NBA Wednesday Night Parlay - Suns vs. Cavs and Mavericks vs. Nets

Nets Try to End Losing Streak and Nash Takes on Shaq in Cleveland

Tip-off:  Dallas vs. New Jersey at 7:30 pm EST and Phoenix vs. Cleveland at 7:00 pm EST

Two interesting games should provide plenty of NBA gambling action tonight as Steven Nash and the Phoenix Suns travel to Cleveland to take on Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Suns have been successful this season primarily because Shaq no longer eats up space in the middle for them.  Will that success translate into a victory in Cleveland?  With a rejuvenated Amare Stoudemire it could happen.

In the nights other interesting game, the Dallas Mavericks travel to New Jersey to take on the 0 and 17 Nets.

Let’s take a look at both games.

Phoenix Suns vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Tip-off:  7:00 pm EST

NBA Odds:  Phoenix -7 ½

Analysis:   The 14 and 4 Suns have all of the components for a Western Conference Championship run.  So do the 12 and 5 Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs are only 2 and 6 against the spread at home, however, which could be their undoing in this game.  7 ½ seems like a lot of points to give up to the Suns who will only be missing Leandro Barbosa for this.  Barbosa is a key part of their team, but Jason Richardson, Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Channing Frye and Amare Stoudemire should more than make up for Barbosa’s loss.

Cleveland has Shaq and LeBron, of course, but Shaq might have an issue keeping up with Frye who has proven to be a very effective outside shooter for Phoenix.  If Shaq defends Amare, then the Suns can turn to Frye, Hill, Richardson and Nash on the wings.  LeBron and Mo Williams can’t guard all of them and Cleveland’s set pieces aren’t going to slow the Suns down in any way.

Phoenix hasn’t lost back to back games yet in 2009.  They probably won’t do so tonight.  Not only do they beat the spread, but they could very well beat Cleveland in Ohio.

Winning Pick:  Phoenix Suns

Dallas Mavericks vs. New Jersey Nets

Tip-off:  7:30 pm EST

NBA Odds:  Dallas -7 ½

Analysis:  Is this the night that the New Jersey Nets win a game?

It could be.  Before gamblers reading this laugh at me, let’s study some stats.  The Mavs will be playing off of two days of rest and are coming off of a 2 point victory over the Philadelphia 76’ers at home.  Even though Dallas is 7 and 3 against the spread on the road, they usually don’t have to give up close to 8 points as a road favorite.

New Jersey is 0 and 17 straight-up but they are coming off of a four game road trip.  Playing at home should definitely help them.  Of course, because the worst team in the NBA is getting 7 ½ points, bettors don’t necessarily have to wager on them to win straight-up.

We could take the points.  Would that be a wise thing to do?  The Nets are only 5 and 12 against the spread in 2009 while Dallas is 11 and 7 against the spread overall but only 2 and 3 in their last 5 games.

I expect New Jersey to put forth a valiant effort.  They will probably lose but they should lose by less than 8 points and are the wager in this game. 

Winning Pick:  New Jersey