The Suns should have little difficulty repeating in a division that they won by 19 games last season. The fight will be for second among the two LA teams and Golden State. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
PHOENIX SUNS (67-26 SU, 48-42-3 ATS, 46-47 O/U): But for a pair of Game 5 suspensions in last season's Western Conference Finals, the Suns might be looking to make it two in a row. The team, which led the NBA in scoring, is loaded with talented players, including starters Steve Nash (18.6 PPG, 11.6 RPG) and Raja Bell (14.7 PPG) in the backcourt, and Amare Stoudemire (20.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG), Shawn Marion (17.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG) and freshly acquired Grant Hill (14.4 PPG) up front. Leandro Barbosa (18.1 PPG), the Sixth Man Award winner last season, and Boris Diaw (9.7 PPG) are terrific off the bench. Phoenix should go all the way this season.
NBA Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 22-22-2
Home Underdog: 0-0-1
Away Favorite: 20-15
Away Underdog: 6-5
Sportsbook Buster: The Suns were 13-9-2 ATS versus the Southwest Division, last season
Sports Betting Angle: Phoenix was 26-15 after an ATS defeat, during the 2006/07 campaign.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (43-44 SU, 39-45-3 ATS, 49-37-1 O/U): Hear the one about the guy who named his Labrador Retriever Kobe because he never gives up the ball? Actually, giving the rock to Kobe Bryant (31.6 PPG) is still the Lakers' best, and some would say only, play. Bryant's supporting cast, perhaps excluding PF Lamar Odom (15.9 PPG, 9.8 RPG), is decidedly ordinary, though the return of guard Derek Fisher (10.1 PPG) should bring some stability to the point.
NBA Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 11-20-2
Home Underdog: 6-4
Away Favorite: 4-8
Away Underdog: 18-13-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Lakers were a dismal 15-23-2 (34.9%) as a favorite last season.
Sports Betting Angle: LA was just 5-13 ATS on two or more days rest last year.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (47-46 SU, 49-42-2 ATS, 53-40 O/U): The Warriors were one of the most surprising teams in the league last year but the loss of G Jason Richardson will hurt their high-scoring offense this season. G Baron Davis (20.1 PPG, 8.1 APG) still is the team's stud but young players such as Andris Biedrins (9.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG), Matt Barnes (9.8 PPG) and Monta Ellis (16.5 PPG) will have to help veterans such as Stephen Jackson (15.5 PPG) and Al Harrington (16.5 PPG) if Golden State is to pull off another miracle season.
NBA Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 19-15-1
Home Underdog: 8-3
Away Favorite: 4-1
Away Underdog: 18-23-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Warriors were an impressive 27-18-1 ATS at home last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Golden State was 23-16-2 ATS as a favorite last year.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (40-42 SU, 36-45-1 ATS, 36-43-3 O/U): Starting the year without injured PF Elton Brand (20.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG), and PG Shaun Livingston (9.3 PPG, 5.1 APG) probably will doom the Clippers to an 82-game season again. Draft choice Al Thornton is the likely replacement for Brand, joining C Chris Kaman (10.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG) and F Corey Maggette (16.9 PPG) up front. Cuttino Mobley (13.8 PPG) is the shooting guard with Sam Cassell (12.3 PPG) and Brevin Knight (9.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG) sharing time at the point until Livingston returns.
NBA Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 18-15
Home Underdog: 1-7
Away Favorite: 6-6-1
Away Underdog: 17-17
Sportsbook Buster: The Clippers were just 12-24 as an underdog last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Los Angeles was 17-26-1 ATS the game after a pointspread loss.
SACRAMENTO KINGS (33-49 SU, 34-45-3 ATS, 47-34-1 O/U): New Head Coach Reggie Theus has a lot of work to do with a squad whose best player, hair-tempered Ron Artest (18.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG) won't make his job any easier. G Mike Bibby (17.1 PPG) seems to have slipped, as has C Brad Miller (9.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG). Third-year pro Kevin Martin (20.2 PPG), a pleasant surprise in the backcourt last season, and rookie C Spencer Hawes look like the future of a team that appears doomed for last place in the division this season.
NBA Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 12-17-1
Home Underdog: 3-6-1
Away Favorite: 2-5
Away Underdog: 17-17
Sportsbook Buster: The Kings were just 15-23 ATS at home last season and only 14-22-2 as a favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Sacramento was 12-20-2 ATS following a pointspread victory last season.
This is the last of six NBA betting previews.
This article was written by Luken Karel for
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