NBA Picks: Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Phoenix Suns will look to build off their most recent performance when they host the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night. The Suns erased a 15-point fourth quarter deficit and wound up beating the New Jersey Nets 118-109 in overtime. It was however just the second win in the last five game for Phoenix.
The Trail Blazers will look to get back on track after a couple of tough losses at home. Portland lost 107-100 in overtime against the Miami Heat on Sunday, and then looked completely out of it in a 100-86 loss against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The Trail Blazers had won eight of their previous 11 games before playing the Heat.
Our NBA spreads have the Suns favored by 1.5-points over the Trail Blazers at home.
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This will be the fourth and final time these two teams face off this season. The Trail Blazers have won all three games so far this season, including a 101-94 win at Phoenix on Dec. 10. The Trail Blazers however will be without Brandon Roy for the first time against the Suns. Roy was averaging 23 points against the Suns this season.
With Roy out of the lineup since mid-December the Trail Blazers have turned to LaMarcus Aldridge offensively. Aldridge is averaging 26.6 points and 11.4 rebounds over his last five games, and has recorded six straight double-doubles. Aldridge however had just 19 points in the loss to the Knicks, showing just how important it is for him to be on offensively.
The Trail Blazers have really played well defensively against the Suns this season, as they have held the Suns under 100 points in each of the three games. If the Trail Blazers can once again slow down the Suns, they should be able to complete the season sweep.
The Suns haven’t looked good at all lately, they are just 5-12 in their last 17 games. Four of those wins came against New Jersey, Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota. Their only win against a team with a winning record during their recent struggle is a 113-110 win at Oklahoma City.
Steve Nash and Vince Carter each scored 23 points in the Suns win over the Nets on Wednesday, and Channing Frye added 21 points. The Suns who are well known for their ability to put a ton of points on the board, have reached the 100 point mark in just two of their last seven games.
If the Suns don’t score they are in a ton of trouble, as they give up the most points in the league (108.9). In the three games against the Trail Blazers they have allowed an average of 104 points a game, and if they don’t show up offensively tonight, they have little to no chance of winning this game.
I think you take the 1.5-points and bet the Trail Blazers to pull out the win tonight, as the Suns are just not playing well at all right now.
For more help with who to take this season, check out what our experts have to offer in their daily NBA picks.
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