NBA Betting Picks: Portland Trailblazers at New Jersey Nets

Added on Nov 28, 2010 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

NBA action on Sunday continues as the Portland Trailblazers make the long trip from the Pacific Northwest to take on the New Jersey Nets. Portland has struggled with injuries all season long–most significantly to superstar guard Brandon Roy–but have been able to scrap to an 8-7 record. New Jersey is only 5-11 but have improved dramatically since last year’s team flirted with the all time worst record in the NBA.

Portland Trailblazers at New Jersey Nets
November 28, 2010 4:00 PM Pacific

New Jersey’s improved effort is not only paying dividends in wins and losses but against the pointspread–the Nets are 9-6 ATS on the year and have covered 8 of their last 11 games. Portland is at the other extreme where nothing is coming easily for them–they’re 4-6 SU in their last 10 games but every victory has been a struggle and that’s clearly reflected in the fact that they’ve covered only 4 of their last 13 games. Tough scheduling spot for the Blazers coming off a blowout loss to New Orleans and having to make the long trip to the East Coast immediately after Thanksgiving.

The Blazers have taken care of business against teams with losing records this year going 4-0 SU/3-0-1 ATS but New Jersey has been money in the bank as an underdog (8-4 ATS) and against teams with winning records (7-2 ATS). This game sets up a lot like New Jersey’s last game–a SU home court win over the Atlanta Hawks. Like Atlanta, Portland isn’t good enough at this point to win with a substandard effort and focus and with New Jersey’s recent struggles they’re still a team that’s hard to get ‘up’ to play. New Jersey is playing nasty team defense and has held 6 of their last 8 opponents to 100 points or less. Portland may be able to scrap out the outright win, but it’ll be a fight. We’re thinking the Nets pull the upset and the pointspread is an afterthought.

Bet New Jersey Nets +5′ over Portland Trailblazers