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Weekly Notes - Eastern Conference
1. Lakers
Weekly Rewind: The Purple and Gold had a promising start to the week, dominating the Suns on Thursday, 121-102. L.A. slipped up in its final two games, falling by 26 as road underdogs at Denver on Friday, then was shocked by Houston at home on Sunday.
Weekly Outlook: The Lakers continue a five-game homestand on Tuesday when the Pistons invade Staples Center. Los Angeles hosts Chicago on Thursday and Oklahoma City on Saturday, and will no doubt be a double-digit favorite in all three games.
2. Suns
Weekly Rewind: Phoenix concluded its five-game road swing with a 4-1 record, topped off by a comeback win at Philadelphia on Monday. The Suns returned to the Valley and dumped the Hornets, 124-104, their fourth straight cover. Phoenix laid an egg in L.A. on Thursday, but rebounded with a one-point home victory on Sunday against the Raptors.
Weekly Outlook: The Suns have three games on the docket, including a pair on the road. Phoenix heads to Houston on Tuesday, followed by a rematch with the Hornets in New Orleans on Thursday. The Suns conclude the week at home against the Pistons, as Detroit wraps up a four-game roadie.
3. Mavericks
Weekly Rewind: Dallas finished off a successful 3-1 SU/ATS week with road wins at Minnesota and Detroit. The Mavs picked up a split inside the division to start the week with a home win over the Rockets, followed by a road loss at San Antonio.
Weekly Outlook: The Mavs end their four-game road trip in Milwaukee on Monday, before another showdown with San Antonio on Wednesday. Dallas plays its final game of the week on Friday at home against Sacramento, prior to a three day break.
4. Nuggets
Weekly Rewind: An interesting week for the Nuggets as Denver dodged a bullet in Chicago on Tuesday, holding off the Bulls, 90-89 on a disputed shot at the buzzer. The Nuggets then slipped up in Milwaukee on Wednesday as 3 ½-point road favorites, before drilling the Lakers on Friday.
Weekly Outlook: The Nuggets play seven of their next nine at the Pepsi Center, starting with the Raptors on Tuesday. One of the two road games in this stretch comes Friday at the Clippers, then the Nuggets take the court with no rest Saturday at home against Chicago.
5. Blazers
Weekly Rewind: Call the Blazers "road warriors," because this Portland team is taking care of its business away from the Rose Garden. The Blazers are 4-0 on their current five-game road trip, picking up victories at Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, and Charlotte, all as 'chalk.' Portland has been favored in all 11 games this season.
Weekly Outlook: The Blazers will be listed as an underdog for the first time this season in Atlanta on Monday, going for the 5-0 trip. Portland returns home Wednesday for just one game, hosting Chicago, before a battle at Oracle Arena against Golden State on Friday. The Blazers then get four straight at home, starting with the Timberwolves on Saturday.
6. Spurs
Weekly Rewind: San Antonio played two of its three games this past week without Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, as both were nursing injuries. The Spurs outgunned the Raptors on Monday, 131-124, then staved off the Mavs, 92-83 on Wednesday. San Antonio got Parker and Duncan back Saturday, but the Spurs stubbed their toe against the Thunder at home.
Weekly Outlook: The Spurs return from a three-day hiatus to take on the Mavs again, this time in Dallas on Wednesday. San Antonio turns around with no rest to host Utah, who drilled the Spurs in Salt Lake two weeks ago. The Spurs wrap up the week Saturday taking on the Wizards at the AT&T Center.
7. Rockets
Weekly Rewind: It's been a roller-coaster ride recently for the Rockets, who have alternated wins and losses in each of their last seven games. Houston lost at Dallas on Tuesday, then beat Memphis handily at home Wednesday. The Rockets split a California trip with a road favorite loss at Sacramento on Friday, followed up by an unlikely upset of the Lakers on Sunday.
Weekly Outlook: The Rockets have another full week on tap, hosting the Suns on Tuesday, before hitting the road again Wednesday at lowly Minnesota. Houston has another back-to-back Friday and Saturday, heading to Atlanta, then taking on Sacramento at the Toyota Center.
8. Thunder
Weekly Rewind: Look for the letdowns with this young Oklahoma City team this season. The Thunder dominated the Magic last Sunday, only to then lose as road 'chalk' at Sacramento on Tuesday. Oklahoma City bounced back Wednesday to down the Clippers as road 'dogs. The Thunder pulled off a nice upset of the Spurs in San Antonio on Saturday, before a disappointing home loss to the Clippers on Sunday.
Weekly Outlook: Oklahoma City will run through the Southeast Division this week, heading to the Sunshine State for a back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday at Miami and Orlando. The Thunder returns home Friday to host the struggling Wizards before a trip to Los Angeles on Sunday to battle the Lakers.
9. Jazz
Weekly Rewind: Utah split a four-game Eastern swing, winning at New York and Philadelphia, while losing at Cleveland and Boston. The Jazz usually struggle as road 'dogs, but Utah did cash in the back-to-back spot against the Sixers and Cavs, while playing without point guard Deron Williams.
Weekly Outlook: Seven of the next eight are at home for the Jazz, starting with the Raptors on Wednesday. Utah makes a quick trip to San Antonio on Thursday, before a home contest Saturday against Detroit.
10. Kings
Weekly Rewind: Sacramento has been on fire recently, going 5-1 SU/ATS the last six games, including victories in the last four without top scorer Kevin Martin. The Kings played just two games this past week, beating the Thunder and Rockets at Arco Arena as home underdogs.
Weekly Outlook: Sacramento will be the first stop on the annual "Circus Trip" for Chicago, who invades Arco on Tuesday. The Kings then head to Texas for a pair of back-to-back games, taking on Dallas Friday, then Houston on Saturday.
11. Hornets
Weekly Rewind: It was a week to forget for the Hornets, as head coach Byron Scott was fired on Thursday following a 20-point loss at Phoenix. New Orleans returned home where the team lost point guard Chris Paul for two weeks with a sprained ankle in an ugly loss to the Blazers. The Hornets finished the week getting thumped in Atlanta on Saturday.
Weekly Outlook: New Orleans will try to sort things out back in the Big Easy with three home games. The Hornets battle the Clippers on Tuesday, before two difficult contests against Phoenix (Thursday) and Atlanta (Saturday).
12. Clippers
Weekly Rewind: The Clips have been a streaky team this season, beginning with four losses, then three straight wins, following up by three more defeats. Los Angeles got knocked out by New Orleans on Monday, before throwing away leads in home losses to Oklahoma City and Toronto. The Raptors meltdown was especially sad, as the Clippers squandered a 22-point second quarter lead and ended up losing by 15! The Clips ended the week on a positive note by beating the Thunder at the Ford Center on Sunday.
Weekly Outlook: The Clips continue their three-game road trip in New Orleans on Tuesday, then head to Memphis to battle the Grizzlies. L.A. comes back to Staples Center Friday to host the Nuggets.
13. Warriors
Weekly Rewind: Golden State split its four games, but actually picked up three ATS wins, including two as underdogs. The Warriors bombarded the T'Wolves on Monday, 146-105, then dropped two of three out east, but did manage to beat the woeful Knicks on Friday.
Weekly Outlook: Stephen Jackson is now out of the Bay Area, as the Warriors dealt the embattled guard to Charlotte in a four-player deal Monday. Golden State has its work cut out for them this week, going to Cleveland and Boston on a back-to-back beginning Tuesday. The Warriors return to Oracle on Friday to entertain the Blazers before three days off.
14. Grizzlies
Weekly Rewind: The Grizzlies' scoring barrage took an expected turn downward, as Memphis put up consecutive 79-point efforts in losses to the Blazers and Rockets. Memphis did bounce back (sort of) with a ten-point home victory over team #15 on this list, Minnesota. The T'Wolves win did improve the Grizzlies to 1-0 ATS as a favorite this season.
Weekly Outlook: The Grizzlies return from a three-day hiatus to host the Clippers on Wednesday, before a brief trip to the Northeast against Philadelphia on Friday. Memphis comes back home Saturday to take on Milwaukee, as both teams will play with no rest.
15. Timberwolves
Weekly Rewind: Ten and counting for the T'Wolves, who dropped their tenth straight game on Saturday at Memphis. What makes things even worse for Minnesota, they can't cover to save themselves, going 0-6 ATS the last six. It didn't help matters that star center Al Jefferson missed a pair of games dealing with personal matters.
Weekly Outlook: The T'Wolves only play twice this week, hitting the court again Wednesday at home against Houston, before going back to Portland on Saturday to play the Blazers for the third time this month.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
