Kori Ellis
12-15-2005, 02:50 AM
Alamo retreat: Spurs totals dropping
By Brian Covert
Wed, Dec 14, 2005
http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=64398&tid=25
Cashing in on the under shouldn`t come as a surprise when it comes to the San Antonio Spurs.
“They are a great defensive team and they did a great job,” said L.A. Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy after his team lost 95-87 to the Spurs on a 182-point total Tuesday.
The game marked the sixth time in San Antonio`s last eight games the under walked away victorious.
What`s most dumbfounding however, is how long it took for this trend to actually happen.
San Antonio held a 7-4-2 O/U ratio after 13 games this season. Compare that to marks of 3-10 and 2-11 the previous two years and it`s easy to see why oddsmakers have a 176 total for Thursday night`s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Two weeks ago this game would have been in the 180s,” says BetWWTS.com oddsmaker Michael Pierce. “But we look at how Minnesota is playing, we see if either team played the previous night and then we come up with a number.”
Much of the blame (if you can lay blame on a 10-3 start) is being placed on the adjustment period of several offseason acquisitions to San Antonio`s ways. But over the last 10 games, the Spurs have climbed back into the defensive standings as Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel, among others, have familiarized themselves with the team`s schemes and rotations.
San Antonio now ranks fifth in points allowed (89.8), and is holding teams to just 41.69 shooting from the field, good for second in the league.
“For the early part of the year, we`re OK,” Finley told the San Antonio Express News. “But we can get better. We still have defensive mistakes that we constantly make that we have to cure if we want to continue to win.”
The current trend is no revelation for Spurs backers. They`re used to their team consistently keeping scores under the total. Using a combination of stingy defense and a fundamentally sound, half-court offense, the Spurs are 69-94-1 O/U during the last two seasons.
This is the major reason oddsmakers anticipate dropping San Antonio’s totals for the foreseeable future.
“This is not a trend. From here on in I think you’ll see San Antonio totals consistently in the 170s,” says Pierce. “This is the Spurs being the Spurs. They have their ups and downs but they are the class of the league.”
Oddsmakers have yet to release a line for this game.
By Brian Covert
Wed, Dec 14, 2005
http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=64398&tid=25
Cashing in on the under shouldn`t come as a surprise when it comes to the San Antonio Spurs.
“They are a great defensive team and they did a great job,” said L.A. Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy after his team lost 95-87 to the Spurs on a 182-point total Tuesday.
The game marked the sixth time in San Antonio`s last eight games the under walked away victorious.
What`s most dumbfounding however, is how long it took for this trend to actually happen.
San Antonio held a 7-4-2 O/U ratio after 13 games this season. Compare that to marks of 3-10 and 2-11 the previous two years and it`s easy to see why oddsmakers have a 176 total for Thursday night`s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Two weeks ago this game would have been in the 180s,” says BetWWTS.com oddsmaker Michael Pierce. “But we look at how Minnesota is playing, we see if either team played the previous night and then we come up with a number.”
Much of the blame (if you can lay blame on a 10-3 start) is being placed on the adjustment period of several offseason acquisitions to San Antonio`s ways. But over the last 10 games, the Spurs have climbed back into the defensive standings as Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel, among others, have familiarized themselves with the team`s schemes and rotations.
San Antonio now ranks fifth in points allowed (89.8), and is holding teams to just 41.69 shooting from the field, good for second in the league.
“For the early part of the year, we`re OK,” Finley told the San Antonio Express News. “But we can get better. We still have defensive mistakes that we constantly make that we have to cure if we want to continue to win.”
The current trend is no revelation for Spurs backers. They`re used to their team consistently keeping scores under the total. Using a combination of stingy defense and a fundamentally sound, half-court offense, the Spurs are 69-94-1 O/U during the last two seasons.
This is the major reason oddsmakers anticipate dropping San Antonio’s totals for the foreseeable future.
“This is not a trend. From here on in I think you’ll see San Antonio totals consistently in the 170s,” says Pierce. “This is the Spurs being the Spurs. They have their ups and downs but they are the class of the league.”
Oddsmakers have yet to release a line for this game.