When a particular sport involves a long season, handicappers must adapt on the fly when a team undergoes personnel changes or shows noticeable improvement or decline.
The New Orleans Pelicans fit that scenario.
Since James Borrego took over as interim head coach for the fired Willie Green, the Pelicans have shown more competence. Their overall record is just 4-12 under Borrego, but they have covered the point spread in 12 of those 16 games.
The point spread measures, among other things, performance compared to expectations. Most teams should have a record around .500, so a 12-4 mark screams an NBA team that is underrated.
New Orleans hosts the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. The Pelicans should be favored by around 2.5 points.
The Pelicans just upset the Houston Rockets on Thursday as 9.5-point home underdogs for their third straight win. This team has dealt with numerous injuries, but they are a decent team when they are close to full strength.
Indiana has also been hit hard by the injury bug, but they have a much lower ceiling at full strength. Pascal Siakam is a solid player, but incredibly inconsistent. His supporting cast of Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin each have their moments, but ultimately this is a selection that lacks punch.
Bet on the NBA?
Indy ranks last in offensive efficiency and 11th in defensive efficiency. While injuries have played a role in their struggles, these stats are the real reason the Pacers are just 6-21 this season.
I have a record of 82-71-2 against the spread (ATS) in this post sports section. My next game is the Pelicans -2.5 points Saturday against the Pacers.
The Game: Pelicans -2.5 (-110, BetMGM Sportsbook)
Why trust New York Post betting
Doug Kezirian is a contributor to the New York Post and has more than twenty years of experience in the gambling industry, including eleven years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He is also the rare personality who has documented success: a 14th-place finish in the 2023 Circa Million and the Las Vegas SuperContest ($37,000), two top-10 finishes in the 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58,000) and also made headlines with a $297,000 win at the 2021 NFL Draft.
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