NBA Betting Preview: A look at Magic-Trail Blazers

Orlando Magic at Portland Trail Blazers, Rose Garden, Portland, OR
Thursday, December 9, 2010, 10:30 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Orlando -1
Current Line: Orlando -2
Opening Total: 185
Current Total: 184 1/2
Money Line: Orlando -130 / Portland +110

Dwight Howard and the Magic are 2 point road favorites at the Blazers Thursday night

The 15-6 Orlando Magic start a 4 game West Coast road swing at the 10-11 Portland Trail Blazers. They also play the Clippers, Jazz, and Nuggets on the trip. Orlando is still one of the elite teams in the East but Portland has gotten off to a disappointing start so far this season. Orlando lost at home against Atlanta 80-74 on Monday night, and Portland is coming off a 106-99 home win against Phoenix Tuesday night. Orlando is 123-95 ATS in the last three seasons, including 55-42 as a favorite and 13-3 in road games with 2 or days rest.

The strength of Orlando is of course rebounding and defense. They are scoring 97 points a game but only allowing a league-leading 91 points a game. They average 42 rebounds a game. They only average 19 assists per game which is 28th in the league. Not surprisingly, Dwight Howard leads them in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals. Howard plays 35 minutes a game and averages 20.9 PPG, 12.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.4 blocks a game. He also averages 1.1 assists a game. The Magic have 5 players averaging double figures in scoring. Shooting guard Vince Carter is averaging 15.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Point guard Jameer Nelson is averaging 15 points a game along with 7 assists, and 3 rebounds. Power forwards Rashard Lewis (12.3 points a game) and Brandon Bass (10.7 a game) also score in double figures.

Portland is 10-11 in the rugged Western Conference. They are still expected to compete for a playoff spot, as they have too much talent not to. They are being outscored 95.6-95.2 a game. They do average 39.7 rebounds a game along with 20.8 assists. The Blazers are led by Brandon Roy. Roy averages 18 points a game, along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Andre Miller is the point guard. He had played in 632 consecutive games until Tuesday night when he was suspended by the league for a flagrant foul on the Clipper’s Blake Griffin last week. Miller leads the Blazers in steals and assists. He also averages 14 points and 3.4 rebounds a game. Marcus Camby leads the Blazers in rebounds with 10.5 per game and blocks at 1.7 per game. LaMarcus Aldridge also contributes 17.6 points and 8.5 rebounds a game.

I don’t see a lot of points in this game as both these teams are tough defensively. Portland has no answer for Dwight Howard, but few teams do. The Blazers will try to shut down everyone else and let Howard get his. The Rose Garden is always a tough place to play as it is routinely one of the loudest arenas in the league. It is almost like a college atmosphere. Portland is only 6-3 this season at home while Orlando is 6-3 on the road. The Blazers have already played 9 games against Eastern conference opponents while the Magic have only played 5 games against Western foes.