NBA - Charlotte v Indiana Pacers

22 November 2009

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

The Bobcats may be the lowest scoring side in the League but I fancy this total to go over 185 today, especially because it is the Pacers they are to face and also because Stephen Jackson is yet to find his range for the struggling Bobcats.

The Bobcats are one of the few NBA teams allowing fewer than 90 points per game this season, but they have still lost seven straight. The latest deal the Bobcats have made to spark they offence is Stephen Jackson , Jackson might not be the answers to their prayers but he has at least made a contribution and in his first two matches and has averaged 24 points, However the Bobcats have still not hit 90 points in either game, both losses their 83.8 average remains the worst in the NBA. However they shot a season-best 50.8 % in their last game against the Bucks but were awful from the stripe only hitting 26-43 from the Charity Stripe and took another loss 95-88, They are last in the league in free throw shooting, hitting at a bad 68.8 percent. The Bobcats haven’t lost eight in a row since a streak of that length from Feb. 24-March 10, 2007. Charlotte will be eager to return home after an 0-3 trip. All three of the Bobcats wins have come at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Meanwhile the Pacers had won five straight , before dropping their last 2 matches both at home, 105-95 to the Cavs and 103-110 against the Knicks, Danny Granger now in his 3rd season is again the Pacers main weapon and is averaging 24.8 points per game, Granger scored 21 points for the Pacers to an easy 108-83 victory in their most recent visit to Charlotte last season..Then there is Tyler Hansbrough’s who will make his first visit to North Carolina a place he knows well where he became the all-time leading scorer for the Tar Heels and led them to the 2009 NCAA tournament title. He’s averaging 8.7 points while getting consistent minutes in the last six games. The Pacers are averaging 99 ppg on their season but are also again allowing just as many, Defence is still a real problem for them it would seem.

The Bobcats have won 6 of their last 10 against the Pacers and are also 6-4 ATS in their last 10 against the Pacers, Total wise and this is the lowest total set between the two sides in their last 10 meetings, Only 4 of the last 10 have been over the set total for each game, However on the 185 set for this match , that has been passed in 9 of their last 10 meetings as well as being passed in 4 of the last 5 played in Charlotte.

I fancy this total to go over, either side can score and the Pacers defence is still a real worry, with players like Wallace, Jackson, Diaw and Augustin the Bobcats could make the Pacers pay for their defence while Granger, Dienner and even Hansbrough should be able to get a few points of their own, either way I reckon the Bobcats will get close if not pass 90 here and the Pacers will be with them every step of the way… I’m looking at the Over on this match…Good Luck.