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Weekly Notes - Eastern Conference
1. Lakers
Weekly Rewind: The Champs grabbed a pair of overtime victories at Oklahoma City and Houston, then picked up two convincing home wins over the Grizzlies and Hornets. It took L.A. six games to finally cash a ticket, but the Lakers have covered two straight.
Weekly Outlook: The Lakers will be tested this week, as L.A. hits the court again Thursday against Phoenix. The Lakers turn around and head to Denver on Friday, before opening up a five-game homestand that starts with Houston on Sunday.
2. Suns
Weekly Rewind: The Suns wrapped up a five-game road trip Monday, as Phoenix went 4-1 SU/ATS, after rallying to beat Philadelphia. The Suns' lone loss came at Orlando with no rest, but Phoenix picked up a pair of solid victories as road underdogs at Miami and Boston.
Weekly Outlook: Phoenix returns home Wednesday to host a struggling New Orleans squad, then has a primetime showdown with the Lakers at Staples Center on Thursday. That contest will be the fourth game in five nights for Alvin Gentry's team, prior to a Sunday home game against Toronto.
3. Nuggets
Weekly Rewind: Denver's East Coast swing started off promising, with victories at Indiana and New Jersey, but the Nuggets were tripped up at Miami and Atlanta. The 25-point loss to the Hawks was Denver's fourth game in five nights, as the Nuggets' defense allowed a season-high 125 points.
Weekly Outlook: The Nuggets have two games remaining on their five-game road trip, playing a back-to-back in Chicago and Milwaukee beginning Tuesday. Denver comes home Friday to host the Lakers, who will be playing with no rest after hosting the Suns on Thursday in Los Angeles.
4. Mavericks
Weekly Rewind: Dallas has started 4-2 SU/ATS out of the gate, while winning two of three games this past week. The Mavs overcame a 16-point deficit in the final quarter to shock the Jazz on Tuesday, while managing to cover a 6 ½ point line. Dallas fell in overtime at New Orleans the next night, but should have closed the game out in regulation if it wasn't for missed free throws. The Mavs rebounded nicely by beating down the Raptors at home on Saturday.
Weekly Outlook: The Mavs will be tested on a back-to-back against division opponents this week. Dallas hosts Houston on Tuesday, then heads to San Antonio on Wednesday, while catching the Spurs in a spot with no rest. The Mavs' road trip takes them to Minnesota on Friday and Detroit on Sunday.
5. Rockets
Weekly Rewind: Houston has turned into pointspread gold early on, covering five straight games, including two as underdogs against the Lakers and Jazz. The Rockets picked up their first win and cover as a favorite on Friday over the Thunder.
Weekly Outlook: The Rockets will be tested four times this week, while likely to be favored twice. Houston heads to Dallas on Tuesday, then returns home to battle Memphis on Wednesday. The Rockets head west for a two-game California swing, taking on the Kings Friday and the Lakers on Sunday.
6. Blazers
Weekly Rewind: Portland has felt the home-cooking so far this season, already playing five of seven games at the Rose Garden. The Blazers took two of three at home this past week, falling to the Hawks, while beating the Spurs and Timberwolves.
Weekly Outlook: Portland hits the road for five games, including a four-in-five night stretch. The Blazers will be favored at Memphis and Minnesota in back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday. Portland travels to New Orleans Friday, then to Charlotte on Saturday night.
7. Spurs
Weekly Rewind: San Antonio played just two games, but the Spurs came up short in both road contests at Utah and Portland. To make matters worse, the Spurs will be without point guard Tony Parker for a week with a sprained ankle.
Weekly Outlook: The Spurs are 3-0 SU/ATS at home and 0-3 SU/ATS on the road. San Antonio is in the midst of three games at the AT&T Center this week, after beating the Raptors on Monday. Dallas and Oklahoma City invade San Antonio beginning Wednesday.
8. Jazz
Weekly Rewind: Utah has stumbled out of the gate to a 3-4 record, but the Jazz have blown a pair of 15+ point leads in losses to the Kings and Mavs. Utah did knock off San Antonio as a home 'dog on Thursday, but the Jazz are just 2-2 at home.
Weekly Outlook: The Jazz head to the East Coast for a four-game trip that includes games at Boston and Cleveland. Utah held off New York Monday at the Garden, while the Jazz play only one back-to-back in this stretch (Friday at Philadelphia, Saturday at Cleveland).
9. Thunder
Weekly Rewind: Oklahoma City ran a tough gauntlet this week, falling to the Lakers in overtime before a road loss at Houston. The Thunder ended the week on a good note by blasting the Magic by 28, improving to 3-1 ATS at the Ford Center.
Weekly Outlook: The Thunder hits the highway for three games beginning Tuesday in Sacramento. Oklahoma City then travels south to Los Angeles to battle the Clippers prior to a Saturday contest in San Antonio. The Thunder entertain the Clips again at the Ford Center on Sunday.
10. Hornets
Weekly Rewind: New Orleans has turned into an early-season disappointment, dropping five of its first eight games. The Hornets slipped up in New York, handing the Knicks their only win of the season. New Orleans did bounce back with an OT victory over Dallas, prior to a pair of double-digit losses to the Raptors and Lakers.
Weekly Outlook: The Hornets completed their L.A. swing Monday by pounding the Clippers. New Orleans starts a tough stretch at Phoenix, hosting Portland, and at Atlanta in a four-day span beginning Wednesday.
11. Clippers
Weekly Rewind: The Clips actually had a solid week, winning all three games. Granted, the competition wasn't stellar (T'Wolves, Warriors, and Grizzlies), but L.A. is now 3-5 SU/ATS.
Weekly Outlook: Things don't look too grim for the Clippers, as L.A. battles Oklahoma City twice (Wednesday and Sunday), and Toronto on Friday. The Clips did stub their toe in a blowout home defeat to the Hornets on Monday.
12. Kings
Weekly Rewind: Sacramento had a great week on the court despite losing top scorer Kevin Martin for six to eight weeks with a sprained wrist. The Kings won two of three home games, knocking off the Grizzlies and Warriors, while upsetting the Jazz in Salt Lake on Saturday.
Weekly Outlook: Sacramento stays at Arco this week, hosting Oklahoma City on Tuesday and Houston and Friday. In fact, the Kings don't see the road again until November 20 at Dallas.
13. Grizzlies
Weekly Rewind: Memphis wrapped up a winless five-game trip out west with a pair of Los Angeles losses to the Lakers and Clippers. The Grizzlies did cash with an underdog cover against the Clips, but Memphis has proven to be a solid 'over' team so far, hitting five of seven 'overs.'
Weekly Outlook: The Grizzlies return home (likely without Allen Iverson) to host the Blazers on Tuesday. Memphis goes back on the road Wednesday at Houston, prior to hosting Minnesota at the FedEx Forum Saturday night.
14. Warriors
Weekly Rewind: Golden State's defense has lived up to its usual billing this season, but the Warriors' offense has scored 107 points or less in four of six games. What makes matters worse, the Warriors went 1-2 this week against some of the bottom-feeders in the West, falling to the Clippers and Kings, while beating the Grizzlies.
Weekly Outlook: The Warriors rebounded nicely by destroying the T'Wolves, 146-105, on Monday before a five-game road trip that starts Wednesday. Golden State heads to Indiana, New York, and Milwaukee for a three-in-four nights stretch, while each of its opponents will be playing with rest.
15. Timberwolves
Weekly Rewind: Minnesota has been involved in three games decided by three points or less this season, but the T'Wolves have only one win to show for it. Minnesota competed in a pair of close losses to the Clippers and Celtics before putting up two stinkers against the Bucks and Blazers.
Weekly Outlook: Minnesota has four games on the slate this week, but would like to forget about the horrible loss at Golden State Monday, prior to a pair of home contests against Dallas and Portland. The T'Wolves wrap up the week on Saturday at Memphis, as the Grizzlies will be playing with two days off.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
