Posted on
1/4/2008 8:34:54 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Utah at Portland
By Charles Jay
The Portland Trail Blazers (20-13 SU, 21-12 ATS) look like they may be off and running on another winning streak, and they'll try to extend the current skein to three when they play host to the Utah Jazz (18-16 SU, 14-19 ATS) in NBA action scheduled to tip off at 10 PM ET on Saturday at the Rose Garden in Portland.
The Blazers, who have rewarded their backers betting through BetUS Sportsbook with 14 covers in the last 16 games, will be looking for a measure of revenge, as it was this Jazz team that ended the team's 13-game winning streak last Monday when it took a 111-101 decision in Salt Lake City. In that contest, Utah shot 51.2% from the field, but Portland was no slouch, hitting 48.4%.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* PORT has covered five of the last seven meetings
* The home team has covered five of the last six meetings
* PORT has covered the last three meetings as the home team
* UTAH has had the rebounding edge in each of the last ten meetings
* PORT has made more three-pointers in six of the last seven meetings
Portland got 25 points and 11 assists from Brandon Roy in beating the Bulls in double overtime on Thursday. They shot 50% from three-point range, while limiting Chicago to just 17%. After a rough start, they turned the ball over only ten times. In the previous game vs. Minnesota, they had only four turnovers. on the season the Blazers have averaged just 13.2 turnovers a contest. Also:
* PORT has won 15 of its last 16 games SU
* PORT has covered 14 of its last 16 games
* PORT has won its last 11 home games SU
* PORT has played six of its last eight home games UNDER the total
* PORT has played 12 of its 18 home games UNDER the total this season
The Jazz has hit 3.9 shots per game from three-point range. That's last in the NBA. But Utah is second in field goal percentage, at 49%. And they have registered 9.2 steals a game. Also:
* UTAH has covered one of its last ten road games
* UTAH is 5-13 ATS on the road this season
* UTAH has played its last four games UNDER the total
Utah has allowed 109 points a game over the last four. On the road they have been permissive, allowing 105.5 ppg. This is not necessarily a good spot for Utah, which has covered just one of its last ten road games. Portland has been great at taking care of the ball; they are showing a lot of poise for a very young team, as evidenced by the job they did in double OT against the revived Bulls, and have now won their last two road games after only three straight-up wins away from home all season. They keep proving things to people (except for Charles Barkley, who doesn't think they're going to the playoffs).
And let's not forget that during the Blazers' streak, they chalked up two 8-point wins over Utah - one at home and one on the road.
Whatever the reason, Utah point guard Deron Williams is a 36% career shooter in games against Portland, and he'll have his hands full as he tries to defend Roy, who is now getting on everybody's All-Star short list (except Charles Barkley's, we suppose). And what will Utah do against LeMarcus Aldridge, the emerging big man who erupted for 36 in that losing effort five days ago?
We don't share Barkley's skepticism, at least not now. We have no problems laying the points at BetUS with the Blazers, who remain one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
JAY'S PREDICTION: PORTLAND BY 10
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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)