Tip off: 9:05 PM EST
Spread: PHO -7
Total: 197
M/L: PHO -310, CLE +260
Few teams would likely be happy with a sub-.500 record, but the Cleveland Cavs are probably pretty pleased to have won 4 of their first 9 games in a season in which they were expected to win very few. Though they did suffer a 113-105 loss to the Jazz Tuesday night, at that point they were at .500 and Cavs fans at this point have to be dreaming of at least a low playoffs seed.
Most of the damage to opponents has been done by Kyrie Irving and Antawn Jamison. Irving, a 19 year old rookie from Duke, was selected first overall in a very weak draft, but has gone on to score 15.6 points per game while dishing out 4.8 assists per game, as well. The Cavs also have eight players averaging 7 points or more while employing a deep 10 man rotation in which all players see at least 14 minutes per game. This depth should help keep the Cavs relevant.
The Suns are sitting in a similar position to the Cavs, and are also 4-5 this season. Last game on Tuesday night, they lost by 16 to the L.A. Lakers, though. No Suns player even averages 13 points per game and Steve Nash got off to a slow start this year. Nash is second on the team in scoring behind Marcin “The Polish Hammer” Gortat. Only one Suns player (Jared Dudley) is seeing 30 minutes per game, and the Suns use a 10 man rotation. The 39 year old Grant Hill is averaging 27 minutes a game and putting up 9.1 points per game. Hill has scored in double figures 4 times this season, so far, but scored just 4 against the Lakers last game.
Cavs Betting Trends:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the Cavs’ last 7 games and it has gone UNDER In 4 of their last 5 on the road. The Cavs are 1-4 SU In their last 5 road games and they are 4-2 SU in their last 6 against the SUns. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Cavs’ last 5 against Phoenix while the Cavs are 7-17 SU in their alst 24 games against the Suns. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Cavs’ last 5 games on the road against the Suns and the Cavs are 2-10 SU in their last 12 games on the road against the Suns.
Suns Betting Trends:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the Suns’ last 10 games and it has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 6 games at home. The Suns are 6-2 SU In their last 8 games at home and they are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 against Cleveland. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Suns’ last 5 games against the Cavs and the Suns are 2-4 SU In their last 6 against Cleve. The Suns are 7-17 SU in their last 24 games against the Cavs. The Suns are 10-2 SU in their last 12 at home vs Cleveland and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Suns’ last 5 games at home against the Cavs.
Key Matchups:
Power forward:
Channing Frye / Markieff Morris vs. Antawn Jamison / Tristan Thompson
So far, Morris and Thompson have two of the better rookies in this young season, but at this point in their respective careers, they must be content to come off the bench behind established veterans in Frye and Jamison. Jamison announced earlier this year that this will likely be his last NBA season, while Frye is pretty much in the heart of his prime.
All of these forwards, save Thompson, can shoot the three ball, while Frye more or less makes a living at it. Frye has struggled badly this season, but is capable of getting hot at any point and will quickly teach the young Thompson the consequences of laying back on defense if he tries to. Jamison, meanwhile, is familiar with Frye and the Suns and is less likely to make such mistakes.
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