The New Jersey Nets and Charlotte Bobcats meet for the second time in six days, and the Cats are hoping to do a little better at containing Deron Williams. Should NBA bettors expect a different outcome this time around.
This matchup is set to tip-off
at 7:00 PM ET from Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte where the NBA odds makers are favoring the Bobcats by -1.5 with the total at 192.5.
Sunday in Charlotte, the Bobcats
(5-32 SU, 14-23 ATS) opted not to double-team Williams and the
three-time All-Star made them pay dearly for their questionable strategy.
D-Will went for an NBA season-high 57 points in a 104-101 victory. He was 16 of
29 from the field and made all 21 of his free throws as Williams bested his
previous career high of 42 points.
Williams, who averages team highs of
22.4 points and 8.2 assists for the Nets (13-27 SU, 17-23 ATS),
attributed much of his scoring to Charlotte’s decision to use one man to try
and stop him.
The rest of New Jersey’s starters
combined for 20 points on 6-of-19 shooting, with Kris Humphries (11)
the only one to score more than six. The lack of scoring from the starting
lineup was a key reason why NJ failed to cover as a -4.5 point favorite.
Trouble from downtown
Despite Williams’ scoring exploits,
Charlotte had a chance to force overtime, but D.J. Augustin missed a
3-point attempt with one second left. The Bobcats didn’t do themselves any
favors missing 12 of their 14 shots from beyond the arc.
Although Silas seemed only worried about
stopping Williams, he should make sure his team respects the shooting
of Jordan Farmar. If they don’t, maybe a call to the Clippers might help.
In New Jersey’s game against LA, Vinny
Del Negro’s team was focusing on Williams, who found a wide open Farmar, who
drained a 3-pointer with 2.0 seconds left in a 101-100 win. Farmar finished
with 16 points, while Williams had 21 and 10 assists. New Jersey also earned
the ATS win as a +7.5 point underdog.
Up and down Bobcats
Charlotte bounced back from its loss to
the Nets with an impressive 100-84 victory over Orlando on Tuesday. It followed
that up, however, with Wednesday’s 99-93 loss to Utah, its 22nd in 24 games.
The good news is that the Bobcats covered the NBA betting spread in all three games and going 0-4 ATS.
Where’s Boris?
The Bobcats and Boris Diaw have
enjoyed better days. Head coach Paul Silas said he “doesn’t know” if he’ll play
again this season and admits he’s frustrated by his lack of effort. Bobcats
president of basketball operations Rod Higgins says Diaw’s agent recently
approached him about a buyout or trade. If one is granted, I can’t for the life
of me see why any team would be interested in a whiny, self-centered player who
is averaging 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
With Charlotte playing out the string to
the season, Silas is giving players like rookie guard Kemba Walker more quality
minutes. Walker, the former UConn star, is averaging 13 points and four assists
per game.
NBA Picks: New Jersey is certainly no great shakes
but with Williams, MarShon Brooks and Farmar, the Nets have three capable
scorers. I don’t see that many when I look at the Bobcats bench. It’s a low
number, one that I think New Jersey can handle.
Good luck!