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Bank shots: NBA's weekly betting news and notes
Each week, we look back on the NBA betting scene and give you the best - and worst - basketball bets, as well as some spots to keep an eye on with the upcoming schedule.
For the week of Dec. 8 to 14.
Hottest ATS - Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS)
The Thunder have won five games in a row going into Sunday's action, covering the spread easily in all five contests, including a 118-94 manhandling of the Eastern Conference leading Indiana Pacers. Kevin Durant has been his typical awesome self during the Thunder's current win streak, scoring 28.8 points and grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game in that span. The Thunder start off the week versus Orlando, then head to Denver, are back home against the spiraling downwards Chicago Bulls, all before a matchup of Western Conference elites in San Antonio.
Coldest ATS - Chicago Bulls (1-3 SU, 0-4 ATS)
Speaking of the devil, here sit the Bulls, who seem to be lost this season without Derrick Rose. Not having Rose in the lineup is nothing new for Chicago, but something is different since their star point guard went down this year. They have won only three of their last 10 games, going 2-8 ATS in that stretch, which includes losses to Utah, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Toronto. They have only averaged 79 points per game in their last five contests. This week the Bulls host Orlando, Houston and Oklahoma City on the road and Cleveland back at home.
Best Over play - Detroit Pistons (1-3 SU, 4-0 O/U)
The Pistons, who were last week's hottest team ATS cooled down a bit last week after matchups with Miami and Minnesota and a tough overtime loss at New Orleans. However, the Pistons hit the Over in every game last week and have gone over the total in eight of the past nine games. The Piston's offense has been improving of late, scoring at least 92 points in their past nine games thanks to a balanced attack. All five starters are averaging at least 13 points per game this season. The Pistons have a tough upcoming week with matchups against Portland, Indiana and Houston.
Best Under play - Boston Celtics (2-2 SU, 1-3 O/U)
The Celtics haven't quite figured out this whole 'tanking' thing yet. That is partly due to the fact that the Atlantic Division is one of the worst divisions in recent memory. The Celtics still lead the division with an 11-14 record, but have been a solid Under play all season thanks to their combination of mediocre offense and good defense. They are now a ranked fifth in points against per game at 95.7 while only scoring 94.8 points per game themselves. Boston has a little three game home stand this week, welcoming Minnesota, Detroit and Washington to town.
Surveying the Schedule:
The San Antonio Spurs are on another winning streak. Their current one is at four games, but they will have a tough road ahead if they want to keep the streak going. They are in the midst of a four game road trip with stops remaining against the high-flying L.A. Clippers, the always tough Phoenix Suns and the electric Golden State Warriors. All this before a showdown of two the West's elite teams when the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town next Saturday night.
Each week, we look back on the NBA betting scene and give you the best - and worst - basketball bets, as well as some spots to keep an eye on with the upcoming schedule.
For the week of Dec. 8 to 14.
Hottest ATS - Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS)
The Thunder have won five games in a row going into Sunday's action, covering the spread easily in all five contests, including a 118-94 manhandling of the Eastern Conference leading Indiana Pacers. Kevin Durant has been his typical awesome self during the Thunder's current win streak, scoring 28.8 points and grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game in that span. The Thunder start off the week versus Orlando, then head to Denver, are back home against the spiraling downwards Chicago Bulls, all before a matchup of Western Conference elites in San Antonio.
Coldest ATS - Chicago Bulls (1-3 SU, 0-4 ATS)
Speaking of the devil, here sit the Bulls, who seem to be lost this season without Derrick Rose. Not having Rose in the lineup is nothing new for Chicago, but something is different since their star point guard went down this year. They have won only three of their last 10 games, going 2-8 ATS in that stretch, which includes losses to Utah, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Toronto. They have only averaged 79 points per game in their last five contests. This week the Bulls host Orlando, Houston and Oklahoma City on the road and Cleveland back at home.
Best Over play - Detroit Pistons (1-3 SU, 4-0 O/U)
The Pistons, who were last week's hottest team ATS cooled down a bit last week after matchups with Miami and Minnesota and a tough overtime loss at New Orleans. However, the Pistons hit the Over in every game last week and have gone over the total in eight of the past nine games. The Piston's offense has been improving of late, scoring at least 92 points in their past nine games thanks to a balanced attack. All five starters are averaging at least 13 points per game this season. The Pistons have a tough upcoming week with matchups against Portland, Indiana and Houston.
Best Under play - Boston Celtics (2-2 SU, 1-3 O/U)
The Celtics haven't quite figured out this whole 'tanking' thing yet. That is partly due to the fact that the Atlantic Division is one of the worst divisions in recent memory. The Celtics still lead the division with an 11-14 record, but have been a solid Under play all season thanks to their combination of mediocre offense and good defense. They are now a ranked fifth in points against per game at 95.7 while only scoring 94.8 points per game themselves. Boston has a little three game home stand this week, welcoming Minnesota, Detroit and Washington to town.
Surveying the Schedule:
The San Antonio Spurs are on another winning streak. Their current one is at four games, but they will have a tough road ahead if they want to keep the streak going. They are in the midst of a four game road trip with stops remaining against the high-flying L.A. Clippers, the always tough Phoenix Suns and the electric Golden State Warriors. All this before a showdown of two the West's elite teams when the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town next Saturday night.