NBA Basketball
2011-12-25 - Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball
Sunday 25 December 2011 - Tip Off 8pm ET
1am (British Standard Time)
Preview
This is an intriguing game between two teams that are clearly going in different directions, especially where this season is concerned. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a young squad with huge expectations this season, and they have become the trendy pick to win the Western Conference which has seen the LA Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks slip back to the pack.
Last season was considered yet another step up for the Thunder as they reached the Western Conference Finals before being downed by the eventual winners, the Dallas Mavericks. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City have an exciting squad, one that should be all the better with Kendrick Perkins now more accustomed to his role in the team since his trade from Boston last season.
Serge Ibaka was another player who really began to shine in the second half of the season as his minutes improved and he makes the Thunder a really tough team to score against when combining with Perkins.
On the other side of the court will be the Defensive Player of the Year in the form of Dwight Howard, but his demands for a trade have made this an unsettling time for the Orlando Magic. It is expected that Orlando will drop off from last season while Howard seemed a little out of it in the pre-season games against Miami.
The biggest question is whether Howard is going to be fully focused on playing for Orlando or whether his mind is already on which team he will be playing for next. There was a chance the New Jersey Nets would have traded for Howard, who has the right to move on at the end of the season anyway, while 'Superman' wants to either join the LA Lakers or Dallas Mavericks.
Head to Head
The last 5 games in the series have been won by the home team, the last 4 of those also seeing the home team cover the spread.
Orlando have covered the spread in 2 of the last 3 games in the series.
The Thunder have covered the spread in the last 2 games they have played in Oklahoma City.
Other Interesting Trends
Oklahoma City are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games against a team from the Eastern Conference.
Orlando are 5-11-1 against the spread in their last 17 games as the underdog.
They are 4-11-1 against the spread in their last 16 games as the road underdog.
Prediction
I am going to back the Oklahoma City Thunder to open their season with a big win for the following reasons:
First, the Orlando Magic looked like a team with other things on their mind in pre-season and the Dwight Howard situation threatens to engulf them.
Second, Oklahoma City have a lot of consistency in the team that should start and I don't think they will have any problems getting back up to speed following the lockout.
Third, there should be a lot of energy in the Arena for the Thunder who have some big expectations on their shoulders and I think they will thrive on the experience.
The Pick :
Oklahoma City 104-91 Orlando Magic
