Posted on
1/14/2008 4:28:17 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Washington at Boston
By Charles Jay
WHO: Washington Wizards (19-16 SU, 22-12-1 ATS) at Boston Celtics (30-5 SU, 22-12-1 ATS)
WHERE: TD Banknorth Garden in Boston
WHEN: Monday, January 14 at 7:35 PM ET
BetUS NBA betting odds: BOSTON -12.5, Total: 184.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* WASH has won four of the last six meetings SU
* BOS has covered six of the last ten meetings
* The last three meetings have gone UNDER the total
* The road team has covered eight of the last ten meetings
Washington is shooting 45% as a team, with 6.3 three-pointers per game. The Wizards are shooting 79.7% from the free throw line. That's third best in the NBA. But Washington has had a bit of a problem defending on the perimeter, yielding 7.8 three-pointers per contest. Also:
* WASH has won four of its last five games SU
* WASH has covered seven of its last nine games
* WASH has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
* WASH is 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven road games
Boston still has the best record in the NBA at 30-5. The Celtics lead the league in both field goal percentage defense (41.4% FG allowed) and points allowed (87.1 ppg). They are allowing just 38.7 rebounds a contest, tops in the league. Also:
* BOS has won 17 of its last 20 games SU
* BOS has covered two of its last six games
* BOS has failed to cover its last three home games
* BOS has played its last four games UNDER the total
This is a quick turnaround from Saturday night's game, which saw the Wizards pull off the 85-78 upset in the nation's capital, despite hitting just 37% from the field. That would seem to have been payback for the season opener, where the Wizards were humiliated in Boston by a 103-83 score that wasn't even as close as the score indicated. Boston has not played particularly well lately, but they should be thirsting for some payback of their own. And they ought to be able to get it, if they are the caliber of team that is going to sweep to the Eastern Conference title, as many expect.
That Washington hit 37% a couple of nights ago is not so atypical of a lot of Boston opponents, and if the Celts are able to get some better shots for themselves, this one could get away from Antawn Jamison & Co., especially since Boston is #1 in the NBA with just 84 ppg allowed at the TD Banknorth Center.
The trends would point us in one direction, since Boston has been overpriced at home lately (0-3 ATS last 3) and Washington is 6-0-1 ATS last seven and 11-4-1 ATS overall on the road. But we like the revenge angle, and a sharp defensive edge on the part of the hosts. We're laying the points with Boston, the 12.5-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: BOSTON
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)