How to cap the Nets and Timberwolves
Combined they have seven wins and seven times that many losses. New Jersey can't even win at the window, sending its backers to the poor house on 20 of 28 tickets. At least Minnesota is keeping itself afloat at the window with the Timberwolves sporting a 14-13 ATS mark. Such is life for the two NBA teams battling for the infamy of worst in the league that is awarded by the most ping pong balls in the draft lottery.
The John Wall sweepstakes are well underway, and the New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves are leading the way in the race for the NBA’s worst record.
There’s a long time between now and June’s NBA draft, so bettors might as well get in on any riches the Nets and Timberwolves can provide as they stumble through the season.
Riches might be an overstatement, especially when looking at matters in New Jersey. The Nets come into the week – and a matchup on Wednesday with Minnesota of all teams – as both the worst team and wager in the league at an abysmal 2-26 SU and 8-20 ATS.
Right on queue, New Jersey’s been sucking wind at the window recently, with only one win against the number in its last seven games (0-7 SU). Digging a little deeper, the Nets are just 3-10 ATS (2-11 SU) in their last 13 games, and are without back-to-back paydays since falling 82-79 as 5-point home underdogs against Philadelphia on November 11.
If you saw New Jersey’s 103-84 loss to the Lakers (-12.5) on Saturday night, you witnessed why the Nets are arguably one of the worst teams in NBA history. Brook Lopez (19.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 20.94 PER) is a nice young piece on the inside, but he’s really just a more-skilled version of Joakim Noah or a rich man’s Robin Lopez. Double team Lopez, and you pretty much have the Nets’ offense figured out.
Point guard Devin Harris might take exception to that assessment of his team, but the reality is for all his skills, he doesn’t bring much of an outside shot to the table. That’s New Jersey’s biggest problem: Spreading the floor for Lopez.
The Nets rank dead last in three-point shooting (26.8%), leading to an offensive efficiency rate (defined as points per 100 possessions) of 93.5 – good for 30th in the Association.
Yi Jianlian (mouth) is hoping to return this week, but he won’t be enough to make New Jersey profitable in the short term. I’d stay away from the Nets until they prove their worth, and that’ll take 15-point+ spreads on a nightly basis. New Jersey has a point differential of -11.7, which is only slightly worse than Minnesota’s -10.6 number.
That being the case, the Timberwolves (5-23, 14-14 ATS) are in far better shape than the Nets. Minnesota started the season 1-15 SU and 5-11 against the spread, but it’s a sharp 9-3 ATS (4-8 SU) in its last 12 games.
The recent turnaround for bettors coincides with the return to the mix of power forward Kevin Love, who’s played the last 10 games – including six in a starting role. Expect Love stay in that spot in the rotation after he’s put up 14.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, and an impressive 22.60 PER.
Along with Al Jefferson (16.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 18.49 PER), Love gives the T-Wolves one of the best young frontlines in the league. Jefferson and Love can certainly score the ball, so at least that’s a start for Minnesota.
After having allowed 100+ points in five of their last six games (including 120 or more three times), the Timberwolves need to get better defensively if they’re to be bankable over the long haul.
Having small forward Corey Brewer is a good start, but Love and Jefferson are too glued to the floor to protect the basket with any type of effectiveness. With both bigs likely to be on the court together for most of the game, handicap Minnesota to struggle ATS against athletic teams that like to attack the basket.
Considering where they appear to be headed on the defensive end, look for the T-Wolves to be a smart 'over' wager for totals bettors. Minny is 4-1 O/U in its last five games (2-3, 2-3 ATS), and the trend could continue with San Antonio and Utah on the schedule following its date with New Jersey on Wednesday. Squares are likely to take one look at the Timberwolves’ 10-17 O/U record on the season and figure they should bet the 'under' against the total.
Combined they have seven wins and seven times that many losses. New Jersey can't even win at the window, sending its backers to the poor house on 20 of 28 tickets. At least Minnesota is keeping itself afloat at the window with the Timberwolves sporting a 14-13 ATS mark. Such is life for the two NBA teams battling for the infamy of worst in the league that is awarded by the most ping pong balls in the draft lottery.
The John Wall sweepstakes are well underway, and the New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves are leading the way in the race for the NBA’s worst record.
There’s a long time between now and June’s NBA draft, so bettors might as well get in on any riches the Nets and Timberwolves can provide as they stumble through the season.
Riches might be an overstatement, especially when looking at matters in New Jersey. The Nets come into the week – and a matchup on Wednesday with Minnesota of all teams – as both the worst team and wager in the league at an abysmal 2-26 SU and 8-20 ATS.
Right on queue, New Jersey’s been sucking wind at the window recently, with only one win against the number in its last seven games (0-7 SU). Digging a little deeper, the Nets are just 3-10 ATS (2-11 SU) in their last 13 games, and are without back-to-back paydays since falling 82-79 as 5-point home underdogs against Philadelphia on November 11.
If you saw New Jersey’s 103-84 loss to the Lakers (-12.5) on Saturday night, you witnessed why the Nets are arguably one of the worst teams in NBA history. Brook Lopez (19.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 20.94 PER) is a nice young piece on the inside, but he’s really just a more-skilled version of Joakim Noah or a rich man’s Robin Lopez. Double team Lopez, and you pretty much have the Nets’ offense figured out.
Point guard Devin Harris might take exception to that assessment of his team, but the reality is for all his skills, he doesn’t bring much of an outside shot to the table. That’s New Jersey’s biggest problem: Spreading the floor for Lopez.
The Nets rank dead last in three-point shooting (26.8%), leading to an offensive efficiency rate (defined as points per 100 possessions) of 93.5 – good for 30th in the Association.
Yi Jianlian (mouth) is hoping to return this week, but he won’t be enough to make New Jersey profitable in the short term. I’d stay away from the Nets until they prove their worth, and that’ll take 15-point+ spreads on a nightly basis. New Jersey has a point differential of -11.7, which is only slightly worse than Minnesota’s -10.6 number.
That being the case, the Timberwolves (5-23, 14-14 ATS) are in far better shape than the Nets. Minnesota started the season 1-15 SU and 5-11 against the spread, but it’s a sharp 9-3 ATS (4-8 SU) in its last 12 games.
The recent turnaround for bettors coincides with the return to the mix of power forward Kevin Love, who’s played the last 10 games – including six in a starting role. Expect Love stay in that spot in the rotation after he’s put up 14.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, and an impressive 22.60 PER.
Along with Al Jefferson (16.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 18.49 PER), Love gives the T-Wolves one of the best young frontlines in the league. Jefferson and Love can certainly score the ball, so at least that’s a start for Minnesota.
After having allowed 100+ points in five of their last six games (including 120 or more three times), the Timberwolves need to get better defensively if they’re to be bankable over the long haul.
Having small forward Corey Brewer is a good start, but Love and Jefferson are too glued to the floor to protect the basket with any type of effectiveness. With both bigs likely to be on the court together for most of the game, handicap Minnesota to struggle ATS against athletic teams that like to attack the basket.
Considering where they appear to be headed on the defensive end, look for the T-Wolves to be a smart 'over' wager for totals bettors. Minny is 4-1 O/U in its last five games (2-3, 2-3 ATS), and the trend could continue with San Antonio and Utah on the schedule following its date with New Jersey on Wednesday. Squares are likely to take one look at the Timberwolves’ 10-17 O/U record on the season and figure they should bet the 'under' against the total.
