Fact or Fiction
By Mike Rose
VegasInsider.com
The NBA All-Star rosters are set, and that means that the season for trading is about to be here. The news and notes across the NBA betting world are going to be coming out all across the league. Don't miss our always vital NBA Fact or Fiction, where we answer some of the most pressing questions hoops bettors are begging to have answered.
FACT
The Boston Celtics are Finished Without Rajon Rondo: The highlight of the season for the Celtics probably came on Sunday when they beat the Miami Heat 100-98 in two overtimes at the TD Garden. Of course, it was also probably the lowlight of the season as well, as the news broke that point guard Rajon Rondo is out for the rest of the year with a torn ACL. This was a team that was already struggling at 20-23 straigt up and a league worst 15-26-3 against the spread, and matters are only going to get worse before they get better.
The Washington Wizards' ATS Winning Streak: The Wiz had covered 10 in a row before Monday's loss to the Sacramento Kings. This isn't a team that is going to get into the playoffs, but it could be a cover machine for the rest of the campaign. PG John Wall is back, and he is starting to get back in the fold as one of the better point guards in the league. This is a stingy team that has figured out how to establish a winning attitude, and there's no reason that shouldn't continue.
The Indiana Pacers are Set to Explode: Forward Danny Granger is about set to get back in the lineup, and we can only imagine just how good the Pacers are going to be as a result. The only thing that has been missing from one of the league's top defensive teams is a wing scorer. Once Granger gets back in the fold, the Pacers are going to catch fire.
FICTION
The Lakers' Winning Streak: We see this happen every single time that the Lakers win a game or two. Everyone makes the assumption that this is the time that Los Angeles is going to get into a groove and win a ton of games. It ain't happening. As long as Mike D'Antoni is in charge and center Dwight Howard isn't playing like Superman, this team is finished. Don't fall into the trap.
The Boston Celtics are Going to Break Up: General managers are calling Danny Ainge this year to see whether they can pry F Kevin Garnett, F Paul Pierce, or any of the other big men away from this team. It seems like a logical conclusion with Rondo out for the year, but we just aren't all that sure. Ainge has had a number of chances to blow this team up, but he has refused to do it, save for letting G Ray Allen go. Instead, we think that a more subtle move to get someone like G JJ Redick is the direction that Ainge and the C's will go, a move that won't help out on the NBA betting lines.
The Orlando Magic's Losing Skid: The Magic aren't going to win all that many games in the second-half of the season. We're not challenging this fact. However, what we are challenging is the notion that this team is going to be a miserable cover team for the rest of the campaign. This is a team that is full of heart and hustle, and out of these 17 losses in 19 games since Dec. 21, 11 of those defeats have come by six points or fewer. Rather than just look at the losses, look at the quality of those losses. I would be shocked if the Magic didn't cover at least 20 throughout the second half of the campaign.