NBA Betting Odds: Phoenix Suns at Toronto Raptors

Added on Feb 25, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

More post trade deadline action in the NBA as the Phoenix Suns head north of the border to take on the Toronto Raptors. The Bosh-less Raptors haven’t been much better than the LeBron-less Cavs this year, while Phoenix has been playing decent basketball of late winning 7 of their last 10 games. It really won’t get them anywhere in the Pacific Division where they trail the LA Lakers by 10 games but it will help them at least make the playoffs if they keep it up.

Phoenix Suns at Toronto Raptors
February 25, 2011 4:05 PM Pacific

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ monumental struggles and record losing streak have been the best thing that could happen to the Toronto Raptors. It’s allowed them to keep a relatively low profile despite the fact that they’re in as bad–if not worse–shape following the departure of Chris Bosh. Toronto is coming in off an upset home win over a Chicago Bulls team that was caught looking ahead to the Miami Heat, but that’s about the only positive they’ve got to show of late. The Raptors are 3-15 SU in their last 18 games with a horrible pointspread record of 7-11 ATS during that stretch. They’ve lost 6 of their last 7 games against opponents with winning records going 2-5 ATS.

Phoenix isn’t a great team in any pointspread situation but they have been profitable on the road in up-tempo games like they should get here against the defensively inept Raptors. In road games with a total of 210 or higher the Suns are 8-3 ATS. The Raptors don’t have the inclination to shut them down defensively, nor do they have the talent to beat them at the pace Phoenix prefers to play. Surprisingly enough, Phoenix is all of a sudden playing at least passable defense holding 5 of their last 9 opponents to under 100 points. Sure, it ain’t exactly Boston Celtics level defensive tenacity but it’ll be enough to take care of business here. Of all the lottery candidates in the Eastern Conference the Raptors may be the team with the least upside down the stretch. We’ll look to go against them often as they haven’t shown a lot of interest or intensity lately and could start to ‘phone it in’ as they play out the string.

Bet Phoenix Suns -3′ over Toronto Raptors