NBA: Top NBA Weekend Power Trends 3/12-3/14

It’s Selection Sunday weekend in college hoops but in the pro’s the action is heating up as well. In the Eastern Conference the race for the last four seeds in the playoffs figures to come down to the end, with the 5th through 9th place teams separated by

2010-03-12

It’s Selection Sunday weekend in college hoops but in the pro’s the action is heating up as well. In the Eastern Conference the race for the last four seeds in the playoffs figures to come down to the end, with the 5th through 9th place teams separated by just 3-1/2 games at the outset of this weekend. In the West, the eight teams that will likely make up the postseason bracket have separated themselves from the future lottery teams, but still there is a ton to be decided in terms of seedings. While naturally the NBA takes a backseat to the March Madness at this time of year, there is still money to be made, and utilizing Top StatFox Power Trends can help you do so. Read on for a quick look at the weekend action plus the list of top angles to utilize over the next few days.

With all of the college conference tournament action on Friday, there is no ESPN doubleheader this week in the NBA. Still, there are 12 games to choose from, including one between a pair of hot inter-conference foes, Utah and Milwaukee. The Jazz have reached 20-games over .500 by winning and covering their last four games. Against East teams, they are 17-6 SU & 16-6-1 ATS. However, Milwaukee has won 10 of 11 games and is 9-0-2 ATS in that span, and has climbed to a 2-game lead for the 5th spot in the East standings. Amazingly, with 12 games being played the Jazz-Bucks game and that between the Suns and Lakers in Phoenix are the only two featuring teams that would be playoff clubs right now. In that latter game, L.A. is a 2-point road favorite and trying to snap out of a funk that finds them as just 6-4 SU & 2-8 ATS in their L10 games. The Suns could be a lively home dog, boasting a record of 14-4 ATS in their L18 games overall, and owning a 15-point win in their only other occasion as home dogs this season, also versus L.A. Elsewhere on Friday, Cleveland, Denver, and Portland will be in action as road favorites versus conference foes.

On Saturday, there are seven games on tap, including two featuring more of the league’s hottest teams. In one, the Orlando Magic will travel to our nation’s capital to take on the skidding Wizards. In one of the ultimate battles of hot vs. not, the Magic will put their seven game winning streak on the line against a Wizards team that has lost five in a row and is in the midst of a stretch of playing five games in seven days. However, Washington, while 13-20 ATS at home overall, is a respectable 9-9 ATS as a home dog. Dallas, winners of its L13 games, looks for #14 in what should be a likely victory against the Knicks at home. Be careful though, despite the recent surge, the Mavericks remain just 8-24 ATS on the home court. New York continues to flounder, 20-games below .500.

Sunday’s board features the best games of the weekend, with two on national TV. In the first, Eastern Conference contenders square off in Cleveland when the Cavaliers welcome Boston to town. Of late, only one of the teams is playing like a top shelf team however, that being the Cavs. In fact, the Celtics are just 4-4 in their last eight games and have fallen to the 4th spot in the playoff standings. The Cavs are the league’s top team at 50-15, including 28-4 at home. Interestingly, the road team has won and covered both games between these teams this season. A bit later at night, Toronto will be in Portland on NBA TV. The Raptors are on a 1-7 skid headed into a weekend which features back-to-back games on the West coast versus the Warriors and Blazers. At the same time, the Blazers have come alive with seven wins in 10 games to grab control of the #8 spot in the West. Other key games between playoff contenders on Sunday include Charlotte at Orlando, Utah and Oklahoma City, and New Orleans at Phoenix.

Now, here is a look at those Top StatFox Power Trends for the weekend:

Friday, 03/12/2010
(803) CLEVELAND vs. (804) PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA is 0-9 ATS (-9.9 Units) as a home underdog of 6.5 to 12 points over the last 3 seasons. The average score was PHILADELPHIA 90.1, OPPONENT 102.1 - (Rating = 2*)

(807) CHICAGO vs. (808) MIAMI
CHICAGO is 8-0 ATS (+8 Units) in road games vs. marginal winning teams (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) this season. The average score was CHICAGO 100.6, OPPONENT 94.6 - (Rating = 2*)

(809) NEW YORK vs. (810) MEMPHIS
NEW YORK is 20-7 ATS (+12.3 Units) in road games vs good offensive teams scoring 99+ PPG over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NEW YORK 106.1, OPPONENT 110.9 - (Rating = 2*)

(819) UTAH vs. (820) MILWAUKEE
UTAH is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) this season. The average score was UTAH 105.9, OPPONENT 95.8 - (Rating = 3*)

(819) UTAH vs. (820) MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE is 18-5 OVER (+12.5 Units) in non-conference games this season. The average score was MILWAUKEE 103.3, OPPONENT 104.7 - (Rating = 3*)

Saturday, 03/13/2010
(507) LA CLIPPERS vs. (508) SAN ANTONIO
LA CLIPPERS are 2-15 ATS (-14.5 Units) vs. good teams (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) in 2nd half of the last 2 seasons. The average score was LA CLIPPERS 93.7, OPPONENT 109.6 - (Rating = 3*)

(509) NEW JERSEY vs. (510) HOUSTON
NEW JERSEY is 4-17 ATS (-14.7 Units) versus up-tempo teams averaging 83 or more shots/game this season. The average score was NEW JERSEY 93.3, OPPONENT 106.3 - (Rating = 3*)

(511) NEW YORK vs. (512) DALLAS
DALLAS is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games versus up-tempo teams averaging 83 or more shots/game this season. The average score was DALLAS 102.4, OPPONENT 100.6 - (Rating = 2*)

(513) TORONTO vs. (514) GOLDEN STATE
TORONTO is 8-23 ATS (-17.3 Units) versus good shooting teams - making >=46% of their shots over the last 2 seasons. The average score was TORONTO 99, OPPONENT 108.3 - (Rating = 2*)

Sunday, 03/14/2010
(871) INDIANA vs. (872) MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE is 23-5 ATS (+17.5 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season. The average score was MILWAUKEE 101.9, OPPONENT 95 - (Rating = 4*)

(873) BOSTON vs. (874) CLEVELAND
BOSTON is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) versus teams who make 6 or more 3 point shots/game on the season this season. The average score was BOSTON 96.6, OPPONENT 96.9 - (Rating = 2*)

(877) CHARLOTTE vs. (878) ORLANDO
CHARLOTTE is 3-16 ATS (-14.6 Units) in road games vs. good teams (Win% 60%-70%) in 2nd half of season since '96. The average score was CHARLOTTE 91.7, OPPONENT 106.8 - (Rating = 2*)

(881) NEW ORLEANS vs. (882) PHOENIX
NEW ORLEANS is 11-26 ATS (-17.6 Units) versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ PPG over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 98.1, OPPONENT 104.8 - (Rating = 2*)

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