Reply #36: I love the Mavs: weak, gutless but easy to handicap [View All]

They can blow to anyone on the road with that ole defense. I can take +6 or +9 at home against Dallas, plus the money line, and never surrender the lead.

This season I'm struggling in the NBA, barely at the break-even level, and the Mavs have been one of the few reliables. They can bust you by 15 at home yet lose to the same clowns on the road.

This year the offshore sportsbooks have finally caught up to my most treasured trend, betting the Utah Jazz "under" in the first half on the road. It was a 6 year joy, especially in the playoffs. I'm not sure even the most loyal Jazz fans were aware of the trend, scoring more than 10 fewer points in the first half on average than second half, while on the road, completely unlike any other NBA team.

This year I'm finally paying the price. A Jazz road game with a 184 total, for example, is put up at about 86 1/2 for the first half total, not 92 like any other team. Then they correctly adjust the second half total to about 97. Party over, but many thanks Stockton, Sloan and Co.