SportsMarketwatch
NBA Edition
3/3/2010 5:00 PM EST
By The Team at SportsInsights.com
Welcome to the NBA edition of Sports Marketwatch, wherethe Team at SportsInsights gives sports fans an unprecedented glimpse into the NBApoint-spread marketplace. If you ever wanted to know what was really happeningon the sportsbook side, you now have an all-access pass with Sports Marketwatch!Initially, the NBA Edition of Sports Marketwatch will be a weekly columnpublished on Wednesdays, normally around 5PM, Eastern Time.
The staff at SportsInsights.com analyzes the marketplace, and especially thesports betting industry’s largest and most reputable sportsbooks, to identifywhich games the public is chasing and which ones the Sharps are pounding. Let'stake a look at what’s in store for tonight’s NBA games.SportsMarketplace – NBA Edition
Marketwatch felt sick last Wednesdaywhen, not long after our article had been sent, Caron Butler was been ruled outdue to a negative reaction to medication. What drugs can you take forthat? It wasn't the first time that we've dealt with a late scratch to akey player, and the game was in doubt until the final moments. Ultimately,it was up to two old trusty Mavericks, Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki, to put thegame away in crunch-time. They scored 61 points between them as Dallasbeat Phil and the Los Angeles Kobes, winning and covering by a final margin of101-96.
2009-10 NBA Games to Watch: 15-16,48.4%*
*Source: SportsInsights.com
Denver Nuggets -6 over Oklahoma City Thunder
The Nuggets have been hurting my feelings lately. It's not entirelytheir fault, of course. It's just that I've been running my mouth offto friends about how deep they are, how different and focused Carmelo haslooked this season, how I think they're headed to the NBA Finals this year.They've had a marquee victory in each of the last three weeks, winningagainst the Celtics, Cavaliers and Mavericks in that time span. Theweek before that, they even beat the Lakers in the Staples Center. SoI figured it was really time for a breakout party when they played at theLakers and Suns on back to back days to begin this week. There I gofiguring again... They got handed a 6-point loss and a 16-point loss.But we love to buy on bad news, remember? It's where we find value.Tonight a wounded but proud Nuggets team returns to Denver to face a youngThunder team that went 9-2 in February. Their young legs, though,can't help but feel a bit fatigued, as Oklahoma City will be playing their8th game in 12 nights. They struggled to put away Sacramento lastnight, and the Nuggets beat them by 9 in their first match-up in Denver thisseason.
Denver opened as 6-point favorites at CRIS and Pinnacle but, asthe Public has become plenty familiar with Kevin Durant and the streakingZombie Sonics (as the Sports Guy likes to call the transplanted team), theyare giving the visitor 60% of spread bets. Curiously, the line ontonight's game has moved in reverse, sitting now at most offshore books at-6.5. The Thunder are destined to start getting the Western Conferencebrass' best shot, and though they've played incredible defense thus far thisseason, Denver has more weapons than most. After finishing a 4-1 roadtrip, Brandon Roy of the Blazers recently commented that the first game backhome was always tough because you're tempted to relax and make assumptions.Denver has only lost 3 games in a row once this season, and coming off backto back primetime losses, we expect them to be determined to make a statement at home.Go and find the extra half point still available at Bet Phoenix.
Denver Nuggets -6 (BetPhoenix)
Games to Watch: 15-16 = 48.4%
Denver Nuggets -6
It should be an exciting night in the sports marketplace. Keep SportsMarketwatch picks handy and your browser pointed to SportsInsights.comfor thelatest real-time updates, using our exclusive Sports Investing tools.We’ll be back next Wednesday with the new edition of the SportsMarketwatch –NBA Edition.
Enjoy the games!
The Team at SportsInsights.com