PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NBA Total of the Month
(NBA) Denver vs. Sacramento,
Total: 218.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 218.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
The oddsmaker has to set a high total like this because Sacramento gives up the most points per game in the NBA at 109.1. Denver is a below average defensive team, too, surrendering 103.4 points a game.
So on the surface this high total makes sense. However, there are several key factors below the surface that point to these teams not reaching this high number.
Denver entered the All-Star break playing better defense. If you discount a 115-110 Denver victory against Chicago, the Nuggets are giving up an average of 95 points during their last six games. Much of this has to do with Michael Malone, who is an excellent defensive coach and is in his first season with the Nuggets after getting letting go at Sacramento. He'll be fired up to coach against the Kings, who he obviously knows well. Neither team wants to show too much since they play each other again on Tuesday.
This is a crucial game for the Kings, who can't take a loss here if they are serious about making the playoffs. Sacramento should be primed for an all-out effort since their next game isn't until they play the Nuggets again on Tuesday at Denver. That's followed by home games against the Spurs, Clippers and Thunder.
The Kings nearly fired coach George Karl during All-Star break. A major reason for this is the Kings' lackadaisical approach to defense. If it doesn't improve - and fast - Karl is likely gone. The Kings have had more than a week to clean this up. They have to be tired of constantly hearing about how bad their defense is. The Nuggets have a weak scoring backcourt. Point guard Emmanuel Mudiay shoots 34 percent from the floor and veteran Randy Foye got dealt on Thursday. So it's not too much to expect the Kings to slow down Denver's attack.
Both teams figure to be rusty, too, after the long layoff. In the first NBA action following All-Star break, each of the three Thursday games went under the total.
The Kings also may be missing their fourth and sixth-leading scorers as both Omri Casspi and Marco Belinelli are questionable after each had wisdom teeth pulled.
So on the surface this high total makes sense. However, there are several key factors below the surface that point to these teams not reaching this high number.
Denver entered the All-Star break playing better defense. If you discount a 115-110 Denver victory against Chicago, the Nuggets are giving up an average of 95 points during their last six games. Much of this has to do with Michael Malone, who is an excellent defensive coach and is in his first season with the Nuggets after getting letting go at Sacramento. He'll be fired up to coach against the Kings, who he obviously knows well. Neither team wants to show too much since they play each other again on Tuesday.
This is a crucial game for the Kings, who can't take a loss here if they are serious about making the playoffs. Sacramento should be primed for an all-out effort since their next game isn't until they play the Nuggets again on Tuesday at Denver. That's followed by home games against the Spurs, Clippers and Thunder.
The Kings nearly fired coach George Karl during All-Star break. A major reason for this is the Kings' lackadaisical approach to defense. If it doesn't improve - and fast - Karl is likely gone. The Kings have had more than a week to clean this up. They have to be tired of constantly hearing about how bad their defense is. The Nuggets have a weak scoring backcourt. Point guard Emmanuel Mudiay shoots 34 percent from the floor and veteran Randy Foye got dealt on Thursday. So it's not too much to expect the Kings to slow down Denver's attack.
Both teams figure to be rusty, too, after the long layoff. In the first NBA action following All-Star break, each of the three Thursday games went under the total.
The Kings also may be missing their fourth and sixth-leading scorers as both Omri Casspi and Marco Belinelli are questionable after each had wisdom teeth pulled.
