Bobcats to Host Spurs on Saturday
In NBA Southeast Division action on Saturday, we have three interesting games on tap. First, the San Antonio Spurs visit the much improved Charlotte Bobcats. Charlotte is 22-28 which doesn’t sound all that impressive until you look at their record the last two years. In the Eastern Conference a .500 record likely puts you in the playoffs so they are well within striking distance. If the playoffs started today, the Bobcats would be in as the eighth seed. But they are in a tight race as the Detroit Pistons sit in the ninth spot only 1.5 behind the Cats.
The Spurs need to win to keep pace in the tough Western Conference playoff race. They are currently 3.0 games up on the Houston Rockets in the Southwest Division and are three games behind the Northwest Division leading Oklahoma City Thunder for the top spot in the West. The Thunder let one get away last night as they let a 15 point halftime lead get away in a one point loss to the Orlando Magic.
The Atlanta Hawks host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight in a battle between teams trying to improve their playoff positions as well. The Hawks are 1.5 games up on the Washington Wizards to stay among the top four seeds. That is huge because that would mean they start the playoffs at home. Right now they are tied for third with the Atlantic leading Toronto Raptors who lost last night to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Grizzlies are currently in the ninth spot at 26-22, 2.5 games behind the eighth place Dallas Mavericks in the playoff race. That just goes to show the difference between the two conferences. Four games over .500 in the East would have them in the third spot. In the West they are 2.5 games out of the playoffs.
Later tonight the division leading Miami Heat will be at the Utah Jazz. Utah is having an uncharacteristically bad season at 16-33. This makes them dangerous in a game like this because this is about the biggest game they have left on the schedule. If you don’t think so, ask the Thunder who had one of the these last night.
Miami is 3.5 games behind the East leading Indiana Pacers. If the Heat does not want to face a Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals on the road, they can ill afford a let down tonight.
Wager Web has the odds on these three games:
San Antonio at Charlotte-The Spurs are -5 -110 and the Bobcats are +5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is San Antonio -200 and Charlotte +165. We lile the Bobcats +165 in an upset. The Spurs seem to struggle against playoff teams
Memphis at Atlanta– Memphis is +1.5 -110 and the Hawks are -1.5 -110 ATS. We like the Hawks -1.5 -110 in this one. They are really good at home.
Miami at Utah-The Heat is -9.5 -110 and the Jazz is +9.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Miami -550 and Utah + 420. We are goin g to go with the Heat -9.5 -110. We think they come out focused.
