NBA Marketwatch Edition 7 2009-10

SportsMarketwatch
NBA Edition
12/9/2009 5:10 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

NBA Marketwatch finally had a breakthrough week last Wednesday, hitting both ofour picks and hopefully gaining some momentum as the NBA picture becomes a bitclearer.  The Cavaliers had one of the most balanced scoring attacks oftheir season, with seven players reaching double digits, and LeBron James felltwo rebounds short of a triple-double as Cleveland toppled the Suns 107-90.In our other featured game, Indiana mustered only 7 points between theirstarting point guard and center and had no answer for the Kings inside.  Ina game where a win meant a cover, the Kings took the victory 110-105.

2009-10 NBA Games to Watch: 5-7, 41.7%*
*Source: SportsInsights.com

Indiana Pacers +4.5 over Portland Trail Blazers

The Pacers’ season took a big blow recently when they lost All-Star DannyGranger for a month or more.  The Blazers, too, have been ravaged byinjuries.  Franchise center Greg Oden was lost for the season with a severekneecap injury, and sharpshooting Spaniard Rudy Fernandez will also miss atleast a month.  Each team is adjusting to new court combinations andadditional minutes for back-ups, and from the looks of it, both are struggling.Portland has lost four of its last five games, winning only a one-pointnail-biter home against Houston.  They lost Monday at Madison Square Gardenand must look ahead to games in Cleveland and Milwaukee this weekend.Having lost their key presence inside, what could have been a big reboundingadvantage against Indiana’s perimeter-oriented big men may now be just a mirage.

The Blazers opened as 5-point favorites at both CRIS and Pinnacle, and thisteam – predicted by many to contend with the Lakers, Spurs and Nuggets in theWestern Conference – is receiving a strong 71% of spread bets.  They’re alsogetting 86% of moneyline wagers and 66% of parlays and teasers, making them asolid public favorite in tonight’s heaviest bet game at the time of writing.Lines everywhere, however, are moving in the Pacers’ direction, who are now downto +4 almost across the board.  We’ve seen 2 good Steam Moves triggered onIndiana, by Canbet (+3.4 Units Won) and standout ABC (+19.4).  Let’s playon the young Larry Birds to cover at home.

Indiana +4.5 (BetUS)

New Jersey Nets -110 over Golden State Warriors

It took New Jersey a record amount of tries to get their first win this season,but in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately NBA, it’s important to note thatthey’ve won 2 of their last 3 games!  Golden State is known as being afast-paced, high scoring team who plays little defense, but lately only thesecond characteristic has trumped the first.  After losing Kelenna Azubuikefor the season and trading Stephen Jackson to Charlotte, they’re now missing keycontributors Andris Biedrins and Anthony Randolph due to injury.  RonnyTuriaf has also missed a lot of times, essentially leaving Monta Ellis, StephenCurry and Anthony Morrow to guard Devin Harris, Chris Douglas-Roberts andTerrence Williams.  (Important note: none of these Warriors has ever beenconfused as a defensive stalwart.)  How Vladimir Radmanovic(‘s expiringcontract) will try to guard budding low-block superstar Brook Lopez remains tobe seen.

Spreads have been somewhat sporadic for this game, perhaps reflecting themarket’s confusion about Golden State’s ability to press on through injuries andNew Jersey’s prospects for turning the corner with a new coach at the helm.The Nets opened as 1.5-point home favorites at CRIS.  They now sit at -2 atmany books, despite 76% of spread, 65% of moneyline and 68% of parlay and teaserbets going on the Warriors.  Sports Insights Betting Systems have hit NewJersey hard as well, with a Steam Move from ABC (+19.4 Units) and a Smart Moneyplay at BetOnline (+6.18).  You can find great value on the Nets at BetUS.Bet it there, where the game is a pick, and enjoy the two extra points.

New Jersey -110 (BetUS)

Games to Watch: 5-7 = 41.7%
Indiana +4.5 (BetUS)
New Jersey -110 (BetUS)

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