NBA: Top NBA Weekend Power Trends
With a very light college football board on tap and a smaller than usual college basketball betting weekend scheduled, the NBA figures to get more than its typical share of attention from bettors over the next three days. There are 24 games slated for the next three days including a handful of matchups between some of the league's elite teams and Sportsbook.com will have plenty of ways to cash in on each game.
On Friday, ESPN brings its usual doubleheader, and in the first game, Cleveland looks to snap a 2-game losing skid when it hosts Portland. The Blazers are struggling themselves though and are just 6-6 in their last 12 games after getting off to a sizzling 8-3 start. They recently received the news that center Greg Oden would miss the rest of the season too with a knee injury. Portland is just 3-6 ATS vs. East foes this season, while Cleveland has already lost twice at home in '09 and is just 4-6 as a host. In the second game, Orlando looks to bounce back from an awful second half in Utah on Thursday night when it plays a quick turnaround game in Phoenix. The Suns are the league's lone remaining unbeaten team at home, having gone 7-0 while outscoring opponents by 14.3 PPG to date. The Suns are a 3-point favorite with a lofty total of 215 but the Magic have been one of the league's best road teams at 10-3 and are a perfect 4-0 SU & ATS rebounding from a loss. Elsewhere on Friday, Dallas will be visiting Miami among 11 total games.
On Saturday, the Lakers hit the road for the first of a 5-game road trip by taking on Utah. Los Angeles has had a heavily weighted home schedule to date, and will have played 17 games as hosts compared to just four on the road when this game tips off. On Wednesday, Kobe & Co. whipped the Jazz by 24 points, but the tables could be turned in Salt Lake, as L.A. is just 1-3 ATS on the road, and Utah is 9-4 ATS at home. Also on Saturday, Phoenix will be among nine teams in the NBA that are playing in the second of back-to-back games. The Suns have the toughest quest of all of them however, having to travel to Denver after hosting the Magic the night prior. They will be trying to snap a 4-game road losing skid in this one against a Nuggets team that rarely loses on its home court (9-1 SU & 7-3 ATS). Elsewhere, Boston will be looking for a 10th straight win when it travels to Chicago, and Portland wraps up its 4-game road swing in Milwaukee.
The Sunday board is the lightest of the weekend, with five games on tap, including a typical matinee contest in Toronto. The Raptors host Houston, who has been one of the league's better road bets thus far, having gone 7-5 SU & 8-4 ATS heading into the weekend. Toronto is just 3-7 SU & ATS vs. West opponents. The Cavaliers are also in action, looking to quickly thwart a 2-game road skid vs. West foes. They will take on Oklahoma City, who continues to surprise folks in '09, and owns a 7-4 ATS mark at home, and 6-2 ATS record vs. Eastern Conference opponents.
Sportsbook.com key Betting Trends for this weekend's NBA games:
Friday, 12/11/2009
(705) ATLANTA vs. (706) TORONTO
TORONTO is 16-33 ATS (-20.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. The average score was TORONTO 98.3, OPPONENT 106 - (Rating = 2*)
(709) NEW YORK vs. (710) NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS is 22-6 ATS (+15.4 Units) in home games revenging a same season loss over the last 3 seasons. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 99.3, OPPONENT 89.1 - (Rating = 2*)
(709) NEW YORK vs. (710) NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS is 13-1 UNDER (+11.9 Units) at home vs explosive offenses scoring 103+ PPG over L2 seasons. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 92.3, OPPONENT 98.6 - (Rating = 3*)
(711) GOLDEN STATE vs. (712) CHICAGO
Vinny Del Negro is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) vs poor defensive teams (FG pct defense >=46%) as coach of CHICAGO. The average score was Del Negro 99.3, OPPONENT 101.4 - (Rating = 1*)
Saturday, 12/12/2009
(501) INDIANA vs. (502) WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON is 24-46 ATS (-26.6 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons. The average score was WASHINGTON 95.8, OPPONENT 102.4 - (Rating = 2*)
(503) GOLDEN STATE vs. (504) DETROIT
DETROIT is 3-15 ATS (-13.5 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons. The average score was DETROIT 92.8, OPPONENT 97.2 - (Rating = 2*)
(503) GOLDEN STATE vs. (504) DETROIT
DETROIT is 32-17 UNDER (+13.3 Units) at home vs. good 3PT shooting teams (>=36%) over the last 3 seasons. The average score was DETROIT 93, OPPONENT 89.5 - (Rating = 1*)
(511) PHOENIX vs. (512) DENVER
DENVER is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in home games against Pacific division opponents over the last 2 seasons. The average score was DENVER 112.1, OPPONENT 101.5 - (Rating = 2*)
Sunday, 12/13/2009
(703) NEW JERSEY vs. (704) ATLANTA
NEW JERSEY is 5-16 ATS (-12.6 Units) in road games vs up-tempo teams >=83 FG Att/game over L3 seasons. The average score was NEW JERSEY 98, OPPONENT 106.9 - (Rating = 1*)
(705) MEMPHIS vs. (706) MIAMI
MIAMI is 17-35 ATS (-21.5 Units) vs. poor passing teams, averaging <=20 assists/game over the last 3 seasons. The average score was MIAMI 94.3, OPPONENT 96.6 - (Rating = 1*)
(707) CLEVELAND vs. (708) OKLAHOMA CITY
CLEVELAND is 13-1 UNDER (+11.9 Units) on Sunday games over the last 2 seasons. The average score was CLEVELAND 95.1, OPPONENT 85.1 - (Rating = 3*)
(709) SAN ANTONIO vs. (710) LA CLIPPERS
LA CLIPPERS are 31-55 ATS (-29.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the L3 seasons. The average score was LA CLIPPERS 91.6, OPPONENT 103.8 - (Rating = 1*)
