Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks
Time: 8:30 PM ET, Mar 1, 2014
Spread: BRO -6.5
Total: 198.5
Betting odds courtesy of 5dimes
The Brooklyn Nets are still two games below .500 but find itself seated sixth in the Eastern Conference, and far ahead of its opponent, the 11-46 Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are outscored by 9.3 points per game this season and are just 6-23 at home. NBA oddsmakers at 5dimes favored the Nets by 6.5 points at time of issue, and the Nets have won six of its past 10 contests.
Brooklyn defeated Denver 112-89 on Thurs night behind 18 points from veteran Paul Pierce. The Nets were able to balance its minute distribution so no Net played more than 27 minutes in the game. The Nets veterans all have fallen off so precipitously this season, with Joe Johnson leading the way in scoring at just 15 points per game.
Deron Williams averages just 13.9 points and 6.5 assists per game, and Paul Pierce is posting just 13.5 points per game. Kevin Garnett (back spasms) is playing just 21 minutes per game. The Nets are not the established tough group many pegged them to be, though losing leading scorer Brook Lopez did the team no favors to be sure. Lopez was posting a PER of 25.6 and leading the team, but the 7-footer is out the remainder of the season.
Milwaukee has been dreadful offensively this season. The Bucks have a few very good defensive players, and prospects, in John Henson, Larry Sanders and Giannis Antetokounmpo – but the team lacks scorers. O.J. Mayo has failed to take on the load that he should have, and is averaging just 12.4 points per game. The Bucks average just 93.3 points per game as a team, and losing Caron Butler is going to hurt that figure further, most likely.
BRO Trends: 0-4 ATS in last 4 after scoring 100 or more in previous game; UNDER 3-0-1 in last 4 following ATS win; 4-0 ATS in last 4 vs teams with losing SU records.
MIL Trends: OVER 4-0 in last 4 following SU loss; 4-0 ATS in last 4 following SU loss; OVER 5-1 in last 6 after allowing 100 or more in previous game.
Head-to-head: Nets 3-14 ATS in last 17 meetings; Nets 2-6 ATS in last 8 in Milwaukee; UNDER 13-6 in last 19 meetings in Milwaukee.
