Skip to main content

Pelicans, Sixers Poised as Second-Half Surprises

The New Orleans Pelicans opened the current NBA campaign in uninspired fashion. With top draft pick Zion Williamson sidelined by injury, the Pelicans stumbled out of the gate, with their dismal 6-22 straight-up start marked by a 13-game SU losing streak. But with Williamson finally making his debut, and the team playing far more respectable defense, the Pelicans are poised to be one of the surprise stories during the unofficial second half of the NBA season.

The Pelicans return from the NBA All-Star Break trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by 5.5 games in the hunt for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and pegged as a distant +25000 bet on the NBA championship odds. Despite having a mountain to climb, a return to the postseason for the first time in two years is not out of the question.

Since putting an end to their epic slide just before Christmas, the Pelicans have gone 17-10 SU in their past 27 games, and look forward to the easiest schedule in the NBA down the stretch including six combined dates with the bottom-feeding Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. That is likely to give New Orleans ample opportunity to pad their recent numbers on the betting lines, where they have gone 18-7-2 ATS during their recent resurgence, while winning outright in seven of 13 outings as an underdog.

One of the biggest obstacles to the Pelicans’ playoff aspirations is likely to be the team they are trying to catch, the Memphis Grizzlies. Like New Orleans, the Grizzlies opened the season on a brutal run, going 6-16 SU through their first 22 contests, but come out of the break as one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

Memphis has built its resurgence on a solid mix of veterans and youth, led by Ja Morant. The 20-year-old point guard has fulfilled his promise after being selected second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, leading the team with 17.6 points and 7.1 assists per game, and comes out of the break as a -350 favorite to claim NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

Second-year forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has also taken the next step, draining 17.1 points per game, while veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas has provided much-needed leadership and a team-best 10.5 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies lag as a distant +6000 bet to win the Southwest Division despite trailing first-place Houston by just six games.

The team must also dramatically improve their results on the road, where they sport a middling 12-13 SU record and play 10 of their next 14 games. Memphis also faces a daunting schedule down the stretch, highlighted by a combined four games against Toronto and the Los Angeles Lakers.

 

Sixers Set to Make Some Gains in Second Half of Year?

 

Over in the Eastern Conference, the team poised to make the biggest gains down the stretch is the Philadelphia 76ers. Set among the favorites on the NBA futures entering the season, the Sixers have endured somewhat of a Jekyll & Hyde campaign. Philadelphia comes out of the break sporting a league-leading 25-2 SU record on home hardwood, but has been simply awful on the road, going 9-19 SU including losses in each of their past five away contests.

Still sporting decent +1600 odds to claim this year’s NBA title, the 76ers sit second to New Orleans in strength of schedule, and should particularly benefit from a favorable road schedule that features upcoming dates with Cleveland, Golden State, Sacramento, Charlotte, and Minnesota. However, Joel Embiid’s ongoing struggles with injuries remain a concern, as does the Sixers’ dismal performance against the spread, with the club going 8-14 ATS in their past 22 games.

 

*Odds as of February 25, 2020

The post Pelicans, Sixers Poised as Second-Half Surprises appeared first on Sports Betting Odds, Lines, News and Articles - Bovada Sportsbook.



from Sports Betting Odds, Lines, News and Articles – Bovada Sportsbook https://ift.tt/2PpKDS3
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NHL 2021 Stanley Cup Longshot Contenders Expert Analysis

Sports fans will argue until they are blue in the face abut the toughest championship to win and which sport has the best playoffs. Given the grind and physicality of the NHL, not to mention the upturn in speed and intensity once the postseason arrives, you have to say that they certainly have a right to think of themselves as Read More The post NHL 2021 Stanley Cup Longshot Contenders Expert Analysis appeared first on MyBookie Online Sportsbook . from All Sports News & Sports Rumors – MyBookie Online Sportsbook https://ift.tt/38wmpim via IFTTT

2024 PGA Championship Odds & Preview

The 2024 PGA Championship gets underway on Thursday, May 16, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The early favorite is Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who is listed at +350 odds. Tiger Woods has said that he will play in the event that will run from the 16th through Sunday, May 19. Brooks Koepka, last […] The post 2024 PGA Championship Odds & Preview appeared first on Sportsbook Advisor . from Sportsbook Advisor https://ift.tt/KkvYx70 via IFTTT

NCAAF 2021 Regular Season – Week 5 ATS Betting Picks

One month into the college football season and things don’t really look how we expected. While Alabama sitting at #1 is nothing new, seeing the likes of Ohio State and Clemson outside the top 10 at this stage of the season is a little jarring. It does look as though the top 4 might prove to be different than what Read More The post NCAAF 2021 Regular Season – Week 5 ATS Betting Picks appeared first on MyBookie Online Sportsbook . from Sports News in the USA | Analysis, Rumors & World Sports News – MyBookie Online Sportsbook https://ift.tt/39N4lRm via IFTTT