NBA Weekend Betting Preview: In-form Lakers can down the Suns

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 27 February 2009 / 1 Comments

Nick Shiambouros fears for faltering Phoenix ahead of their weekend clash with LA.

The stormy marriage between the New York Knicks and Stephon Marbury is finally over. The two parties finally came to an agreement this week as this bitter feud finally came to a close.

The New York Post led with the headline "C" YA STEPH ! which suggests this beleaguered point guard is heading to Boston to bolster their bench. The Celtics certainly need help in that department so it could be a good short term move. I hope Rajon Rondo does not feel the pressure if Marbury joins Boston as he deserves to keep his starting position as point guard.

Things have been tough for Boston of late as they lost Kevin Garnett for at least two weeks with a muscle strain he picked up against Utah last week. The Celtics really missed him against the Clippers on Thursday night when they blew a big lead. Boston looked to be in control of the game and traded at a low of [1.04] but the Clippers rallied to win 93-91 in a thrilling game.

The Detroit Pistons continued to slip down the ladder and put up another dismal display losing 90-87 to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. As I mentioned in an earlier article they are a team to avoid at present.

Over in the Western Conference the Los Angeles Lakers continue to impress and handed out a 107-93 thrashing to the Oklahoma Thunder on Tuesday.They followed up that victory by beating the Phoenix Suns easily on Thursday night at the Staples Center.

On Sunday the Lakers travel back to Phoenix for a nationally televised game and I really like Los Angeles with the handicap in this one.

The Suns are in real trouble in the west and are fighting for a play-off spot. As previously reported this team is in a real mess and I can't see them turning things around in a hurry. New coach Alvin Gentry has reinstated their high octane style but I am afraid that Shaquille O'Neal simply does not work well with this style. The Suns general manager Steve Kerr is coming under intense scrutiny due to his trading decisions which in my view have hurt this team enormously.

Los Angeles will be all out to have home court advantage throughout the play-offs and should prove too strong for the Suns once again.

Later on Sunday evening the Denver Nuggets travel to Indiana and this rejuvenated team should be able to handle the Pacers.

In my opinion Carmelo Anthony is probably the most underrated player in the league. Anthony averages just over 21 points per game and is lethal from 15-20 feet. He has quickly become one of the most dominating players in the NBA and has few weaknesses. The Nuggets are in third place in the west and show no signs of letting up at all. This team if firmly in control of a play-off spot and have picked up the intensity level in recent weeks.

I have felt all season long that Denver could be the surprise package in the west and if they remain focused they could give teams plenty to think about in the play-offs.

Recommended wagers:

Sunday, back Los Angeles with advertised handicap
Sunday, back Denver with advertised handicap

Comments (1)

1. Clinton Smith | 27 February 2009

   Hi Nick.

   I very much enjoy your articles and your insight, and look forward to reading them every other day.

   However, Detroit may have lost against the NEW ORLEANS but they did at least cover the line, so the effort wasn't to dismal.