Are the Nets on the up and come? Judging by their recent games, they just might be. In which case, bettors might want to strike the iron while it’s hot.
You could say the same about the Suns, who are reversing expectations from before the season began with their play. Even more ridiculous is Portland’s offensive stars, who are on an other-worldly tear over their last ten games.
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NBA Betting Power Rankings as of December 18
Teams
Trends
Portland Trail Blazers
9-1 OVER in last 10 games
Brooklyn Nets
5-0 ATS in last 5
Phoenix Suns
5-0 ATS in last 5
Indiana Pacers
3-0 ATS in last 3 games after loss
Chicago Bulls
5-1 UNDER in last 6 games
1. Portland Trail Blazers
Next Games: @T’wolves, vs. Pelicans, vs. Clippers
The red-hot Blazers are making baskets look like the size of the Atlantic Ocean, registering a 9-1 OVER slate in their last 10 games. They are the best scoring team in the NBA, pouring on an average of 107.9 PPG.
Over their last 10 games, Portland has even found a way to better that season average by torturing defenses with a ridiculous 113.9 PPG.
Against Philadelphia last Saturday, LaMarcus Aldridge and gang showed no mercy to the lowly Sixers, hanging a season-high 139 points – the most points in a game by any team this year. To expound the Blazers’ offensive show, they haven’t scored lower than 102 points in 13 games. [sc:NBA240banner ]
2. Brooklyn Nets
Next Games: vs. Wizards, @Sixers, vs. Pacers
Suddenly, Joe Johnson and crew are starting to resemble a group of players who aren’t going to make owner Mikhail Prokhorov throw his pen after signing their multi-million dollar paychecks.
The Nets are 4-1 SU in their last five games, which includes the first time this season that the team has won back-to-back, winning three in a row against the Bucks, Celtics and Clippers. Even better was their 5-0 ATS record in their last five contests.
3. Phoenix Suns
Next Games: vs. Spurs, @Nuggets, vs. Dallas
The rebuilding Suns are looking like gold under their rookie head coach; a team under such circumstances isn’t supposed to be just 1.5 games behind the well-established Clippers. But believe it or not, Phoenix is giving legitimate chase to the Clippers’ rule in the Pacific division. The Suns have yet to go below .500 this season and they are now five games above the mark, thanks to a five-game winning streak. More than that, the Suns are 5-0 ATS in those games.
4. Indiana Pacers
Next Games: @Heat, vs. Celtics, @Nets
The Pacers are beatable at home after all. Detroit dealt the Pacers’ their first home loss this season last Monday, but that by no means is a reason to demote Indiana in any set of power rankings. The team remains a solid contender in the East, especially after beating defending champions Miami just last week.
If bettors are to take anything away from that loss to the Pistons, it’s that the Pacers are terrific at winning and covering the spread after a loss. In fact, they are 3-0 SU and ATS this season following a defeat.
5. Chicago Bulls
Next Games: @Rockets, @Thunder, vs. Cavaliers
This season has been a difficult pill to swallow for Bulls fans. What started as a season full of promise became yet another nightmarish year to endure the moment that Derrick Rose blew out one of his knees again. As of now, the Bulls are out of the playoff picture and have lost seven of 10 games.
But don’t throw in the towel just yet, Bulls bettors. Signs of profitability have emerged in the Totals column, where the Bulls have gone 5-1 Under in their last six games overall.
