Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs host OKC Thunder
The Final Four in Indianapolis will have the attention of most sports fans and bettors tonight. But just because the NBA is taking a backseat to college hoops the next few days, that doesn't mean there aren't crucial games to be played. Tonight's battle in Big D could very well be a playoff preview. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks look to keep pace with the surging Suns when Dallas host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
I had a discussion with one of my colleagues in the sports betting media the other day surrounding the state of the Dallas Mavericks.
We argued, among other things, over whether Dirk Nowitzki is good enough to be an alpha dog on a championship team. If he is, that’s certainly good news for futures bettors looking for value. The Mavericks are listed at +600 to win the Western Conference outright.
In my view, Nowitzki isn’t in the class of a Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, or Tim Duncan, and that if he is, he still needs to prove it. My fellow writer asserted Nowitzki is on the level of the league’s elite, and the problem is, and always has been, his supporting cast.
The more I think about it, it doesn’t matter if I’m right or not. Dallas is the same team whether Nowitzki is someone around which you can build a winner. The Mavs are who they are. Problem is, that opens up more even question marks than the Nowitzki debate.
Oklahoma City at Dallas (-3½, 195)
Saturday – 8:30 p.m. (ET)
Facing a prototypical bounce-back spot against the Thunder on Saturday night at American Airlines Center, the Mavericks should be faded against the spread.
Outside of the wake-me-up-when-the-playoffs-start Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas is easily the most frustrating beat for NBA bettors.
On some nights the Mavs look like a team that could challenge for supremacy in the West. On other nights, Dallas appears to be a club that’ll be lucky to get out of the first round.
Case in point: The Mavericks on Thursday night against the visiting Orlando Magic. You’d think Dallas would come out strong – especially at home – but it was never truly in the game in a 97-82 loss as 2.5-point underdogs.
Dwight Howard had his way with Brendan Haywood and Erick Dampier, most notably in the early going, and his dominance opened up the perimeter game for the Magic. Howard finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds, and Orlando shot 58.3% (14-of-24) from three-point range.
The loss snapped the Mavs’ three-game SU and ATS winning streak, but don’t count on them taking it out on the Thunder – at least against the number. The defeat dropped Dallas to an awful 9-28-1 ATS at home this season.
The good news is the Mavericks have taken two of three from the Thunder this season, although Oklahoma City covered in two of the meetings.
The Thunder were also the winners in the only contest that featured the Mavs’ revamped lineup. Bettors shouldn’t put too much stock in Oklahoma City’s 99-86 victory at the Ford Center on February 16, however, as the payday as 4½-point chalk came in the first game for Haywood and Caron Butler in a Dallas uniform.
Over the long haul, the Thunder are 7-1 ATS (3-5 SU) in their last eight meetings with the Mavericks.
Cleveland at Boston
Sunday – 1 p.m. (ET) ABC
The Celtics look to make a stand when they tip off with the league-leading Cavaliers at TD Garden in the first game of the ABC NBA doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.
It seems like ages ago when Boston defeated Cleveland 95-89 at Quicken Loans Arena as 5-point pups to kick off the season on October 27. The win only confirmed the preseason climate that had a healthy Celts team as the favorites in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavs had yet to incorporate Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Parker into a new rotation, and bettors were unsure if they’d be able to get past the Magic or Celtics in the playoffs. After dominating the league this season, it’s pretty clear Cleveland is a sure thing.
The same can’t be said for Boston, which like Dallas is among the worst home ATS wagers in the NBA.
The Celts could sure use a signature win against the league’s best with the postseason on the horizon, but don’t bet on it – outright or otherwise.
LeBron James went for 36 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds in the Cavaliers’ 108-88 trampling of the Celtics on February 25 at the Garden. Antawn Jamison added 15 points and 12 boards for Cleveland, which cruised to the bank as 2½-point chalk.
The Final Four in Indianapolis will have the attention of most sports fans and bettors tonight. But just because the NBA is taking a backseat to college hoops the next few days, that doesn't mean there aren't crucial games to be played. Tonight's battle in Big D could very well be a playoff preview. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks look to keep pace with the surging Suns when Dallas host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
I had a discussion with one of my colleagues in the sports betting media the other day surrounding the state of the Dallas Mavericks.
We argued, among other things, over whether Dirk Nowitzki is good enough to be an alpha dog on a championship team. If he is, that’s certainly good news for futures bettors looking for value. The Mavericks are listed at +600 to win the Western Conference outright.
In my view, Nowitzki isn’t in the class of a Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, or Tim Duncan, and that if he is, he still needs to prove it. My fellow writer asserted Nowitzki is on the level of the league’s elite, and the problem is, and always has been, his supporting cast.
The more I think about it, it doesn’t matter if I’m right or not. Dallas is the same team whether Nowitzki is someone around which you can build a winner. The Mavs are who they are. Problem is, that opens up more even question marks than the Nowitzki debate.
Oklahoma City at Dallas (-3½, 195)
Saturday – 8:30 p.m. (ET)
Facing a prototypical bounce-back spot against the Thunder on Saturday night at American Airlines Center, the Mavericks should be faded against the spread.
Outside of the wake-me-up-when-the-playoffs-start Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas is easily the most frustrating beat for NBA bettors.
On some nights the Mavs look like a team that could challenge for supremacy in the West. On other nights, Dallas appears to be a club that’ll be lucky to get out of the first round.
Case in point: The Mavericks on Thursday night against the visiting Orlando Magic. You’d think Dallas would come out strong – especially at home – but it was never truly in the game in a 97-82 loss as 2.5-point underdogs.
Dwight Howard had his way with Brendan Haywood and Erick Dampier, most notably in the early going, and his dominance opened up the perimeter game for the Magic. Howard finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds, and Orlando shot 58.3% (14-of-24) from three-point range.
The loss snapped the Mavs’ three-game SU and ATS winning streak, but don’t count on them taking it out on the Thunder – at least against the number. The defeat dropped Dallas to an awful 9-28-1 ATS at home this season.
The good news is the Mavericks have taken two of three from the Thunder this season, although Oklahoma City covered in two of the meetings.
The Thunder were also the winners in the only contest that featured the Mavs’ revamped lineup. Bettors shouldn’t put too much stock in Oklahoma City’s 99-86 victory at the Ford Center on February 16, however, as the payday as 4½-point chalk came in the first game for Haywood and Caron Butler in a Dallas uniform.
Over the long haul, the Thunder are 7-1 ATS (3-5 SU) in their last eight meetings with the Mavericks.
Cleveland at Boston
Sunday – 1 p.m. (ET) ABC
The Celtics look to make a stand when they tip off with the league-leading Cavaliers at TD Garden in the first game of the ABC NBA doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.
It seems like ages ago when Boston defeated Cleveland 95-89 at Quicken Loans Arena as 5-point pups to kick off the season on October 27. The win only confirmed the preseason climate that had a healthy Celts team as the favorites in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavs had yet to incorporate Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Parker into a new rotation, and bettors were unsure if they’d be able to get past the Magic or Celtics in the playoffs. After dominating the league this season, it’s pretty clear Cleveland is a sure thing.
The same can’t be said for Boston, which like Dallas is among the worst home ATS wagers in the NBA.
The Celts could sure use a signature win against the league’s best with the postseason on the horizon, but don’t bet on it – outright or otherwise.
LeBron James went for 36 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds in the Cavaliers’ 108-88 trampling of the Celtics on February 25 at the Garden. Antawn Jamison added 15 points and 12 boards for Cleveland, which cruised to the bank as 2½-point chalk.
