NBA Betting: Pacers Could Take Over as Title Favorites this Week
by Bovada Sportsbook Staff | Feb. 10, 2014
Those that call the All-Star Break the NBA’s midway point would be statistically incorrect as every team in the league has played at least 50 games with the Association set to take its break following Thursday’s action. But it’s a good time to take a look at the NBA futures and it’s quite possible that the Indiana Pacers could overtake the two-time NBA champion Miami Heat as title favorites by Thursday night.
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Miami is currently 9/4 to threepeat with Indiana at 11/4; the Heat are 5/6 to win the Eastern Conference for a fourth straight season with Indiana at even money.
It now seems fairly evident that the Pacers are going to get the top seed in the Eastern Conference as they hold a 3.5-game lead over Miami entering Monday’s action. The Heat don’t really care if they get that No. 1 and will continue to rest Dwyane Wade as needed to keep him fresh for the postseason. You may even see Chris Bosh and LeBron James take an occasional seat after the break to ensure their full health for the postseason.
It’s a difficult week for Miami as they visit Phoenix on Tuesday and Golden State on Wednesday. The Warriors game will feature Live Betting at Bovada. Those two played one of the most entertaining games of the season on January 2 in Miami. The Heat were 5.5-point favorites but lost 123-114 in their worst defensive effort of the year.
Stephen Curry was on fire for Golden State in that game, finishing with 36 points (eight 3-pointers, tying the most ever by a Heat opponent) along with 12 assists and four steals. David Lee had 32 points and 14 rebounds. The Warriors shot an excellent 56% from the field. The 123 points allowed were the most given up by Miami since LeBron and Bosh joined Wade in south Florida.
Miami likely will want some payback on Wednesday. Should they lose both their games this week, Indiana is likely to replace the Heat as the NBA title favorites.
Also available for Live Betting at Bovada on Wednesday is Trail Blazers at Clippers, a potential Western Conference playoff preview. Los Angeles is the third-favorite to win the West at 13/2 and Portland at 7/1 with Golden State. Those Clippers odds could get shorter quickly as they welcomed back star point guard Chris Paul on Sunday. He hadn't played since January 3 due to a shoulder injury.
It will be a big-time challenge for Portland as the Blazers will be on the second of a back-to-back after hosting Western Conference favorite Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. Portland and the Clippers have played once thus far, a 116-112 overtime home win for the Blazers on December 26.
On Thursday, Live Betting will be available on the Thunder at Lakers game. Los Angeles won in Cleveland last Wednesday and Philadelphia on Friday for their first winning streak since mid-December. The Lakers returned home Sunday and lost 92-86 to the Bulls, also losing point guard Steve Nash to another injury. Seems like they just can’t catch a break.
The two-time MVP was playing only his third game after missing 39 because of a nerve problem in his back. Nash left in the third quarter against Chicago because of irritation in his left leg. LA remains without its two best players, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
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