NBA Odds – Orlando Begins Quest for Championship Return Against Charlotte on Sunday

The Orlando Magic became a serious basketball pick to win the Eastern Conference this season shortly after losing to the L.A. Lakers in last year’s NBA Finals. Then, the Magic signed Vince Carter and it took some time for Carter and his new teammates to gel. During that time, sports gamblers jumped onto the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Game-night: 4/18/2010
Tip-off: 5:30 pm EST

It might have been a bad move to jump off of the Magic bandwagon. Orlando has been red-hot going into their first playoff game this season against the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday. The Magic has won 9 out of their last 10 games. They have gone 7-2-1 ATS in those 10 games and have covered the spread in their last 6 games.

No wonder they are a big favorite against the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.

Charlotte Bobcats +10 -110 O 187 ½ -110

Orlando Magic -10 -110 U 187 ½ -110

Based on the trends, both teams appear ready to give their all in this game.

The Charlotte Bobcats are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games versus a team from the NBA Southeast Division.

The Charlotte Bobcats are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight-up loss.

The Orlando Magic is 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous games.

The Orlando Magic is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite at home.

The Magic won the series against Charlotte 3 to 1. Charlotte did beat the Magic on March 14th, the last time the two teams met, 96 to 89 but the Orlando team that they face on Sunday is firing on all cylinders.

Orlando has flat-out dominated teams in April. They’ve beaten teams every way imaginable, inside and outside, from behind the arc, on the boards…they’ve dominated. Orlando has been able to do anything that they’ve wanted out there on the court.

Charlotte will try to end Orlando’s dominance with the #1 ranked defense in the NBA. Charlotte only allows 93.8 points per game against them. The problem for the Bobcats is that they only score 95.3 points per game.

I just don’t believe that Charlotte will have enough offensively to keep this game close on Sunday. Orlando averages 102.8 points per game and even though Charlotte kept the Magic to under 100 points in 3 of the 4 games during the regular season, Orlando figures to step it up in the playoffs.

They already started to step it up during their final 10 regular season games. The Magic scored 100 points or more in 8 of those 10 games. They scored more than 110 points in 4 of those last 10 games.

Usually, defense rules in the NBA Playoffs, but that won’t be the case in this game. Orlando is like a tsunami, they can shoot the three, dish to Howard in the middle, set-up a pick and roll, or simply have Jameer Nelson or Vince Carter go one on one against their individual defenders.

The Magic should absolutely roll in this game. They’re playing in front of their fans and are focused beyond belief. They won’t stub their toe against the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.

I’ll be very surprised if Orlando doesn’t beat Charlotte by at least 14 points this Sunday.

Pick: Orlando Magic -10