NBA Marketwatch Edition 22 2009-10
SportsMarketwatch
NBA Edition
3/24/2010 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 finally got over the hump last week, hitting on the Celtics on one of Boston’sbiggest days of the year, St. Patrick’s Day. Despite a huge game fromDavid Lee, the Knicks simply couldn’t keep up with the Celtics on the boards orthe scoreboard. Paul Pierce paced the Big Green with 29 points and KevinGarnett added 22 en route to a 109-97 win and 3-point cover.
2009-10 NBA Games to Watch: 18-17,51.4%*
*Source: SportsInsights.com
Atlanta Hawks -1 over Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic just go about theirbusiness, and on Monday night they won their 50th game for the thirdconsecutive season. They’ve won 11 of their last 12 games, includinghome tilts against the Lakers and Spurs, and generally seem to be on anautopilot course through at least the first round of the playoffs.(See what I did there? You know what happens when we assume…)The Hawks have taken a step away from the role of surprise playoff team andare currently tied for 3rd in the conference with last week’s Celtics.They’re not absurdly hot, but they’ve been awfully consistent.Unfortunately, that consistency includes their match-ups with the Magic, whohave beaten them by 17, 32 and 18.
You might already know that Sports Insights likes to buy on bad news andsell on good, but after whippings like that, giving the Magic points doesseem a bit absurd. Nevertheless, we’ve seen some interesting linemovement. The Hawks opened as 1-point favorites, but the streakingMagic have received 77% of spread, 62% of moneyline and 79% of parlay bets.Normally that would push the line down to a pick – if not flip the spreadentirely – but tonight it has done the opposite. Atlanta is now -1.5at most offshore books despite being an overwhelming public underdog.Such movement, a strong indicator of sharp money, is especially meaningfulwhen considering that Sports Insights’ Number of Bets feature has identifiedthis match-up as the most heavily bet NBA game of the night. You canstill find the original spread with an extra half point at BetUS.
Atlanta Hawks -1
Games to Watch: 18-17 = 51.4%
Atlanta -1
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