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**StarDust Bum** · 11-05-2010, 07:01 PM

Heat-Hornets both riding 4-game win streaks

MIAMI HEAT (4-1)

at NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (4-0)

Tip-off: Friday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Miami -6.5, Total: 188

Miami has crushed its last four opponents by an average of 25.2 points per game. Scoring 100.6 PPG and holding opponents to an NBA-low 84.0 PPG, the Heat lead the league for the biggest point differential with 16.6 PPG. The all-star trio -- Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh -- account for more than half the team’s points and are sharing the ball nicely with a combined 13.0 assists per game. With the offense producing big numbers with ease, defense is going to be the modus operandi Friday night in New Orleans. Miami finished second in the league last year in both points allowed (94.2 PPG) and field goal percentage defense (43.9%). The Heat will especially need to defend well on the perimeter against the Hornets, who are averaging 37.9 FG Pct from downtown.

Meanwhile, New Orleans has won its first four games (both SU and ATS), and is one of three undefeated teams remaining in the league. The Hornets head back to the Big Easy after winning two in a row in Texas against the Spurs and the Rockets. Chris Paul and David West are both shooting over 50% from the field and leading the team with 21.3 PPG and 17.5 PPG, respectively. New Orleans is also shooting well at 47.0 FG Pct and averaging 100.5 PPG, while holding opponents to 93.8 PPG. Despite the Hornets going 3-1 straight up and 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings, Miami is clearly a different team this year with its newly-formed superstar trio and looks favorable to end New Orleans’ winning streak.

These FoxSheets stats expect Miami to cover the spread:

MIAMI is 18-6 ATS (75.0%, +11.4 Units) in road games versus excellent ball handling teams - committing <=12 turnovers/game since 1996. The average score was MIAMI 88.7, OPPONENT 93.0 - (Rating = 0*).

NEW ORLEANS is 25-49 ATS (33.8%, -28.9 Units) versus good 3 point shooting teams - making >=36% of their attempts over the last 3 seasons. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 95.0, OPPONENT 99.9 - (Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 11-05-2010, 07:03 PM

Penguins, Ducks both off to slow starts
By: Barry Daniels | Thursday, November 4, 2010

The slumping Pittsburgh Penguins will waddle their way into Anaheim on Friday night to play the Ducks in a battle of two teams that are off to disappointing starts. The Pens have dropped four of their last five games en route to a 6-6-1 start, while the Ducks have begun the campaign with a 5-7-1 ledger.

Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing skid last Saturday at the beginning of this four-game trip by blanking Carolina, 3-0. However, the Pens returned to their losing ways Tuesday when they dropped a 5-2 decision at Dallas as 107 road favorites.

Though the combined seven goals slithered ‘over’ the NHL betting total, the ‘under’ is 7-6 in Pittsburgh’s first 13 endeavors.

The Penguins continued to struggle on the power play against the Stars, going 0-for-4 with the man advantage. Despite a ton of offensive firepower, Pittsburgh has now failed to score a power play goal in its last six games spanning 26 opportunities.

Trailing, 2-0, in the first period against the Stars, winger Eric Godard drew an interference penalty against Stars defenseman Trevor Daley. Just 23 seconds into the power play, Evgeni Malkin took a stick in the face from Dallas' Adam Burish.

The Pens were looking at 1:37 of a five-on-three advantage but squandered it with two shots. That particularly stings considering Dallas entered the game ranked last in the NHL in penalty killing with a success rate of 68.4 percent.

But the Penguins now rank 26th on the power play by connecting on just 12.1 percent of their chances. Pittsburgh is also having a problem staying out of the penalty box, evidenced by the club ranking third with 231 penalty minutes.

The Stars got to Brent Johnson, the Penguins backup goaltender who had not allowed a regulation goal in his previous two starts. Johnson, who stopped 24 of 29 shots, saw his record fall to 5-1-1-0 with a nifty 1.70 GAA and .941 save percentage. He also has one shutout.

But Marc-Andre Fleury, the starting netminder who the Penguins were counting on to carry the club for another deep run in the playoffs, is just 1-5 in his first six starts. He has a bloated 3.35 GAA and a dismal .863 save percentage.

Anaheim began its three-game homestand Wednesday by nipping Tampa Bay in overtime, 3-2, which snapped a two-game losing skid. The Ducks closed as skinny 105 home favorites, with the combined five goals slithering ‘under’ the 5 ½-goal closing total.

Though the ‘under’ is 7-6 in the Ducks’ first 13 games this season, the ‘over’ is 22-8 in their last 30 home games dating to last season.

Kyle Palmieri scored the tying goal against Tampa Bay late in regulation of his first NHL game. Ryan Getzlaf netted the winner 2:53 into overtime to lift Anaheim to the victory.

Teemu Selanne, who had a goal and an assist, circled the net before backhanding a pass to Getzlaf. The Ducks' captain won the game with his fifth goal this season.

Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller made 32 saves to improve his record to 4-5-0-1. He has a 2.99 GAA and .918 save percentage.

The Ducks are managing just 28.2 shots per contest (23rd), which explains why they are 21st in the league offensively with a 2.5 GPG average. Anaheim is yielding 3.3 goals per game (25th) thanks in part to leading the league in penalty minutes (270).

Pittsburgh captured both meetings against the Ducks last season, including a 4-3 victory as 105 underdogs in the lone game at Anaheim. However, the home team is still 7-1 in the last eight series meetings. Both matchups last season skipped ‘over’ the closing 5 ½-goal total.

The Penguins might be without Pascal Dupuis (personal), who is listed as “questionable.” Anaheim center Kyle Chipchura is “doubtful” because of a concussion.

Anaheim concludes its homestand Sunday against Nashville, while the Penguins finish their four-game road swing with a Saturday contest at Phoenix.

**StarDust Bum** · 11-05-2010, 07:04 PM

Lakers continue easy schedule versus Raptors
By: Barry Daniels | Thursday, November 4, 2010

Those who believed the Los Angeles Lakers would be suffering a bit of a hangover from playing deep into the postseason en route to capturing last season’s NBA title need to reassess that opinion. The Lakers will bring a perfect 5-0 ledger into Friday night’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors.

The Lakers extended their season-opening winning streak to five games and improved their NBA spread record to 4-1 with Wednesday’s 112-100 victory at Sacramento as five-point road favorites.

The combined 212 points flew north of the 207 ½-point closing total, which enabled the ‘over’ to cash in four of the Lakers’ first five outings. Though Los Angeles has amassed triple-digits in each of its first five outings, the club has yielded 100 points or more on four occasions.

A fairly easy early schedule may have something to do with the Lakers’ fast start. Six of the Lakers’ first eight opponents this season will be against teams that had a record below .500 last year. That includes games against Minnesota (15-67), Sacramento (25-57) and Golden State (26-56). The Lakers will also play six of their first eight games at Staples Center.

All five Lakers starters notched double figures in Wednesday’s win, but Kobe Bryant’s triple-double grabbed the headlines. Bryant poured in a game-high 30 points and added 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Pau Gasol added 22 points and 11 boards, while Lamar Odom contributed 18 points and eight rebounds.

The Lakers shot 46 percent from the field (39-of-84) and a sizzling 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) from beyond the three-point line. The Lakers were out-rebounded by the Kings, 60-50, but had four more assists (24-20). Los Angeles was 23-of-28 from the charity stripe compared to 14-of-23 for the Kings.

Phil Jackson’s troops lead the league with a 113.0 PPG average, and also are tops in three-point shooting (46.3 percent). They are also second in rebounding, hauling down an average of 49.4 boards per game. However, the Lakers rank 17th in the league on defense by allowing 100.8 PPG.

Returning to Staples Center for Friday’s contest against the Raptors will give the Lakers a great chance to start the season with a 6-0 record. Los Angeles is 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in three home games this season after going 34-7 SU on its home court last season.

Toronto has dropped the first two outings on a four-game West Coast road excursion. That includes Tuesday’s 125-108 setback at Utah as a 10 ½-point underdog. The combined 233 points soared ‘over’ the 206 ½-point closing total, leaving the ‘over/under’ split in the club’s first four contests.

The Raptors began the trip with a 111-108 loss at Sacramento after splitting two home games to begin the campaign. They are 1-3 ATS in their first four efforts. However, Toronto is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 road endeavors dating to last season. The ‘over’ is 10-4 in the club’s last 14 overall outings.

Toronto could not overcome a 41-point first quarter in Tuesday’s loss at Utah, though the club did cut the lead to one point (81-80) in the third quarter. Andrea Bargnani had 26 points to lead the Raptors, while Sonny Weems came off the bench to score 23.

The Raptors rank 12th in scoring through their first four games with a 102.5 PPG average. However, they are yielding 103.8 PPG, which ranks 21st.

The Lakers and Raptors split two games last season, with each club squeaking out a win at home. The Raptors covered the spread on each occasion, and both outings catapulted ‘over’ the closing total.

The first meeting saw the Raptors register a 106-105 victory as four-point home underdogs, while the Lakers took the rematch as 11 ½-point home favorites, 109-107.

Toronto concludes its four-game West Coast jaunt by traveling to Portland for a Saturday contest against the Blazers. The Lakers stay home for a Sunday meeting with those same Blazers

**Kaptain** · 11-05-2010, 09:15 PM

lock and load bum

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