Posted on
4/4/2008 6:45:54 PM
Basketball Wagering - New York at New Orleans
By Charles Jay
WHO: New York Knicks (20-55 SU, 33-41-1 ATS) at New Orleans Hornets (52-22 SU, 46-27-1 ATS)
WHERE: New Orleans Arena
WHEN: Friday, April 4 at 8 PM ET
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: New Orleans -16.5, Total 209.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* NO has won and covered the last six meetings
* Three of the last five meetings have gone OVER the total
* NO has won five of the last seven meetings SU as the home team
* Eight of the last nine meetings in New Orleans have gone OVER the total
* NO has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings
* NY has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last nine meetings
* NO has made more three-pointers in five of the last six meetings
New York is the second-worst shooting team in the league at 43.8%. The Knicks are also substandard on the defensive end, allowing 47.5% to opponents (28th best in NBA). And just to show they're an all-around club, the Knicks possess a minus-2.6 rebounding margin in road games. Also:
* NY has lost nine of its last ten games SU
* NY has lost its last six road games SU
* NY has played its last five games OVER the total
* NY has covered three of its last four games
* NY has covered four of its last 17 games
New Orleans has a very strong 1.9-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Hornets have averaged 100.7 points a game, which is tenth in the NBA. Also:
* NO has won eight of its last nine games SU
* NO has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* NO has won and covered its last nine home games
Well, it sounds like help is on the way for the Knicks, as Donnie Walsh was hired as the team's president of basketball operations, and Isiah Thomas will not be back as coach next season. Happy days may be close at hand, but Walsh's hiring won't help the Knicks here, as New Orleans comes in with ahead of steam, having won eight of its last nine, with seven covers during that period.
And the Hornets don't appear to be in a mood to take any prisoners, not after the 106-77 obliteration of the Miami heat on Wednesday. Actually, New Orleans has covered 10 of its last 12 when they've laid nine points or more, so they know how to pour it on.
Of course, they know how to defend a little bit better than the Knicks as well, which is why New York has only beaten Miami in its last 18 games. Last time these two met, New Orleans, which shut down New York in the fourth quarter en route to a 100-88 win at the Garden, got 19 points and four blocks from David West, as well as 18 rebounds from Tyson Chandler. Despite best efforts from the hustling, industrious David Lee (16 boards vs. Hornets in that one), the Knicks are simply outmanned. But hey - maybe Zach Randolph'll get his points.
We'll lay the points with the Hornets, the 16.5-point favorite in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: NEW ORLEANS
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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.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)