NBA Betting Preview - Veteran Spurs Host Young Hornets
by Tim Furious
The Spurs have had plenty of time to enjoy their two-game winning streak since defeating the Hornets on Monday. Considering the age and injuries hampering San Antonio this season, they’ll take all the rest they can get. Yet, what San Antonio has found in the midst of its struggles this season is a wily range of veteran moves that have simply schooled younger teams like New Orleans.
For years now, the Spurs have been considered a hazardous betting team because they were always getting fairly large lines and were constantly beating teams defensively. The fact they’re just 4-3 SU2-5 ATS in the last 7 games is typical Spurs basketball for the experienced NBA betting public. In a tight struggle for a reasonably good playoff spot, Tim Duncan and the Spurs are just 7th in the Western Conference, tied with Portland and just behind Phoenix and Oklahoma City.
With Chris Paul still sidelined due to a knee injury, the Spurs won’t have trouble handling the Hornets tonight even with a daunting line. The Spurs are 6-1 ATS in their past 7 games when New Orleans visits them and are 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in their past 6 meetings overall.
Friday, March 5th --- AT&T Center, San Antonio --- 9:30pm EST
: San Antonio -8 (197.5)
To say it’s been a tragic season for the Hornets is an understatement. The acquisition of Emeka Okafor was supposed to bolster a front line that had been lambasted for its defensive inadequacies. The Hornets rank 20th overall with 101.4 points allowed, and have simply been a shell of their hopeful selves since CP3 was lost to injury. It’s almost impossible to grade the Okafor trade completely until Paul and him have ample playing together.
In the meantime, the Hornets haven’t been able to do any justice to the oddsmakers’ handicaps. Just 1-3-1 ATS in their past 5 games, the Hornets have hit a massive tailspin. Granted, they usually play far better on the road, having gone 7-1-1 ATS in their past 9 road games, but the matchup against San Antonio is a nightmare for them. It’s one of those games where you could see a 25-point stat line from Tony Parker and not even flinch.
