Posted on
1/11/2008 2:50:03 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Toronto at New York
By Charles Jay
WHO: Toronto Raptors (18-17 SU, 19-16 ATS) at New York Knicks (9-25 SU, 14-20 ATS)
WHERE: Madison Square Garden, New York City
WHEN: Friday, January 11, 7:30 PM ET
BetUS NBA betting odds: TORONTO -5, Total: 193
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* TOR has covered seven of the last ten meetings
* TOR has won four of the last five meetings SU
* Five of the last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total
* NY has won and covered nine of the last 12 meetings as the home team
* Four of the last five meetings in New York have gone UNDER the total
* NY has had the shooting edge in five of the last seven meetings
* NY has had the rebounding edge in four of the last six meetings
* TOR has made more three-pointers in eight of the last ten meetings
Toronto shoots 80% from the free throw line, which ranks second in the league. The Raptors allow opponents to shoot 44.8% from the field and have an assist-turnover ratio of 2:1. They also rank sixth in the league in least points allowed (95.3 ppg). Also:
* TOR has covered three of its last 11 games
* TOR has won three of its last nine games SU
* TOR has played six of its last nine games OVER the total
* TOR has covered two of its last seven road games
* TOR has won two of its last six road games SU
* TOR has played four of its last six road games OVER the total
New York are 28th in the league in free throw percentage (70.7%). The Knicks have also allowed their foes to shoot 48.1%, which puts them 30th and last in the NBA. They are shooting 43.3%, and are hitting 5.6 three-pointers a game. Also:
* NY has covered two of its last seven games
* NY has lost eight of its last nine games SU
* NY has played its last five games OVER the total
* NY has lost five of its last six home games SU
* NY has covered three of its last 11 home games
* NY has played four of its last six home games OVER the total
It would not be fair to analyze this matchup without considering that Toronto's floor leader, TJ Ford, is still out with neck and back injuries he suffered in a game against Atlanta on December 11. Since then, the Raptors have gone 6-7 straight-up and 5-8 against the number.
But the Knicks are experiencing deeper problems. They can not buy a win at home, and have only three victories in the last month. Fundamentally, there are major differences between these sides. New York guards Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury are shooting 41% combined. New York's assist-to-turnover ratio is barely above even, and the Knicks are the worst defensive team in the league. Toronto may be missing some leadership, but there is still much more chemistry. The Raptors take care of the ball much better (11.3 TO's/game) and convert from the free throw line (80%), while New York does not.
And the Knicks wouldn't be the Knicks without off-court turmoil. Marbury is openly wishing to be moved to a team that has a chance at a title. And there are persistent rumors that Zach Randolph, acquired just this past off-season from Portland, will be on the way out before the trading deadline.
All in all, we want to keep going against the Knicks in the now-hostile environs of Madison Square Garden until they can prove otherwise. Chris Bosh will have to get more than the one rebound he had last time out against Philadelphia, but we'll lay the points with Toronto, the five-point favorite in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: TORONTO
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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)