Posted on
1/21/2008 4:25:21 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Utah at L.A. Clippers
By Charles Jay
The Utah Jazz (23-18 SU, 19-22 ATS) takes things to the road on Monday as it travels to the Staples Center in Los Angeles to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (12-24 SU, 17-19 ATS). Game time is 3:30 PM ET.
In the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds, the Jazz is listed at -3, with the total posted at 195.5 points.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:
* UTAH has won and covered four of the last five meetings
* LA has won and covered five of the last six meetings SU as the home team
* Five of the last seven meetings in LA have gone OVER the total
* UTAH has had the rebounding edge in nine of the last ten meetings
* LA has had the shooting edge in six of the last nine meetings
The Jazz is second in the NBA in shooting at 48.9%, having been overtaken again in that department by the Phoenix Suns. Utah's assist-to-turnover ratio is an outstanding 1.7-to-1, and the Jazz has averaged 11.9 offensive rebounds a game, and has an overall rebounding margin of +2.1. Also:
* UTAH has covered four of its last six games
* UTAH has won five of its last six games SU
* UTAH has played five of its last seven games UNDER the total
* UTAH has covered one of its last eight games on the road
* UTAH has won one of its last 12 road games SU
* UTAH has played 11 of its last 16 road games OVER the total
The Clippers are 28th in the NBA in scoring, at 93.4 ppg. That comes from 43% shooting, which places the team 29th in the league. But the Clippers have been a better defensive team than the Jazz, at least as far as field goal percentage allowed, as they permit 44.7% accuracy on the part of their opponents. Also:
* LA has won three of its last 14 games SU
* LA has won three of its last 14 home games SU
* LA has played seven of its last ten games UNDER the total
The oddsmaker has placed the Jazz at -3, which seems manageable, considering they handled the Clippers pretty easily on Friday night, cruising to a 106-88 win behind 52% shooting. But we just can't trust Utah on the road yet, and it's problematic to lay points with a team that has won just one of its last 12 as the traveler, and furthermore, is 3-10 ATS as a road favorite. Sure, Utah has most of the fundamental edges.
But at least the Clippers have a center who likes to bang inside (Chris Kaman), and the Clips have started to improve their performances at home recently, covering four of the last five at Staples. Those covers have come against the Spurs, Mavs, Suns and Nets. And this tam has not shot less than 46% in its last five outings, indicating some better shot selection and ball movement. Having Sam Cassell and Tim Thomas back in action are certainly a key factor.
Until further notice, we're going to continue moving against Utah when it plays away from home. As a result, we're going to go ahead and take the points with the Los Angeles Clippers, the three-point underdogs in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: UTAH -3, Total 195.5
JAY'S PLAY: LA CLIPPERS
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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)