New York Knicks AT Utah Jazz
January 12, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST
Opening Line: Utah -6.5
Current Line: Utah -6.5
Opening Total: 210.5
Current Total: 209
Opening Moneyline: Utah -275 / NY +235
Current Moneyline: Utah -275 / NY +235
What a difference a year makes…or a big free agent signing. New York won 29 games all year last year, and they are already at 22 so far, and we’re not even half way through the season. The free agent in question of course is Amar’e Stoudemire, who is currently second in the league in scoring and has New York fans excited again about Knick basketball, something that hasn’t happened since the Ewing days in the mid 90s.
The Knicks are 2-1 on their Western Conference road trip and last game beat the Blazers by 14 and held them to 34.9% shooting, not bad for a team that is perceived as playing no defense. Perhaps it is just their boisterous scoring that overshadows a pretty decent defensive team playing at a fast pace. On this current road trip they’re holding opponents to 97 points per game and an atrocious 39.8% field goal perecentage. They’ll have a chance to test their improved defense against a Utah team that is potent on offense led by Deron Williams, who is arguably the best point guard in the NBA..
Some betting trends:
New York is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games and 2-4 SU in their last 6 on the road. They are 10-4 SU in their last 14 on the road, though, and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 games against the Jazz. The total has gone UNDER In 6 of their last 9 against Utah and they are 1-4 SU in their last 5 in Utah.
The total has gone OVER In 5 of Utah’s last 7 games and they are 17-8 SU in their last 25 games. They are also 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games and 4-1 SU in their last 5 against the Knicks. Utah is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 against New York.
Key Matchups:
Amar’e Stoudemire / Wilson Chandler vs. Al Jefferson / Paul Millsap
These frontcourt matchups, aside from the point guard battle which will also be important, are the most telling between the teams. Wilson Chandler has emerged as a star of sorts to compliment Amar’e down low, shooting threes and also driving past slower power forwards, as Amar’e does a little bit of everything himself. They’ll be facing two power players in Jefferson and Millsap and will have their hands full as neither Chandler nor Amar’e are particularly known for being good post defenders. Jefferson should look to body up Amar’e down low and attempt to use his superior strength to get close to the basket for easy shots and draw fouls. Millsap will take Chandler outside some, but might look to post up more tonight as he has a strength advantage too.
The total is set high for tonight’s game due to New York’s fast paced game, and Utah has the fire power to keep up with them. It promises to be a high scoring and exciting game, but that doesn’t mean New York won’t play some defense, it might just be disguised…again.
