NBA Marketwatch Edition 17 2009-10

SportsMarketwatch
NBA Edition
2/17/2010 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 caught an unlucky break before the games even started lastWednesday, as Atlanta’s star sub Jamal Crawford was a late scratch due to ashoulder injury.  They were already missing big man Zaza Pachulia and simplydidn’t have enough firepower against the Heat.  Ultimately they lost 94-76,missing the cover by a whopping 25 points.  Our other featured game went alittle better, as both point guards that Portland employed last week (AndreMiller and Steve Blake) went for 20 points and held every Sun but Amar’e under20.  Against Phoenix, that is a recipe for success, and the Blazers won as a bigdog on the road, 108-101.

2009-10 NBA Games to Watch: 14-15,48.3%*
*Source: SportsInsights.com

New York Knicks -2 over Chicago Bulls

The New York Knickerbockers have lost 13 of their last 17 games, yet theyremain all over the national news due to possible trades involving NateRobinson, Tracy McGrady, and anyone else who might help them land LeBron fornext season.  Last night, they fell by 33 points in Chicago.  Only onestarter scored more than 10 points, and the glaring difference at pointguard makes it understandably hard to conceive a bet on New York.  ChrisDuhon played 39 minutes with 2 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal and 1turnover for a -29 rating.  Derrick Rose, with a sore hip, played 27 minuteswith 29 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 turnovers for a +20rating.  Yikes.
While the Public probably doesn’t expect the Bulls to shoot 61% compared tothe Knicks’ 35% again tonight, they obviously don’t think so much adjustmentis in order to warrant the Knicks opening as a pick at CRIS and a 1-pointfavorite at Pinnacle.  Since the lines came out, the Public is in heavy onthe Bulls, giving them 72% of spread bets, 71% of moneyline bets and 83% ofparlays and teasers.  In spite of this, the line has grown, up to -2 acrossthe board and -2.5 at a handful of books.  In addition to reverse linemovement, Sports Insights Betting Systems have triggered some interestingplays.  There is Smart Money on the Knicks from WagerWeb (+4.64 Units Won)and a Steam Move initiated by Bet365 (+4.3 Units).  That’s a strongendorsement, and enough for us to buy on last night’s bad news.

New York Knicks -2
Games to Watch: 14-15 = 48.3%
New York -2

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