Arriving off of a powerful – but losing – playoff effort last year versus the Chicago Bulls, the Pacers came roaring back to start the 2011-2012 year. The team is experiencing its greatest early record in the previous eight years, but are still struggling versus the more skillful teams in the league. While they are 11-4 to date, just four of those wins are versus teams with records above .500.
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With the Magic coming to visit on Tuesday, January 24, the Indiana Pacers will have a greater task on their hands, and they’ll need the home court advantage tonight. Indiana is undefeated at home this year and will look to increase their record to 6-0. If they are able to get a win, it’ll be the first time the team has started off a year with 6 consecutive home wins since the 2002-2003 year.
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However the Orlando Magic are a fearsome enemy who are 11-5 on the year to date. And the recent past is all on Orlando’s side. The Orlando Magic have defeated the Indiana Pacers in Indiana in each of the previous three bouts between the two. In reality, Orlando has won these contests on the road in Indianapolis by around 13 points. The latest contest between the two was January 26, 2011.
The Indiana Pacers will also have to find a method to handle Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard. Howard has led the team to an 11-3 record over Indiana, and he has put up double-doubles in all of these contests. Even with the challenges ahead for the Indiana Pacers, the sports book posts them as the -3 favorites to beat the Orlando Magic. The total is established at 182.5.
Both teams come into this game with a 7-3 record over their last ten contests. The Indiana Pacers have a 5-0 home record to date, while the Orlando Magic are 5-3 on the road. Watch for Orlando to make a amazingly powerful showing after their disastrous 87-56 loss to the Celtics a few days ago.
Number 1 rated Kentucky versus the NCAA championship hopefuls Georgia? Sounds like a recipe for a blowout, especially as Kentucky barely regained that desired No. 1 spot on the rankings for the 1st time in the earlier 2 months. Whilst the Kentucky Wildcats are at the top of the rankings and experiencing an 11 game win streak, the Georgia Bulldogs can best be called inconsistent thus far in the season.
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The Wildcats are 19-1 and 5-0 in the SEC. They are coming off of a especially unpleasant game at home against Alabama, where they won their last 15 points at the foul line. Luckily, the team is pretty good from the free-throw line, where they made 23-of-29 to keep the win, 77-71. That victory, joined with Syracuse dropping their 1st game of the season, put Kentucky back at the top. Their current 11 game win streak is additionally their greatest since going 19-0 during the 2009-2010 season.
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Georgia will have its hands full dealing with the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday, January 24. The Georgia Bulldogs won an invite to the NCAA championship for the 1st time in the last 3 years in 2011, but 2 of their primary players moved on to the NBA. Since losing them, Georgia has lost most of their offensive touch, scoring simply 61.9 points per game with a pathetic 39.9 percent field-goal ratio. The Georgia Bulldogs are presently 10-9 overall and 1-4 in the SEC.
With the Kentucky Wildcats averaging 79.5 points per game, and the Georgia Bulldogs at 61.9, it’s no surprise the sports book is favoring the Wildcats by 12 points. It may be a good deal taking the Cats, as the game could wind up quite handily as a 15- or 20-point blowout. The total is set at 129, but and I would anticipate this game to go under the total. If Kentucky plays even a bit bit of defense, the Dogs’ offense might be effectively shut down all night.
The Sacramento Kings face an uphill battle when they face the Rockets in Houston on January 13th. This is a case of both squads reconstructing for the longer term as both squads look nothing like their early 2000′s heydays. The Kings look to get back to their former popularity in the west with outstanding play from their young stalwarts. The Rockets are still handling the fallout from the retirement of Yao Ming. The Rockets are liked by 3 points by the sports book and this looks to be a difficult game to call.
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Sacramento is steadied by G Marcus Thornton and PG Tyreke Evans, which provide a young core for the Kings to build on. The frontcourt is supported by PF DeMarcus Cousins and his constant play. The Kings are furthermore helped by the seasoned presence of SG John Salmons arriving off the bench as a deep threat. Former Indiana Hoosier excellent Keith Smart coaches the Kings.
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The Rockets look drastically distinct from the days of Yao Ming and Steve Francis running the show. Youthful PG Kyle Lowry runs the offense with help from PF Luis Scola and PG Goran Dragic. Vets help the Houston offense with fellow SG’s Courtney Lee and Kevin Martin chipping in when they can. Former Celtics excellent Kevin McHale leads the Rockets at head coach.
Only a while back, this game might have been all over television with competitors such as Mike Bibby, Vlade Divac, Chris Webber, and Bobby Jackson steadying the Kings. The Rockets had Yao Ming, Steve Francis, Robert Horry, and also Tracy McGrady behind them. The times have certainly transformed things for both squads as the day of free agency and wage caps have rendered long-term dynasties nearly obsolete.
This ought to be an amazing game between these 2 once-mighty franchises with the game itself too tight to call.