just checking in, and disagree a lot about this portland game, but that it probably due to my bias against phoenix and the trade. imo it is very similiar to Detroit's AI trade. trade in and get some sexy scorer leads to lines inflating for them and their cohesion as a group to fall. that is why I say overrated for phoenix. they are a team struggling to find their identity and seeming to make moves out of desperation but those moves were moves to hurt team chemistry and defense. Raja and Diaw were Nash's best friends on the team, and you replace him with Jrich. I watch a lot of jrih past couple yrs, and he is not a scorer. he is a shooter, a streaky athletic jump shooter that cannot play D. I'll get more into it after my finals
regarding this game, let me just say yes I had this line at Portland -7 (power ratings, not what I actually expected them to throw out, not at all surprised by -5) I mean please use logic when looking at htese lines. common opponent recently: Orlando. Phoenix -2 vs Orlando, and Portland was -5. That would suggest even Portland is 3 points better than Phoenix. Then you add in that Portland's home court advantage is one of the best in the league and you can easily get more than -5
some with argue this point with phoenix -2 was phoenix's first game with jrich. however, jrich inflated that line for phoenix, not the other way. proof: Orlando opened -1 @ phoenix, but money pushed it to Phoenix -2. Looking at openers, (Orlando -1 @ Phoenix, but +5 at Portland) this line is actually a joke is how low it is (esp now at 4)
opcorn:
