Posted on 1/24/2008 10:16:07 PM

Basketball Betting Action - NBA Power Poll Week 13

By Mike Rose

(CURRENT) (TEAM) (W/L OVERALL & W/L FOR WEEK) (ATS RECORD) (LAST WEEKS RANK)

1) Boston Celtics (33-7/2-1) (25-14-1 ATS) (LW: 2) The Celtics got back to their winning ways this past week, and made their backers very happy in the process. They covered a pair of lofty spreads against division rivals Philly and NY, but ran into an extremely motivated Toronto team Wednesday night looking avoid getting swept in their regular season series and lost a thriller 114-112. They have a pair of road games against Orlando and Miami sandwiched between home dates with Minnesota and Dallas this week.

2) Dallas Mavericks (28-13/2-1) (18-21-2 ATS) (LW: 4) The week started out in fine fashion for the Mavs when they handed Seattle a 111-96 defeat, but it got ugly real quick just a day later. They lost at the Washington Wizards 102-84 in a game they were favored by 4-points. Dirk and Josh Howard represented well, but the rest of the team took the night off. That didn’t sit well with Head Coach Avery Johnson, and he must have worked them hard in practice the next day because they pulled off a wire-to-wire job in Charlotte to pick up their 10th road win of the season. The Mavs will be tested this week with games set to go against the Lakers, Nuggets, at Memphis on a B2B, and at the Celtics. A winning mark will certainly keep them amongst the Top 5.

3) LA Lakers (27-13/1-2) (23-16 ATS) (LW: 1) The Lakers just didn’t know how to handle being perched atop this poll last week. Nerves got the best of them as they churned out a 1-2 SU and ATS mark against Phoenix, Denver, and San Antonio. All kidding aside, but they IR list has grown over the last couple weeks and this unit needs to be at full strength to continue the success its experienced throughout their first 40 games of the season. The week ahead looks to be troublesome as well as they’ll be asked to play 5 games in 8 days starting with a trip to Dallas Friday night and ending on the 1st in Toronto.

4) Detroit Pistons (30-13/1-3) (26-16-1 ATS) (LW: 3) It was a dreadful week for the Pistons as they lost 3 of 4 overall and suffered their first losing week since the first month of the season. The week started off with a stunning loss at home to a reenergized Sacramento squad, and if that wasn’t enough, they lost to the Chicago Bulls for the 3rd straight time this season. Orlando got the best of them in the closing seconds of their next game, but they were able to circle the wagons and churn out a win and cover at Philly whose only managed two wins in January. They have a revenge match set to go Friday night at home against Orlando, and only have two games the rest of the week vs. the Pacers and Lakers.

5) New Orleans Hornets (29-12/3-0) (26-14-1 ATS) (LW: 7) The Hornets churned out another masterful week going a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS by beating charlotte, Milwaukee, and Portland by a combined 57 points. HC Byron Scott is getting the most out of this roster on a nightly basis, and they should continue to excel provided they stay healthy. Chris Paul just might be the best PG in the league, and Tyson Chandler has really come into his own down south. Three of their next four come in their comfy confines, but they’ll be tested against the likes of the Clippers, Nuggets, and Warriors.

6) Phoenix Suns (30-13/4-1) (19-23-1 ATS) (LW: 8) The Suns put forth a gargantuan effort this past week that saw them go 4-1 both SU and ATS. They now sit atop the Western Conference with the best record, but they were put in their place their last time out when they lost SU at Minnesota, 117-107, for the second time this season. Their first three games this week are against Eastern Conference opponents (CLE, CHI, ATL) before returning home to tangle with the Spurs on TNT next Thursday night.

7) Portland Trailblazers (25-17/2-2) (26-16 ATS) (LW: 5) Finally it’s done!!! The Blazers 7-game road trip has come and gone and they survived it with flying colors. Sure, they only managed a 3-4 SU and ATS mark throughout that stretch, but that’s some darn good work if you ask me considering they only had 5 road wins before it started. Now they get to get fat in the Rose Garden for their next six games against the likes of Houston, Atlanta, Cleveland, NY, Denver, and Chicago.

8) San Antonio Spurs (27-13/2-2) (19-20-1 ATS) (LW: 6) The Spurs suffered a pair of two-point defeats at the hands of the Cavaliers and Rockets to start the week, but they bounced back with covering efforts at Charlotte and at home against the Lakers to bring the weeks tally to 2-2 SU and ATS. The Spurs have a busy week ahead starting with a TNT date Thursday night at Miami followed by a home date with New Orleans Saturday night before hitting the road for three against the Jazz, Sonics, and Suns.

9) Golden State (25-18/2-1) (20-23 ATS) (LW: 9) The Warriors managed to string together another winning mark this past week by going 2-1 SU & ATS. They picked up back-to-back wins on the road against Chicago & Milwaukee (scoring 119 points in each game), but returned home to Cali and inexplicably lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves as 11.5-point home chalks. They’re got two at home this week vs. Eastern Conference opponents NY and New Jersey and New York before hitting the road again to take on Houston and New Orleans.

10) Denver Nuggets (25-16/3-1) (20-21 ATS) (LW: 10) The week started out tremendously for Denver after picking up wins against Utah and Minnesota at home, but then tragedy struck in LA when superstar Carmelo Anthony suffered a severe ankle sprain and they went on to get pounded by a 116-99 final count. They did avenge their earlier season loss to Atlanta without him in their next game, but the Nuggets will sorely miss him this week if he isn’t able to go. Still most troubling is the defense. It still hasn’t shown up so you have to figure it won’t be showing up at all this season with half their games already being played.

11) Cleveland Cavaliers (23-18/3-0) (19-22 ATS) (LW: 13) The Cavs look to have returned to their 2006-07 form by stringing together 3 wins both SU & ATS this week, and get the honor of being this weeks largest mover in the poll. Their turnaround must be attributed to their defense that only allowed Washington, Miami, and San Antonio an average of 88 PPG. Lebron has been playing some mad ball as well, and it looks like the Cavs are back to give the Pistons a run for their money in the Central Division.

12) Washington (22-18/2-1) (25-15 ATS) (LW: 11) The Wizards built upon their solid 3-1 mark last week with home wins over NY and Dallas to start this week, but they then got bombarded in Cleveland to the tune of a 121-85 beatdown that might take them awhile to recover from. No rest for the wicked though as they’ve got 4 games in 6 days this week against Memphis at home, Milwaukee on the road, and then home and away battles against Eastern Conference rival Toronto.

14) Toronto Raptors (23-19/2-1) (23-18-1 ATS) (LW: 14) The Raptors put forth another winning week both SU and ATS this past week, but most impressive was their win in Boston. The Celtics had already taken their first three match-ups this season, so they let it be known that they can hang with the NBA’s best if indeed they square up in the post-season. They’ll host Milwaukee at home this week before taking part in home and away battles with the Washington Wizards to close it out.

15) Houston Rockets (23-19/3-0) (20-21-1 ATS) (LW: 15) The Rockets squeaked out a home win and cover against San Antonio to start the week, but then failed to cover the spread in both of their victories against the Seattle Supersonics. They’ll square off with Portland for the second time this season in the Rose Garden Friday night before returning home to entertain the Jazz and Warriors.

16) Orlando Magic (27-17/3-0) (29-15 ATS) (LW: 16) The Magic circled the wagons this past week after going a combined 2-6 SU the L/2 weeks. They managed a perfect 3-0 mark SU and ATS with wins and covers against the Trailblazers, Pistons, and Grizzlies. They’ll look to keep that solid stretch of play going this week against the likes of Detroit, Boston, and Miami.

17) Sacramento Kings (18-23/3-1) (23-18 ATS) (LW: 20) The Kings been good to our pocketbooks all season long. Just take a look at their records SU and ATS to understand why. The addition of Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin into the starting line-up has seen the offense explode over the last week of play. They posted 100, 110, and 128 points in their three wins this week, but deflated in LA Wednesday night for their only loss of the week. It should be another profitable week for the Kings this week with games set to go at Utah and Seattle before returning home to host Charlotte.

18) Indiana Pacers (19-24/1-2) (21-22 ATS) (LW: 19) The Pacers followed up last weeks first winning week in quite some time with a 1-2 SU and ATS effort this past week. This club is very erratic to say the least, and most of that has to be attributed to some of the questionable moves made by the front office the past few years.

19) Charlotte Bobcats (16-26/1-3) (18-24 ATS) (LW: 21) After the Bobcats made their backers happy with a perfect 4-0 ATS mark last week, they followed it up with a 1-3 mark both ATS and SU. Their battles against the Southwest Division of the WC saw them pick up just one win at home against Memphis. Three of their four games this week is on the road, so another losing week looks to be in store for MJ’s kitties….

20) Chicago Bulls (17-24/2-2) (15-26 ATS) (LW: 23) This club is so hit or miss that I don’t even know where to begin. They went 2-2 both SU and ATS this past week, and it looks like their mired in the mediocrity that they suffered when Scott Skiles still held the reigns. I just don’t get how they can blow the doors off Detroit for the third time this season, and then follow that effort up with a pathetic effort at Memphis on MLK Jr. Day. This club has numerous problem areas yet they find themselves just one game out of the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. Woe is me!!

21) New Jersey (18-23/0-3) (15-25-1 ATS) (LW: 17) This club must be deemed the head case outfit of the NBA. They were looking great two weeks ago after sweeping the weeks slate, but they’ve now lost 6 in a row, and they still have three more games to play on their current Western Conference road swing. The trade deadline can’t come soon enough for Mr. Kidd and company…

22) Atlanta Hawks (18-21/0-3) (19-20 ATS) (LW: 18) This young club looks to be running out of steam after dropping all three games both SU and ATS. The All Star break can’t come soon enough for this group, but they’ll have to close out their 5-game Western Conference road trip this week against Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, and the Clippers. They’ll need to snag at least two wins here to keep it together…

23) Milwaukee Bucks (16-26/0-3) (18-23 ATS) (LW: 22) The Bucks followed up last weeks 1-3 SU mark with an o’fer this week both SU and ATS. Granted, all three were against WC opponents, but their closest defeat was by nine at home against Phoenix. The fact that they lost both home games this week really has me concerned since they’ve played their best ball in the Bradley Center all season long. This is a huge week for this franchise with five games to play in seven days, and HC Krystkowiak better hope they at the very least compete or else his days could be numbered in Milwaukee.

24) Philadelphia 76ers (16-27/1-3) (19-22-2 ATS) (LW: 24) The Sixers beat the Toronto Raptors to pick up their 16th win of the season this past week, but the win was just their second win in the entire month of January. This club was just three games under .500 (14-17) heading into the New Year, and I have no idea what happened. Hopefully they can get back on track this week with games set to go against NY, Charlotte, and Milwaukee.

25) NY Knicks (13-28/1-2) (18-23 ATS) (LW: 25) Well, this past week went as planned with NY beating Miami but losing to Boston and Washington. Their spurt two weeks ago was just an anomaly, and it wasn’t a sign of what’s to come. This club is bad bad bad, and it will probably get even worse before it gets better.

26) LA Clippers (13-25/2-2) (18-20 ATS) (LW: 26) if only the Clippers didn’t have to face Utah this past week I’d be resigned to finally move them out of the 26th spot. Well, they did and they’ll have to stay here until they prove to me they can put together back-to-back winning weeks.

27) Minnesota Timberwolves (7-34/2-2) (18-23 ATS) (LW: 29) HOLY SCHNEIKES!!!!! Back-to-back wins for the first time this season!!! Congrats, you’re now in the #27 slot.

28) Memphis Grizzles (12-30/2-2) (20-21-1 ATS) (LW: 27) Two wins against Chicago and Seattle, with two losses against Orlando and Charlotte. Look where each teams ranked and you’ll see how they managed their wins…

29) Seattle Supersonics (9-33/0-4) (19-22-1 ATS) (LW: 28) Another week, and another 0’fer for HC Carlesimo’s crew….

30) Miami Heat (8-33/0-3) (14-27 ATS) (LW: 30) Maybe HC Riley should look into scheduling some games against the developmental league to assure his players of a victory in the coming weeks. Man has this team gotten bad!!!!

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!