Posted on
1/17/2008 6:40:12 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Utah at Denver
By Charles Jay
WHO: Utah Jazz (22-17 SU, 18-21 ATS) at Denver Nuggets (22-15 SU, 17-18 ATS)
WHERE: Pepsi Center in Denver
WHEN: Thursday, January 17 at 9 PM ET
BetUS NBA betting odds: DENVER -3, Total 220.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:
* UTAH has won and covered six of the last seven meetings
* seven of the last nine meetings have gone OVER the total
* UTAH has won and covered four of the last six meetings as the road team
* Four of the last six meetings in Denver have gone OVER the total
* UTAH has had the rebounding edge in each of the last seven meetings
* UTAH has had the shooting edge in five of the last seven meetings
Utah is now the NBA's best shooting team, making 49% of its shots. Those shots are mostly from the inside and mid-range, as the Jazz under Jerry Sloan does not emphasize three-point shooting (just 3.9 per game). Ball control is still a key, though, as Utah's assist-to-turnover ratio is a more-than-solid 1.7-to-1. Also:
* UTAH has won six of its last seven games
* UTAH has covered one of its last seven road games
* UTAH has lost 10 of its last 11 road games SU
* UTAH has played 10 of its last 15 road games OVER the total
The Nuggets rank second in the league in rebounding with 45.3 a game. And though it probably won't be a major factor against Utah, Denver has yielded 7.8 three-point baskets per game, which is the third most in the NBA. Also:
* DEN has own five of its last six games SU at home
* DEN has covered four of its last five home games
* DEN has played eight of its 20 home games OVER the total
There are some negatives for Denver. Nene, for example, just had a testicular tumor removed and will be unavailable. Kenyon Martin is day-to-day with a staph infection. And the Nuggets have had some trying times defensively, allowing 116 points per game over their last four outings. But Utah, which has won four in a row, apparently saves its highlights for home outings. The Jazz just can not be counted on when traveling, and have indeed dropped ten of its last eleven on the road and six of its last seven road games to the number.
At least Denver can score points behind two of the league's leaders, Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, and can rebound and block shots with Marcus Camby and (if he plays) Martin.
Because of our lack of confidence in the visitor, and what we think is a very manageable number, we're going to lay the points with Denver, the three-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: DENVER
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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)