| 18 April 2010
So here we are Suns Fandom - just a few hours away from hitting the home court against the Portland Trailblazers with the bright play-off lights focused on our own starting five as the game tips off this evening at 10:30pm EST on TNT.
Yes - we know - some of you have been watching the Suns this season with the same degree of interest often shown at a car crash. You know the questions - Are they hurt?? Can they make it?? Will they survive??
That's the same attitude some in the blogosphere had when they thought those of us here at www.sunsstufft.com were crazy back in September because we bet a few bucks in Vegas on the Suns to win the Western Conference and even take the NBA title. Sure - some even questioned our sanity when we said the Suns could grab the #5 spot in the West.
How modest that prediction seems now.
And how fat our wallet will be if the Suns keep knocking down the 3-pointers, hanging tough on D, and unleashing Amar'e Stoudemire inside.
Looking at the finance end of this contest, the Suns are favored walking into tonight's B-ball battle, with the Vegas bookies touting a line that has Phoenix up by 8.5 points - a solid win if we can pull it off.
But - in surprising turn of luck - the Big Boys in Vegas aren't expecting a really high scoring game. As a result, Suns fans within traveling distance of the Nevada state line could be well situated for a payday.
Just check-out the details.
Please click "Read More" to continue reading --
Propelled by the explosive scoring of Amar'e Stoudemire - he's hit for 30+ points in several key late season games - and the league leading assists of Steve Nash - he has a few miles on but is still healthy - the Suns have been stunning opponents with their toughness. Jason Richardson has recently been finding his 3-point range again and Jared Dudley has proven to be one of the most deceptively difficult defenders in the NBA. J-Duds long range shooting has been on fire as well.
Combining all that with the skill and leadership of Grant Hill - the best low priced veteran in the league - and you get a Suns team that has earned its 54-28 regular season record. They've also knocked down an average of 110.23 points per game to lead the NBA on offense. That's well above the 98.11 ppg averaged by the Portland Trailblazers in the regular season.
Despite those numbers - a combined average of 208.34 points per game - several of the big time Vegas oddsmakers are touting this game as though the combined score will barely break 200 points. For example, the latest published line at the Las Vegas Hilton has an over/ under of 203 and the MGM Mirage is expecting only a slightly higher score with 204.5 on the over/ under.
Maybe those Magicians on the Strip know something we don't, but a quick look back to last regular season game (held on April 14) shows the Suns and Portland scoring a combined total of 216 points in their respective contests. Yes - for the record - the Suns beat Utah (100-86) and Portland lost to Golden State (122-116).
So - while we advise the bettor to always beware - it looks like putting a few greenbacks down on a high scoring game just could be the way to go. Either way - remember to make a little noise for Amar'e & Company - because our baby needs a new pair of shoes.
See ya'.
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