Posted on
4/1/2008 6:29:01 PM
NBA Basketball Betting Picks - New Orleans at Orlando
By Charles Jay
WHO: New Orleans Hornets (50-22 SU, 45-26-1 ATS) at Orlando Magic 947-27 SU, 45-27-2 ATS)
WHERE: Amway Arena in Orlando
WHEN: Tuesday, April 1 at 7 PM ET
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: New Orleans -1, Total 209.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* ORL has won five of the last seven meetings SU
* NO has covered four of the last six meetings
* Seven of the last eight meetings have gone UNDER the total
* NO has covered the last five meetings as the road team
* NO has won eight of the last 12 meetings SU as the road team
New Orleans has turned the ball over 11.4 times a game. The Hornets have shot 46.5% from the field and 77% from the free throw line. Also:
* NO has won and covered six of its last seven games
* NO has played its last five games OVER the total
* NO has won 15 of its last 22 road games SU
* NO has played its last five road games OVER the total
Orlando makes more three-pointers than any team in the NBA (9.6 per game). The Magic has shot the field goals on an overall basis at a 47.3% rate this season. Also:
* ORL has won 13 of its last 18 games SU
* ORL has played four of its last six games UNDER the total
* ORL is 9-3-1 ATS in its last 13 home games
* ORL has won 10 of its last 13 home games SU
The last meeting between these two was hard-fought but very tough for the Hornets to swallow. They dropped a 95-88 decision at home to Orlando on November 19, but were missing All-Star point guard Chris Paul and lost Tyson Chandler during the game. But this one sets up as a difficult matchup for Orlando, which does not excel in backcourt defense. Plus - Dwight Howard, who ran free for 24 points in the last encounter, will meet with more resistance from Chandler, who is not blocking a lot of shots but is averaging 12 rebounds, with considerable support from David West, who chips in nine boards to go with his 20 points.
The Magic comes in with three days off and has had some time to rest banged-up players, like Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson. But reserve Brian Cook, who came over from the Lakers, is out for the rest of the regular season after fracturing a knuckle in practice.
New Orleans remains one of the NBA's toughest "outs" on the road, with a 23-12 SU, 21-13-1 ATS record. Right now the Hornets are on the fifth game of their road trip, with the only loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics. Chandler and Paul were a combined 16-for-24 in a win at Toronto a couple of days ago.
We've liked New Orleans' mental toughness all year, and the bench has been bolstered by the acquisition of Bonzi Wells and Mike James from Houston. Byron Scott's team is in a battle with five other teams for the best record in the West; they are all separated by two and a half games, so a slip by New Orleans and they could wind up losing home field advantage in the first playoff series. We will lay a small number with the Hornets, the one-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)