Charlotte Bobcats at Phoenix Suns Betting Preview
Opening Line: Bobcats +5.5 / -5.5 O/U 210
Time: 9 PM EST Tuesday January 26, 2010 on FAHD
Tonight in a game of a couple of teams that are not playing well the Phoenix Suns host the Charlotte Bobcats. The Suns lost their last game and are only 3-7 in their last 10 games and the Bobcats have lost 3 in a row, but are 6-4 in their last 10.
This season the Suns are 17-5 at home and 22-22-1 ATS and the Bobcats are 3-17 on the road and 25-17 ATS.
In their last games the Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets 104-93 last night and the Bobcats lost to the Utah Jazz 124-115 also last night.
These teams could not be more opposite, as the Suns are one of the best teams and home and are the highest scoring team in the league (109.9 ppg) while the Bobcats are a poor team on the road and do not have a high scoring offense (94.3 ppg), but have given up the fewest points per game (92.8 ppg).
In away games the Bobcats offense has really struggled, as they are averaging 89.5 ppg on only 44.7% shooting from the field.
The Bobcats were playing great before their recent 3-game losing streak and they have climbed back in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference where they currently hold the 8th position.
Charlotte has a tough task tonight, as they have to slow down the Suns and try to make this more of a half court game.
The Bobcats do not have a high scoring offense and they will have to get good scoring games from Gerald Wallace (18.5 ppg) and Stephen Jackson (19.9 ppg).
The high flying Suns are led by PG Steve Nash (18.4 ppg), who is 2nd in the NBA in assists per game. For the Bobcats to have a chance to win this game PG Raymond Felton (12.5 ppg) will have to stay in front of Nash and not allow him to get out on the break and set up easy fast break buckets. Luckily for the Bobcats Nash is only averaging 9.8 ppg and 6.6 assists per game in his last 5 games against Charlotte.
The Bobcats also have to worry about backup PG Goran Dragic (8.2 ppg), who has blown up for 52 points in the last 2 Suns' games.
Charlotte has been slightly better on the boards this season, as they have a rebounding differential of +0.6 rpg while Phoenix is at -2.0 rpg. However, Charlotte is without C Tyson Chandler, out with injury, so they will need to hit the glass as a team.
Amare Stoudemire (20.9 ppg 8.6 rpg) may have a big game tonight on both sides of the floor since Chandler is out.
Phoenix is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games, and the total has gone Under in their last 5 games at home as the favorite. Charlotte is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games, 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against teams in the Pacific Division, and the total has gone Over in 5 of their last 6 games.
Our Selection : Neither one of these teams are playing extremely well, so we're going to stay away from the side in this match-up and place our money on the total. The Bobcats will be playing their 4th game in 5 nights and like the Suns are playing back to back. Most handicappers know that this situation does not reflect well on a defence. Charlotte's defence has been adequate for most of the season, but the Bobcats have struggled mightily in their last 3 allowing 104 points per game. The Suns on the other hand simply don't play defence allowing opponents 104.9 points per game at home. Bodog currently has this total at 210 and we think that number is way off. Take Over 210 points
Future Betting Odds
NBA Handicapping
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics 5-28
The Magic have won 2 games in a row in this series and look to tie the series tonight, as the Boston Celtics hosts Orlando in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Magic have got back in this series and look to become the first team ever in the NBA to come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Celtics are small 3.5 point favorite at Bodog tonight when they try to close out this series at home.