Posted on
1/2/2008 5:37:59 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Sacramento at New York
By Charles Jay
Two teams who are well-rested but not exactly setting the world on fire will hook up on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, as the New York Knicks (8-21 SU, 12-17 ATS) play host to the Sacramento Kings (11-18 SU, 15-13 ATS) in NBA betting action slated to begin at 7:30 PM ET.
In the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds, the Knicks are listed at -3, with the total posted at 191 points.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* SAC has won six of the last eight meetings SU
* NY has covered seven of the last ten meetings as the home team
* NY has won eight of the last ten meetings SU as the home team
* Eight of the last nine meetings have gone OVER the total
* Ten of the last 13 meetings at MSG have gone OVER the total
* NY has had the rebounding edge in each of the last six meetings
The Kings are averaging fewer rebounds than any other NBA team (39 per game). They average eight steals per contest, and are yielding 46.2% shooting from the field, and turn the ball over 15.6 times per game. Also:
* SAC has lost its last four games SU
* SAC has covered six of its last seven road games
* SAC has played eight of its last 11 games UNDER the total
* SAC has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total
The Knicks are surrendering a league-high 48.4% field goal shooting. At home they are allowing 100 points a game. New York also is hitting 42.7% of its shots (28th in the NBA), and accounts for just 93.8 ppg, partially because they make only 5.5 three-pointers on average. Also:
* NY has lost five of its last six games SU
* NY has covered two of its last six games
* NY has covered eight of its last 25 home games
* NY has won two of its last nine home games SU
* NY has played four of its last six games OVER the total
Probably no NBA team has been as hard hit by injuries as the Sacramento Kings, who have been without Shareef Abdur-Rahim, point guard Mike Bibby, scoring leader Kevin Martin (who hit for 43 against New York in a double OT win on November 16) and now defensive stalwart Ron Artest, who is out with an elbow injury. New coach Reggie Theus might merit combat pay for keeping this team together through all of this. Interestingly enough, he's actually developed a bit of chemistry, utilizing role players such as Francisco Garcia, Mikki Moore and Beno Udrih. And John Salmons has been a revelation, averaging 16.2 ppg when given his chance by all the attrition in Sacramento.
There is no such chemistry in the Big Apple, where coach Isiah Thomas has been publicly sour on Eddy Curry (13.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg), who has been a disappointment, and has had to come off the bench, which in turn hasn't made him very happy. Now trade winds are swirling. It seems acquiring Zach Randolph from Portland has caused an on-court clash with Curry, an effect Randolph seems to have on organizations, as most astute observers predicted. Oddly, the aforementioned Bibby and Artest have been rumored to go to the Knicks as the trading deadline approaches.
New York has not found much of a home at the Garden, where fans have picketed against Thomas and where the team has won just two of its last nine. And the Knicks have not covered as a favorite all year (0-5 ATS). The Kings have begun to play better on the road, at least relative to the linemaker, covering six of their last seven as the visitor.
We do not trust this defenseless Knicks team laying points, so we're with Sacramento, the three-point underdog in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: NEW YORK -3, Total: 191
JAY'S PLAY: SACRAMENTO
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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)