Posted on
4/6/2008 10:50:45 PM
NBA Basketball Betting Atlanta at Philadelphia
By Charles Jay
WHO: Atlanta Hawks (35-40 SU, 36-39 ATS) at Philadelphia 76ers (38-37 SU, 41-33-1 ATS)
WHERE: Wachovia Center in Philadelphia
WHEN: Saturday, April 5 at 7 PM ET
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
(Does not include Friday's game)
* ATL has covered the last four meetings
* PHIL has won seven of the last eight meetings SU as the home team
* Six of the last nine meetings have gone OVER the total
* ATL has had the shooting edge in each of the last four meetings
Atlanta gives up 99.5 points a game on 46% shooting by the opposition. And the Hawks, who currently have a hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, average 22 assists per contest. Also:
* ATL is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six games
* ATL has lost 20 of its last 25 road games SU
* ATL has covered six of its last 18 road games
* ATL has played five of its last six road games OVER the total
(Does not include Friday's results)
Philadelphia is barely out-shooting its opponents this season (46%--45.9%). The Sixers have turned the ball over an average of 13.8 times a game. Also:
* PHIL has covered 12 of its last 17 games
* PHIL has covered 12 of its last 16 home games
* PHIL has covered two of its last six home games
* PHIL has won 12 of its last 14 home games SU
* PHIL has played nine of its last 13 home games UNDER the total
(Does not include Friday's results)
These teams turn around from a Friday game in the Phillips Arena and travel to what has lately been a fertile ground for the Sixers in their rise to playoff position in the East. Philly has won 12 of its last 14 at the Wachovia Center, and at home they are surrendering only 93 points a game, which is fifth best in the NBA in that category.
What might be really impressive, however, is the fact that the Sixers have genuinely responded in playing the second half of back-to-back gams this season, going 14-6 ATS in that role. Because Atlanta is just 4-7 ATS in that category when they play on the road, certainly a technical edge goes Philly's way.
Overall, the Sixers have been just a little bit better than the Hawks, who obviously re-tooled in a big way when they made the go-for-broke trade with Sacramento to acquire scoring-oriented point guard Mike Bibby. On a streak of five straight wins (and five straight overs, we might add) going into Friday's matchup, Atlanta is playing with playoff-like intensity. they also covered four in a row against the Sixers.
With a considerable edge at the free throw line (the Sixers are dead last in the NBA at the charity stripe) and without a lot of long-range power to worry about (Philly is also last in three-pointers made, with 3.6 per game), we'll count on the sure-handed Bibby to help keep the Hawks within earshot.
That means we're grabbing points with Atlanta, the underdog in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: ATLANTA
You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!
(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)