Philadelphia at Orlando
The Magic begin their quest for a return trip to the NBA Finals when they open the season by hosting the 76ers at Amway Arena.
Philadelphia went 41-41 last year (36-44-2 ATS), but that was good enough for a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division and a second straight trip to the playoffs. However, as was the case in 2007, the 76ers got bounced in the first round in six games, this time losing to Orlando. Although Philadelphia went 4-2 ATS in the six-game series loss to the Magic, they finished the regular season in a 1-6 SU and ATS funk.
Orlando’s second-ever NBA Finals appearance was a brief one, as it lost to the Lakers in five games (1-4 ATS). The Magic did roll to the Southeast Division title and No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 59-23 regular-season mark (49-32-1 ATS), winning 32 of 41 home games. However, Stan Van Gundy’s squad failed to cover in five of its last six regular-season contests.
In addition to eliminating Philadelphia in six games in the playoffs, the Magic went 3-0 SU and ATS against the Sixers in the regular season, and Orlando has won and covered four straight regular-season matchups. Additionally, the Magic are 5-0 (4-1 ATS) in the last five regular-season clashes at Amway Arena.
The Sixers lost five of their final six regular-season road games last season both SU and ATS, the only win coming in a meaningless regular-season finale at Cleveland, a 111-110 overtime triumph with LeBron James and several Cavs starters sitting out. Meanwhile, the Magic went 7-1 ATS in their last eight Eastern Conference playoff games, but have failed to cover in 13 of 19 against Atlantic Division foes and five of seven on Wednesday.
The under was 4-1 in the final five games of last year’s Sixers-Magic playoff series. Also, the under is on runs of 15-7 in Orlando’s last 22 home games and 7-2 in its last nine on Wednesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO and UNDER
New Orleans at San Antonio
Two Southwest Division rivals with NBA championship aspirations get together for the first of four times this year, with the Hornets visiting the Spurs at A&T Center.
After a solid 49-33 regular season (35-45-2 ATS), New Orleans got dumped in the first round of the playoffs last year by the Nuggets, losing the best-of-seven series in five games. The one victory was a two-point nail-bitter, while the four defeats came by point margins of 39, 15, 58 and 21 points. Including the playoffs, the Hornets went 3-10 SU and ATS to end last season.
San Antonio was 54-28 (40-40-2 ATS) in the regular season last year, edging the Rockets by one game in the Southwest race. However, the Spurs failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000, getting upended by the Mavericks in five games (1-4 ATS). Gregg Popovich’s squad won nine of its last 13 regular-season games, including the last four in a row, but including the playoffs, the Spurs closed the season in a 7-15 ATS slump.
The home team swept last year’s four-game season series, but the Hornets went 3-1 ATS. Including a 2008 playoff series, the host has won 12 of the last 13 meetings (11-2 ATS). San Antonio is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings at AT&T Center, and the favorite has cashed in eight of the last 11 in this rivalry.
Including the playoffs, the Hornets failed to cover in five of their last six road games and five of their last seven on Wednesday. San Antonio enters this season in ATS ruts of 3-10 overall, 3-10 at home, 3-11 on Wednesday and 1-7 against division rivals.
The under is 17-7 in New Orleans’ last 24 contests overall, 18-7 in its last 25 against Southwest Division foes and 6-2 in the last eight meetings in this rivalry. However, the Spurs carry “over” trends of 5-1 overall, 5-0 at home and 4-1 on Wednesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO
Utah at Denver
The Nuggets play their first meaningful basketball game since getting bounced by the eventual-champion Lakers in last year’s playoffs, as they host Northwest Division rival Utah at the Pepsi Center.
Denver (54-28, 44-37-1 ATS last year) tied with the Blazers for the Northwest title last year, but won a tiebreaker to earn the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets rolled over the Hornets and Mavericks in the first two rounds, going 8-2 SU and 10-0 ATS, before losing to Los Angeles in six games in the conference finals. Before ending the year with losses of 103-94 and 119-92 to the Lakers, Denver had started the postseason 10-4 SU and 13-1 ATS, with the four losses coming by 2, 2, 2 and 6 points.
Utah (48-34, 39-43 ATS) finished just six games behind Denver in the Northwest, but barely held off Phoenix for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth. However, the Jazz didn’t hang around long, losing to the Lakers in five games (3-2 ATS). Including the postseason, Utah lost 11 of its final 14 games while going 7-16 ATS in its last 23.
The home team swept last year’s four-game season series, but the Nuggets got the cash in each contest. The host is 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS in the last six meetings, including Utah’s 98-94 victory as an eight-point home favorite in last year’s season-opener for both teams. The favorite is 22-10-1 ATS in the last 33 head-to-head matchups.
In addition to its 7-16 overall ATS drought, Utah has failed to cover in 10 of its last 14 on the road and each of its last four on Wednesday. Denver went 8-2 ATS in its 10 playoff home games last spring and enters this year on a 21-7 ATS run overall.
The over is on runs of 9-1 for the Jazz on the road, 7-2 for the Jazz on Wednesday, 5-2 for the Jazz against the Northwest Division and 4-1 for Denver at home. Also, four of the last five series meetings in Denver have hurdled the total, but the under is 4-1 in the last five clashes overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DENVER and OVER
New-Look-Dinos
By SportsPic
Coming off a horrid 2008-09 season the Toronto Raptors cleaned-house and open the campaign with nine new guys. The changes including two new starters along with a much needed deeper bench will make Raptors a much improved team. However with so many new faces, chemistry in the opening month will be a challenge. Getting a victory in their first test is an even bigger challenge. Toronto has not had success against Cavaliers losing all three meetings last season bringing Raptors record to a miserable 3-15 (6-12 ATS) the past five seasons including 3-6 (4-5 ATS) running the hardwood north of the border. Consider a 'Play-Against' Toronto knowing Raptors are 5-14-1 ATS taking six or less points including 1-6-1 against-the-number at the ACC Centre and that Cavaliers enter 6-2 ATS laying six or less on the road, 14-5 ATS playing without rest. As always best of luck.
Tips and Trends
Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets
Jazz: The Jazz have slid back the past two seasons after making the conference finals in 2007. They’ve lost in the second round and opening round the last two seasons. Defense has been a problem for Utah. So has playing on the road where the Jazz went 15-26 last season. Utah has failed to cover in 10 of its past 14 away matchups. This has been a favorite’s series with the chalk going 22-10-1 against the spread during the past 33 meetings. Utah has failed to cover the past four times it has faced Denver. Utah’s frontline players are healthier than they were last year when Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur all were sidelined. Utah, however, could be without Ronnie Brewer (back spasms) and will be missing reserves C.J. Miles and Kyle Korver. The over has cashed in nine of Utah’s past 10 road games.
The Jazz are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 Western Conference games.
The Jazz are 5-12 against the number in their last 17 games overall.
Key Injuries - Guard Ronnie Brewer (back) is questionable.
Forward C.J. Miles (thumb) is out.
Guard Kyle Korver (knee) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 102
Nuggets (-6.5, O/U 209.5): Denver won 33 of its 41 regular-season home games last year. The Nuggets have covered eight of their last 10 at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets made few changes to a team that reached the conference finals for the first time in 24 years. Four of the team’s five starters are back, including point guard Chauncey Billups. He’s had a full season to work with his teammates after joining Denver last November in a trade from Detroit. Billups averaged 17.9 points and 6.4 assists, while giving Denver a tougher defensive mental outlook. Billups could be backed-up by the team’s No. 1 draft choice, Ty Lawson. The Nuggets did lose role players Dahntay Jones and Linas Kleiza. The Nuggets finished last season on a nice pointspread roll covering 21 of their last 28 games. They are 21-6 against the spread in their last 27 games versus Western Conference competition.
The Over is 11-4 the past 15 times Denver has been favored in the minus five to minus 10 1/2 range.
Denver has gone Over 4 of the past five times it has played Utah.
Key Injuries - Guard J.R. Smith (suspension) is out
PROJECTED SCORE: 108 (OVER - Total of the Day)