Posted on
2/21/2008 12:29:24 AM
NBA Hoops Betting - Dallas at New Orleans
By Charles Jay
WHO: Dallas Mavericks (35-18 SU, 21-29-3 ATS) at New Orleans Hornets (36-15 SU, 31-19-1 ATS)
WHERE: New Orleans Arena
WHEN: Wednesday, February 20 at 8 PM ET
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: NEW ORLEANS -2, Total 189
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* DALL has covered five of the last seven meetings SU
* DALL has won 22 of the last 23 meetings SU
* Seven of the last nine meetings have gone UNDER the total
* DALL has covered nine of the last 13 meetings as the road team
* DALL has won 10 of the last 11 meetings SU as the road team
* DALL has had the shooting edge in eight of the last nine meetings
* NO has had the rebounding edge in each of the last four meetings
Dallas is leading the NBA in free throw shooting at 81.8%. The Mavericks are averaging just a shade under 20 assist per game, and turn it over only 12 times per contest. Also:
* DALL has covered one of the last six games
* DALL has won 16 of its last 23 games SU
* DALL has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
* DALL has lost five of its last six road games SU
* DALL has covered one of its last six road games
* DALL has played 13 of its last 18 road games UNDER the total
New Orleans is fifth in the NBA in terms of least points allowed (94.7 ppg). The Hornets are 17-8 SU at home and commit only 11.8 turnovers a game. Also:
* NO has covered 18 of its last 25 games
* NO has covered two of its last five games
* NO has won 13 of its last 16 games SU
* NO has played six of its last eight games OVER the total
* NO has covered seven of its last nine home games
* NO has won eight of its last nine home games SU
* NO has played eight of its last nine home games OVER the total
The number here is "light," perhaps for a couple of reasons - the Mavs have just acquired Jason Kidd, which owner mark Cuban feels might be the stroke of magic necessary for his team to get over the hump, and because Dallas has been almost completely dominant over the Hornets. Well, that is if you call 22 wins in 23 meetings dominance.
Those were different New Orleans teams they were facing, however. This year's edition has things quite together, as All-Star point guard Chris Paul is directing an offense that is turning the ball over only 11.8 times game, which is third lowest in the NBA. The Hornets showed a little more offensive "push" before the All-Star break, averaging 114 points a game in the four games that led into the annual hiatus.
This New Orleans team has covered seven of its last nine home games, after already establishing itself as one of the best teams in the league on the road (17-8-1 ATS to date). And when you look at Dallas, was their biggest problem really ball-handling, or on-court leadership, or was it the lack of a big man who could really bang and score on the inside? That's something they did NOT satisfy in the Jason Kidd trade. What they DO have, though, is a problem backing up either Kidd or center Erick Dampier.
Hey - we want to stick with the team that has been a little more consistent, has more continuity, and has covered at a 62% rate. That's the Hornets, the two-point favorites in the BetUS NBA basketball 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)