thinkingdog's TNT pick/analysis ***Supersonics/Trailblazers***

[thinkingdog]

Tonight the Trailblazers look to end a five-game losing skid, while the Supersonics, fresh off of trade moves (obtaining Elson & Barry from Spurs for Kurt Thomas; relinquishing Szczerbiak and getting Newble, Marshall from Cavs and Griffin from Bulls), will try to win two in a row.

This game is the first of a home-at-home series, as the two teams will meet again on Friday night at Key Arena.

On Christmas Day at the Rose Garden, the young Portland team handed the Sonics an 89-79 loss. The Blazers have won the past two meetings, while Seattle has lost the last two visits as the away team. Portland is 20-7 at home, but have dropped their last two home games. Seattle is a pitiful 5-20 on the road and have lost 11 of their past dozen away games.

Although Portland was one of the hotter teams in the Western Conference, they have significantly cooled off in the past month and are now sitting outside of the playoff picture five games back of the final eighth seed.

Young Stars Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy are both day-to-day and are questionable for tonight’s contest.

Seattle Supersonics +7 (1 unit, -110)

I like this dog tonight as although Seattle is a bad team, the Trailblazers have started to show their youth and inexperience as major liabilities. In addition, their confidence has been shattered as of late and I think they will crumble even more down the stretch.

Seattle has statistical edges in points for, steals, and rebounding, and while Portland does have an edge in points against, field goal percentage shooting and three pointers, I think the Sonics will keep things close tonight, with the final outcome showing 3-5 points either way.

Seattle is 6-3 ATS in it last nine while Portland is only 1-11 ATS in its past dozen (including past five no-covers at home). Trades might have some impact, as primary factor/sharpshooter Szczerbiak is now gone and new acquisitions learning a new system, but I still look for the Supersonics to keep things relatively close! BOL to all!