The Bum's February NBA Best Bets !

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Sunday, February 10

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Trend Report
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1:00 PM
LA CLIPPERS vs. NEW YORK
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games when playing on the road against New York
LA Clippers are 5-11 SU in their last 16 games when playing on the road against New York
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
New York is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

3:30 PM
LA LAKERS vs. MIAMI
LA Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami's last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
Miami is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Lakers

6:00 PM
DENVER vs. BOSTON
Denver is 2-12 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Boston
Denver is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Boston is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Boston's last 13 games at home

6:00 PM
PORTLAND vs. ORLANDO
Portland is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games when playing Orlando
Orlando is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Portland
Orlando is 3-7-1 ATS in its last 11 games when playing at home against Portland

6:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. MEMPHIS
Minnesota is 4-11-1 ATS in its last 16 games
Minnesota is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Memphis's last 21 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 6 games at home

6:00 PM
NEW ORLEANS vs. TORONTO
New Orleans is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
New Orleans is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans

8:00 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. BROOKLYN
San Antonio is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
San Antonio is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
Brooklyn is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Brooklyn's last 5 games at home

8:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. PHOENIX
Oklahoma City is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Oklahoma City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Phoenix's last 10 games when playing Oklahoma City
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City

9:00 PM
HOUSTON vs. SACRAMENTO
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Houston's last 15 games when playing on the road against Sacramento
Houston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Sacramento is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Sacramento's last 15 games when playing at home against Houston

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Sunday, February 10

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NBA on ABC betting preview: Clippers at Knicks, Lakers at Heat
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Los Angeles Clippers at New York Knicks (-3.5, 193.5)

The Los Angeles Clippers got Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Blake Griffin back on Friday, but it did not do much good at the Miami Heat. Those three will try to break the Clippers out of their current funk when they visit the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon. Los Angeles has lost four of its five games this month as Paul (bruised knee cap) and Griffin (hamstring) have struggled to stay on the court.

The Knicks had to wait to get back into New York thanks to the blizzard that snowed under much of the Northeast on Friday and Saturday. But after finishing a two-game road trip with a win in Minnesota, New York managed to land safely on Saturday afternoon and should be all set to take on the stumbling Clippers. Los Angeles ran into the LeBron James freight train on Friday and not even the presence of Paul and Griffin could keep the game from turning into a rout.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (35-17, 28-24-0 ATS): Paul had missed 12 of the previous 14 games due to the injured kneecap and Billups has played in only four games this season after recovering from surgery and battling past a foot problem. Los Angeles fell into a big rut in the games Paul missed and has lost eight of its last 11 overall to fall from the top of the Western Conference into third place behind San Antonio and Oklahoma City. While scoring had been a problem with Paul on the shelf, the Clippers showed the various defensive holes that have developed in the 111-89 setback at Miami on Friday. The Knicks don’t have anyone like James on the roster, but Carmelo Anthony is certainly capable of taking advantage of Los Angeles on the wings and in the post like James did on Friday. The Clippers are down to the last two stops on the Grammy-demanded eight-game road trip before a stretch of five straight at Staples Center.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (32-16, 25-21-2 ATS): Only the brilliance of James has kept New York out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and Anthony is not all that far behind in terms of MVP-type impact. The All-Star forward went for 36 points and nine rebounds in the 100-94 win over Minnesota on Friday and has put up 31.3 points in the last three contests. The Knicks have won six of their last seven games overall and have held opponents under the century mark in each of the victories. New York relies plenty on the 3-pointer for offense and is shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc over the last seven games, despite a slight dip (8-for-26) against the Timberwolves on Friday.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in New York.
* Road team is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Clippers are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. The Knicks have won five straight at home and are 19-6 at Madison Square Garden.

2. Paul has averaged 21.3 points and 10.3 assists in 11 career games against New York.

3. Los Angeles F Matt Barnes suffered a finger injury on Friday but is expected to play Sunday.



Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat (-7, 202)

LeBron James even has his teammates thinking he’s from another planet with how strong his game has been of late. The Los Angeles Lakers, who visit James and the Miami Heat on Sunday afternoon, are hoping for a rare off day from the superstar forward. James needed only 11 field goal attempts to reach 30 points in a rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday and is shooting 76.7 percent over the last three games. The Lakers are coming off a victory.

Los Angeles got Dwight Howard (shoulder) back on Thursday but it did not do much good in a rout at Boston. But the All-Star center settled in a little better in Friday’s win at Charlotte and pulled down 11 rebounds in 38 minutes. The Heat don’t have anyone to match up against a healthy Howard, but they do have James. The Lakers will likely run some combination of Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Earl Clark and Antawn Jamison at James on Sunday.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT THE LAKERS (24-27, 21-29-1 ATS): Los Angeles has won four of its last five games but has only faced one playoff-caliber team in that stretch and failed miserably in a 116-95 loss at the Celtics. With Pau Gasol out at least a month after suffering a foot injury earlier in the road trip, Howard’s return from a torn labrum has become a topic of much debate surrounding the team. Howard will require surgery at some point and is playing through pain while the team is shorthanded. Bryant went scoreless in the first half at Charlotte on Friday before finishing with 20 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the 100-93 triumph. Bryant, who has become more of a distributor as the Lakers have started to improve, did not record an assist in the loss at Boston.

ABOUT THE HEAT (33-14, 23-24-0 ATS): James has improved his game so much that even fellow All-Stars are amazed. “He’s off the planet right now,” Dwyane Wade told reporters of James. “He’s not even the best basketball player on the planet, he’s surpassed the planet.” James went 9-for-11 in the 111-89 win over the Clippers, helping his team to a convincing win despite Chris Bosh and Ray Allen sitting out due to illness. James put on a similar shooting display at the Lakers on Jan. 17, going 17-for-25 from floor en route to a season-high 39 points in a 99-90 victory. Wade added 27 points in that victory and is battling his way through the illness taking over the Heat locker room. Wade has put up at least 20 points in each of the last four games.

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in Miami.
* Lakers are 1-8 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Underdog is 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Lakers are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in Miami.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. The Heat have taken five of the last six meetings.

2. Howard, who spent the previous eight seasons with the Orlando Magic in the Southeast Division, has averaged 17 points and 13.4 rebounds in his career against Miami.

3. Sunday marks the last stop on Los Angeles’ seven-game Grammy-inspired road trip.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Sunday, February 10

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Five NBA teams keeping over bettors in the black
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NBA scoreboards have been humming over the past seven days, with big scores handing over bettors even bigger paydays. Since last Saturday, NBA games have posted a collective 30-21 over/under count.

While that doesn’t seem like much to the casual basketball fan, the betting public recognizes that the over is hitting at more than 58 percent in that seven-day stretch. And 58 percent is like striking oil for sports bettors. On the year, the NBA boasts a 370-362 over/under count (50.55 percent) heading into Saturday’s action.

More than a few teams are trending toward the high side of the total in recent games - even some which have been steady under plays all season. Here are five clubs cashing in the most for over bettors in recent games:

Indiana Pacers (4-1 over/over last five, 6-2 over/under last eight)

When the Pacers are playing over, you know something is up. Indiana is the perfect storm of under plays, ranking among the worst in offense and best in defense. But the Pacers, who average just 92.8 points per game, are scoring 102.75 points a night in their last eight. That offensive surge could get a boost from the return of SF Danny Granger before the All-Star break.

Denver Nuggets (6-0 over/under last six, 9-1 over/under last 10)

The Nuggets have been the hottest team in the NBA, coming up big not only for spread bettors but also fans of the over. Heading into Saturday, Denver rides an eight-game winning streak and has played above the number in seven of those games. The Nuggets are averaging an insane 115 points a night during this streak and have topped the 120-point plateau three times in those games.

Golden State Warriors (4-0 over/under last four, 8-1 over/under last nine)

Winning over plays is nothing new to Warriors fans. The franchise has lived by an offense-first philosophy for the better part of a decade and 2012-13 is no different. The Warriors’ lack of defense is as much to blame for those high scores as well. Golden State has allowed opponents to score over 119 points during their current three-game road trip, which ends in Dallas Saturday. Most notably, they gave up 140 points to Houston earlier this week.

Phoenix Suns (4-1 over/under last five, 6-2 over/under last eight)

The Suns’ current over run has more to do with their recent opponents than the team itself. Phoenix has played Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Memphis, Golden State and Dallas in the last five games. Those teams have a combined 19-6 over/under record in each of their last five games. The Suns offense isn’t putting much of a dent in those totals, scoring only 93.6 points in that five-game span. Phoenix finishes a home-and-home with the Thunder as hosts Sunday.

Memphis Grizzlies (3-0 over/under last three, 7-2 over/under last nine)

It seems Rudy Gay’s offense isn’t the only thing the Grizzlies are missing. In the five games since dealing their leading scorer, Memphis is averaging just 91 points and giving up an average of 94.8 points against. Those defensive numbers are nearly five points more than the Grizzlies’ top-ranked D’ has allowed this season. This over stretch is a complete 180 for the top under bet in the NBA - 19-29-1 over/under heading into the weekend.

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday, February 10

Game Score Status Pick Amount

L.A. Clippers - 1:00 PM ET New York -3.5 500
New York - Under 192 500

L.A. Lakers - 3:30 PM ET Miami -7.5 500
Miami - Over 204 500

Denver - 6:00 PM ET Boston -2 500
Boston - Under 203 500

New Orleans - 6:00 PM ET Toronto -4 500
Toronto - Over 194 500

Portland - 6:00 PM ET Portland -3 500
Orlando - Over 196.5 500

Minnesota - 6:00 PM ET Minnesota +9 500
Memphis - Under 184.5 500

San Antonio - 8:00 PM ET San Antonio -2 500
Brooklyn - Over 195.5 500

Oklahoma City - 8:00 PM ET Oklahoma City -8.5 500
Phoenix - Over 205 500

Houston - 9:00 PM ET Houston -5.5 500 POD
Sacramento - Over 216.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Hoop Trends - Monday

February 11, 2013

ATS TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Nets are 0-12 ATS (-8.8 ppg) since November 18, 2009 as a dog after a game at home in which they had more turnovers than assists.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Wizards are 0-11-1 OU (-14.6 ppg) since January 31, 1997 as a road dog with two or more days of rest when they held their opponent to fewer than 85 points in their last game.

PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Hawks are 12-0 OU (12.4 ppg) since March 02, 2012 after a loss at home in which Jeff Teague was not the Hawks’ high scorer.

CHOICE TREND:

-- The Spurs are 11-0 ATS (12.0 ppg) since February 12, 2011 with no rest after a game in which they were whistled for fewer than 15 personal fouls.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Mavericks are 7-0 OU (12.5 ppg) since April 19, 2008 after a win at home in which Dirk Nowitzki shot worse than 33% from the field.
-- The Pacers are 9-0 ATS (10.9 ppg) since November 16, 2012 after a loss in which Paul George was not the Pacers’ high scorer.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Short Sheet

Monday, February 11

Minnesota at Cleveland, 7:05 ET
Minnesota: 3-11 ATS after having lost 4 of their last 5
Cleveland: 11-3 ATS after playing a game as a home underdog

LA Clippers at Philadelphia, 7:05 ET
LA Clippers: 80-121 ATS in February
Philadelphia: 13-3 ATS in home games after playing 2 consecutive games as a home favorite

Boston at Charlotte, 7:05 ET
Boston: 25-14 ATS against Southeast division opponents
Charlotte: 1-14 ATS in home games off a road loss by 10 points or more

Brooklyn at Indiana, 7:05 ET
Brooklyn: 9-19 ATS after 2 straight games with 19 or less assists
Indiana: 14-5 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses

New Orleans at Detroit, 7:35 ET
New Orleans: 14-4 ATS off a road loss by 10 points or more
Detroit: 9-18 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders

Washington at Milwaukee, 8:05 ET
Washington: 13-0 ATS revenging a home loss vs opponent
Milwaukee: 4-15 ATS in February games

San Antonio at Chicago, 8:05 ET NBATV
San Antonio: 12-3 ATS after scoring 110 points or more
Chicago: 5-13 ATS in non-conference games

Atlanta at Dallas, 8:35 ET
Atlanta: 0-8 ATS when playing with 2 days rest
Dallas: 10-2 ATS after 3 straight games committing 14 or less turnovers

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Monday, February 11

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Spurs at Bulls: What bettors need to know
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San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls (-1.5, 192)

The Chicago Bulls are in the midst of a stretch where they are playing eight of nine games on the road, and the lone home game could be their toughest test when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. The Bulls are coming off a six-game road trip in which they went 3-3 and saw their typical iron-clad defense shredded in back-to-back losses to Central Division rival Indiana and Denver. The Bulls did tighten things up defensively in their last outing, holding off the Utah Jazz 93-89 on Friday night.

San Antonio is facing a trek even more difficult than that of the Bulls, playing the fourth contest on its nine-game rodeo road trip. Winners of 12 of 13, the Spurs bounced back from a loss in Detroit by annihilating the Brooklyn Nets 111-86 on Sunday night. Despite playing without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs flexed their own defensive muscles, giving up only 29 points in the second half after permitting 35 in the first quarter. San Antonio became the first team in the league to win 40 games.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest (San Antonio), Comcast SportsNet Chicago, NBATV

ABOUT THE SPURS (40-12, 29-21-2 ATS): Duncan has missed three straight and eight of 10 and Ginobili has sat out four in a row, but Parker has been immense at the start of the road trip. He had 29 points and 11 assists against Brooklyn and is averaging 30.3 points and nine assists in the last three. He has five double-doubles and 10 20-point games in his last 11 to insert his name into the MVP conversation. "He's carrying the whole team, especially when Tim and Manu are out," Spurs forward Boris Diaw said. "He's doing everything on the court."

ABOUT THE BULLS (30-20, 21-29-0 ATS): Chicago has also been dealing with myriad injuries. Center Joakim Noah has missed three of the last five games due to plantar fasciitis and is a game-time decision. Guard Kirk Hinrich will sit out his sixth straight game with an elbow infection. In addition, power forward Carlos Boozer was sidelined for the first three games of the recent road trip but had 19 points in the win over Utah. Boozer, who has failed to score 20 points in 10 games, has been linked to trade talks involving Toronto's Andrea Bargnani.

TRENDS:

* Under is 8-1 in the last nine meetings.
* Spurs are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Spurs are 10-4-3 ATS in their last 17 games playing on zero days rest.
* Bulls are 6-17 ATS in their last 23 vs. Western Conference.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. The fastest team to 40 wins hasn't meant much in the past seven seasons. Only the Boston Celtics (2007-08) went on to advance to the NBA Finals.

2. Chicago has won four of the past five meetings.

3. San Antonio owns the league's most road victories (18-10).

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Monday, February 11

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MINNESOTA (18 - 29) at CLEVELAND (16 - 35) - 2/11/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 33-49 ATS (-20.9 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 21-34 ATS (-16.4 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 6-17 ATS (-12.7 Units) against Northwest division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 9-23 ATS (-16.3 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 3-1 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 3-1 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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LA CLIPPERS (35 - 17) at PHILADELPHIA (22 - 27) - 2/11/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA CLIPPERS are 79-121 ATS (-54.1 Units) in February games since 1996.
LA CLIPPERS are 271-327 ATS (-88.7 Units) second half of the season since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 77-53 ATS (+18.7 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 25-41 ATS (-20.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 73-109 ATS (-46.9 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-1 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 2-1 straight up against LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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BOSTON (26 - 23) at CHARLOTTE (11 - 39) - 2/11/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 25-14 ATS (+9.6 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CHARLOTTE is 17-32 ATS (-18.2 Units) in all games this season.
CHARLOTTE is 16-27 ATS (-13.7 Units) as an underdog this season.
CHARLOTTE is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in home games this season.
CHARLOTTE is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in a home game where where the total is between 190 and 194.5 points this season.
CHARLOTTE is 16-32 ATS (-19.2 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CHARLOTTE is 14-27 ATS (-15.7 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
CHARLOTTE is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more this season.
CHARLOTTE is 9-22 ATS (-15.2 Units) after scoring 85 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
CHARLOTTE is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
CHARLOTTE is 19-39 ATS (-23.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHARLOTTE is 4-4 against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 6-2 straight up against CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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BROOKLYN (29 - 21) at INDIANA (31 - 20) - 2/11/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BROOKLYN is 49-63 ATS (-20.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 17-29 ATS (-14.9 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 21-33 ATS (-15.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) as a favorite this season.
INDIANA is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 4-4 against the spread versus BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 6-2 straight up against BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW ORLEANS (17 - 33) at DETROIT (20 - 32) - 2/11/2013, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in February games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 57-39 ATS (+14.1 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in road games this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 178-220 ATS (-64.0 Units) after a division game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 2-1 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 2-1 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WASHINGTON (14 - 35) at MILWAUKEE (25 - 24) - 2/11/2013, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 110-74 ATS (+28.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 31-17 ATS (+12.3 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) as an underdog this season.
WASHINGTON is 13-0 ATS (+13.0 Units) revenging a home loss vs opponent this season.
WASHINGTON is 22-12 ATS (+8.8 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
WASHINGTON is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MILWAUKEE is 22-34 ATS (-15.4 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 4-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) in February games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 19-31 ATS (-15.1 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 58-85 ATS (-35.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 5-3 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE is 6-2 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (39 - 12) at CHICAGO (30 - 20) - 2/11/2013, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 2-1 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 2-1 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ATLANTA (27 - 22) at DALLAS (22 - 28) - 2/11/2013, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 57-84 ATS (-35.4 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points since 1996.
ATLANTA is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) when playing with 2 days rest this season.
DALLAS is 122-97 ATS (+15.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 32-17 ATS (+13.3 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 74-48 ATS (+21.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 41-24 ATS (+14.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 2-1 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 2-1 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Monday, February 11

Hot Teams
-- Cavaliers won three of last four games (3-3 HF).
-- 76ers won four of last five games (5-4 HU).
-- Celtics won their last seven games (2-5 AF).
-- Pacers won five of their last six games (9-6 last 15 HF).
-- Pistons won last two games, scoring 112 ppg (1-5 last six HF).
-- Wizards won last three games, but lost last four on road (7-3 last ten AU).
-- San Antonio won 12 of last 13 games (covered three of last four road games). Bulls won last four home games (5-16 HF).
-- Mavericks won three of last four games (8-2 last ten HF).

Cold Teams
-- Minnesota lost its last four games (1-6-1 last eight AU).
-- Clippers are 4-6 in their last ten games (2-8 last ten AF).
-- Bobcats lost their last seven games (4-8 last 12 HU).
-- Nets lost six of their last nine games (4-7 last 11 AU).
-- Hornets lost five of last seven games (18-9 AU).
-- Milwaukee lost five of last six games (7-9-1 HF).
-- Hawks lost three of their last four games (5-7 AU).

Totals
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Minnesota games.
-- 76ers' last five games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last six Charlotte games stayed under total; Boston's last four games all went over.
-- Five of last seven Brooklyn games stayed under; four of Indiana's last five games went over.
-- Four of last five Detroit games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last eight Washington games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last seven Chicago home games stayed under total.
-- Seven of last nine Atlanta games went over the total.

Back-to-backs
-- Minnesota is 4-6 vs spread on road if it played day before.
-- Clippers are 3-5-1 vs spread on road if they played day before.
-- Boston is 2-5-2 vs spread on road if it played day before.
-- Brooklyn is 2-7 vs spread on road if it played day before.
-- Hornets are 5-8 vs spread if they played the day before.
-- San Antonio is 4-3 vs spread on road if it played day before.

[StarDust Bum]

Monday, February 11

Game Score Status Pick Amount

L.A. Clippers - 7:00 PM ET Philadelphia +4.5 500
Philadelphia - Under 185 500

Boston - 7:00 PM ET Boston -4 500
Charlotte - Over 190.5 500

Minnesota - 7:00 PM ET Cleveland -6.5 500
Cleveland - Under 205 500

Brooklyn - 7:00 PM ET Indiana -9.5 500 POD
Indiana - Under 181.5 500

New Orleans - 7:30 PM ET Detroit -5.5 500
Detroit - Over 193.5 500

San Antonio - 8:00 PM ET San Antonio +1.5 500
Chicago - Over 190 500

Washington - 8:00 PM ET Washington +4.5 500 POD
Milwaukee - Under 199.5 500

Atlanta - 8:30 PM ET Dallas -5 500
Dallas - Over 204.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday, February 12

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Denver - 7:00 PM ET Denver +2 500
Toronto - Over 206 500

Portland - 7:30 PM ET Miami -11 500
Miami - Under 199 500

Sacramento - 8:00 PM ET Sacramento +11 500
Memphis - Over 189 500

Oklahoma City - 9:00 PM ET Utah +5.5 500
Utah - Under 200.5 500

Phoenix - 10:30 PM ET Phoenix +9 500
L.A. Lakers - Over 189 500

Houston - 10:30 PM ET Houston +4 500 POD
Golden State - Over 219 500

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, February 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chicago 0 0th Chicago +2.5 500
Boston 0 Over 181.5 500

Denver - 7:30 PM ET Brooklyn -3 500
Brooklyn - Over 196 500

Toronto 0 0th New York -8 500
New York 0 Under 197.5 500

Washington 0 0th Washington +2 500 POD
Detroit 0 Under 190.5 500

Philadelphia - 8:00 PM ET Milwaukee -5.5 500
Milwaukee - Under 194.5 500

Portland - 8:00 PM ET New Orleans -5 500
New Orleans - Over 195 500

Utah - 8:00 PM ET Minnesota -2 500
Minnesota - Under 193 500

Sacramento - 8:30 PM ET Dallas -10 500
Dallas - Over 211 500

Houston - 10:30 PM ET Houston +10.5 500
L.A. Clippers - Over 207 500

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday Tips

February 13, 2013

The first half of the NBA season (even though every team has played at least 50 games) concludes on Thursday night with a top-notch doubleheader on TNT. The battle of Los Angeles takes place for the third time this season with the Clippers and Lakers matching wits at Staples Center to wrap up the night. Things begin in Oklahoma City with an NBA Finals rematch as the Thunder tries to cool off the Heat.

Heat at Thunder – 8:00 PM EST

Miami overcame a series opening loss to Oklahoma City in last summer’s Finals to win four straight games and the franchise’s second championship. The Heat kept up that momentum on Christmas night by silencing the Thunder at the American Airlines Arena, 103-97 as 2 ½-point favorites. The game barely finished ‘under’ the total of 203 due to a 44-point third quarter, while OKC hung around thanks to 32-of-38 shooting from the foul line.

Miami is scorching right now with six consecutive victories, including a 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS homestand. The Heat rallied for a miracle cover in Tuesday's 117-104 triumph over the Blazers as 11-point favorites, while using a 16-2 run in the final four minutes to pick up their straight ATS win. The road has been tough sledding for Erik Spoelstra's team at 12-11, but Miami has posted a 5-3 SU/ATS record the last eight away contests. In two road underdog opportunities this season, the Heat won outright over the Lakers (1/17) and Nuggets (11/15).

The Thunder saw a four-game winning streak go by the boards in Tuesday's 15-point defeat at Utah. Oklahoma City was held to under 100 points in consecutive games for the first time since Christmas, when the Thunder scored 93 at Minnesota and 97 at Miami. Scott Brooks' club has won seven straight games at Chesapeake Energy Arena, while covering all seven times in this stretch. The 'over' is 7-3 in the last 10 home contests for the Thunder, as OKC has broken the 100-point mark in 11 of the past 12 home games.

Clippers at Lakers - 10:35 PM EST

Los Angeles is still a Lakers' town, but the Clippers are no longer the little brother that can be pushed around. The Clips are leading the Pacific Division at 37-17, while playing their second game off the long Grammy road trip. The Lakers were also kicked out of Staples Center for a few weeks, as L.A. rallied past Phoenix on Wednesday night to move within three games of .500.

Following a 4-3 SU and 3-4 ATS road swing, the Lakers knocked off the Suns in a revenge spot, 91-85, but failed to cover as 8 ½-point 'chalk.' Mike D'Antoni's club tallied just nine points in the third quarter, while Kobe Bryant converted only field goal en route to four points in the victory. The Lakers are playing with double-revenge, including a 107-102 setback to the Clippers in early January as 4 ½-point 'dogs. Bryant scored 38 points in that defeat, but the Lakers allowed 50% shooting to the Clips.

Vinny Del Negro's squad has split the last 10 games, while winning three of the last four road contests. Granted, this isn't a real away game (except for the purple and gold court), as the Clippers have covered just three of their last nine matchups on the highway. The Clips are playing with no rest after Wednesday's game against the Rockets, as L.A. has cashed the 'over' in nine of 13 games on the second of a back-to-back.

[StarDust Bum]

Fact or Fiction

February 12, 2013

NBA betting fans have a short week to work with this week, as there are just a few days' worth of games before the All-Star Break. Check out some of the most important bits of fact and fiction that you should be aware of going into the final week of games before the league's intermission.

FACT

Rudy Gay Will Take the Raptors to the Playoffs: Part of the reason that we believe in the Raps is because we think they are going to make another big move at some point before the deadline. However, Gay is averaging over 23 points per game since joining the club, and he really has helped turned the tide of this franchise. It's still a long climb back into the race for the second season, but the seven games isn't the end of the world in the lousy Eastern Conference.

The Nuggets' Home ATS Record: The Nuggs are just out of this world when they're playing in the Pepsi Center. They went a whopping 6-0 straight up and 5-1 against the spread on this most recent home stand that just wrapped up on Thursday night, and they are now an out-of-this-world 17-8 ATS at home for the season.

The Golden State Warriors Being Legitimate NBA Finals Contenders: Keep a very close eye on the Warriors as we enter the All-Star Break. This team has 30 wins and is in sixth place in the Western Conference right now. However, Golden State is starting to get healthy, and it has already played 29 road games this year, as opposed to 22 home games. The stats don't lie. The Warriors are 13-9 ATS at home and 14-14-1 ATS on the road. This is a team to watch out for as a potentially legitimate contender to win it all this year.

FICTION

Boston's Winning Streak: We just don't see this continuing. Sure, the C's have won and covered seven of eight games without G Rajon Rondo in the fold. However, is this team really legitimate? Remember that the club was just 14-26-3 ATS, the worst mark in the league before this winning streak, and we still can't imagine that this team is better off without Rondo than with him.

The Wizards' SU Victories: We love the Wizards as a great ATS team, especially as big time underdogs. However, we think that the oddsmakers are starting to catch on, and there is reason to believe that this team is going to start to hit the skids in the second-half. Washington still averages just 91.2 points per game, and it is saving a lot of points on the other end of the court. Teams are shooting just 72.6 percent from the charity stripe against this outfit. Once that improves, the ATS defeats are probably coming right behind it, especially knowing that the team has won three in a row SU.

Huge Names Will Shake Up the NBA at the Deadline: Since we're talking about the All-Star Break, we may as well discuss the trade deadline, too since that's right around the corner as well. Names like F Carlos Boozer, F Andrea Bargnani, F Josh Smith, and so many others have been dangled around like pawns. Will some get traded? Sure. It's very possible. However, we don't think that there is another move out there that is going to have the same sort of impact that the Gay-to-Toronto deal had for both the Raptors (positively) and the Grizzlies (negatively).

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday, February 14

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Miami - 8:00 PM ET Oklahoma City -5.5 500 POD
Oklahoma City - Over 205 500

L.A. Clippers - 10:30 PM ET L.A. Lakers +3.5 500
L.A. Lakers - Over 200.5 500