Eastern Conference Notes
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com
1) Chicago (15-3 SU, 11-7 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Bulls ran away with the top seed in the Eastern Conference last season and they’re on pace to repeat this year. Chicago remains the only unbeaten team at home (7-0 SU, 4-3 ATS) in the league and even better, the team hasn’t dropped back-to-back games all season. On the road, the Bulls are a solid 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS. Plus, they’ve showed some toughness with a 3-1 record without the duties of point guard Derrick Rose.
Second-Quarter Outlook: We’re going to find out more about Chicago in the next month. The Bulls play nine straight on the road, which includes quality opponents in Miami, Philadelphia and Boston. And all of the action takes place over 14 days. Keep an eye on the ‘under’ when Chicago is home (5-1-1).
2) Miami (11-5 SU, 8-8 ATS)
Betting Notes: It’s apparent that the Heat seem to go through the motions but this team is a force and will make another deep run into the playoffs, unless LeBron James goes down to injury. Miami has had a couple hiccups on the road, but it’s rare to see them get outclassed. They did drop three in a row on the road but two of the losses were in overtime, and the Nuggets (117-104) shot lights out in the other setback.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The Bulls and Knicks visit soon, which will be good tests. A six-game road trip looms in February, which includes three games in three nights. The Heat has been underdogs once and they won and covered at the Hawks without LeBron and Wade. Without Wade, the team is 3-1 this season.
3) Atlanta (12-5 SU, 9-8 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Hawks have played well this season and some might wonder how long they keep it up. They’ve been bullies for the most part, but wins over Miami, Chicago and Portland are very respectable. Atlanta has gone 8-1 SU and 5-4 ATS at home, the only loss mentioned above to the Heat, who were missing their top pair.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The Hawks begin their longest road trip this week, with five games on tap but the toughest test on paper will be at San Antonio. Divisional games at Orlando and versus against Miami will be matchups to watch in mid-February.
4) Philadelphia (11-5 SU, 12-4 ATS)
Betting Notes: Doug Collins already has eyes on Coach of the Year accolades and deservingly so. The 76ers have a nice group of players, no superstars and they’re competing on a nightly basis. Philadelphia has gone 7-1 SU and ATS at home, plus its road record (4-4 SU and 4-4 ATS) is decent too. While we like what the 76ers have done on the court and at the betting counter, none of the 11 wins really stand out. And four of the five losses came against Portland, Utah, Denver and Miami.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Philly has a chance to run off another hot streak but then reality could set in. The 76ers face the Magic, Bulls, Heat, Hawks, Lakers, Spurs and Clippers in that order. Fortunately, all are at home except the Atlanta battle.
5) Orlando (11-4 SU, 8-6-1 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Magic have been a solid club this season despite all the trade rumors around center Dwight Howard. Stan Van Gundy and company have produced a 5-2 record (4-2-1 ATS) mark on the road. Losses to Oklahoma City (89-97) and Chicago (83-97) prove that this team isn’t elite but they have earned their stripes in wins over the Trail Blazers (107-104) and Lakers (92-80).
Second-Quarter Outlook: Orlando has been a good bet off a loss (4-0 SU, 3-0-1 ATS) this season and setbacks could be on the horizon. The Magic will be facing contenders in the upcoming weeks, including a key home stretch with battles against the Clippers, Heat and Hawks.
6) Indiana (11-4 SU, 9-6 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Pacers are a tough team to gauge and their latest road trip makes you understand what we’re talking about. They blow a huge lead to Sacramento (88-92) before stopping more talented clubs in the Warriors (94-91) and Lakers (98-96). Indiana has gone 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS at home, winning all but one by double digits. All of the games at Conseco have all gone ‘under’ too.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Similar to Orlando, the Pacers have gone 4-0 both SU and ATS off a loss this season. Indiana starts a stretch this week that has the team playing five of six on the road and the games won’t be easy against the Bulls, Celtics, Magic, Timberwolves and Mavericks. Indiana will get better as the year goes, with 28 home games left to be played.
7) Boston (6-9 SU, 7-8 ATS)
Betting Notes: Age and injuries have hurt the Celtics this season and it’s doubtful to see this team make any serious run. Boston hasn’t been consistent on offense all season and it’s been exposed against quality teams. The Celtics haven’t defeated a team with a winning record and three of their six wins came against the Wizards. Gamblers have seen the ‘under’ go 10-5 for Boston this season, and that includes an 8-1 mark at home.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The Celtics have an easy schedule on tap with a lot of losing clubs on the schedule but injuries to Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen doesn’t help Doc Rivers’ team. Right now, bettors should stay clear of this team.
8) Milwaukee (6-9 SU, 6-9 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Bucks have received a great effort from PG Brandon Jennings (20.1 PPG, 5.1 APG) this season, yet not much out of center Andrew Bogut. After dropping its first eight on the road, Milwaukee just earned impressive wins at New York (100-86) and Miami (91-82). At home, the Bucks have gone 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS.
Second-Quarter Outlook: More than half of the next 15 games for the Bucks will be played at home, but we should tread lightly there. Milwaukee did beat San Antonio (106-103) but Denver (95-105) got the best of the club at Bradley Center. Outside of a trip to Chicago, the Bucks have a few more opportunities to earn road wins in the near future.
9) New York (6-10 SU, 3-13 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Knicks have been a disappointment for fans and more importantly gamblers. New York is 3-6 SU and 1-8 ATS at MSG. Of the six wins, one came against a team with a winning record (Philadelphia). The days of running and gunning under Mike D’ Antonio seems to be gone, which has helped the ‘under’ go 11-5.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Fading New York has been a gold mine this season. Will that change? It’s hard to say with this store-bought bunch, that lacks any chemistry. After losing four in a row at home, the team will play four straight on the road, which could be a good thing. Upcoming games against the Heat, Bulls, Celtics and Lakers will be nice tests for the club.
10) Cleveland (6-9 SU, 6-9 ATS)
Betting Notes: Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving has given the franchise hope and head coach Byron Scott has the team playing well, sometimes. They haven’t beaten a team with a winning record and they looked outclassed against contenders, which was evident in recent losses to Chicago (75-114) and Atlanta (94-121).
Second-Quarter Outlook: To the Cavs’ defense, they’ve only played five home games (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS). The problem has been defense lately, which is something Scott isn’t known for. Fortunately for Cleveland, 13 of the next 17 games are at home. Unfortunately, the Cavs will probably be ‘dogs in the majority of those games.
11) New Jersey (5-12 SU, 8-9 ATS)
Betting Notes: If you look at New Jersey’s five wins, you’ll notice a common theme. They all came against teams with losing records. So I guess we can call the Nets the best of the worst? And of the 12 losses, eight came by double digits.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The schedule doesn’t look horrible for the Nets over the next month, and there aren’t that many elite teams on the docket. Make a note that New Jersey hasn’t won back-to-back games all season. Play on New Jersey against weaker teams and don’t hesitate to fade them when facing a quality foe.
12) Toronto (4-13 SU, 8-9 ATS)
Betting Notes: Top scorer, Andrea Bargnani (22.3 PPG), has been banged up and his absence is very noticeable. The Raptors have been held to 91 points or less in the six games he sat with a calf injury, all losses. The oddsmakers have started to adjust in the totals, listing all games in the 170s or low 180s.
Second-Quarter Outlook: To its defense, Toronto has been competitive. As double-digit ‘dogs, the Raptors are 0-4 SU but 3-1 ATS. On the road, the team has broke even for bettors with a 5-5 ATS ledger.
13) Detroit (4-13 SU, 5-12 ATS)
Betting Notes: It’s been more miss than hit for the Pistons this season. Detroit has had some solid wins against Indiana, Orlando and Portland, but also a ton of double-digit setbacks. On zero days rest, the club has gone 4-1 ATS.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The playoffs are out of sight, but you could get some value in back-to-back situations. The Pistons have only been favored in two games and they lost both of those outright.
14) Charlotte (3-14 SU, 7-10 ATS)
Betting Notes: It’s hard to be competitive in the NBA when you don’t have talent and that’s the case with the Bobcats. Byron Mullens (12.1 PPG) has been a nice surprise, but Charlotte has starters that wouldn’t play on other teams. The team has been held under 90 points in more than half of its games.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Charlotte is 5-1 ATS when getting double digits. A pair of upcoming road trips could set up some nice opportunities to back the dreadful ‘Cats.
15) Washington (2-14 SU, 5-11 ATS)
Betting Notes: Will head coach Flip Saunders get fired? If I were him, I’d be praying considering the squad he has. The Wizards have been bad at home (2-8) and worse on the road (0-6 SU, 1-5 ATS). Surprisingly, one of the victories came against Oklahoma City. Seven of the Wizards’ losses have been by double digits.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Keep an eye on the ‘over’ here with defense rarely being played by the Wizards. It’s cashed in six straight with Flip’s team allowing 100-plus in all six during this stretch.
Western Conference Notes
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
1) Oklahoma City (13-3 SU, 9-7 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Thunder was expected to do big things this season and haven't disappointed. OKC began the season at 5-0, while also putting together a seven-game winning streak in January. The Thunder angered bettors with a 3-6 ATS start, but bounced back with covers in six of their next seven games. Through six games with no rest, Scott Brooks' club is 2-4 ATS, while putting a 1-3 ATS mark against unrested squads.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Oklahoma City hits the road for a crucial stretch with eight of nine games away from home starting January 27 at Golden State. There will be several tests on the highway when the Thunder battles the Mavs, Clippers, Spurs, and Warriors before Valentine's Day.
2) Denver (12-5 SU, 12-5 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Nuggets got the best end of the Carmelo Anthony deal as Denver is rolling, while New York is slumping. George Karl's team is 5-3 ATS at home, in spite of two straight-up losses as double-digit favorites to the Jazz and Hornets. The Nuggets continue to roll as road underdogs by compiling a 4-1 ATS record, as each of the last three games have been decided by four points or less.
Second-Quarter Outlook: There is a mix of home and road games in the upcoming stretch for the Nuggets, including home contests against the Clippers, Lakers, and Mavs. Denver faces several road blocks away from the Pepsi Center with visits to Memphis, Oklahoma City, Indiana, and Portland.
3) Utah (10-5 SU, 9-6 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Jazz began the season slow with a 1-3 SU/ATS record, but Utah won eight of its next 10 games to come back to life. The domination in Salt Lake is evident (8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS), while both losses are to the Lakers to the Mavs. Utah has played only five road games, including two from January 2 to January 25.
Second-Quarter Outlook: After traveling to Dallas on January 27, the Jazz returns home for three more games, followed by six of the next eight contests on the highway. The two games at EnergySolutions Arena in this stretch are against the Lakers (2/4) and Thunder (2/10).
4) L.A. Clippers (9-5 SU, 8-6 ATS)
Betting Notes: The expectations are sky-high for the other L.A. team this season after picking up Chris Paul from New Orleans. The Clippers have lost consecutive games just once this season, while going 4-1 ATS off a defeat. Vinny Del Negro's club owns a 9-2 SU and 7-3 ATS mark at home, as the Clips are in the midst of playing without Paul.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The Clippers leave Southern California for a six-game road trip from February 4 through February 13, including winnable games at Washington, Cleveland, and Charlotte. Los Angeles will see plenty of home tests in this stretch against Memphis, Oklahoma City, Denver, and San Antonio.
5) Memphis (9-6 SU, 8-7 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Grizzlies fell flat out of the gate with a 3-6 SU/ATS record, while Zach Randolph suffered a knee injury to keep him out for a few months. However, Memphis bounced back with six consecutive wins and five covers in this stretch. Several losses since the start of the season are against quality opponents (Thunder twice, Spurs, Lakers, Bulls, and Jazz). Memphis owns a 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS record at FedEx Forum, including four straight victories.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The highway will be Memphis' friend coming up with seven of the next nine games coming away from FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies begin a rough stretch from January 30 until February 6 by facing the Spurs twice, Nuggets, Hawks, Thunder, and Celtics.
6) San Antonio (10-7 SU, 8-9 ATS)
Betting Notes: No matter how old the Spurs get, San Antonio still manages to be a force in the Western Conference. Gregg Popovich's team owns a 9-1 SU and 6-4 ATS mark at home, in spite of losing guard Manu Ginobili to a broken hand on January 2. The road has been a different story with a 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS ledger away from San Antonio, including three straight-up losses in the road favorite role.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The annual "Rodeo Trip" will keep the Spurs away from Texas for nine games from February 6 through February 23. San Antonio can bolster its record with a three-game homestand against Houston, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City to start February, including the Hornets and Thunder coming in with no rest.
7) Dallas (10-7 SU, 11-6 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Mavericks felt the hangover of winning the title last summer with losses in four of the first five games. Dallas rebounded nicely by winning nine of the next 12 games, including six straight at home. Rick Carlisle's club has turned into a solid ATS play as a home favorite (5-1 ATS) and road underdog (4-1 ATS), while going 1-3 ATS in the role of a road favorite.
Second-Quarter Outlook: The Mavs may have a long-term concern on their hands with Dirk Nowitzki's knee injury, as the star forward is out until late January. Dallas plays six of the next seven games at home, including meetings with Oklahoma City, Utah, San Antonio, and Indiana.
8) Houston (9-7 SU, 9-7 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Rockets were set to dismantle their team in the preseason, but Houston overcame a 3-7 start to win six straight contests. Kevin McHale's team has helped backers with a 7-2 ATS record the last nine games, including a 6-2 ATS mark at the Toyota Center.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Houston plays five of six games at home, all against teams sitting below .500 (Milwaukee, Washington, New York, Minnesota, and Phoenix). The Rockets hit the road for six games starting on February 4, all against Western Conference foes.
9) Portland (9-7 SU, 8-7-1 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Blazers started the season on fire with seven victories in the first nine games, but went backwards losses in five of the next seven contests. Home is where the heart is for Portland, who is 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS at the Rose Garden. However, Nate McMillan's squad owns a 3-6 ATS ledger on the highway, including a 1-3 ATS record as a road underdog.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Portland returns home from a disastrous 2-4 SU/ATS road swing to play seven of the next 10 games at the Rose Garden. The Blazers should clean up with home contests against Sacramento, Phoenix, and Charlotte, while taking on the Nuggets, Thunder, and Rockets in three straight at home from February 4 through February 8.
10) L.A. Lakers (10-8 SU, 7-11 ATS)
Betting Notes: It's hard to imagine nearly one month into the season that the Lakers would sit in this spot right now. The Lakers overcame a pair of losses to start the season by winning nine of 11 games. Los Angeles stubbed its toe with losses in four of the previous five contests, while failing to cover in six straight games. Mike Brown's team has disappointed in the role of a road underdog by compiling an 0-5 SU/ATS record.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Eight of the next ten games take place away from Staples Center, including an East Coast swing to Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. The Lakers will play with rest in 10 of the next 13 games after starting the season with 10 games in 15 days.
11) Minnesota (7-9 SU, 10-6 ATS)
Betting Notes: The young Wolves covered each of their first five games this season, including outright wins over Dallas and San Antonio. Minnesota lost four of its next five, but picked up victories and covers in four of its following six. Playing in the underdog role has turned into a nice profit with a 7-3 ATS mark when receiving points.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Minnesota takes the court at the Target Center for six of the next nine games, including tough contests against the Spurs, Lakers, and Pacers. The Wolves will face the Rockets four times in the next three weeks, as Minnesota has played only two divisional games so far.
12) Phoenix (6-9 SU, 7-8 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Suns split their first eight games of the season, while covering five times in that stretch. Phoenix cooled off with five straight defeats, but picked up a pair of quality road underdog victories at New York and Boston.
Second-Quarter Outlook: There will be plenty of back-and-forth travel for the Suns coming up with no more than two consecutive games on the road or at home through February 9. Phoenix will be tested in the Valley with matchups against Memphis, Dallas, and Houston over the next two weeks.
13) Sacramento (6-11 SU, 6-11 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Kings have dealt with plenty of drama through the first month, including the firing of head coach Paul Westphal following a 2-5 start. Sacramento has won back-to-back games just once so far, while going 2-8 ATS as a road underdog. The Kings have eclipsed the 100-point mark in just two games, while being listed as a favorite just once in a win over the Hornets.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Sacramento plays just five of its next 15 games at home prior to the All-Star break, including a six-game road trip starting February 14 at Chicago.
14) Golden State (5-10 SU, 7-8 ATS)
Betting Notes: The Warriors stunned the Bulls and Knicks during a fast 2-1 start, but fell back to Earth with losses in seven of the next eight games. Golden State was without guard Stephen Curry for nine games with an ankle injury, as he returned in last Friday's loss to Indiana. The Warriors are profiting in the role of a road underdog with a 4-2 ATS mark.
Second-Quarter Outlook: Golden State is in the midst of a 10-of-12 games at Oracle Arena, including taking on four teams that will play with no rest (Portland twice, Utah, Oklahoma City).
15) New Orleans (3-13 SU, 7-9 ATS)
Betting Notes: It's no surprise the Hornets are sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference after the losses of Chris Paul and David West in the offseason. New Orleans won its first two games over Phoenix and Boston, but proceeded to lose 13 of the next 14 contests. Another big loss was leading scorer Eric Gordon, who suffered a bruised knee in the season opener at Phoenix. The Hornets own a 2-6 ATS record in the role of a home underdog, while losing each game by at least six points.
Second-Quarter Outlook: It doesn't get easier for New Orleans, who heads to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, followed by games against Orlando, Atlanta, and Miami the next seven days. The Hornets get a reprieve with a four-game homestand starting February 6 against the Kings, but New Orleans may not win more than 15 games this season.