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**StarDust Bum** · 12-28-2010, 06:49 PM

Heat look to beat Knicks for 7th straight time

NEW YORK KNICKS (18-12)

at MIAMI HEAT (23-9)

Tip-off: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Miami -8.5, Total: 203.5

The Knicks and the Heat meet again for the second time this month; this time in Miami. After being tied at 57 at halftime, Miami dominated the second half to win 113-91 on Dec. 17 in New York -- its sixth win in a row against the Knicks. LeBron James had 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Heat shot an astounding 54.9 percent (45-82 FG) including 10-for-18 from three-point range. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each added 26 points. New York struggled offensively, shooting 39.3 percent (35-89 FG), while Amar’e Stoudemire scored only 24 points on 11-of-28 shooting (also 39.3%) -- snapping his franchise-record streak of nine consecutive 30-point games.

After losing to Miami, the Knicks lost in overtime in Cleveland the following night, but have since won two in a row, winning most recently against the Bulls on Christmas Day, 103-95. New York carries a 10-5 mark in away games this season and has been successful covering the numbers at 12-3 ATS. As one of the worst defending teams in the league (106.6 PPG), the Knicks’ high-scoring offense (107.9 PPG) will be crucial against the league’s best defending team (90.8 PPG allowed).

The Heat also played on Christmas Day and won 96-80 over the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Big Three -- James, Wade, and Bosh -- combined for 69 points and 29 rebounds as the Heat outscored the Lakers 44-26 in the paint. Miami has lost only once (Dallas, Dec. 20) over the past 15 games (10-4-1 ATS). The Heat are averaging just over 100 points per contest (100.5) and are 12-2 when they score over the century mark.

After winning two on the road, the Heat return to Miami, where they are a solid 12-4 straight up, but have been unkind to bettors with a 5-10-1 ATS mark. Miami looks good to win its second meeting against New York, but the Knicks have been successful covering the spread in away games, so I pick them to cover the spread.

The Knicks are 25-14 ATS in Miami since 1996, and these FoxSheets trends also pick New York to cover the spread:

Play Against - Favorites of 10 or more points (MIAMI) - a good defensive team (88-92 PPG) against a horrible defensive team (>=102 PPG), after allowing 85 points or less. (32-10 since 1996.) (76.2%, +21 units. Rating = 2*).

MIAMI is 7-20 ATS (25.9%, -15.0 Units) in home games vs. excellent free-throw shooting teams - making >=80% of their shots since 1996. The average score was MIAMI 91.3, OPPONENT 96.4 - (Rating = 1*).

**StarDust Bum** · 12-28-2010, 06:50 PM

Syracuse to go to 14-0 hosting Providence

PROVIDENCE FRIARS (11-2)

at SYRACUSE ORANGE (13-0)

Tip-off: Tuesday, 9:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Syracuse -13.5, Total: 153

It’s three days after Christmas, and on paper at least, Syracuse (13-0) and Providence (11-2) are separated by just two losses. In reality, that gap is a lot closer than most experts thought they would be at this point. During the preseason, Big East coaches tabbed Syracuse to finish third just behind Pittsburgh and Villanova. They also picked Keno Davis' Providence squad to finish near the cellar, rating them 14th out of the 16 league teams. Now to be fair, those same coaches chose Connecticut to finish 10th in conference, and all the Huskies have done is surge to a Top 10 national ranking and stay there for the last month. Long story short, you can predict whatever you want, until the rubber meets the hardwood, it’s just a forecast. A non-binding, no-obligation barometer of the future. Sort of like a snowstorm prediction, only with a chance of being accurate. Well the Big East season opener is here, and while the calendar may only read December for both teams, this game may be as important as any Providence hopes to play in March.

The Friars are led by one of the best players in the country you may not have seen perform over the last four seasons. Swingman Marshon Brooks (23.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 51.2 FG%) has toiled in obscurity at Providence while improving his scoring, rebounding, steals, and FG% averages in each of his four seasons at the school. He has been referred to by the legendary Bill Reynolds of the Providence Journal as the man "destined to be the next great Friar." Tuesday night in the Carrier Dome, Brooks will have a golden opportunity to put that greatness to the test.

Sophomore guard Vincent Council (16.0 PPG) leads Providence with 6.8 APG (a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio) as well as 4.5 rebounds per game. An impressive number for someone only standing 6-foot-2. Freshman guard Gerald Coleman has been a pleasant surprise, chipping in with 10.4 PPG on 47.8% shooting from the floor, although his FT shooting (54%) is nothing to write home about. Spearheading the Friar success on the interior has been sophomore big man Bilal Dixon (6.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG) who is leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots. Providence's 42.5 RPG is good for fifth-best nationally. The Friars will need to bring all of that tenacity and then some against the Orange.

Head coach Jim Boeheim may have more athletic length on his team's frontline than the city of Syracuse has snow in the winter (if that is possible). Senior forward Rick Jackson (13.9 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.0 BPG) is arguably the best pure rebounder in the conference, and maybe the nation. He combines with junior Kris Joseph (14.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG) to form an imposing 1-2 combo on the interior. Six-foot-10 freshman Baye Moussa Keita (3.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG) has provided some valuable energy off the bench in spelling Jackson and Joseph. The starting backcourt of Scoop Jardine (13.2 PPG, 5.9 APG) and Brandon Triche (9.2 PPG) has been active, but each player is shooting in the low 40's from the field, and the low 30's from beyond the arc. While Syracuse is undefeated with wins over Michigan State, Michigan and N.C. State, Boeheim knows that his guards need to start hitting the perimeter jumpers more consistently before the paint area gets too tight for Jackson and Joseph, as opposing teams try to choke off the Orange ability to dominate inside.

Last season Providence finished 12-19, so this year’s 11-2 start represents a much-improved outlook from years gone by. But if the Friars and Brooks are to turn this struggling program around, they're going to need to do it with a knockout punch of someone major on its schedule. Presently there are five Big East teams ranked in the Top 10 nationally, Providence gets a crack at one of them Wednesday night in the Carrier Dome. No time like the present.

The Orange are 10-4 (SU and ATS) versus Providence since 1997 and these two highly-rated FoxSheets trends also expect Syracuse to win and cover the hefty spread:

Play On - A home team (SYRACUSE) - hot shooting team - 3 straight games making >=47% of their shots against opponent after a game - attempting 20+ more free throws than opponent. (41-14 since 1997.) (74.5%, +25.6 units. Rating = 3*).

Play Against - Road underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points (PROVIDENCE) - after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games, playing with 5 or 6 days rest. (33-10 over the last 5 seasons.) (76.7%, +22 units. Rating = 3*).

This four-star FoxSheets trend thinks the game will finish Over the Total.

PROVIDENCE is 12-1 OVER (+10.9 Units) after 1 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons. The average score was PROVIDENCE 79.7, OPPONENT 76.9 - (Rating = 4*).

**StarDust Bum** · 12-28-2010, 06:51 PM

Spurs favored by 3.5 over Lakers

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (21-9)

at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (26-4)

Tip-off: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
Line: San Antonio -3.5, Total: 197

Two of the top teams in the West meet Tuesday night for the first of four regular-season matchups as the Lakers take on the Spurs in San Antonio.

The Lakers are coming off a disappointing 96-80 Christmas Day loss to the Heat, after losing 98-79 to the Bucks five days prior. Both of these losses marked L.A.’s lowest scoring games of the season. Kobe Bryant (25.4 PPG) only scored 21 points against the Bucks and a team-high 17 against the Heat on 6-of-16 shooting. Pau Gasol (19.5 PPG, 11 RPG) also scored 17 points and had eight rebounds as the Lakers finished the night with a dismal 40.5 percent shooting (32-79 FG).

Los Angeles is hoping a couple games away from the Staples Center can boost its usually high-scoring offense (104.6 PPG). The Lakers have played well on the road this year at 11-5 straight up and 9-7 ATS. Prior to the two recent losses, L.A. finished 6-1 straight up (4-3 ATS) on a seven-game, Eastern Conference road trip.

The Spurs, meanwhile, rebounded nicely from a 22-point loss in Orlando last Thursday, snapping their 10-game winning streak (5-5 ATS), with a 94-80 win against Washington on Sunday. It was also the first game San Antonio has covered in the past five contests. The Spurs held the Wizards to 37.5 percent shooting and capitalized on missed shots to outscore Washington 19-7 on fast-break points. Manu Ginobili (19.5 PPG) led San Antonio with 21 points (8-13 FG) and Tony Parker (17.7 PPG, 7.2 APG) added 20 points and dished 14 assists.

San Antonio has been phenomenal in the AT&T Center this year with a 17-2 mark, but is only a mediocre 10-9 ATS. The Spurs are averaging 107.0 PPG at home and holding opponents to 96.9 PPG (+10.1). They took the last meeting against the Lakers 100-81 on April 4, 2010 in Los Angeles. With the recent Laker losses and the Spurs playing so well at home, I pick San Antonio to win and cover the spread.

Since 1996, the Spurs are 23-18 SU at home against the Lakers and 41-39 ATS overall. These FoxSheets trends also pick San Antonio to cover the spread:

Play Against - Underdogs (LA LAKERS) - good shooting team (45.5-47.5%) against an poor defensive team (45.5-47.5%), good ball handling team (<=14.5 TO's) against an average pressure defensive team (14.5-16.5 TO's). (70-34 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.3%, +32.6 units. Rating = 2*).

SAN ANTONIO is 27-12 ATS (69.2%, +13.8 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SAN ANTONIO 102.3, OPPONENT 94.4 - (Rating = 1*).

**StarDust Bum** · 12-28-2010, 07:00 PM

NHL Odds: Flyers open trip in Vancouver

Philadelphia embarks on a grueling five-game road trip with Tuesday’s tilt against the Vancouver Canucks. The Flyers (22-8-2-3) currently find themselves in second place in the Atlantic Division with 49 points, and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia has struggled to a 3-7 record its last 10 games against Northwest Division opponents.

Vancouver (21-8-3-2) sits atop the Northwest Division standings with 47 points, five points ahead of second-place Colorado. The Canucks are presently in second place in the Western Conference, just one point behind Detroit but only one point ahead of third-seed Dallas. Vancouver, 60-24 its previous 84 home games, concludes a brief two-game homestand with this contest.

Philadelphia was riding a five-game winning streak before getting blanked by Florida Dec. 20 as 199 home ‘chalk,’ 5-0. The five goals failed to eclipse the NHL odds, enabling the ‘under’ to improve to 5-1 the previous six outings. That marked the Flyers first loss in regulation since a Dec. 1 shutout by Boston.

Philadelphia managed only 16 shots on goal the first two periods before firing 10 shots in the final stanza. The Flyers were also on the short end of faceoffs won, 35-27. This eight-day break marks the longest inactive period of the season for the team.

Vancouver has recorded back-to-back victories after skating past Edmonton Sunday as a decided 251 home favorite, 3-2. The combined five goals slithered ‘under’ the 5 ½-goal closing total, ending a string of consecutive ‘over’ outings.

The Canucks prevailed by outscoring the Oilers in the third period, 2-0, with Kevin Bieksa’s winning goal occurring with only 24 seconds remaining. Vancouver has not lost a game in regulation since a Dec. 5 setback against St. Louis.

The Canucks also got goals from Jeff Tambellini and Mikael Samuelsson, helping the team to an advantage in shots on goal, 33-21. Netminder Cory Schneider stonewalled 19 shots in the victory.

Philadelphia and Vancouver have not played each other this season, but the road team has won the previous four meetings. The Flyers are 11-4 the past 15 encounters with the Canucks, while the ‘under’ has cashed the last two outings.

Philadelphia defenseman Chris Pronged (foot) and defenseman Matt Walker (hip) are ‘out’ the next couple of weeks due to injuries. The Flyers follow this contest with road games against Los Angeles, Anaheim, Detroit and New Jersey. Philadelphia enters this game ranking fourth in the league in goals per game (3.3), fifth in goals against (2.4) and 11th in penalty-kill percentage (83.2).

Vancouver left wing Mason Raymond is ‘out’ for this matchup due to a thumb injury. The Canucks rank second in goals per game (3.4), second in power-play percentage (23.9), fifth in penalty-kill percentage (85.6) and seventh in goals against (2.5).

TSN will provide coverage of Tuesday’s contest that is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. PT from Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-28-2010, 07:01 PM

NBA Betting Preview: Cold Lakers visit hot Spurs

The suddenly offensively challenged Los Angeles Lakers certainly don’t receive a break in their tough schedule Tuesday when they travel to San Antonio to play a Spurs team that owns the best record in the NBA.

The Lakers are ranked sixth in the league offensively by scoring an average of 104.6 points per game. But one would hardly think that was an accurate statistic by watching their last two games.

Phil Jackson’s troops enter Tuesday’s contest off two consecutive embarrassing home losses to Cleveland and Miami. The Lakers managed a season-low 79 points against the Cavs during a 19-point loss and 80 points against the Heat during a 16-point spanking.

The setback against the Heat was particularly hard to swallow, since the Christmas Day game was nationally televised and supposedly a possible preview of this season’s NBA Finals.

Los Angeles shot 45.5 percent against Milwaukee, which isn't that bad, and 40.5 percent against Miami, which is pretty poor.

The Lakers haven't won a quarter in eight consecutive attempts. The last time it happened was during the fourth quarter of their Dec. 18 victory over the Toronto Raptors when they outscored Toronto, 34-31.

Kobe Bryant missed 10-of-16 shots against the Heat and finished with 17 points. Pau Gasol missed nine of his 17 attempts and also scored 17 points. Bryant started by missing his first four shots, while Gasol missed his first seven.

Overall, the Lakers are shooting 46.1 percent, which ranks 13th in the league. They are allowing an average of 97.8 points on 43.6 percent shooting, which ranks 14th. Though those are certainly winning numbers, the figures in the past two games have been troubling.

The Lakers have won five consecutive games on the road to raise their record away from Staples Center to 11-5 SU and 9-7 ATS. The Lakers are outscoring the opposition on the road by an average of 103.6 to 97.8, with the ‘under’ going 9-3 in their last 12 road dates. The ‘under’ is 15-4 in the Lakers’ last 19 contests and 18-12 in their first 30 overall encounters.

The sizzling Spurs have captured 11 of their last 12 games, including Sunday’s 94-80 home victory against the Washington Wizards. San Antonio barely covered as 13 ½-point favorites, which snapped its string of four straight non-covers. Nevertheless, the Spurs are just 6-6 ATS during that 12-game span and 17-12-1 ATS overall.

The win also lifted San Antonio’s home ledger to a sparkling 17-2 SU. Though the Spurs are outscoring the opposition at home by an average of 11 points per game (107-96), they are just 10-9 ATS through 19 home dates.

The Spurs have registered 100 points or more in seven of their last 10 outings, helping them move into fourth in the league offensively with a 106.2 PPG average. They are also fourth in field goal percentage (47.3 percent) and first in three-point shooting (40.8 percent).

Those stellar offensive numbers have helped the ‘over’ go 17-13 in San Antonio’s first 30 overall outings. However, the ‘under’ is 7-3 in the club’s last 10 home dates.

The game against the Wizards gave the Spurs a chance to get their running game back in synch, as Tony Parker contributed a season-high 14 assists. George Hill, who returned to the lineup after missing four games with a sprained big toe, helped ignite an offense that produced only two fast-break points against Orlando.

The Spurs had a 19-7 advantage in fast-break points against Washington and racked up 27 assists on 37 field goals. They notched 13 assists on their first 14 baskets.

The Lakers and Spurs split four games both SU and ATS last season, with each club winning one game on the road. The ‘under’ cashed in all four matchups, leaving the ‘under’ 19-7 in the last 26 series meetings. The Lakers are also 7-2 ATS in the last nine overall head-to-head meetings.

Los Angeles will continue the tough part of its schedule Wednesday by playing the second half of a back-to-back situation at New Orleans. The Spurs will travel to Dallas for a Thursday game against the Mavs.

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