NBA betting online expectations is high once again for the Phoenix Suns after their nice bounceback season of 2009-10 in which they went 54-28 straight up.
Return to Form
The Suns went back to their traditional run and gun format that has proven to be their road map to success. The wide open offensive style has been popular with Phoenix fans and with handicappers at the Sbg sportsbook. The Suns were one of the most profitable teams in the league last year with a mark of 48-33-1 against the spread. Phoenix ranked as the top scoring team in the NBA while ranking just 26th for team defense. They took the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to six games in the Western Conference Finals.
It was a strong turnaround from the 2009-10 debacle in which then head coach Terry Porter tried to remake the Suns into a more defensive oriented team. The players never bought into Porter’s system and he was fired at the All Star Break that year as the Suns missed the playoffs.
Gentry Optimistic
Head coach Alvin Gentry enters his second full NBA betting season as the head coach armed with a contract extension after going 72-41 straight up since taking over for Porter. Gentry is pleased with the perimeter of the Suns which will need to be better than ever due to the loss of Amare Stoudemire to free agency and the New York Knicks.
Gentry prefers a glass is half full approach to the Suns season as they move on without their key big man. Stoudemire was not just a top scorer and rebounding presence but he also kept defenses honest, which freed up point guard Steve Nash to do his thing. The loss of Stoudemire will make it difficult for Phoenix to retain their NBA betting online status as a top offensive team.
Nash and Dash
Nash will now be asked to carry the team on 36 year old shoulders. Although he averaged 11 assists per game last year along with 16.5 points per game the Suns are dreaming if they think he can carry them as far as the Western Conference Finals again in the 2010-11 NBA betting season.
Gentry has simply stated the tempo will have to pick up without Stoudemire and rather than whine about his departure the rest of the team will have to adapt.