit home win in which they shot at least 50% from the field. The Jazz are 8-0 ATS (10.8 ppg) since March 25, 2008 when they are playing in at least their third straight home game and they play at home in their next game.


Spurs at Kings ? The Spurs are 5-0 ATS (9.2 ppg) since February 18, 1997 on the road with two or more days of rest after a loss in which their opponent shot at least ten three-pointers and made at least half of them. The Spurs are 5-0 ATS (9.2 ppg) since February 18, 1997 on the road with two or more days of rest after a double digit loss in which they allowed at least 50% from the field. The Kings are 0-6-1 ATS (-8.5 ppg) since March 20, 2005 with at most one day of rest off an overtime game as an away dog.

Wizards at Knicks ? The Wizards are 0-9 ATS (-3.6 ppg) since February 08, 2008 with at most one day of rest off a home loss in which they led at the end of the third quarter. The Wizards are 0-6 ATS (-2.8 ppg) since November 22, 2008 after a home loss in which they scored less than 10% of their points from the three-point line. The Knicks are 8-0 ATS (5.6 ppg) since April 06, 2000 with two or more days of rest after a double digit road loss in which they scored less than 15% of their points from the free throw line. The Knicks are 0-6 ATS (-5.0 ppg) since November 06, 2005 at home when they suffered a double digit ATS loss for two straight games.

Warriors at Mavericks ? The Warriors are 0-8 ATS (-12.1 ppg) since November 20, 2005 as a dog after a game on the road in which they had at least five fewer turnovers than their season-to-date average.

Suns at Nuggets ? The Suns are 8-0 ATS (10.6 ppg) since March 28, 2003 after a road win when their opponent is off an overtime game. The Nuggets are 0-7 ATS (-9.0 ppg) since March 02, 2001 as a favorite after a home win in which they committed fewer than ten turnovers.

Nets at Raptors ? The League is 0-6 ATS (-9.7 ppg) since April 06, 2008 with no rest after a home loss in which more than 70% of their baskets were assisted. The Raptors are 0-6 ATS (-7.8 ppg) since April 04, 2006 at home with at most one day of rest after a loss in which the percentage of their baskets that were assisted was at least ten percentage points higher than their season-to-date average.

Bulls at 76ers ? The Bulls are 7-0 ATS (13.7 ppg) since April 20, 2005 as a road dog with at most one day of rest after a game in which their opponent shot less than 60% from the free-throw line. The Sixers are 0-8 ATS (-5.9 ppg) since February 09, 2007 at home when seeking revenge for a road loss in which they led by double digits.

 

[Lumi]

Weekly Notes - West

Weekly Notes - West

Weekly Notes - West

1 - Lakers

Weekly Rewind: The Purple and Gold continue to roll on its current eight-game road trip, winning four straight games to improve to 5-2 SU and 4-2-1 ATS. The Lakers weren't challenged to start the week, easily dispatching the Wizards, Pacers, and Sixers. Los Angeles played a back-and-forth affair in Boston, topped off by Kobe Bryant's late jumper to stun the Celtics, 90-89.

Weekly Outlook: The Lakers wrap up the trip in Memphis on Monday, taking on the Grizzlies. L.A. returns to Staples Center for a pair of games beginning Wednesday against Charlotte. Phil Jackson's squad has a huge showdown with the Nuggets on Friday, trying to avenge a 105-79 setback in Denver back in mid-November. The Champs play with no rest on Saturday at Portland, as the Lakers were bounced by the Blazers, 107-98 earlier this month.

2 - Nuggets

Weekly Rewind: Denver played the entire week without its leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony, who rested a sprained ankle. The Nuggets still found plenty of success, winning three of four games, including a pair in Texas over the Rockets and Spurs. Denver stumbled in Oklahoma City, suffering its second worst loss of the season, 101-84.

Weekly Outlook: There is no timetable on Anthony's return as the Nuggets play four times this week. Denver returns to the Pepsi Center to host Sacramento on Monday, followed by a Wednesday meeting with Phoenix. The Nuggets will have a tough 48 hours on the road, heading to L.A. to battle the Lakers on Friday, then traveling to Utah on Saturday.

3 - Mavericks

Weekly Rewind: Dallas is coming up dry in the covering department as evidenced by an 0-3 ATS week. Backing it up over the last three weeks, the Mavs are 2-9 ATS and 5-6 SU. Dallas held off Milwaukee, 108-107, but failed to cover for the 15th straight time as a home favorite. The Mavs fell apart late at Phoenix in a six-point setback, 112-106. The week ended on a bitter note as the Mavs were tripped up by the beat-up Blazers, 114-112 in OT.

Weekly Outlook: Rick Carlisle's team hits the road on Monday for an important contest in Salt Lake against the streaking Jazz. These two teams have split two meetings in Dallas, as the Mavs are 6-4 ATS as a road underdog this season. The Warriors invade the American Airlines Center on Wednesday, followed by a Friday home game against Minnesota.

4 - Jazz

Weekly Rewind: Following a slow start the first two weeks of the season, the Jazz have been playing some of the best basketball in the league. Utah has won nine of ten, while going 7-1-2 ATS in this span. It's obvious what kind of home-court advantage Jerry Sloan's team has, but the Jazz has knocked off teams like the Mavs, Spurs, and Blazers on the road during this hot streak. The victory at Portland was especially strong, as the Jazz opened the game on a 21-2 run.

Weekly Outlook: The Jazz continue an important homestand, hosting three upper-echelon conference foes. Dallas invades Utah on Monday, followed by a visit from Portland on Wednesday. The Jazz try to avoid the season-sweep against the Nuggets on Saturday, but Denver plays with no rest after taking on the Lakers on Friday. Utah owns a sterling 11-2 ATS mark this season against clubs on the second of a back-to-back, including an 8-0 ATS ledger at home.

5 - Spurs

Weekly Rewind: San Antonio wrapped up its longest homestand of the season with a disappointing 2-4 SU/ATS record. The Spurs fell to the Bulls and Nuggets, while knocking off the Hawks and Grizzlies, all as home favorites. San Antonio played without Tony Parker against Memphis and Denver, as the point guard is nursing a sprained ankle.

Weekly Outlook: The season's longest homestand is followed up by one of the most demanding road trips, the annual "Rodeo Trip." The Spurs are kicked out of their arena for 20 days, embarking on an eight-game stretch away from home. San Antonio hits the court Wednesday in Sacramento, followed by a Thursday meeting at Portland. The Spurs head to Los Angeles for the weekend, battling the Clippers on Saturday. San Antonio owns a 6-3 ATS record the last nine games on the road.

6 - Blazers

Weekly Rewind: Portland continues to play without top scorer Brandon Roy, who's out with a hamstring injury. The Blazers have turned into a fantastic 'over' play, flying 'over' the total in each of the last six games, all without Roy. Interestingly, the Blazers failed to cover both games at the Rose Garden (losses to the Hornets and Jazz), but took the cash at Houston (SU loss) and Dallas. The victory over the Mavs was highlighted by a career-high 52 points from Andre Miller.

Weekly Outlook: Portland returns home for seven of the next nine in the Pacific Northwest. The Blazers host the Bobcats on Monday, followed by a crucial division showdown with the Jazz in Salt Lake on Wednesday. Nate McMillan's club turns around with no rest to take on the Spurs at home on Thursday, then the Blazers entertain the Lakers on Saturday.

7 - Suns

Weekly Rewind: Phoenix began the week with a pair of tough losses to Utah and Charlotte, but concluded the week on a strong note with victories over Dallas and Houston. All four games finished 'over' the total, while the win against the Mavs ended a 2-9 ATS slide.

Weekly Outlook: The four-game road swing continues for Alvin Gentry's club, heading to New Orleans on Monday. Phoenix is 3-8 SU/ATS with no rest this season, so the team will be tested off the overtime victory in Houston. The Suns travel to Denver on Wednesday, followed by a matchup in Sacramento with the Kings on Friday.

8 - Hornets

Weekly Rewind: New Orleans finished up a four-game road trip with consecutive victories at Portland and Golden State, while going 3-1 SU/ATS. The Hornets returned home and suffered more than an overtime loss to the Bulls. Chris Paul tore cartilage in his right knee going for a loose ball, putting him out for nearly a month. New Orleans did buck up after the Chicago setback to end Memphis' 11-game home winning streak, 109-102 in overtime.


Weekly Outlook: The travel eases up for the Hornets, playing three home games to start the week. New Orleans hosts Phoenix on Monday and Oklahoma City on Wednesday, as both visitors will be playing with no rest. The Sixers invade the Big Easy on Friday, followed by a trip to Charlotte on Saturday.

9 - Thunder

Weekly Rewind: Oklahoma City won two of three games, punctuated by a blowout of Denver, 101-84. The Thunder slipped up against the Bulls as six-point favorites, while downing the Warriors, 112-104. OKC failed to cover against Golden State, but the Thunder owns an impressive 16-2 ATS mark off a non-cover.

Weekly Outlook: The Thunder concludes a four-game homestand with the Hawks on Tuesday, going for a season sweep of Atlanta. OKC hits the highway for the next three, including visits to New Orleans (Wednesday) and Golden State (Saturday).

10 - Grizzlies

Weekly Rewind: A busy week started great, but ended with a pair of seven-point losses. Memphis rallied past Orlando for a franchise-best 11th straight home victory, then picked up a solid road victory at Detroit as favorites. The Grizzlies stumbled in San Antonio, falling as five-point 'dogs. Memphis' low point of the week came with a 21-point meltdown in an overtime setback to New Orleans.

Weekly Outlook: Memphis will be tested out of the gate, hosting the Lakers on Monday. This is the final game on an eight-game trip for L.A., and could be a letdown following the last-minute victory over Boston on Sunday. The Grizzlies travel to Cleveland on Tuesday with no rest, as Memphis is 1-9 SU on the second of a back-to-back. Memphis will have another back-to-back situation starting Friday at home against Houston, followed by a Saturday visit to Minnesota.

11 - Rockets

Weekly Rewind: Houston is the ultimate 'fade' machine at this point, dropping five straight against the number. The Rockets lost consecutive home games to the Hawks and Nuggets before pulling out a four-point win over the Blazers. Houston's overtime loss to Phoenix on Sunday extended the Rockets' home ATS skid to eight.

Weekly Outlook: The Rockets take the court three times, hosting the Warriors on Tuesday. Houston makes a trip to Memphis on Friday, as the Rockets are 1-6 ATS the last seven as a road 'dog. Rick Adelman's squad returns home with no rest on Saturday to entertain the Sixers.

12 - Clippers

Weekly Rewind: Sooner or later, the luck was going to evaporate for Clippers' backers. L.A.'s 12-3 ATS run hit a brick wall in a very ugly way. To be fair, let's start with the good news, as the Clips covered as 11 ?-point 'dogs in Boston against the Celtics, 95-89. It was all downhill from there on this eight-game trip, with losses at New Jersey and Minnesota. The Clips then proceeded to allow 46 first-quarter points to the Cavs in a 114-89 setback on Sunday.

Weekly Outlook: The family truckster makes two more stops with a back-to-back set in Chicago and Atlanta beginning Tuesday. When the Clips return to Staples Center on Saturday, L.A. will welcome in San Antonio, who whipped Mike Dunleavy's team by 16 and 25 points already this season.

13 - Kings

Weekly Rewind: Maybe the return of leading scorer Kevin Martin wasn't the best thing to happen to the Kings, who are 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS since his return on January 15. Sacramento's lone win in this stretch came over Golden State, but the Kings failed to cover as six-point favorites. The Kings managed to cash tickets at Utah as 8 ?-point 'dogs, but the Jazz were playing without its top two players. Sacramento concluded the week with a 103-96 home defeat to Charlotte, stretching it to a 1-9-1 ATS run at Arco Arena.

Weekly Outlook: Life doesn't get easier for Paul Westphal's club, traveling to Denver on Monday night to take on the hot Nuggets. The Kings return to Arco for a pair of games, starting Wednesday against San Antonio. The Suns invade California's capital on Friday night, as Phoenix is 2-0 this season against Sacramento.

14 - Warriors

Weekly Rewind: The losing streak continues for the Warriors, as Don Nelson's team has dropped five straight contests. However, Golden State has managed to cover three times in this stretch, including on the road at Sacramento and Oklahoma City. The Warriors, who had done such a great job as home 'dogs, came up short in double-digit losses to the Hornets and Bobcats.

Weekly Outlook: The three-game roadie shifts to the Lone Star State with a Tuesday contest at struggling Houston. The Warriors make the quick turnaround to Dallas on Wednesday, as Golden State is 7-1 ATS the last eight as a road 'dog. Golden State returns to Oracle Arena for three games starting Saturday against Oklahoma City.

15 - Timberwolves

Weekly Rewind: Minnesota completed one of its better weeks of the season, going 2-2 SU/ATS. Granted, the Wolves were blown out at New York and Cleveland, but they bounced back nicely with home victories over the Clippers and Knicks. Minnesota is now 12-4 ATS the last 16 games at the Target Center, including six straight covers.

Weekly Outlook: In an odd scheduling twist, the Wolves are off until Friday, traveling to Dallas to battle the Mavs. After that quick trip, Minnesota returns home to host Memphis, as both teams will be playing with no rest.

 

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Weekly Notes - East

Weekly Notes - East

Weekly Notes - East

1) Cleveland

Weekly Recap - Cleveland pushed its winning streak to eight games after posting a 4-0 record both straight up and against the spread last week. In the month of January, the Cavs went 12-3 and the three losses were by a combined six points. I know everybody has about 30-35 games left on the regular season docket, but it's hard to see anybody stopping this team in the Eastern Conference.

Weekly Outlook - Three more contests on tap this week for the Cavs and all three will be played at Quicken Loans Arena. Memphis visits Tuesday before Miami comes to town on Thursday for a TNT showdown. Then, the Cavs wrap up the week on Saturday when New York travels to Ohio.

2) Orlando

Weekly Recap - After starting the week with a tough road loss to Memphis (94-99), Stan Van Gundy's team closed the week with impressive home victories against Boston (96-94) and Atlanta (104-86). The Magic also notched a road win at Detroit (91-86) in a game played on zero days rest. Orlando closed January with a record of 9-7 SU and 6-9-1 ATS.

Weekly Outlook - Orlando has a good chance to extend its three-game winning streak this week with home battles versus Milwaukee on Tuesday and Washington on Friday. Then, they pay a visit to Boston on Super Bowl Sunday, which will feature a ton of cross-sport props with the NFL finale.


3) Atlanta

Weekly Recap - The Hawks finished off a week that was somewhat of a success but it could've been great. Atlanta captured a road victory at Houston (102-95) on Monday but fell at San Antonio (90-105) two days later. Then, Mike Woodson's team completed a regular season sweep (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS) of Boston at home but lost at Orlando (86-104) the next night on the road.

Weekly Outlook - Atlanta has four games this week, split into a pair of back-to-back showdowns with one game on the road and one at home. The first set starts Tuesday at Oklahoma City and ends versus the Clippers. Then on Friday, a red-hot Chicago team heads South before the team goes to Washington D.C. the next night.

4) Boston

Weekly Recap - The Celtics still sit in first place of the Atlantic Division but fans in Beantown are starting to realize that the championship window has been shut. The team looks real old and it showed last week. After beating the Clippers (96-89), Boston lost to Orlando (94-96), Atlanta (91-100) and the L.A. Lakers (89-90). The team went 1-3 ATS and finished January with a 4-8 ATS ledger.

Weekly Outlook - Boston has another four games on tap this week, three coming at home. After heading to the Wizards Monday for a battle on zero days rest, the Celtics will host the Heat, Nets and Magic. Doc Rivers' team has more losses (8) at home this year than they did all of last season.

5) Toronto

Weekly Recap - The Raptors extended their winning streak to five games last week and all of the success is from the offense, which has scored 100 points or more in 13 straight games. Gamblers watched Toronto go 4-0 both SU and ATS last week and the 'over' went 3-1.

Weekly Outlook - Don't be surprised to see the Raptors stay hot, especially with their upcoming schedule. They wrap up a home-and-home with Indiana on Tuesday then host the Nets on zero days rest the next night. Three days of rest follow for Toronto before a home matinee on Sunday against Sacramento.

6) Charlotte

Weekly Recap - The Bobcats aren't a surprise anymore. After losing at Denver (93-104) last Monday, Charlotte ripped off three consecutive road wins and covers, which included a pair of victories on zero days rest. The total went 2-2.

Weekly Outlook - The six-game road trip will end this week with a stop in Portland on Monday and then a battle versus the L.A. Lakers from Staples Center on Wednesday. Charlotte will get two days off and then host New Orleans on Saturday, which could be a good fade spot. Teams playing in their first home game after a long road trip is always a good go-against.

7) Chicago

Weekly Recap - Do you remember when Chicago lost to Sacramento on Dec. 21 after blowing a 35-point lead midway through the third quarter? Neither do the Bulls. Since that setback, Chicago has gone 13-6 and vaulted itself into the playoff race. Last week, the team extended their road winning streak to five with impressive wins at San Antonio (98-93), Oklahoma City (96-86) and New Orleans (108-106).

Weekly Outlook - During their solid run, the Bulls were able to catch one day of rest between each contest. This week, it's a different story with four games slated over five days. The Clippers visit Tuesday and the Heat invade on the Windy City on Saturday. The two road games will be at Philadelphia on Wednesday and Atlanta on Friday.

8) Miami

Weekly Recap - The Heat continue to be a huge question mark for gamblers and you can see it just by looking at the four games they played last week. Miami had a legit shot to beat Cleveland on Monday but Dwyane Wade's costly turnover late in the game led to a 92-91 setback. After that home loss, the team went 1-2 both SU and ATS on a short three-game road stint and the lone win came against Detroit (92-65).

Weekly Outlook - Miami finishes up a home-and-home with Milwaukee on Monday and then its gut check time for head coach Erik Spoelstra and his troops. Starting Wednesday, the Heat will play at Boston and Cleveland in consecutive nights and then they travel to Chicago on Saturday. Even though the team sits in the eighth spot of the Eastern Conference standings, they do have a three-game cushion over Milwaukee. Of Miami's 13 games in February, nine will be on the road.

9) Milwaukee

Weekly Recap - Perfect lead into Scott Skiles' team, who continues to do more with less. Milwaukee went 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS last week, with the two wins coming at the Bradley Center. The Bucks have won 75 percent (15 of 20) of their games at home this year and have been a pleasant surprise to gamblers. Gamblers should note that Skiles and company have covered seven straight and nine of the last 11.

Weekly Outlook - The Bucks have a tough week on tap and it starts Monday with two games in two nights from the Sunshine State, Miami before Orlando. Milwaukee will visit New York on Friday and then host Indiana on zero days rest on Saturday.

10) Washington

Weekly Recap - As expected, the Wizards fell to the L.A. Lakers (103-115) at home on Tuesday. They did manage to bounce back with a pair of wins against the Nets (81-79) and Knicks (106-96). The 'under' went 2-1.

Weekly Outlook - Washington has good news and bad news this week. The good is that it gets to face New York again on Wednesday. However, the bad will feature three games against the Celtics, Magic and Hawks. Boston and Atlanta will visit the nation's capital but the club will have to travel to Orlando.

11) New York

Weekly Recap - The Knicks started the week with a blowout win versus Minnesota (132-105) and ended with a lopsided loss to the Timberwolves (91-112). Sandwiched between those games was a pair of defeats to the Raptors (104-106) and Wizards (96-106). After finishing December strong and starting January with three straight wins, New York closed the month with a 3-9 record both SU and ATS.

Weekly Outlook - New York gets a couple days off before Washington visits Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Milwaukee heads to the Big Apple on Friday and then the Knicks will have travel to Cleveland on Saturday for a game on zero days rest.

12) Philadelphia

Weekly Recap - The 76ers started the week with three consecutive losses, both SU and ATS. Fortunately, they closed with a win on Sunday against New Jersey (83-79) but failed to cover the number (-5.5) for gamblers. The 'under' cashed in all four games and is on a 10-1 run over the last 11.

Weekly Outlook - Philadelphia starts the week at home on Wednesday against a red-hot Chicago team. After this battle, the 76ers tip off a back-to-back road set on Friday against the Hornets and Rockets. Surprisingly, Philadelphia has been a pretty good bet (13-9-1 ATS) on the road this season.

13) Indiana

Weekly Recap - When Indiana shoots the ball well, it has a chance to win. Otherwise, it's got no shot. After the Pacers beat the 76ers (109-98) on Monday, Jim O'Brien's team lost three straight games by 22, 21 and 15. Indiana's last six losses have all come in double-digit fashion, which shows you that the team has been packing it in after they get down.

Weekly Outlook - Indiana has three games on tap this week, two at Conseco Fieldhouse. Toronto and Detroit visit before the team heads to Milwaukee on Saturday. Even though the Pacers like to play up-tempo, the 'under' has gone 26-20 on the season.

14) Detroit

Weekly Recap - The Pistons went 0-3 SU and 0-2-1 ATS last week, all of the losses coming at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The team finished the month 4-10 SU and 5-8-1 ATS. Over that span, Detroit busted the century mark once. Joe Dumars made some big moves in the offseason and neither of the key acquisitions in Charlie Villanueva or Ben Gordon has helped the team. Don't be surprised to see a fire sale in Motown soon.

Weekly Outlook - It's hard to predict how the Pistons play these days because the team has been so hot and cold. They face the Nets and Pacers on the road and then New Jersey again at home on Saturday. My advice is to pass on Detroit until they win a couple in a row, which could be asking a lot.

15) New Jersey

Weekly Recap - Dare we say the Nets have found the right answer? After winning their fourth game of the season last Wednesday at home against the Clippers (103-87), the club performed real well in close losses to the Wizards (79-81) and 76ers (79-83). New Jersey covered the number in all three games and the 'under' was a perfect 3-0. The 'under' is now on a 6-0 run.

Weekly Outlook - New Jersey is hoping that it can carry some of its momentum into this week. The Nets play four games in five nights and three are on the road. They do catch Detroit on two occasions, so you never know.

 

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Today's NBA Picks
San Antonio at Sacramento
The Spurs look to take advantage of a Sacramento team that is 1-9-1 ATS in its last 11 home games. San Antonio is the pick (-3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Spurs favored by 9. Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-3 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Time Posted: 11:00 a.m. EST
Game 701-702: New Jersey at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 104.902; Toronto 121.345
Dunkel Line & Total: Toronto by 16 1/2; 207
Vegas Line & Total: Toronto by 10 1/2; 202 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-10 1/2); Over
Game 703-704: LA Clippers at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 109.410; Atlanta 125.888
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 16 1/2; 186
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 9 1/2; 194 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-9 1/2); Under
Game 705-706: Chicago at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 121.359; Philadelphia 117.762
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 3 1/2; 196
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 2; 193
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+2); Over
Game 707-708: Washington at New York
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 112.215; New York 112.898
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 1; 206
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 5 1/2; 203 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+5 1/2); Over
Game 709-710: Miami at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 118.015; Boston 121.424
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 3 1/2; 185
Vegas Line & Total: Boston by 6 1/2; 182 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (+6 1/2); Over
Game 711-712: Oklahoma City at New Orleans
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 121.999; New Orleans 120.350
Dunkel Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 1 1/2; 196
Vegas Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 2; 192 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (+2); Over
Game 713-714: Golden State at Dallas
Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 111.504; Dallas 126.145
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 14 1/2; 214
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 12; 217
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-12); Under
Game 715-716: Phoenix at Denver
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 116.491; Denver 127.298
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 11; 220
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 7; 222 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-7); Under
Game 717-718: San Antonio at Sacramento
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 121.192; Sacramento 112.363
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 9; 200
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 3 1/2; 197 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-3 1/2); Over
Game 719-720: Portland at Utah
Dunkel Ratings: Portland 119.918; Utah 128.477
Dunkel Line & Total: Utah by 8 1/2; 195
Vegas Line & Total: Utah by 7 1/2; 197
Dunkel Pick: Utah (-7 1/2); Under
Game 721-722: Charlotte at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 120.718; LA Lakers 125.696
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 5; 190
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 9; 194
Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (+9); Under

 

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NBA | (717) SAN ANTONIO @ (718) SACRAMENTO | 02/03/2010 10:05 PM
Play ON SAN ANTONIO using the money line in All games against Pacific division opponents
The record is 21 Wins and 4 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.05 units)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NBA | (717) SAN ANTONIO @ (718) SACRAMENTO | 02/03/2010 10:05 PM
Play ON SAN ANTONIO using the money line in All games against Pacific division opponents
The record is 21 Wins and 4 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.05 units)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NBA | (721) CHARLOTTE @ (722) LA LAKERS | 02/03/2010 10:35 PM
Play ON CHARLOTTE using the money line in All games against Pacific division opponents
The record is 12 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+14.20 units)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NBA | (721) CHARLOTTE @ (722) LA LAKERS | 02/03/2010 10:35 PM
Play ON CHARLOTTE using the money line in All games against Pacific division opponents
The record is 12 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+14.20 units)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NBA | (713) GOLDEN STATE @ (714) DALLAS | 02/03/2010 8:35 PM
Play ON DALLAS using the money line in Home games second half of the season
The record is 20 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.35 units)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NBA | (713) GOLDEN STATE @ (714) DALLAS | 02/03/2010 8:35 PM
Play ON DALLAS using the money line in Home games second half of the season
The record is 20 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.35 units)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NBA | (715) PHOENIX @ (716) DENVER | 02/03/2010 9:05 PM
Play ON DENVER using the money line in All games in home games
The record is 53 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (+34.25 units)

 

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NBA doubleheader on TNT

NBA doubleheader on TNT

NBA doubleheader on TNT


Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers

Love Shaq

The Cavs (39-11, 26-23-1 ATS) are positively on fire and, as of Wednesday afternoon, they had a 14-game lead on Chicago in the Central Division and a 5.5-game advantage over Orlando for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland has won nine straight (6-3 ATS) and 19 of its past 22 (13-8-1 ATS).

Impressively, the Cavs have won their last six games without Delonte West (finger) and their last seven without Mo Williams (shoulder). West is listed as questionable for Thursday while Williams is expected to miss another 3-4 weeks.

The entire Cleveland roster has stepped up in their absences, especially Shaquille O?Neal. Shaq has scored at least 10 points in each of his past nine outings and he is coming off two consecutive double-doubles in victories over the Clippers (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Grizzlies (13 and 13).

?Shaq looks great,? said LeBron James, who has reached the double-digit mark in assists in five of his last six games even with West and Williams out of the lineup. ?He's motivated; he's playing with a bounce in his step that he didn't have to start the season.?

Insult to injury

The Heat have lost four of their last five (1-4 ATS) and they are now in the midst of a tough three-game road trip to Boston Wednesday, Cleveland Thursday and Chicago Saturday.

?It's big,? Rafer Alston told the Miami Herald. ?It?s a grown man's trip. We have to just buckle down and understand what's at stake. If we can find a way to win all three, great. Win two of three, great. But we're in no position to drop all three this trip.?

That?s because Miami (24-24, 23-25 ATS) was tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference and on the brink of the playoff picture as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Heat are also dealing with a growing list of injuries. Jermaine O?Neal?s status is uncertain after missing Monday?s loss to Milwaukee with back spasms. Udonis Haslem is also questionable with a back problem, Mario Chalmers is out at least one more week with a tear in his left thumb and Michael Beasley was sidelined for two games in late January as a result of a right knee injury.

Prior engagements

The Cavs have won both games against the Heat this season, both in Miami. Cleveland was a 1-point underdog each time, but the visitors came away with a 111-104 victory on November 12 and recently pulled out a 92-91 win on January 25.

Trending topics

The Heat, who are playing Boston and Cleveland on consecutive days, are 2-7 (3-6 ATS) in the second of back-to-back games so far this season.

Both the Heat (21-27 O/U) and the Cavs (22-26-2 O/U) have been relatively strong over/under plays this year. The under is 4-1 in Miami?s last five games and 7-2 in the team?s last nine.

San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers

Rodeo trip

The annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo begins at the AT&T Center Thursday and runs through February 21. That means it?s time for Tim Duncan and Co. to pack their bags and head out on an eight-game road trip all over the United States.

San Antonio (27-19, 23-22-1 ATS) is faced with its worst-ever record to start the yearly trek. The Spurs lost four of six in a late-January homestand and they found themselves two games back of Southwest Division leader Dallas heading into a date with Sacramento Wednesday.

?We have more work to do than usual,? head coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News of the upcoming journey. ?We usually have a little bit better record.?

?You win a couple and lose a couple, and your confidence, like everything else, is up and down,? Duncan added. ?We need a couple in a row to start believing in what we?re doing.?

Miller time

The Blazers (29-21, 27-22-1 ATS) were on a three-game losing streak before scoring a 114-112 overtime win at Dallas Saturday and following that up with a 98-79 home rout of Charlotte Monday.

Andre Miller scored a career-high 52 points against the Mavericks, coming within two points of Portland?s franchise record set by Damon Stoudamire on January 14, 2005.

Two days later, however, Miller was back to doing what he does best: passing. The point guard reached the double-digit assist mark for the seventh time this season, dishing out 10 dimes while attempting only six field goals in the win over Charlotte.

Unselfishness led to six different Blazers, including three off the bench, scoring in double-figures at the expense of the Bobcats. Not surprisingly, coach Nate McMillan was thrilled.

?I just liked the way we played tonight,? he noted. ?It was a great win. We enjoyed this.?

Prior engagements

Portland is 2-0 against San Antonio so far this season. The Blazers were 4-point home favorites on November 6 and they covered the spread with a comfortable 96-84 victory. Portland was a 12-point road underdog December 23, but even without Brandon Roy the visitors scored a 98-94 upset.

Tony Parker played in just 11 minutes in San Antonio?s first game against the Blazers before suffering an ankle injury. Parker has also missed the past two games with an ankle problem and he appears unlikely to play this week.

Trending topics

The Spurs are 3-5 (3-5 ATS) in the second game when they have had to play on back-to-back days this season. The Blazers, with a visit to Utah Wednesday?s schedule, are 7-3 (7-3 ATS) when they come back from a game on the previous night.

San Antonio (21-24-1 O/U) has been a decent under play this year, but Portland (28-22 O/U) has been a strong over play. The over is 6-1 in the Blazers? last seven games.

 

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End of the line for Boston?s Three-Party

End of the line for Boston?s Three-Party

End of the line for Boston?s Three-Party



Boston?s three-headed monster, the one that has dominated the sporting landscape for the better part of this decade, is close to becoming extinct.

Last summer, the Red Sox stumbled out of the American League pennant chase and was forced to watch the hated New York Yankees win the World Series.

Then last month, the Patriots were eliminated by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild-Card round of the NFL playoffs and will have to watch the Indianapolis Colts, their AFC nemesis, play in the Super Bowl.

Now, the Celtics are waving the white towel faster than you could say ?M.L. Carr?, losing 11 of their last 18 games since Christmas Day and recently got stung on national TV by ?The Black Mamba? and the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

Loyal fans in Beantown still claim that the window of opportunity to win championships is still open for their beloved teams. However, the one opponent you can?t overcome is Father Time and the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics have all fallen victim to his wrath.

The Celtics were one of the heavy favorites to win the Larry O?Brien Trophy when the season started, opening as a 2-1 pick to advance through the Eastern Conference playoffs and 4-1 to win the NBA championship according to BetUS.com.

But lately, the 2008 champs have begun to show some wear and tear, losing six of its last 10 games SU and are just 3-10 ATS. In a four-day span last week, the Celtics suffered a regular-season sweep by the Hawks, blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against the Magic and lost at home by a point to the Lakers.

And to complete the cycle of bad luck, All-Star forward Paul Pierce, strained his left ankle against the Wizards Monday and is now day-to-day.

Boston remains one of the most overvalued teams in the league, currently sitting at 19-26-1 ATS this season, said Covers Experts? Sean Murphy, who dropped Boston two slots from No. 6 to No. 8 in his latest NBA power rankings.

?They have done a fairly good job taking care of business against weaker opponents, but when stepping up in class, they've been awful,? says Murphy. ?Those are the spots you really want to focus on if you plan on fading the Celtics.?

Head coach Doc Rivers said that his aging team needs to play with a sense of urgency. But if Rivers is pressing on the gas pedal now and building a ton of mileage in February, the Celtics could be running on empty come May and June.

?I can't say that I see them as a championship contender this season,? Murphy said. ?In my opinion there are at least three teams better than them in the East: the Cavs, Magic, and Hawks. Even the Raptors are making a push, and although they've struggled against the Celtics this season put them in a seven-game series and I think they would give them a run.?

Before the Celtics can begin to look ahead to playoff matchups they have some serious health issues that need to be addressed, mainly the status of Kevin Garnett. The 33-year-old All-Star forward has been in and out of the lineup the past two seasons and his troublesome right knee is about as stable as the U.S. economy.

Garnett is without question the linchpin that holds the Celtics title hopes. When he?s healthy, the Celtics have a championship swagger. But when he?s hobbling like Willis Reed, Boston becomes very vulnerable.

?I think this team really lost its momentum at the end of last season when KG went down and missed the playoffs,? Murphy explained. ?Everything came together for them two years ago, and now they're having a really tough time getting back their mojo, so to speak.?

Garnett has amassed more than 40,000 minutes during his 15-year NBA career. That?s more minutes than what Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins and David Robinson each logged during their entire careers.

?KG has been around for a long time, and while he is still an elite player, I don't think we're ever going to see him play at the level he did earlier in his career,? Murphy said.

Ray Allen, the third cog of Boston?s Big Three, is struggling to match last season?s numbers. Through 46 games, the 34-year-old shooting guard is averaging 15.7 points per game (the lowest since his rookie year) and is making just 34 percent of his 3-point shots, the worst of his 14-year career.

Allen is a free agent after this season and, according to Murphy, there?s a good chance the Celtics are not going to bring him back next season.

Could this be the last time we see Boston?s Big Three wearing the Celtics uniform?

?They've already gotten their rings and I think you can clearly see that this is the beginning of the end for the star trio in Boston,? Murphy said.

TWO POINTS

NO MELO, NO PROBLEM: The Denver Nuggets have been able to stay relatively close to the Lakers in the West despite not having All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony for a week.

The Nuggets are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS without Melo thanks in part to the resurgence of Kenyon Martin and the steady hand of Chauncey Billups, who should be the replacement for the injured Chris Paul in the All-Star Game.

In the last five games, three of them on the road, Billups averaged 23 points and eight assists while K-Mart had 24 points and 12 rebounds against the Kings and 27 and 11 against the Spurs.

FALLEN KINGS: The Sacramento Kings once held a 14-6 record ATS and were one of the hottest teams in the West. Now, they appear to have hit a wall and instead of getting better with the return of Kevin Martin, they have gotten worse.

Since Martin returned to the lineup, the Kings have lost nine of 10 SU and are just 3-7 ATS. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento?s prized rookie, missed Monday?s game against Denver with a bad hip and is day-to-day, which is the same that can be said about his team.

 

[Lumi]

Wednesday's best NBA bets

Wednesday's best NBA bets

Wednesday's best NBA bets

Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (-1, 194)

The Bulls are cooling the hot seat under coach Vinny Del Negro one win at a time and it all begins with point guard Derrick Rose.

Rose started the season playing hurt, but his production has increased month by month. In November, Rose averaged 16.2 points and 5.3 assists per game. Those numbers jumped a few points in December (20.4 ppg, 6.1 apg) and escalated to 23.1 points and 6.4 assists per outing in January.

"It all starts with Derrick Rose," Joakim Noah said. "He's just playing huge for us, making the right decisions, staying aggressive offensively. When your point guard is playing like that, it usually leads to good things."

The first three months of the season on the road were hard on Chicago, going 3-11 overall. But during their recent seven-game road trip, the baby Bulls went 5-2 straight up and against the spread.

Chicago is the hottest team in the NBA after five consecutive SU and ATS wins (all underdogs) and even in a back-to-back situation Wednesday, the Bulls have the confidence to handle a semi-short road trip to Philly.

Pick: Bulls

San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings (N/A)

The Spurs open an eight-game road trip in Sac-Town Wednesday and a few weeks away from the Riverwalk might be exactly what Greg Popovich?s team needs.

"Everyone's excited to get on the road and get a little bit of a rhythm going," Richard Jefferson said after the team dropped four of its last six games, all at home.

All-star Tony Parker has missed the last two contests and will be out for this one as well, but reserve George Hill has stepped up in Parker?s absence. In two starts, Hill has averaged 17.5 points per game.

The Spurs have won seven straight in this series (4-2-1 ATS) and seven of their last eight games in Sacramento.

The Kings played well without Rookie of the Year frontrunner Tyreke Evans on Tuesday, but blew a 17-point third-quarter lead against the Nuggets and lost in overtime.

Evans is expected to return for this game but since Kevin Martin returned from injury and rejoined Evans on the floor (Jan. 15), the Kings are 1-8 overall and 2-7 ATS.

Pick: Spurs

 

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Will San Antonio earn their Spurs on the road?

Will San Antonio earn their Spurs on the road?

Will San Antonio earn their Spurs on the road?

During a long trip, which will take in over 6,000 miles, the Spurs will play a total of eight road games. The reason behind their extended trip is to allow for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, which is held every year in their arena.

The Spurs have used this trip in recent years to refocus their efforts and discuss where they are at the season's midway point. Most of the players with a wealth of experience under their belts, including Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobil, will take some time out to bond with the younger players currently in the rotation.

This will be rookie DeJuan Blair's first trip and this player has, in my opinion, been the find of the season. From Pittsburgh, this guy is having an outstanding first year as a pro and is a real star in the making. Tim Duncan is likely to spend quite some time giving this player some tips, and he really should have a big future ahead of him.

San Antonio will start this road trip with a 27-19 record. They are in fifth place in the Western Conference right now and obviously this isn't ideal. They'll be desperate to secure a winning record over their following eight clashes. They don't have a lot of youth to rely upon but their level of experience should serve them well on this long road trip.

San Antonio's schedule isn't too demanding, with the exception of a trip to the Lakers on the 8th and Denver on the 11th. The basketball odds for these ones will be tight. The rest of the fixtures should be well within their capabilities. They have to travel to the East coast in the middle of February to take on Indiana on the 17th, Philadelphia on the 19th, and Detroit on the 21st. This will be the simplest part of the trip and it would be something of a shock if they didn't win all three fixtures.

However, the real banker of this trip should be the final game versus the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons are currently in the middle of an awful run, leaving them second from bottom in the Eastern Conference. Detroit don't have anything left to play for and it shows in their play. The Spurs will take full advantage of a team in turmoil.

On February 14th, the Spurs head over to Dallas to take part in the All-Star game. This year the game will take place at the new Cowboys Stadium but most of the players will just be chilling out and having fun with the celebrations. San Antonio coach Greg Popovich will undoubtedly use this time to relax with his players and make sure they are well-prepared for the challenges yet to come this season. He is one of the coaches in the NBA who command the most respect so if he can't motivate a team, nobody can.

Recommended NBA bets: Back San Antonio with advertised handicap against Sacramento Feb 3rd, Portland 4th, Los Angeles Clippers 6th, Indiana 17th, Philadelphia 19th, Detroit 21st.

 

[Lumi]

Suns visit Mile High City

Suns visit Mile High City

Suns visit Mile High City
February 3, 2010
By SBGGlobal.com

Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets
Wednesday, 10:35 pm Eastern ? ESPN



The Phoenix Suns had a losing record in December and in January after going 14-3 in November. They have started February well though as they won at New Orleans on Monday night, 109-100. That makes three in a row for the Suns overall. We did a phenomenal job defensively," Amar?e Stoudemire said. "It all goes down to our defensive effort. In the past three NBA betting games we've done a great job with that. We wanted to come out and set the tone early." The Suns are going to have to play even better on Wednesday if they expect to beat a red-hot Denver team in a game that can be seen on ESPN.



Nuggets are a 7 point favorite at SBG Global with a total of 222.5.



Denver is coming off a 112-109 overtime win over Sacramento as Arron Afflalo had six of his twelve points in overtime. Kenyon Martin had 24 points and 12 rebounds while Chauncey Billups added 23. The Nuggets were playing their fifth straight game without All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. The Nuggets have been rolling even without Anthony. They have won 10 of their last 11 and nine straight overall.



The Suns have gotten two straight big games from Stoudemire who has been rumored to be on the trading block. He had 36 points and 11 rebounds against Houston on Sunday and then on Monday had 25 points and 12 boards against the Hornets. "In all three games, we showed grit," said Suns guard Steve Nash, ?That's what we talked a lot about early in the NBA betting season - the grittiness and depth we needed to win games. It's plain to see in the three games we won. More than anything, it's tiring. It proves you have to go earn it every night."



The Suns are 29-21 and in 7th place in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are 33-15 and have the second-best record in the Western Conference.



The Suns are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Denver. The Nuggets are 4-11-2 ATS in their last 17 vs. the Western Conference. The Nuggets are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Pacific. The home team is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings between Phoenix and Denver.



The Over is 4-1 in the Suns last 5 road games. The Over is 5-1 in the Nuggets last 6 home games. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Denver.

 

[Lumi]

NBA Nightly Notes

NBA Nightly Notes

NBA Nightly Notes
February 3, 2010
By Sportsbook.com

NBA conferences still show disparity



After a run of the East seemingly gaining ground over the past few years, the Western Conference has been superior this season. This is evidenced by the fact that the Eastern Conference has six teams with winning records (one is one game over .500) and the West has just four teams with losing records among its 15 members. Let?s dig into the details a little further and see if we can?t use any of the findings to profit on Wednesday?s NBA betting board. See all of the wagering options on the Sportsbook.com LIVE ODDS page.



One thing to consider this year besides the overall dominance once again, the wagering aspect comes into play more than one might think. The West holds a 160-122 SU (56.7%) edge in head-to-head competition against those from the other conference. It would make sense the West would also be grabbing most of the money when these teams meet, however their stranglehold ends up being a little tighter than traditional numbers. The West is 150-126-6 ATS, 54.3 percent, just over two percent off the SU winning percentage.


As to be expected there are winners and losers in each conference, thus let?s take a look at who is profiting and who is not on either side of the Mississippi River.



The two West squads that have taken everyone aback are up and comers Oklahoma City and Memphis. Unquestionably these are two young and talented teams who could change the dynamics of the Western Conference if they can keep their nucleus? together while adding more quality to their rosters in the seasons to come. Each has grown this season by beating up the East. The Thunder is 16-6 SU and ATS, while the Grizzlies are 9-6 and 10-5 ATS. Oklahoma City in particular has been impressive in winning by 6.6 points per contest.



The Los Angeles Lakers have enjoyed the most non-conference success at 17-3, but most nights are fighting the oddsmakers for their supporters and are a fair 10-8-2 ATS. The other club that plays in the Staples Center is actually a better bet and has shown real signs of improvement despite lacking players they thought they could count on like No. 1 pick Blake Griffin and Kareem Rush, both injured all or most of the season. The Clippers are 11-8 and 12-6-1 ATS.



A number of other teams have winning records, however are not at least to this point an overwhelming wager. Denver has 13-6 (11-8 ATS) record, San Antonio 13-5 (10-8 ATS), Utah 13-6 (11-8 ATS) and Dallas is 14-5 with only 9-10 spread mark.



The biggest disappointments out West have been Houston at 5-9 ATS with six wins and Sacramento at 6-13 SU and ATS when they face teams from at least two zones away. Golden State may be 6-13, but their style of play leaves Eastern teams confounded and the Warriors are 11-7-1 ATS.



Not every East team is horrible versus the West, it just seems that way. Six Eastern teams have winning records against their Western counterparts; however a couple of those are a loss or two from being .500 or less straight up. For those laying down the cash, Atlanta is the best at 12-7 ATS with a 13-6 SU record. The Hawks are where Oklahoma City and Memphis envision themselves in a year or two or possibly sooner, a good team that has young veteran talent which still has an upside.



Cleveland is the best of the East bunch at 18-5, handing the Lakers two of their three Eastern defeats. Nonetheless, like L.A., oddsmakes often leave the Cavs too many points to overcome with a 13-10-1 ATS mark. Boston has a representative 10-6 record, but being a public team and injury-plagued are a crestfallen 4-11-1 ATS.



The lousy teams in the East are rotten pretty much against whomever they play. Here are their crummy numbers.



Philadelphia 7-14, 9-12 ATS

Washington 4-14, 7-10-1 ATS

Detroit 4-15, 7-12 ATS

Indiana 4-14, 6-12 ATS



You are probably wondering about New Jersey, because they have been so insufferable, thought the Nets deserved special mention at 1-19 and 5-15 ATS. Their Atlantic Division partner New York, is a sleepy 6-11 vs. the West, yet about even money bet at 9-8 ATS.



In conclusion, when East meets West, the teams in the Central and Eastern Time zones consistently come up short and are poor wagers.