LeBron-a-thon over, now what?

Don’t blame ESPN for this over-the-top made for TV flop, they did what any news outlet would have done in getting an exclusive story EVERYONE would have wanted to release and milked for all its worth.

Jim Gray has not been the same reporter since hounding Pete Rose at the All-Star game and was tamer than a docile old dog in not asking LeBron James how he explains his “loyalty” to Cleveland and Ohio by leaving.

If James thought he had pressure before, it’s only going to be worse with much higher expectations moving forward. Dwayne Wade already has a ring and Chris Bosh is the third wheel to fit this tricycle. For casual fans of the NBA, it is assumed the new Three Amigos or Miami Thrice will win a few championships over the next several years.

That could well happen, but this is far from guaranteed. Forget about touches, sharing the ball and late game shots, that will work out over time. One difference between Boston’s Big Three and the South Beach Buds is the Celtic players were all adequate to superior defensive players. This is not the case with James, D-Wade or Bosh. The first two are good at getting into passing lanes and earning steals, but as straight-up defenders, most of the bouncers on Ocean Drive are more of a challenge to beat.

This means finding league-minimum players that can play defense and be adequate contributors on offense.

Hopping into the hot tub time machine, back to the mid-1970’s, the Philadelphia 76ers were similar to what Miami is trying to accomplish. They brought together superstars Julius Erving, George McGinnis and top line scoring guard Doug Collins (that’s right, the analyst and coach). In their time together, they went to the conference or NBA Finals four times, but never were crowned champs.

No question the Heat is to be taken seriously and the Los Angeles Lakers might have one more title in them, but the rest of the league is starting to flux, making this a good opportunity for this threesome to combine their super hero powers.

The Commish David Stern has to be thrilled having this buzz about his product and it will more or less continue right onto the opening tipoff in late October.

One last thing, Miami is now the betting favorite to be NBA champs at every sportsbook I checked today.

View other thoughts: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/lebron-james-chasing-celebrity-not-championships-070910

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5367298

Related LeBron fallout:http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=196407

LeBron James Sweepstakes

This whole LeBron James saga has taken on a life of its own and opinions certain very as to what others believe he should or will do.

(Read below)


http://espn.go.com/nba/
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/LeBron-James-is-packing-his-beach-bags-for-Miami?urn=nba,254632

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Looking-at-best-options-for-LeBron-James


Personally, I believe his final decision will speak more to his character and honest beliefs than anything else.

If he’s truly interested in winning championships, there are three locations, Miami, Cleveland and Chicago.

The Heat offers the best chance to win now with D-Wade and Chris Bosh already in the fold. People are comparing this to Boston Celtics “Three Amigos”, but it is clearly not.
Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were all players who had enjoyed lengthy careers and were on the back side of peak performance when they got together. A James, Wade and Bosh connection has all three right in the heart of their best years and let’s not forget egos. Can it work, without a doubt, but each will have to give up a part of their game and other pieces are still necessary.

To stay in Cleveland, James has to trust ownership and front office that they will find the right pieces to bring a champion home. Best financial deal for LeBron in terms of contract and Betty White’s pleas are hard to ignore.

Chicago is not as good as it looks, at least at the moment from talent perspective. Derrick Rose would be a huge upgrade for James from the guard spot, however many of the rest of the Bulls players are somewhat similar to what the “King” has played with in Cleveland.

If James were to sign with New York or New Jersey, that would explain his true motive, building his brand. In a perfect world, the Knicks and Nets would have to make flawless decisions over the next three years to even be considered as legitimate conference contenders. Neither organization has shown the intelligence to make that happen, however both have dollars or rubles to put together package and marketing potential is endless, but presently so could the team losses.

Best guess here is Miami or Cleveland.

Give me your old and feeble Friday night in NBA

The Boston Celtics looked like a bunch of old geezers the latter part of the schedule, but have found playoff basketball the perfect tonic for what ailed them. San Antonio is elderly at certain positions and too small to match up with Dallas, yet they return home 1-1. The Utah team bus can officially use their handicap sticker for parking with all their injuries, yet they could go up in the series over Denver with a win tonight.

Boston at Miami 7:00E ESPN

The Heat were a popular wager twice in Boston and they came up short both times as the Celtics went back to what they do best, play defense and take good shots. Playoff basketball can do that for team, the daily grind of the regular season is replaced by focusing on the strengths and weakness of just one foe, creating a singular mindset.

Boston is 13-1 and 10-4 ATS against Miami in just over three seasons of playing the Heat. This provides a certain comfort level not easily achieved, even performing on the postseason road.
“We’re figuring their backs are against the wall and they’re thinking that if they don’t get Game 3 then this is pretty much over,” Kevin Garnett said. “I know that’s what I would be thinking so we’re going to have to be ready for that.” Garnett’s team is 19-7 ATS off a home blowout win by 20 points or more.

Miami is 7-23 ATS at home after playing consecutive road games yet is not showing panic outwardly. “Minor adjustments, of course, but energy, effort, mental, things like that. Those are the things we’ve been so good at so far this year,” Heat forward Udonis Haslem said. “We’ve got to get back to that.”

DiamondSportsbook.com has Boston catching four points, with total of 182 and they are 22-11 ATS as visitors when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points over the last two seasons. The C’s are 10-2 UNDER off a home win by 10 points or more this year. The Heat will attempt to get off the canvas and are 28-13 ATS after allowing 105 points or more, coupled with 9-0 OVER mark off an embarrassing road loss scoring less than 80 points.

Dallas at San Antonio 9:30E ESPN

Tim Duncan, he of the aching knees, having lost a step of quickness and having hops like teammate Matt Bonner (ouch), yet is masquerading as the player he was 10 years ago, averaging 26 points and 12.5 rebounds against Dallas.

The Duncan drop-step is back and the lack of quicks has been replaced with smarter positioning to release shots faster before opponent can gather itself.

“For two or three weeks there toward the end of the season, I was starting to wear down a little bit,” Duncan stated. Off the 102-88 thumping, the Spurs are 10-3-1 ATS after breaking the century mark in points.

The Mavericks have looked a little too dependent on offense from Dirk Nowitzki thus far in the series, benefitting from his near perfect 36-point performance in Game 1 and sagging noticeably when he was 9-24 from the field, totaling up 24 points Wednesday night.
Dallas is 14-3 ATS in road games off an upset loss as a favorite and needs production in the paint from their centers. In the opener Erick Dampier and Brandon Heywood totaled 15 points, in Game 2, a meaningless two points.

The Spurs are 3.5-point pick at the AT&T Center where they have covered seven of previous nine. Dallas is spirited 26-15 ATS on the road and 13-3 UNDER revenging a home loss.

Denver at Utah 10:30E ESPN2

If the shoulders of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer look a little bigger, it’s for good reason; they are forced to carry the load for Utah. Williams had 33 points and 14 assists in 114-111 upset in Denver and Boozer added 20 points and 15 rebounds as the injury-riddled Jazz tied the series.

“D-Will and Booze, they had their way,” said Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups noted after the contest.

The action moves to Salt Lake City were the Jazz are 32-9 and 26-13-2 ATS, winning by 9.5 points per game. That places the onus on Denver and they are 29-12 ATS after consecutive tilts as a home favorite over the last two seasons.

“We missed some easy shots, some lay-ups and we kind of felt it at the end. But we know what we have to do. We’ll get one over there. It’s playoff basketball.” Johan Petro said.

Denver will have turn up defensive intensity, since it has been on low wattage, with Utah shooting 54.7 and 52.9 percent in initial two contests of the first round. It will be up to interim coach Adrian Dantley to convince his players to work as harder on the other end of the floor and they are 13-3 ATS after allowing 105 points or more three straight games.

The Jazz are a two-point pick before what should be a roaring crowd and Utah is 8-1 ATS after two straight as an underdog this season. With the way this series is being played the listed total of 216 seems like forgone conclusion, however the Nuggets are is 8-0 UNDER away from home after a combined score of 215 points or more in two straight skirmishes and coach Jerry Sloan’s club is 15-4 UNDER in home whites after scoring 110 points or more.

Heat and Suns have to bring A-Game

While the biggest story surrounding game two between Miami and Boston centers around the Kevin Garnett suspension, Heat players know the real issue involves shooting 39.8 percent, scoring 76 points and committing 22 turnovers. They do that again they jump into 0-2 hole they helped dig. At least Miami hasn’t lost at home, something Phoenix can’t say. The Suns players should have listened to local talk radio, as their fans assumed they would be mature and take the game to the short-handed Portland. Instead, they waltzed around and let the Trailblazers steal opening game. Two NBA teams, two NBA situations, the Heat and Suns must address.

Miami at Boston 8:00E TNT

The Heat knew what to expect against Boston, they had already lost to them three times this season, yet once again they failed to find the answer. Dwayne Wade can win a game or possibly even two with the right set of circumstances; however he can’t go at it alone to win a series.

Boston strategy is to do the best they can with Wade defensively, but more importantly, don’t let anyone else become a factor. Other than the former Marquette product, no other Miami player has scored 20 points this season against the Celtics and in series opener, Quentin Richardson was the only other player to reach double digits (15 points).

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said, "We just did not show a lot of composure. ... To play to that kind of pressure, a little bit of duress, a little bit of adversity, we did not respond well to it." His club is 6-19 ATS is road encounters revenging four or more losses to same opponent.
Boston will miss KG, but coach Doc Rivers will do what he does best, rally the troops for key moments.

“Kevin also facilitates a lot of offense. In the first game, a lot of our open shots came off Kevin being involved in the play. That’s my biggest concern. You’re losing 15 points and, more importantly, you’re losing all the picks, all the postups where they had to trap. That’s big. We’re going to have to try to find some points somewhere.” Rivers also talked about Garnett’s defensive energy and will present this as challenge to Glen Davis, Rasheed Wallace and others to pitch in.

Bookmaker.com saw Boston go off as 4.5-point in the first matchup and took revenge and no Garnett into consideration and dropped the Celtics to two-point choice, with the wagering public taking it a step further. The Celtics are now listed as single point home favorites, with steady total of 179.

Boston has won six straight over Miami at home (3-3 ATS) yet is merely 13-26-2 ATS as a home favorite and 21-12 UNDER after they’ve covered the spread this season. The Heat is going to have to force the tempo and make shots. They are 8-0 OVER off a road loss scoring less than 80 points, winning by 7.8 points per game.

Portland at Phoenix 10:00E NBA-TV

The clues were there and the intelligent sports bettor spotted them and played Portland in Game 1. Phoenix was an eight-point favorite with total of 204, suggesting the Suns should have won first round opening tilt 106-98. The score relating to the Trailblazers exactly matched their season total home and away. Phoenix however averages 110.1 points a game and over 112 at home. The numbers didn’t add up and Portland got the upset.

Every typical flaw the Suns have was exposed by outstanding game plan by coach Nate McMillian.

Defensively they pressured Steve Nash early in the shot clock, making him yo-yo the dribble and eat up time. Phoenix prefers to get right into offense and most times they didn’t get anything started until 15 or less seconds. They doubled Amare Stoudemire wherever possible and he needed 19 shots to accumulate 18 points.

On offense, Portland ran when given the opportunity and Andre Miller kept driving to the rim and Phoenix had no answer. This allowed Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge to score in deep. A 14-2 and 11-4-1 ATS close to the season meant nothing after four quarters of playoff basketball for coach Alvin Gentry’s squad.

Nash was candid about how his team played, even if it seemed unusual. “We didn’t quite have the spirit or the energy collectively that we had in the last few games of the regular season,” Nash said. “Sometimes that happens.”

When asked about the importance of this being playoff time he responded, “You can never predict. I mean, I thought we played hard. I just thought we didn’t quite have that spark that we needed,” he said. “I don’t know— biorhythms.”

Phoenix’ compelling season could be all but over with another loss and they are 8-1 ATS at home after a defeat by six points or less this season. The Suns are 8.5-point faves with total of 204.5 and they are 41-24 OVER revenging a same season failure the last three seasons.

Portland has the second best road record in the NBA at 25-17 (26-14-2 ATS) and is 18-6 ATS off a road win this season. It will be imperative for the Blazers to again contain the tempo as assuredly the Suns will want to play at more aggressive pace and they are 21-8 UNDER as visitors when the total is greater than or equal to 200.

NBA scheduling affects playoff picture

Roughly three weeks remain in the NBA regular season and sports bettors are racking their brains trying to come up with the right answers to pick winners. The playoff chase is in high gear and many teams are scrambling for better positions or are trying to round their game into top form.

Among the many factors a NBA bettor has to take into consideration is scheduling, especially at crunch time late in the season. Every day this time of the season, nearly half the games do not have an overnight line due to one injury or another from a myriad of teams and if they are forced to play back to-back games or three in four days with travel involved, determining a winner is just that much more complicated.

While one is left to ponder these unfriendly conditions, here is what the schedule looks like for many of the contenders in each conference.

Western Conference Shoot-out

At least mathematically, 10 teams in the West still have a chance to secure a playoff spot and as this article was posted, each of them have a winning record in their previous 10 outings, proving what is at stake for all of them.

Unless the Los Angeles Lakers come down with an epidemic, they are fairly secure to wrap up the top slot out West. The second position is like the smog in L.A., not quite as clear. Denver and Dallas are going toe to toe, trying not only to keep teams from hunting them down in their own divisions, but seeking the higher seed should they meet possibly in the West semi-finals with crucial home court advantage at stake.

Both teams have seven road games left and the Mavericks have the edge in that department with 22-12 mark and brilliant 21-13 ATS record as visitors. Besides their exceptional road radiance, Dallas will be either favored or a short underdog in five of those contests.

Denver on the other hand is .500 on the road and 15-16-3 ATS in traveling uniforms. This week they open a five game road trip, visiting rugged outposts like Boston, Orlando and finishing up in Big D, possibly a real deciding matchup. The Nuggets also have a demanding close to the year- @Oklahoma City, home to the Lakers, San Antonio and Memphis and @Phoenix.

Positions four-thru eight will be not only challenge each West contender, but the wits of those putting down the cash to bet the correct side. Three teams in particular will have to literally take it one game at a time and will not have much time to do so. San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Houston all have a heavy workload with 14 games in just over three weeks. The Thunder have the most games on their own floor with eight and is 22-11 and 18-15 ATS, winning by 5.7 points per contest at the Ford Center. OKC will have to earn their postseason spot even at home, facing all contenders except for Minnesota on Apr. 4.

The Spurs have been scorching the last few weeks even without Tony Parker in the lineup. George Hill has proven his value at the point guard and they will need him and the other veterans like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to overcome a hellacious close to the year. The eight road games is hard enough (16-16, 14-18 ATS) at places like Boston, the Lakers, Phoenix, Denver and Dallas. But even when they are back home, Kobe and company pays a visit as does Cleveland and Orlando. If San Antonio doesn’t slip to eighth seed, it would appear to be a miracle, even with how well they have been executing.

Houston looks like a longshot to make the playoffs, down four games in the loss column to Portland and having eight remaining road games, all in groups of two or three. The Rockets are 8-14 as road dogs (10-12 ATS) and need a 11-3 close to even give themselves a chance.

Utah and Phoenix have both been playing solid basketball for some time and are seeking the all important first round home series as a fourth seed. The Suns have the more arduous journey with eight road games in final 12 contests, which includes a five-game trip mostly thru the Midwest. Steve Nash and the gang should at least show a profit as visitors, as they are 19-14 away from the desert, losing by less than a point a game (-0.8).

Utah’s slate is similar to the Suns, with one less roadie and one more in Salt Lake City. The Jazz travels should include being a road favorite in at least five of their stops and they will be favored in all five contests at EnergySolutions Arena.

Eastern Conference battle and positioning

The Boston Celtics have endured a great deal of criticism this season. This team is loaded with veterans, some believe a little too old. The C’s haven’t shown a great deal of heart or are just lacking in talent against the upper echelon clubs since the calendar turned to 2010. From wagering perspective their home record is their most disconcerting aspect at 21-12 and abysmal 10-22-1 spread mark. Eight of their final 13 contests are at TD Banknorth Garden and the Celtics better take advantage or they could fall to fourth seed, which would mean facing Cleveland in East semis.

Barring injuries or an unforeseen major collapse, the Milwaukee Bucks are going to back to the playoffs. The Milwaukee front office deserves a great deal of credit, adding veterans with young players to have this club in the fifth slot in the East, thanks to 14-3 sprint since Feb.19, with 12-3-2 ATS mark. The Bucks can generate further momentum by playing nine of their final 14 games at the Bradley Center where they are 23-9 and 20-11-1 ATS.
The Chicago Bulls still have a chance, but they have fallen out of favor with their 1-10 slide like Sandra Bullock’s husband. That leaves three teams fighting to avoid first round matchup with LeBron James and the fellas.

Miami, Charlotte and Toronto are bunched like bananas and the Bobcats should have the edge. Charlotte has the most remaining home games, eight of last 13, where they are 25-8 and 19-14 ATS. At present, only two of those contests will be against teams with winning records.

The Raptors are playing the poorest of the trio and are equal parts home and away for their remaining conflicts. Toronto could well be saddled with facing Cleveland, because they are the worst defensive team in points surrendered in the East.

The Heat’s biggest strength down the stretch is Dwayne Wade. Miami has eight road games left on their plate (only five at home), which sounds daunting until you take a closer look. Of those, only Milwaukee has a winning record. That leaves it up to Heat players to take grab the proverbial bull by the horns and finish sixth, thus missing the Cavs and Orlando in the opening round of the postseason. Miami is 15-18 on the road with 17-16 ATS record.

This is a great time for all NBA bettors to take stock of each contending team’s situation and think in advance how they season may play out when it comes to the schedule.

Heat and Suns look to increase temperatures

Dwayne Wade and his Heat teammates ended their five game losing streak last evening, in humbling Houston 99-66. They will seek just their third road win in 10 attempts in a place that has not hospitable to them. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are playing their best basketball since the beginning of the season and are rested for opponent who is injured and off playing last night.

Miami (25-27 SU & ATS) had lost five in a row, and been beaten rather severally (9.6 points per game) and was determined to change their attitude around at home against the Rockets. The Heat turned up the heat on Houston, building a 56-31 halftime lead and never looked back. “Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we came in with the right mindset to work and try to get better,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.

To take positive momentum into the All-Star break, the Heat players will need a non-placet attitude about playing consecutive nights. Miami is 2-8 and 3-7 ATS playing with no rest and been bashed by 12.4 points a contest in this situation. The Heat are 3-12 ATS after leading in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half over the last two seasons and head to a joint where success is tough to come by.

Miami has lost five in a row at Phillips Arena during the regular season and eight of nine if you include the playoffs in almost three seasons (3-6 ATS). Atlanta (33-17, 32-18 ATS) has the second best home record in the Eastern Conference at 21-5 and the finest spread record in the NBA at 18-8 ATS. The Hawks have captured nine of last 10 (7-3 ATS) and are 15-5 ATS on home floor after playing three consecutive games as favorite.

The Heat is a seven-point road underdog at DiamondSportsbook.com, with a total of 191 and is 17-34 ATS off a home win since 2007. Atlanta on the other hand is 15-6 ATS overall and 10-2 OVER in a home game facing a team with a losing record this season.

This doesn’t look like a crucial contest for Phoenix (31-21, 27-24-1 ATS), however it is important for the following reasons. The Suns five game winning streak has restored the club’s confidence, especially with the last four victories coming on the road. A sixth straight W might cool talk of trading All-Star center Amare Stoudemire, whose averaged 27.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in those four road triumphs.

Phoenix has gone from a low Western Conference seed to now with visions of moving up to fourth slot if they continue with big second half. Besides trying to earn another win, the Suns will begin playing their final 29 games well-rested, with this being their only contest in 11 day period. Phoenix won and covered at Sacramento last Friday 114-102 and is 12-4 ATS after a road game where both teams score 100 or more points.

Conversely, Portland (30-24, 29-24-1 ATS) can’t get to break quick enough. The Trailblazers have been injury-plagued again and have missed the heart and soul of their team, Brandon Roy. Portland is 4-7 (7-4 ATS) in Roy’s absence and though Jerryd Bayless filled in admirable for a time, averaging 14 points per game, he’s down to 6.5 PPG in last two tries and the Blazers have scored 82 and 77 points in last two games played at home. Coach Nate McMillan’s team is 47-70 ATS playing eight or more games in 14 days.

The Suns are eight-point home chalk, with total of 210.5 and they are 12-2 ATS after playing a game as a road favorite and 9-0 OVER at home off two or more consecutive road wins. Portland is 17-8 ATS versus teams who make six or more 3-point shots a game and 12-3 OVER as a road underdog this season.

Two NBA betting choices tonight

It happens to most quality teams, nonetheless Miami and San Antonio drew the short straws having to play nationally televised cable games on the road after playing the night before away from home. The Heat were outscored by five points in the final 12 minutes at Boston, which proved to be the losing margin for them in 107-102 defeat. The Spurs opened their annual Rodeo Trip with a 115-113 thriller in Sacramento. Both have little time to recoup at noted difficult places to win.

Wade vs James –Round 3

Miami (24-25 SU & ATS) has lost first two games this season to Cleveland, both at home and travels to Quicken Loans Arena for the first time this campaign. The Cavaliers (39-11, 26-23-1 ATS) have the superior team as their records prove, but the matchup, though not head to head, of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James brings out the best of both players and teams. In the prior contests, each player has scored over 30 points, with Wade holding a slight edge 68 to 66 in total points scored.

Not much consolation for Wade, having lost both times and the last meeting was particularly painful, as D-Wade missed two critical free throws in the final minute and James made steal and went for winning basket with 4.1 seconds left. In those few moments, both players took a serious fall, with James attempting to dunk for the win and Wade preventing it with foul. As expected, James coolly made both charity tosses and the Cavs escaped 92-91 as one-point underdogs.

No such low number tonight from Bookmaker.com, with Cleveland a decided favorite at 9.5-points and total of 187.5. Miami is 5-2 off a straight up loss and are in the midst of playing eight of nine away from home. “This is a tough road trip we are on. We have to focus game to game,” said Wade last night. The Heat are 2-7 and 3-6 ATS playing without rest this season, losing by unseemly 12 points per game.

If Miami is starting to feel the heat of playing a number of games away from home, Cleveland is just scorching. The Cavaliers have won nine in a row and has covered five straight spreads, three by double digits. Since slipping past Miami four games ago, the Cavs average margin of victory has been 19 per game. Cleveland is 38-18-1 ATS off a win by double digits and has covered last five outings with a day of rest. This is the opener on TNT starting at 8:00 Eastern, with Cleveland 8-1 and 6-3 ATS in previous nine get-togethers.

Deep breath and move on

The San Antonio Spurs have not been of recent vintage this season, with 28-19 record (23-23-1 ATS), despite having played 29 home games, the most in the NBA. With the rodeo in San Antonio, that means the Spurs head out of town and the schedule starts to balance itself. San Antonio played their first of eight consecutive road games in Sac-Town last night and escaped with two-point victory, thanks to the exploits of backup point guard George Hill. The second year player has taken over for an injured Tony Parker, scoring 23 points and dishing out a career high nine assists, drawing the praise of his head coach.

“George is probably the most improved player in the whole league,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “From his rookie year last year to this year he’s starting to get confident and played well at both ends of the floor. He’s going to be a really fine player for us.” The Spurs will need similar performance or better at Portland (29-22, 28-22-1 ATS) tonight since they are 4-9 ATS as visitors against teams with winning home record.

The Trailblazers have been dealing with injury issues of their own, with Greg Oden again done for the season and Brandon Roy having missed eight straight contests with strained right hamstring. Portland is 3-5 (4-4 ATS) during this stretch without Roy; however his replacement Jerryd Bayless has been better than adequate averaging 14.6 PPG and shooting nearly 50 percent. The Blazers have not been their usual dominant selves at the Rose Garden with 17-9 record and .500 against the spread. After being whipped by Utah 118-105 Wednesday, Portland is 6-1 ATS of late off a SU loss and 6-0 ATS after surrendering 100 or more points.

The Blazers have won three of last four at home against San Antonio, beating the oddsmakers number each time. The point spread has Tim Duncan’s club opening as two-point favorites, which does not correlate to rest for each team. The Spurs are 3-5 SU and ATS with zero days off, while Portland is 8-3 SU and ATS in exact same situation and 12-3 ATS dating back to last season. The tipoff will be at approximately 10:35 Eastern.

TNT Thursday NBA tilts

The Miami Heat hasn’t won back to back games twice in over five weeks and they will attempt to do so at home against their in-state and division rival Orlando. Miami has played nine games without consecutive victories and prior to that, their longest streak was three in a row from Nov. 4-10. Heat backers have seen enough losing bets they could hang all the “L’s” on a Christmas tree as ornaments and fill it up with 5-11 ATS mark in last 16 games.

Miami (12-11, 11-12 ATS) needs more scoring options besides Dwayne Wade and Michael Beasley is the person who has to elevate his game. Beasley was the No. 2 pick of the 2008 NBA draft yet finished seventh in the rookie of the year voting first season. Beasley has scored at least 20 points seven times this season and Miami is 4-3 when he does.

“I think it’s been long enough for me playing average,” Beasley said. “I’m just kind of mad at myself for not stepping out of the box. I’m kind of angry right now.”

The Heat tumbled Toronto 115-95 on Tuesday but is just 15-29 ATS off a home win over the last three seasons.

Orlando (19-6, 14-10-1 ATS) throttled the very same Raptors last evening 118-99, as Dwight Howard was close to a triple-double with 18 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots.
“He’s a monster,” reserve forward Matt Barnes, told the NBA’s official Web site. “He gives the other players a chance to really get into their opponent, knowing if we get beat he has our back.”
The Magic will come into this contest 20-8 ATS on the road playing back-to-back days since 2007.

Bookmaker.com has Orlando as four-point road favorites, with a total of 201. The Magic lost a controversial 99-98 decision back on Nov.25 to Miami, where Orlando thought the game-winning basket was goaltending. The Magic are 23-9 ATS revenging a home loss.

According to the oddsmakers total, the pace of the game should suit the Heat, as they have 27-10 ATS home record when the total is between 200 and 204.5 points and they are 9-1 OVER after losing two of their last three games this season. Orlando has averaged 109.5 points per game in last four outings and is 17-5 UNDER after scoring 100 points or more four straight games.

After this contest, the scene shifts to the Northwest where Portland (15-11, 13-13 ATS) hosts Phoenix (17-8, 14-10-1 ATS). The Blazers have enough personnel injured to fill a ward at a hospital, with six players having missed 95-88 win over Sacramento. The most noticeable absence is Greg Oden, lost again for the season; however Portland has gotten used to playing without him. Even the coach missed time, as Nate McMillan is expected to be on the bench for a second straight time after missing four previous contests following surgery for a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. The Trailblazers are 32-15 ATS in home games after a game where they covered the spread over the last three seasons.

For Phoenix, this marks the end of a voodoo schedule the NBA handed them to start the year. The Suns have played a league-low nine home games and will have four straight and 10 of 12 at US Airways Center after tonight. Before then Phoenix will try to break December road slump, as they are 0-5 this month, at least having covered the last two games.

“We’ve been playing well at home (9-0, 5-3-1 ATS) and after this Portland game we’ll be home for a while and it would be nice to get a good road win against a good team,” forward Grant Hill said. “We’ve got a good opportunity (Thursday) night.”

The Suns top scoring offense (108.7 points per game) has flamed out in recent road assignments, not breaking the century mark in four consecutive tries.

Phoenix has a rather peculiar trend going tonight. In their last win over San Antonio, they only sunk seven of 13 free throws and they are 12-3 ATS after a game where they made 60 percent or worse from the charity stripe.

Portland is two-point pick according to oddsmakers with total of 201. At first glance, the total would seem to be a negative for Phoenix being this low, yet they are 27-18 ATS on the road when the total is between 200 and 204.5 points. Those setting the numbers also have a beat on Suns defense, since they are 9-1 UNDER after allowing 100 points or more three straight games this season.The Blazers almost always are tough to beat at the Rose Garden and they can contain excellent deep shooting teams like the Suns, since they are 14-4 ATS in home games versus good 3-point shooting clubs making 36 percent or more of their attempts. Portland is 32-13 UNDER when the total is 200 to 209.5 over the last three years.

Both of these conflicts are on TNT with the first game starting just after 8 Eastern.

Two for Thursday NBA Style

While the drama of two of the NBA’s future free agents having blogs afire with rumor and innuendo, basketball is still scheduled and LeBron James and Dwayne Wade will meet for the first time this season. Out West, the Lakers expected several teams to chase them to try and knock them off the championship perch. One of the teams they probably didn’t spend much time looking at was the Phoenix Suns, who are off to blistering start. Both contests are on TNT, with the opener starting at 8 Eastern.

Cleveland at Miami

While not completely satisfying, Cleveland’s demolition of Orlando last night at least makes the Magic aware this is a new season. The Cavaliers (5-3, 4-4 ATS) grabbed an early lead and kept Orlando at bay the rest of the night. Shaquille O’Neal did exactly what he was supposed to, limiting Dwight Howard to 11 points and get him in foul trouble. Cleveland is 14-6 ATS without rest.

Miami (6-1 SU&ATS) is on its second three-game winning streak of the young season, being fed by playing excellent defense. The Heat is third in points allowed at 88.6 per game and only one opponent has crossed the century mark. This is a benchmark game for Miami.

“You can say that Cleveland’s one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Boston and Orlando,” Miami point guard Mario Chalmers said. “We’re just trying to prove ourselves, prove that we belong right up there with the best.” The Heat is 19-5 ATS after three or more consecutive UNDER’s.

Bookmaker.com has Cleveland as 1.5-point road favorites with total of 180.5. The Cavs are 15-5 ATS versus good defensive teams, holding the opposition to 43 percent or less over the last three seasons. Miami’s hot start will be tested, as they are 7-17 ATS vs. teams with winning road records like Cleveland (3-1). Over the last seven years, the Heat is 10-2 and 6-6 ATS hosting Cleveland.

Phoenix at L.A. Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are great, acting like they are not surprised at all the Phoenix Suns (8-1, 6-3 ATS) are off to their best start in 29 years. “They just upgraded their speed and went back to the style they were running three, four or five years ago,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. When you are a Zen Master, you know things like this way ahead of everyone else.

Coach Jackson is essentially correct, with the Suns leading the NBA in scoring at 112.3 points per game. The biggest change is not having Shaq in the paint, which has freed Steve Nash to create down the base line more freely and find open shooters and cutters like previous years. Though Phoenix is surrendering over 105 points per game, they make defensive stops throughout games and when it counts in the fourth quarter, which has enabled to play this well this quickly. The Suns have covered five of six against teams with better than .600 record.

The Lakers (6-1, 2-5 ATS) are also playing a quality brand of basketball on a five game winning streak. They have been beat up in the frontcourt, with Andrew Bynum missing the last two games to injury and Pau Gasol to yet play this season because of a strained right hamstring he suffered before the season began. L.A. has shown proclivity to play well against good passing teams like Phoenix and are 23-11 ATS vs. clubs that average 23 or more assists per contest. The Lakers are 7.5-point home favorites with total of 218.5.

This series is a bigger deal to Phoenix and the road team is 7-3 ATS, with the OVER 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.

How about a little passion!

In the Eastern Conference, the only comparison between the Boston and Chicago series versus the Miami and Atlanta series is both involve a Game 7. While the B’s and C’s played epic hoops, the Heat and the Hawks traded being chumps from game to game. The closest game has been 10 points and the two teams managed to score a grand total of 152 in that colossal affair, giving me flashbacks to San Antonio Spurs title chases. If talk is cheap, these two teams shop at the Dollar Store, because these two immature teams have seldom backed up words with actions.

The Commish, David Stern should require all teams to play hard in ALL playoff games. If you googled the term – going thru the motions- team photos of Miami and Atlanta would be at the top of the page.

Atlanta may be 15-5 ATS revenging a loss where team scored less than 85 points, but without Al Horford, does this soul-less have a chance to even win outright? These days, when Mike Bibby is carrying your team, your chances of emerging victorious are about as good as Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. While trying to connect the last two adjectives from the prior sentence, Josh Smith comes to mind. Smith was needed to come up big in Game 6 with Horford out and he clanked 10 of 13 attempts, realizing a grand total of seven points.

While the one youngster from California wants to skip his last year of high school basketball and play overseas to prepare him for the NBA, even five years of seasoning hasn’t raised the level of Smith’s play in terms of defense and childish play.

When you consider Atlanta was in position to closeout Miami with a win to end the series, the word narcissism comes to mind.

It’s not like the Hawks have cornered the market on lacking maturity, Jamaal Magloire is a veteran player and when his Miami teammates are playing well, his natural orneriness has a function otherwise he too comes off a punk-ish.

Call me a cynic (I’m frequently called worse), but whatever treatment Dwayne Wade got for his “ailing” back between games five and six, I want some. Maybe the Atlanta announcers don’t have much use for Wade, but no denying this guy when challenged to rise to the occasion, he is magnificent.

Besides D-Wade, coach Erik Spoelstra will need the same players who stepped up in Game 6, to do so again. Michael Beasley is still young and foolish, but if he can channel inner basketball player again, he gives the Heat a shot being 26-12 ATS after having lost two of their last three games this season. James Jones and Mario Chalmers have to be on same page with Wade, if so, this actually could be compelling series finale.

The fine fellows over at Betjamaica.com have Atlanta favored by 5.5 with total slipping to 181. I suppose the way these two teams have played the number is about right. Based on past performance of the last six games, the number should either be the Hawks by 10 or a pick for these goofy clubs.

If you want my opinion (I know you didn’t ask), I’d flip a coin for the side and bet the Under. Don’t see either team being clutch enough throughout the contest to keep the score close to total.

This Game 7 starts at 1 Eastern on ABC, with the winner earning an all-expense paid trip to Cleveland.

Article by Red Wydley.

Orlando Tries to Continue Brilliance over Miami Heat

They call Florida the “Sunshine State” for its weather and being a prime vacation spot. The state has also become known for its sports teams this decade, with the University of Florida have won two football and basketball championships, the Florida Marlins won a World Series in 2003 and the Miami Heat being the champs of the NBA three years ago. The Orlando Magic is working this season towards being among the very best and wants to add their name to the list of champions from the state.

The next step in the journey is traveling down I-95 to take on fellow Floridian and Southeast Division opponent Miami. Orlando (54-18, 46-26 ATS) has the second best record in the East, just ahead of Boston and is a sparkling 25-11 SU and ATS on the road. Orlando has had plenty of magic in winning five in a row and 12 of 14 (9-5 ATS) and wants to keep building momentum towards the playoffs.

“We’re just trying to find that rhythm that you can stay in,” Magic point guard Rafer Alston said. “It’s all about finding that groove going into the playoffs.”

Orlando just completed sweep of Boston and Milwaukee at home and is 8-1 ATS off two or more home wins this season. The Magic have played like they have had a spell over Miami, winning 11 of last 12, with 9-2-1 ATS mark. With Dwight Howard leading the way, Orlando has horrified the Heat, winning by an average of just over 16 points a game. Their margin of victory would be even greater if they had a clue how to guard Dwayne Wade.

The former Marquette star just lights up Orlando guards like nearby Ocean Boulevard. Wade has scored at least 32 points in seven of his last nine games versus the Magic and in his last six meetings is averaging 37.2 points per game.

“My concern is when Dwyane goes into the Hall of Fame and they start putting off his top career games, it’s going to be like 50 versus Orlando,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy joked after last month’s meeting.

Miami (39-34, 34-39 ATS) is in neck and neck race with Philadelphia for the fifth spot in the East and has been unreliable against teams the jack-up the three ball like Orlando, with is 7-18 ATS record versus clubs who attempt 18 or more 3-point shots a game on the season.
The oddsmakers at Bookmaker.com have established Orlando as three-point favorites, with a total of 194. The Magic is 10-2 ATS on the road when the total is between 190 and 199.5 points and is 18-7 UNDER off two or more consecutive home wins. Miami has played some weaker teams recently and their scoring defense has been improved. The Heat is 16-4 ATS after three or more straight Unders and is 34-19 UNDER as a home underdog.

The Miami players would naturally want to stop the Magic’s dominance and are adding a little extra to the festivities, retiring Alonzo Mourning jersey, making him the first former player so honored by the franchise. The action starts on the Sun Network at 7:30 Eastern.