NBA Odds – Saturday Triple-Play

Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz

The Houston Rockets made a bold move to acquire Kevin Martin at the NBA trade deadline but the move has not worked out as first viewed.

The Rockets are mired in a big slump that has landed them in last place in the Southwest Division. Houston has lost three straight and seven of their last 10 games, which is not what they had in mind when they bolstered their roster with Martin.

Meanwhile, the Jazz have been heading in the opposite direction. They had a bad start to the season but have won 34 of their last 49 games and are one of the hottest teams in the league. During that time, they have climbed to third in the West and are just one game out of second.

This is a mismatch and the Jazz should take advantage.

NBA Odds Pick: Jazz

Portland Trail Blazers @ Minnesota Timberwolves

The Portland Trail Blazers have been snake-bitten by injuries this year but they still don’t give up. No matter who goes down, they still scrap and fight.

The Blazers have won two straight games and are sitting in eighth in the Western Conference playoff standings. They get an easy matchup on Saturday but playing on the road is never easy in the NBA.

Portland will face Minnesota, who is dead last in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves have just 14 wins on the year and are just 9-20 at home.

It’s tough to bet against Portland in this matchup given the difference in caliber and given the difference in motivation. Minnesota is already playing for a high draft pick while the Blazers are aiming for the playoffs.

Sportsbook Reviews Pick: Trail Blazers

Detroit Pistons @ Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons are two of the more disappointing teams in the NBA this season as both have combined for just 36 wins and 77 losses.

While most people remember the Pistons as a proud franchise, the reality is that they have been an embarrassment this year considering their talent and they can’t be trusted in any betting scenario.

They have just seven road wins this year while the Warriors are somewhat decent at 12-18 at home. The Warriors like to run and gun at home and they should be able to outrun the Pistons as they venture out to the West Coast.

NBA Betting Pick: Warriors

NASCAR Odds – Burton should end run at Las Vegas

NASCAR betting players have been waiting for a team to step up and consistently challenge Hendrick Motorsports, and over the first two weeks of the season, it looks like Richard Childress Racing is ready to step up after a terrible 2009 season. The Shelby American takes place this Sunday at Las Vegas, and one of their drivers will end a 43-race winless streak at a place he’s already won twice.

Las Vegas Odds – Sunday, February 28, 2:00 PM ET

Jimmie Johnson (+400)

Last week’s winner at California won this race three times from 2005 to 2007, and he probably would have won last year if not for wall contact late in the race which dropped him back into the pack.

Kyle Busch (+700)

Last year’s winner took the checkered flag from the pole, setting a track record in the process, but an engine change made him go to the back of the pack at the start. But Busch was determined to win at his hometown track, and he pulled out the victory. Busch seems more mature so far this year, as he got engaged, and he owns his own truck team. Last week, his car was terrible, but he willed it to a 14th-place finish.

Jeff Burton (+1500)

Burton won this race in 1999 and 2000, and bookmakers (sportsbook reviews) may have issues putting faith in the No.31 driver as he hasn’t won since October 2008, which was the second Charlotte race of the year. Burton’s 9.8 average is the best finishing average among active drivers, and he’s one of four racers (Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte are the others) to have driven in all 12 Las Vegas races. Burton finished third behind Johnson and RCR teammate Kevin Harvick at California last week.

Matt Kenseth (+2000)

The No.17 driver switched crew chiefs after just one race, but he got a seventh-place finish out of California as the defending champion after no one heard anything from him all day long. Kenseth won this race in 2003 and 2004, and he was going for three wins in a row last year before a blown engine sent him to the garage in just the seventh lap.

Joey Logano (+3000)

This is the guy you want to back if you like risks, and the No.20 driver finished 13th here in his first Las Vegas race last year. Logano finished fifth last week at California, and he carries himself with a confidence he didn’t have last year as a rookie. He could win a couple of races this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Pick: Jeff Burton is the play here after his performances in the first couple of weeks. He’s my sports handicapping pick of the weekend.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview

As the NBA season winds down, the games become more important as teams try to vie for playoff spots or seeding. This Tuesday we have an interesting matchup between two teams looking for different things. The Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped three straight for the first time this season and are trying to right the ship, while the New Orleans Hornets are trying to stay alive in the playoff race in the west without their star, Chris Paul.

New Orleans Hornets (30-26, 9th in Western Conference) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (43-14, 1st in Eastern Conference)

Sportsbook

Spread: Cavaliers -5.5

Over/Under 198

Money Line: Cavaliers -200, New Orleans + 150

Key Matchups

Bronze Medal: Can the Cavs adjust to Antawn Jamison and no Illgauskas

• Since the trade to get Antawn Jamison at the deadline, the Cavs have dropped three straight. Jamison has only played in two of those games and was terrible in the first (0-12) and very good in the second (19 points 8 rebounds). Jamison will be a great fit for this Cavs team, however without Big Z on the team, the Cavs will need to find away to replace his presence. LeBron looked a little out of sorts in the fourth quarter against the Magic Sunday. He was only 1-5 and settled for jump shots. Perhaps not having Big Z spreading the floor and hitting deep 2’s has inhibited LeBron’s usual driving to the lane ways. The Cavs expect to get Illgauskas back after the 30 day period is up for players traded, but they may be inconsistent offensively until then.

Advantage: Hornets

Silver Medal: How can the Hornets win without Chris Paul leading the way?

• Chris Paul has been sidelined after having arthroscopic knee surgery a couple weeks ago. Replacing a player of Paul’s caliber is impossible to do, however the Hornets have had an impressive fill in with rookie G Darren Collison. Collison is averaging 24 points and 9.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds and a whopping 3.4 steals over his last five games. Those are Paul like numbers. His 5.8 turnovers a game however, are not. The Hornets have been staying afloat without Paul, but the team just doesn’t runs as smoothly without him. The Cavs have no one that can guard Chris Paul, and Collison will likely have a great game, but this is still a road game against the best team in the NBA with a rookie PG.

Advantage: Cavs

Gold Medal: How do the Hornets stop LeBron?

• They don’t. It’s not going to happen. The Hornets are not setup to defend against a player with James’ size or speed. Then again no one is, but New Orleans will really be up against it. What the Hornets will need to do is play real tight on the other players on the Cavs. Peja Stojakovic has no chance of guarding LeBron and Marcus Thornton and James Posey will not fair much better. Expect a 30+ point triple double out of the likely MVP.

Advantage: Cavs

Online Sportsbook Review: Prediction

• LeBron isn’t going to lose four in a row. I refuse to believe that is going to happen. The Hornets have an interesting team but have not been able to matchup with the better squads in the league. This game will be more of the same.

Final: Cavs 105 - Hornets 93. Take the Cavs and beware of the Total.