Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter VI Mobile College Basketball March Mayhem Picks College Basketball March Mayhem Picks VegasInsider.com VegasInsider.com
Handicapper Bios Sports Picks Free Odds Contests Sportsbook
Sports Betting Home NFL NBANHLMLBNCAA FBNCAA BKGolfAutoHorsesBoxingVI More Sports
 
NBA Scores Matchups Teams Standings Schedules Injuries News
 
 · Latest News
 · Player Updates
 · Transactions
Buy Picks Vegas Odds
 
 · Vegas Odds
 · Offshore Odds
 · Future Odds
 
Preview: Nets (49-33) at Bobcats (21-61)
BT Movements  ·  Line Movements
Date: March 06, 2013 7:00 PM EDT
  

Though the slumping Brooklyn Nets kicked off a road-heavy stretch in disappointing fashion, a visit to Charlotte could help them bounce back.

Hoping to avoid a fifth loss in six games, Brooklyn tries for a sixth consecutive win over the NBA-worst Bobcats on Wednesday night.

The Nets (34-26), whose 33 home games are tied for the most in the league, will be spending most of the next four weeks in opposing arenas. Brooklyn finds itself in the midst of a stretch of 12 of 15 on the road, capped by a season-high eight-game trek March 18-April 3.

"I don't like it," interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "I'd much rather the schedule was more balanced and we didn't have the circus in for whatever it's in for. A lot of teams go through this at different stages of the year. Some teams are fortunate they schedule away from the playoffs, and it really helps them. We're far from the lone rangers. A lot of teams go through this. Ours is coming at a bad time. You don't want it to happen in March."

Advertisement

The Nets are coming off Saturday's 96-85 loss at Chicago, having committed 21 turnovers - one off a season high - while letting the Bulls shoot 52.1 percent. Brooklyn has lost four of five while averaging 88.8 points, 6.2 below its season mark.

"Until we can play consistently for more than a three or four-game stretch, until we can play consistently on the road, particularly now, in March, this is what we're gonna be," Carlesimo added. "We just have to tighten it up. We have to play a lot better, and we have to do it soon."

In an effort to change things up, Carlesimo plans to play All-Star center Brook Lopez and fellow big man Andray Blatche together more often. The Nets have gone 14-6 when Blatche, who averages 10.0 points, scores at least 13.

"I think it's a good strategy," said Deron Williams, averaging 22.2 points over the last six games. "With the way things have been going lately, it doesn't hurt to try. We pick and roll with those guys, now (teams) have to worry about two people instead of one. That opens things up for not only me, but the rest of the team."

The Nets have to like their chances of bouncing back against the Bobcats (13-47), who have dropped 20 of 22 at home and been outscored by an average of 10.2 points during a five-game losing streak in this series. Lopez had 26 points and 11 rebounds as Brooklyn cruised to a 97-81 victory Dec. 28 in the teams' only matchup this season.

Charlotte, which has dropped seven straight by 22.1 points per game, saw its woes continue with Monday's 122-105 loss at Portland. The Bobcats shot a season-worst 10.0 percent (1 for 10) from 3-point range while the Trail Blazers hit a season-high 59.8 percent from the field.

"We have to stick with our principles," swingman Gerald Henderson said. "It's tough to lose every night, but we've got to stay positive, keep our attitudes right, and continue to try and get better, practice-by-practice and game-by-game."

Leading the team with 17.3 points per game, Kemba Walker is averaging 12.3 on 29.1 percent shooting over the last four games.

Charlotte has lost 26 consecutive games when Walker scores 16 points or fewer. He was held to five on 2-of-10 shooting versus Brooklyn in December.

Starting forward Byron Mullens only played three minutes Monday after suffering a knee injury, leaving his status for this game unknown.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2013
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 CURRENT LAS VEGAS LINE
 Team  ML   SPR   O/U 
 NJN  -600   -10   191.5 
 CHA  +450   +10   
LAS VEGAS LINE MOVEMENTS

 CURRENT SPORTSBOOK LINE
 Team  ML   SPR   O/U 
 NJN  -550   -10   191.5 
 CHA  +425   +10   
OFFSHORE LINE MOVEMENTS

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   SPR   O/U 
 NJN  76%   77%   39% 
 CHA  24%   23%   61% 
BT MOVEMENTS

 NBA HEAD TO HEAD
 Dec 28, 2012  Score  ATS Results 
  CHA 81 Under: 178 
  NJN « 97 Cover: 6.5 
 Tools:   Recaps
 Mar 24, 2012  Score  ATS Results 
  CHA 89 Under: 191 
  NJN « 102 Cover: 7 
 Tools:   Recaps

 NBA PREVIEWS
 Wednesday, Mar 6
 
  •  Jazz at Cavaliers
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Celtics at Pacers
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Nets at Bobcats
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Magic at Heat
7:35 PM EDT
  •  76ers at Hawks
7:35 PM EDT
  •  Knicks at Pistons
7:35 PM EDT
  •  Lakers at Hornets
8:05 PM EDT
  •  Wizards at Timberwolves
8:05 PM EDT
  •  Trail Blazers at Grizzlies
8:05 PM EDT
  •  Rockets at Mavericks
8:35 PM EDT
  •  Bulls at Spurs
9:05 PM EDT
  •  Raptors at Suns
9:05 PM EDT
  •  Kings at Warriors
10:35 PM EDT
  •  Bucks at Clippers
10:35 PM EDT
 
 
 
  
GOLD Membership
Over 150 Member Plays free each month. Signup Today!
 
 

NFL
NFL Sports Picks
NFL Vegas Odds
NFL Online Odds
NFL Matchups
NFL Scores

More Sports
Golf
Auto Racing
Horse Racing
Boxing
WNBA

MLB
MLB Sports Picks
MLB Vegas Odds
MLB Online Odds
MLB Matchups
MLB Scores

Features
Free Odds
Contests
Newsletters
VI Radio
Las Vegas Travel
Follow us on Twitter
Add us on Google+
Join us on Facebook

NBA
NBA Sports Picks
NBA Vegas Odds
NBA Online Odds
NBA Matchups
NBA Scores

Sports Betting Tools
Live Odds
Mobile Odds
Parlay Calculator
Gaming Terms
TV Listings
Handicapping Records
Sports Betting
About Sports Betting
Sportsbook Reviews

NHL
NHL Sports Picks
NHL Vegas Odds
NHL Online Odds
NHL Matchups
NHL Scores

VegasInsider Info
About Us
Help Center
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Refund Policy
Contact Us
User Feedback

College Football
NCAA FB Sports Picks
NCAA FB Vegas Odds
NCAA FB Online Odds
NCAA FB Matchups
NCAA FB Scores

Sportsbooks
CarbonSports · Review
SportBet · Review
Sportsbook · Review
TopBet.eu · Review

College Basketball
NCAA BK Sports Picks
NCAA BK Vegas Odds
NCAA BK Online Odds
NCAA BK Matchups
NCAA BK Scores

Rotation Schedules
Baseball: Mar 31 - June 02

Copyright © 1997-2013, VegasInsider.com Inc., The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. All rights reserved.
For questions or comments, please contact us at 1-800-211-4759.