Posted on
5/2/2008 8:46:11 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Hornets
By Eric Williams
The New Orleans Hornets, (60-27 SU, 53-32-2 ATS, 42-43-2 O/U) may be the ‘new kids on the block’ compared to the San Antonio Spurs’ (60-27 SU, 39-45-3 ATS, 38-49 O/U) well-respected stature as the venerable veterans, but the Hornets, who have proven time and time again this season that they are the real deal aren’t going to back down from the challenge that the Spurs present.
“We know we that we can play with them,” Hornets head coach Byron Scott said. “We know that. We’ve got a lot of confidence that we can play with them. Does it help? I don’t know. But it does let us know we are one of the better teams in the Western Conference and I think we proved that in the first round.”
While the Hornets are comfortable saying they are going to bring their collective ‘A Game’ with them against the Spurs, they also aren’t going to rile up the defending champions with some disrespectful words.
“They’re the defending champs,” Hornets center Tyson Chandler said. “We’re a newcomer team trying to make a name for ourselves. We definitely have respect for them. We understand it’s going to be a great series. We just want to go out and play hard and see what happens.”
The Spurs have won six of their last seven games in the BetUS Sportsbook dating back to the regular season but have gone just 3-3-1 against the spread during that span.
The Hornets are 6-4 both, straight up and against the spread in their last ten games going back to the regular season.
The Hornets understand the Spurs’ ability to crank up their play come postseason time – and want to emulate it.
“They’re a different team,” Chandler said. “They understand this is what they play for and this is a time when the Spurs are at their best. They play for a trophy every year. That’s the level we want to get to.”
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my NBA Betting Picks.
The Spurs are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games playing on three or more days rest.
The Spurs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as an underdog.
The Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last five games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
The Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last five playoff games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
The Under is 6-1 in Spurs last seven games playing on three or more days rest.
The Over is 4-0-1 in Hornets last five games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
The Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
The Spurs are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in New Orleans.
Analysis: This series is going to be every NBA fan’s dream as both clubs feature two of the top point guards in the games today and can beat teams in numerous ways. I’m going to take the Hornets to win the series opener while covering the spread before the Spurs, appropriately turn it up a notch for Game 2, as there still isn’t a player in the league who can stay in front of Hornets point guard Chris Paul, not even Spurs’ fleet-footed floor leader Tony Parker.
I also like the Over in this matchup as the Hornets are likely to get out a bit and run against the Spurs usually stellar defense in Game 1.
NBA Free Picks: Hornets -3 Points/Over 183½ Total Points
10:00 PM EST NBA Odds
San Antonio Spurs +3 -110
New Orleans Hornets -3 -110
Over 183½ -110
Under 183½ -110
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