posted December 19, 2007 at 16:49 in NBA Articles
NBA Basketball Betting – Cleveland at New York
The New York Knicks (7-17 SU, 10-14 ATS), who are near a breaking point, will try to get things going in a better direction on Wednesday night when they play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers (11-14 SU, 10-15 ATS) in a game that tips off at 7:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden.
In the BetUS NBA betting odds, the Cavs are listed at -4, with the total posted at 193 points.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:
* NY has covered seven of the last nine meetings
* CLEV has won four of the last six meetings SU
* Ten of the last 14 meetings have gone UNDER the total
* NY is 7-4-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings at home
* NY has won four of the last five meetings SU as the home team
* Six of the last eight meetings at MSG have gone UNDER the total
Cleveland is shooting under 44% for the season, and won its last game on Monday, beating Milwaukee 104-99, although they hit just 40%. Also:
* CLEV has covered two of its last seven games
* CLEV has won two of its last ten games SU
* CLEV has played five of its last six games OVER the total
* CLEV has lost six straight road games SU
The Knicks are a disaster area, with minus-8.8 ppg differential and 38% shooting in their last outing against Indiana. Also:
* NY has covered two of its last seven games
* NY has lost six of its last seven games SU
* NY has played six of its last nine games OVER the total
* NY is 1-5 SU and ATS in its last six home games
The Knicks are now playing the sixth game at home in the last seven overall. And it's hardly been any advantage for them. Isiah Thomas' team broke a four-game home losing streak with a win over the Nets on Saturday, but followed that up with a dreadful performance against Indiana, missing TWENTY shots in a row during one stretch. Thomas is now publicly calling his team, in so many words, a bunch of quitters, and they indeed may be. This is a sinking ship, worse even than what was seen during Larry Brown's darkest days, when Thomas was looking over his shoulder.
LeBron James had 45 points when the Cavaliers beat the Knicks at the Quicken Loans Arena back on November 2 (110-106, with a non-cover as a 5.5-point home favorite). Cleveland has won only two of its last 10, but this team at least looks like it has the capability to turn the corner with Anderson Varejao, so important to the front line's depth, signed and building some momentum. New York does not defend well (allowing 48.5% FG's), and while Cleveland might not necessarily be chemistry-rich right now, it is paradise compared to the dysfunction that is swirling around the Garden. Although we concede the Knicks have been more effective as a home dog (5-4 ATS) than as home chalk (0-5 ATS), we don't see them as effective at all at this moment.
We realize LeBron may be looking ahead to a Thursday showdown with Kobe Bryant, but the Knicks have played like they are looking ahead to the end of the season, so we'll lay the points with the Cavs, the four-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting.
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: CLEVELAND -4, Total: 193
JAY'S PLAY: CLEVELAND
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 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)
