Home Forums Skybox Sports Bar Controlling the Boards 8/23

LOS ANGELES (12 - 13) at ATLANTA (14 - 11) - 8/23/2009, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) in all games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 1-1 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 1-1 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MINNESOTA (11 - 15) at NEW YORK (10 - 16) - 8/23/2009, 4:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in road games in August or September games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 4-11 ATS (-8.1 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
MINNESOTA is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in road games after playing 3 consecutive road games since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 14-27 ATS (-15.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
NEW YORK is 119-89 ATS (+21.1 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 39-23 ATS (+13.7 Units) in road games against Eastern conference opponents since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 39-23 ATS (+13.7 Units) in road games in non-conference games since 1997.
NEW YORK is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
NEW YORK is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in home games this season.
NEW YORK is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 3-2 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 3-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (11 - 15) at DETROIT (10 - 14) - 8/23/2009, 6:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 4-3 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 4-3 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

Los Angeles at Atlanta
The Dream look to build on their 6-1 ATS record in their last 7 home games. Atlanta is the pick (-2) according to Dunkel, which has the Dream favored by 4. Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-2). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

Game 601-602: Los Angeles at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 112.971; Atlanta 117.197
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 4; 166
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 2; 152 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-2); Over

Game 603-604: Minnesota at New York
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 106.806; New York 114.214
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 7 1/2; 152
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 5; 157
Dunkel Pick: New York (-5); Under

Game 605-606: San Antonio at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 108.536; Detroit 111.119
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 2 1/2; 141
Vegas Line & Total: Pick; 150 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit; Under

Detroit Shock at San Antonio Silver Stars (pick, 150.5)

The Shock and Silver Stars are meeting for the first time since last year's WNBA Finals. Given how both teams have looked this year, that seems like an eternity.

Both are in danger of missing the playoffs and are headed in the wrong direction.

The Shock's situation has more urgency. Detroit (9-14) has lost three straight games and is sixth in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games out of the final postseason spot.

The Silver Stars (11-5) have dropped two in a row and are fifth in the West, one-half game out of the final playoff berth.

In the last 10 meetings, the road team has won seven times and the total has been under seven times.

Pick: San Antonio


Los Angeles Sparks at Atlanta Dream (-2.5, 152.5)

The Sparks and Dream are the two hottest teams in the league right now.

The Sparks have won a season-high four in a row and are doing it with defense. Now that Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker are both healthy and playing well, Los Angeles has held opponents to just 36.2 percent shooting during its streak, keeping the total under in all four games.

The Dream haven't been too shabby, either, winning three in a row and seven of eight, both straight up and against the spread. Atlanta is doing it with offense, averaging 90.8 points during its hot streak and totaling at least 80 points in every game to move past Minnesota for second in the league in scoring.

Pick: Los Angeles +2.5