Posted on
1/3/2008 5:43:45 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Seattle at Phoenix
By Charles Jay
The Seattle SuperSonics (9-22 SU, 15-16 ATS) have some key players banged up when they travel to the US Airways Center to take on the Phoenix Suns (22-9 SU, 14-15-1 ATS) in NBA action that tips off at 10:30 PM ET.
In the BetUS NBA betting odds, the Suns are listed at -14.5, with the total posted at 216.5 points.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:
* SEA has covered four of the last five meetings
* PHX has won four of the last six meetings SU
* The last five meetings have gone UNDER the total
* SEA has held the rebounding edge in nine of the last ten meetings
Seattle is leading the league in rebounds per game, with 45. They are shooting 44.2% field goals, but have thrown just 4.8 three-pointers per game into the hoop. The youthful Sonics have turned the ball over 15.7 times per game. Also:
* SEA has covered two of its last nine road games
* SEA has won two of its last seven games SU
* SEA is 6-9 ATS on the road this season
* SEA has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total
Phoenix is the league's highest scoring team, averaging 109.4 points per game. Obviously one of the reasons is that the Suns have the NBA's best field goal percentage (49.2%). Phoenix has chalked up a league-leading 28 assists on the average, which is to be expected from a team that is led by two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, who has eleven games this season with 15 or more assists. Also:
* PHX has won four of its last five games SU
* PHX has covered one of its last five home games
* PHX has won nine of its last 11 home games SU
* PHX is 5-6 ATS at home this season
* PHX has played seven of its 11 home games OVER the total this season
The injury report is obviously a key to this one, at least from the Seattle perspective. Rookie Kevin Durant (19.7 ppg), who has an injured index finger, is probably going to play after participating in practice. Forward Chris Wilcox is more iffy, as he has a knee injury. Nick Collison was outstanding against Phoenix last season, averaging 18.3 points and 13.6 rebounds, shooting 65%.
Since both teams play at a fast tempo, the tendency is to assume a shootout each and every time they take the court. The oddsmaker has overpriced this total, certainly the last three times, when the scores have gone well below the over/under that was posted. The last three totals, in fact, have been 205, 200 and 204. We don't know how limited Durant is going to be, but even if he plays, Wilcox, who happens to be Seattle's second leading scorer, isn't likely to do a lot of minutes. Point guard Luke Ridnour, who sat out Monday's game with Philadelphia, is stilled slowed a bit with a quad injury.
Let's go with the trends - and our instincts - and move "under" the 216.5-point total, as it is posted in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: PHOENIX -14.5, Total 216.5
JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 216.5
You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!
(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)