Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
Hawks/Jazz UNDER 197
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the "under":[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Hawks will have a tough task Monday night if they hope to end their 15-game losing streak at Utah, which can grab a share of the Northwest Division lead with a fifth consecutive win.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Atlanta (34-20) was on the opposite side of a big comeback Sunday, blowing a 17-point fourth-quarter advantage in a 108-104 loss at Golden State, and the Hawks hope they’re not headed in the wrong direction after dropping three of four.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]“We just fell apart,” Hawks point guard Mike Bibby said. “We’re up 20 points. A team of our caliber shouldn’t lose that game. It happened, but we can’t let it happen too much.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I expect this team to play with a concerted effort on the defensive end tonight.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It's important to note that Atlanta has in fact seen the total go "under" the posted number in 14 of 26 games this year when playing against a team with a winning record.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]On the other side of the court: A 25-point second-half deficit couldn’t derail the short-handed Jazz, who beat Portland 93-89 in overtime Sunday for their 17th win in 19 games, putting an exclamation mark on a trip that included victories at Houston and New Orleans.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Even though Utah (36-19) shot below 40 percent from the field Sunday for the first time since a 91-89 loss at Memphis on Jan. 8, the Jazz have still hit 50.9 percent of their shots during the 17-2 stretch since that defeat, vaulting up the standings to third place in the Western Conference.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It's interesting to note though that Utah has seen the total go "under" the posted number in 17 of 29 games this season vs. good offensive teams that score 99 plus points per contest.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bottom line: In fact, in five of these teams last six matchups against each other, regardless of location, the total has gone "under" the posted number; when taking all of the above into account, the sharp money in this one is indeed on the UNDER![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]*8* UNDER.[/FONT]