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[CNOTES]

Bobcats try to avoid worst record ever Thursday

NEW YORK KNICKS (35-30)

at CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (7-58)


Tip-off: Thursday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: New York -4½, Total: 189

The Bobcats have one last chance to avoid infamy when their miserable season wraps up with a home game against New York on Thursday.

Losers of 22 in a row SU, Charlotte must win to avoid setting the new all-time mark for worst single-season winning percentage (.110, held by the 1972-73 76ers). The Knicks have nothing to play for except the No. 7 seed in the East. Can the Bobcats avoid the all-time futility mark? For the answer, connect to the NBA Three-at-Three Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. The NBA Pass is a superb 39-23-1 ATS (63%) in April.

Once the playoffs begin, check out NBA Playoffs Best Bets for all the Expert picks.

The Knicks held off the Chris Paul-less Clippers at home on Wednesday night, 99-93. C Tyson Chandler (11.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG) came back after a day off against the Hawks on Sunday to play 32 minutes on Wednesday. Though the Knicks might choose to rest him and PF Amar’e Stoudemire (17.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG), at least, in an essentially meaningless season-ending back-to-back. SF Carmelo Anthony (22.6 PPG) has also been carrying a big load since PG Jeremy Lin (14.6 PPG, 6.2 APG) went down and is also a candidate for a night off.

New York wouldn’t be completely hopeless without its stars though, especially considering the bench played well on Wednesday. SG J.R. Smith (12.2 PPG), PF Steve Novak (8.8 PPG, 47.1% from three) and SF Landry Fields (8.8 PPG) combined to score 43 points on 15-for-29 FG (51.7%) and 7-for-14 from three. The FoxSheets show this four-star trend favoring the Knicks:

CHARLOTTE is 6-23 ATS (20.7%, -19.3 Units) revenging a same season loss vs. opponent this season. The average score was CHARLOTTE 86.6, OPPONENT 103.5 - (Rating = 4*).

The Bobcats are certainly not good defensively, but their complete lack of offense is what’s made them truly abysmal. They’ve averaged 86.1 PPG on 40.9% FG during their losing streak. However, on Wednesday night they showed some signs of life in Orlando. The Bobcats scored 95 points, their most since April 7, and attacked the basket enough to get to the line 32 times. PG D.J. Augustin (11.1 PPG on 37.7% FG, 6.4 APG) had 23 points and six assists, while SG Gerald Henderson (15.0 PPG) scored 17 while going 7-for-7 from the line. PF Tyrus Thomas (5.6 PPG) came off the bench to score 13 and make 9-of-10 free throws. Henderson has been one of their few offensive bright spots of late, averaging 19.9 PPG over his past seven contests. This two-star FoxSheets trend expects the Bobcats to end the dreadful season on a high note.

Play On - Home underdogs (CHARLOTTE) - cold team - failing to cover the spread in 8 or more of their last 10 against opponent after having covered 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread. (65-31 since 1996.) (67.7%, +30.9 units. Rating = 2*).

 

[CNOTES]

Jazz seek 5th straight win to close season

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (28-37)

at UTAH JAZZ (35-30)


Tip-off: Thursday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Utah -5½, Total: 196½

The Jazz try to close the regular season with a fifth straight win when it hosts the slumping Blazers in Thursday’s finale for both clubs.

The Blazers have lost eight of nine SU, including six straight, but this game means very little to the playoff-bound Jazz, who will not be going all-out to win this matchup. Can the Blazers finish the season on a high note? For the answer, connect to the NBA Three-at-Three Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. The NBA Pass is a superb 39-23-1 ATS (63%) in April.

Once the playoffs begin, check out NBA Playoffs Best Bets for all the Expert picks.

Portland has been horrible in all facets during its six-game SU skid. The Blazers have scored just 95.5 PPG on 42.5% FG, including 89.7 PPG on 38% FG in the past three defeats. Defensively, they’ve surrendered 109.2 PPG on 51% FG (45.5% threes) during the losing skid.

In Monday’s 124-89 loss in San Antonio, Portland was outshot 59.3% FG to 38.5% FG and certainly could’ve used SG Jamal Crawford (14.0 PPG, 2nd on team) and SF Nicolas Batum (13.9 PPG, 3rd on team) who will both likely miss Thursday games with knee and quad injuries, respectively. PG Raymond Felton (11.4 PPG, 6.5 APG) is also hurting with an Achilles injury, but does expect to be in uniform on Thursday night. After missing three games, Felton returned to action Monday and had 13 points and seven assists, but shot just 5-for-16 from the floor. SG Wesley Matthews (13.7 PPG) was the big scorer with a game-high 24 points, but he took 24 shots (9-of-24 FG) to get there. Matthews has scored 15+ points in each of his past seven games though, averaging 20.6 PPG on 50% threes (22-for-44). This two-star FoxSheets trend sides with the Blazers:

Play On - Road teams (PORTLAND) - after a blowout loss by 20 points or more against opponent after scoring 100 points or more 4 straight games. (52-23 since 1996.) (69.3%, +26.7 units. Rating = 2*).

Utah’s offense has been sizzling during the four-game win streak, scoring triple-digits in each contest and averaging 113.0 PPG on 47% FG (46% threes) during the surge. The Jazz own a 24-8 home record (19-12-1 ATS) this season, scoring 102.1 PPG on 47% FG at EnergySolutions Arena.

The big-man duo of C Al Jefferson (19.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG) and PF Paul Millsap (16.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG) continue to lead this club. Jefferson had 18 points and 16 rebounds in Tuesday’s playoff-clinching, 100-88 win over Phoenix, giving him four straight double-doubles (19.5 PPG, 15.5 RPG). Millsap poured in 26 points and 15 boards against the Suns, giving him 18.6 PPG and 9.1 RPG in his past eight contests. He has also destroyed Portland this season, averaging 18.7 PPG and 11.3 RPG in the three meetings, all Utah victories. PG Devin Harris (11.5 PPG, 5.0 APG) is also playing his best basketball of the season, averaging 21.0 PPG (17-of-38 threes) and 5.4 APG in the past five games. He’s also scored 16.3 PPG on 55.2% FG (6-of-13 threes) in three meetings with Portland this season. The FoxSheets provide this three-star trend backing the Jazz:

PORTLAND is 2-15 ATS (11.8%, -14.5 Units) revenging a loss where opponent scored 110 or more points over the last 3 seasons. The average score was PORTLAND 94.4, OPPONENT 103.5 - (Rating = 3*).

 

[CNOTES]

Playoff races going down to final day

MIAMI (AP) - There's one day left in the NBA's truncated regular season, and only two of the eight first-round postseason matchups opening this weekend have all the particulars decided.

Indiana has home-court over Orlando, and San Antonio has it against Utah.

Just about everything else related to the playoff bracket - plus the scoring race and Charlotte's quest to avoid becoming the NBA's worst team ever - gets decided over the course of 13 games Thursday night. Anyone want to play the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat? Who'll host Game 1s in the Celtics-Hawks and Clippers-Grizzlies series? Will Dallas open its title defense against Oklahoma City in a Western Conference finals rematch?

When the season's final whistle blows, all those answers will be known. The first-round schedules will come out Thursday night.

``When the playoffs begin and these teams have at it, people will look back and say, `Well, they got here,''' NBA Commissioner David Stern said Wednesday. ``And we are glad they got here with a 66-game schedule rather than a 50-game schedule.''

First, a look at the conference races, starting with the East:

-Chicago is the No. 1 seed, Miami is No. 2, and those teams will face either New York or Philadelphia in the first round.

For the Knicks, a win over Charlotte would lock up a first-round meeting with the Heat, one that would surely rekindle memories of New York's upset of Miami during the 1999 playoffs, the last season shortened by labor strife.

``In my mind, we're playing the Knicks,'' Heat guard Dwyane Wade said Wednesday. ``That's the mindset I have.''

The Knicks left for Charlotte on Wednesday night after beating the Los Angeles Clippers at home, with players told to pack for a few days on the road. Not only is the opponent unknown, so is the first-round schedule, meaning the Knicks could find themselves facing a Game 1 in Chicago or Miami as early as Saturday afternoon.

``I'm ready to go on. I'm ready for the playoffs,'' Knicks center Tyson Chandler said. ``This season has been long, long enough. It's time.''

If the Knicks lose in Charlotte, that opens the door for Philadelphia to grab the No. 7 seed and a date with Miami. A Knicks loss and 76ers win in Detroit means Philadelphia would meet Miami for the second straight year in the first round. The 76ers - 1-11 against the Heat since the start of last season - are resting Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young.

No. 4 seed Boston will open against No. 5 Atlanta. But if either the Hawks win on Thursday against Dallas or if the Celtics fall in their finale against Milwaukee, it'll be Atlanta with home-court advantage, despite having the lower seed.

Orlando wrapped up No. 6 by beating Charlotte on Wednesday. The Magic went 3-1 against Indiana this season, though all those games were before center Dwight Howard was lost for the season because of back surgery. Making matters worse, the Magic saw Glen Davis leave Wednesday's game with what the team said was a sprained right ankle.

-In the West, San Antonio and Utah will meet in the 1-versus-8 series. Much like in the East, everything else remains a bit muddled.

The Spurs stayed alive in the race with Chicago for the No. 1 overall record by beating Phoenix on Wednesday night, despite sending Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker home earlier in the day to rest. The Spurs will be without them Thursday at Golden State as well. Also missing: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is tending to a personal matter.

The Clippers and Memphis will play in a 4-versus-5 matchup. If the Grizzlies beat Orlando on Thursday, they'll have home-court edge against the Clippers.

No. 2 Oklahoma City may meet Denver or Dallas. If the Nuggets beat Minnesota, that will pin the defending champion Mavericks to the No. 7 seed and a series with the Thunder.

So the Dallas-Atlanta game will be big on plenty of levels, since it may have implications for not only the Mavericks and Hawks, but the Celtics, Thunder, Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers as well.

Kobe Bryant's Lakers will be the No. 3 seed, and they'll face Denver if the Nuggets win or Mavericks lose.

-There's more on the docket than games with just playoff ramifications.

Charlotte is trying to avoid infamy.

Now losers of 22 straight after falling 102-95 at Orlando on Wednesday night, the Bobcats are 7-58 on the season. A victory over the Knicks on Thursday would lift their winning percentage for the season to .121 - still terrible, but good enough to avoid finishing behind the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers (9-73, .110) as the worst team in league history. Another loss, and the Bobcats' final percentage would be .106.

-Then there's the other races, of the individual variety.

Kevin Durant scored 32 points for Oklahoma City on Wednesday, ending his season at 28.03 points per game. If Bryant plays Thursday in the Lakers' finale, he would need 38 points to claim his third scoring crown. Otherwise, Durant wins his third straight title.

Most of the other stat races are wrapped up. Howard will be the league's leading rebounder for the fourth time in five years. Boston's Rajon Rondo will be tops in assists per game, and Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka will easily claim the blocks-per-game crown.

-Finally, farewell to the ``New Jersey'' Nets. They visit Toronto on Thursday, the franchise's last game before moving to Brooklyn next season.

 

[CNOTES]

Hoop Trends - Thursday

April 26, 2012

SU TREND OF THE DAY:


The Timberwolves are 0-11 ATS (-7.9 ppg) since December 20, 2008 as a dog with at least one day of rest when their DPS was minus 15 points or less in their previous game.


OU TREND OF THE DAY:


The Bucks are 11-0 OU (11.9 ppg) since January 21, 2008 after a game at home in which their opponent stole the ball at least twelve times.


PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:


The Rockets are 11-0 ATS (9.9 ppg) since February 26, 2010 at home with at least a day of rest after a loss in which Luis Scola played fewer than 30 minutes.


CHOICE TREND:


The Warriors are 12-0 ATS (13.8 ppg) since February 27, 2002 at home with at most one day of rest off a loss as a home dog in which they led at the end of the third quarter.


TODAY’S TRENDS:


The Grizzlies are 10-0 ATS (7.8 ppg) since March 17, 2006 at home with at least one day of rest off a win in which their leading scrorer for that game had fewer than 20 points.

The Knicks are 0-9 OU (-14.6 ppg) since March 18, 2011 with no rest after a win in which Amare Stoudemire was not the Knicks’ high scorer.

 

[varkeyboy]

BOL tonight, BRADDA C!