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NBA: Top Weekend Power Trends 4/3-4/5

Less than two weeks remain in the NBA’s regular season and the Bobcats, yes, the Charlotte Bobcats are challenging for a playoff spot in the East. They enter this weekend’s action just 1-1/2 games behind Chicago for the 8th spot in the East. On Wednesday,

2009-04-06

Less than two weeks remain in the NBA’s regular season and the Bobcats, yes, the Charlotte Bobcats are challenging for a playoff spot in the East. They enter this weekend’s action just 1-1/2 games behind Chicago for the 8th spot in the East. On Wednesday, Charlotte lost a heartbreaker in Boston. On Friday they’ll host Miami before heading to Detroit on Sunday for a key date with the Pistons. Elsewhere this weekend, the series of key conflicts affecting playoff positioning in the West continues with several important contests. In the Southwest Division, where three teams are separated by just 1-game as of Friday, San Antonio, Houston, and New Orleans all face difficult 2-game weekend sets. Here’s a look at some of the key action on tap, along with our regular feature highlighting a sample of the Top StatFox Power Trends in play.

On Friday night, amazingly, every one of the 10 games figures to have some impact on the playoff proceedings. The games either match two teams in the playoff hunt, or one hoping to avoid a slip-up against a hungry spoiler. From the former group, the highlight game features Cleveland visiting Orlando, in a potential East Finals preview. The Cavs are inching closer to wrapping up home court advantage for the playoffs, but are looking to improve a 3-6 SU & 1-8 ATS record vs. the Magic over the last three seasons. Orlando trails Boston by a game for the #2 spot in the East but is tied in the loss column. Speaking of the Celtics, they’ll be hosting the Hawks Friday in another stellar East showdown. Boston has swept three meetings with Atlanta in ’08-09, but only by a combined 10 points. Getting back to Charlotte, the Bobcats welcome Miami to town, where they are 22-17 SU & 24-15 ATS this season. They are also 11-3 ATS vs. divisional foes. In the West, the big game figures to be Houston visiting the Lakers, who come home from a long 7-game road trip. Elsewhere, New Orleans needs to be on upset alert as it travels to Golden State.

The Saturday board in once again nowhere near as appealing as the action on Friday and Sunday, and for good reason, as few basketball fans figure to be paying a whole lot of attention to the proceedings in the NBA with the Final Four action going on in Detroit. Still, that said, many of the prospective playoff teams from the East will be in action. Miami is on a back-to-back at Washington, who just upset Cleveland on Thursday aided by the return of Gilbert Arenas to the floor. Detroit travels to Philadelphia hoping to build some confidence for the postseason, and Chicago looks to strengthen its hold on the final conference playoff spot when it hosts New Jersey. Finally, Orlando visits Atlanta, with both teams of course, coming off big contests the night before. These are two of the top six spread covering teams in the NBA and both have been solid in back-to-back scenarios, Orlando 9-4 SU & ATS in ’08-09, Atlanta 11-8 SU & ATS.

Sunday’s schedule is loaded with intriguing action and it all gets started with a San Antonio-Cleveland showdown on ABC at 1:05 PM ET. The Cavs have still lost just one time on the home floor this season, going 36-1 SU & 24-13 ATS. However, keep in mind that that lone defeat was at the hands of another West power, the Lakers. The second game on ABC pits Phoenix and Dallas, as the Suns get the chance to start one last unlikely surge towards the final West playoff spot. Two other games will have playoff implications in the West as well, with Houston hosting Portland, and Utah visiting New Orleans. The Hornets will be putting to the test an 18-4 ATS revenge angle as shown below. In the East, there is one key game, Charlotte visiting Detroit. Depending on how the action works out on Friday night, it’s possible the Bobcats could be looking to tie the Pistons in the standings in this contest. Even if not, the game will still be plenty meaningful for the playoff-starved Charlotte franchise. It’s not exactly the best of spots for the Pistons either, as they’ve been awful at home this season and even worse on Sunday’s.

Now, here’s a look at some of the Top StatFox Power Trends to consider for the weekend’s games.

Friday, 4/3/2009
(501) MIAMI vs. (502) CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTE is 9-0 ATS (+9 Units) vs. poor rebounding teams outrebounded by 3+ RPG in 2nd half of this season. The average score was CHARLOTTE 102.4, OPPONENT 92 - (Rating = 3*)

(507) DALLAS vs. (508) MEMPHIS
MEMPHIS is 3-18 ATS (-16.8 Units) against marginal winning teams (Win Pct. 51%-60%) over the L2 seasons. The average score was MEMPHIS 95.6, OPPONENT 107.4 - (Rating = 4*)

(511) CLEVELAND vs. (512) ORLANDO
ORLANDO is 27-6 ATS (+20.4 Units) revenging a same season loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons. The average score was ORLANDO 104.5, OPPONENT 95.8 - (Rating = 4*)

(515) SACRAMENTO vs. (516) PHOENIX
PHOENIX is 17-2 ATS (+14.8 Units) vs. poor defensive teams (FG pct defense of >=46%) in 2nd half of the last 2 seasons. The average score was PHOENIX 124.5, OPPONENT 108.2 - (Rating = 4*)

(517) NEW ORLEANS vs. (518) GOLDEN STATE
GOLDEN STATE is 17-4 OVER (+12.6 Units) at home vs. poor pressure defensive teams (<=14 TOs/game) this season. The average score was GOLDEN STATE 116.9, OPPONENT 114 - (Rating = 3*)

Saturday, 4/4/2009
(801) TORONTO vs. (802) NEW YORK
NEW YORK is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) vs. good ball handling teams committing <=14 TOs/game in 2nd half of this season. The average score was NEW YORK 108, OPPONENT 108.1 - (Rating = 3*)

(807) ORLANDO vs. (808) ATLANTA
ORLANDO is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) vs. good shooting teams - making >=46% of their shots this season. The average score was ORLANDO 99.4, OPPONENT 91.7 - (Rating = 3*)

(807) ORLANDO vs. (808) ATLANTA
ATLANTA is 13-3 UNDER (+9.7 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent of 10 points or more this season. The average score was ATLANTA 96.1, OPPONENT 92.8 - (Rating = 2*)

(811) MEMPHIS vs. (812) MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE is 3-16 ATS (-14.6 Units) vs. poor teams outscored by 3+ PPG in 2nd half of the last 2 seasons. The average score was MILWAUKEE 100.5, OPPONENT 106.1 - (Rating = 3*)

Sunday, 4/5/2009
(507) CHARLOTTE vs. (508) DETROIT
DETROIT is 1-13 ATS (-13.3 Units) on Sunday games this season. The average score was DETROIT 87.9, OPPONENT 97.1 - (Rating = 4*)

(513) DENVER vs. (514) MINNESOTA
MINNESOTA is 3-15 ATS (-13.5 Units) at home when playing against a team with a winning record this season. The average score was MINNESOTA 94.5, OPPONENT 104.7 - (Rating = 3*)

(515) UTAH vs. (516) NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS is 18-4 ATS (+13.6 Units) at home revenging a same season loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 99.7, OPPONENT 87.5 - (Rating = 3*)

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