Arriving from of a strong – but losing – playoff effort last season against the Chicago Bulls, the Indiana Pacers came roaring back to start the 2011-2012 season. The squad is going through its greatest early record in the earlier eight years, but are still struggling against the more proficient teams in the league. Whilst they’re 11-4 thus far, just four of those victories are against teams with records above .500.

Number 1 rated Kentucky versus the NCAA championship hopefuls Georgia? Sounds like a recipe for a crushing defeat, specifically as Kentucky just barely regained that coveted No. 1 spot on the standings for the 1st time in the prior two months. While the Wildcats are on top of the standings and relishing an 11 game win streak, the Georgia Bulldogs can best be termed inconsistent so far in the year.

The Kings face an uphill battle when they battle against the Houston Rockets in Houston on January 13th. This is a condition of both teams rebuilding for the future as both teams look nothing like their early 2000′s heydays. The Sacramento Kings look to return to their past dominance in the west with standout play from their young stalwarts. The Houston Rockets are still coping with the fallout from the retirement of Yao Ming. The Houston Rockets are preferred by 3 points by the sportsbook and this seeks to be a tricky game to call.

The AT&T Center might get some long distance action on Jan 13th as the Portland Trailblazers head to San Antonio to face the Spurs. Portland is a youthful squad trying to rebuild as the quick but electric Brandon Roy era formally ended with his retirement in December. Former #1 pick Greg Oden has furthermore had continued concerns with his knees as Portland apparently can not shake the ghost of Sam Bowie. The Spurs want to defend their court with sizzling plays from their usual dependable roster. The Spurs are favored by 8 points and this seeks to be an awesome bet.

On Jan 12th, things heat up when the Cavaliers come into Phoenix to face the Suns. A couple of seasons ago, this would have been an amazing game with LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire going head up in a collision course. In the era of free agency nevertheless, times certainly have evolved as this game appears dramatically different. Phoenix is preferred by 6 points over the Cleveland Cavaliers and this is apparently a safe wager.

Saturday evening on January 14th, the New York Knicks come into Oklahoma City to take on the OKC Thunder in this huge match between these 2 teams. It’s a tale of 2 teams as the OKC Thunder arrive in the game with a stable team of young guns against the New York Knicks who it seems from year upon year usually enters into play with lots of modifications going on. The New York Knicks are preferred by 4 points and this might hold unless Durant has one of his usual killer matches.

The United Center in Chicago will be in the spotlight as the Washington Wizards come into town to battle against the Bulls. In years past, this competition could have been the hardest ticket to get as the second comeback by Nike Jordan turned the Wizards into media darlings all through the league. Jordan is now long retired nonetheless and the Wizards have turned into an excellent young squad with vast amounts of prospective waiting to be tapped. The sports book has the Bulls liked by 8 points which looks correct and looks like a great wager with Chicago being cheered on at home.

The Staples Center is going to come alive on January 11th when the Heat takes on the Los Angeles Clippers. The Heat comes in with among the best records in the NBA boosted by an excellent roster of stars. The Heat lead the league as a team in points scored and assists. The sports book has the Heat preferred by 8 points and with the backcourt they possess, it seems to be a sure bet. Let’s take a closer look at the Heat this season and what they offer.

These two teams have been doing relatively well this year. This should not be an unanticipated to any person as these two colleges are well known for their share of wins in basketball for plenty of years. When Western Virginia visits Connecticut both these teams will be at it out on the court on January 9.

The unpleasant specter of the Lockout had loomed big over the NBA landscape until recently. The NBA has successfully tipped off in earnest over Christmas weekend with both the competitors and the owners finally arriving at a deal. The NBA welcoming committee visits to the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. when the Celts (1-3) take on the Washington Wizards (0-3). Both teams come into play with shaky records and a slow beginning to the season. The sports book appears to have the nod on the better team as the line currently stands – Boston (-7) 184 ½ .