NBA: YTD 6-4, + 2.05 units, ROI 19%

716 Dallas Mavericks -5.5 over 716 Utah Jazz

Both teams had numbers that concerned me when I came up with my initial power ratings for this season. Dallas was suspiciously high and Utah suspiciously low. When the Mavericks dropped their home opener to the Wizards it caught my attention. but I have found that was more of an inspired Wizards team than any over valuing of the Mavericks. They are what my numbers indicated they were and they will be a contender in the West. We would like to have Gooden, Thomas and Howard tonight but the acquisition of Marion has really been a wise move by the Mavericks and his abilities at both ends of the court are going to pay dividends sooner rather than later. The Jazz missing players are more of a problem for them, both tonight and in the foreseeable future. With Korver, Miles and Harpring out indefinitely they have very little bench strength and all five starters went 34 minutes plus in last night’s home loss to the Rockets. That was an up and down the court fast paced game (209) and coming from altitude to play a back to back with the Mavericks will be hard on the legs.

I will probably have another tonight but all lines are not yet open and we have to see what happens there. This one I suggest you get down early as the Mavericks are likely to draw the action and it could be a point or two higher by game time. GL. Key