Power rating of opponents (NBA)

First off, we need to now how Vegas sets their line.

For today we got three games:
NEW YORK (18 - 13) at ORLANDO (20 - 12)
Thursday, 12/30/2010 7:00 PM

SAN ANTONIO (27 - 4) at DALLAS (24 - 6)
Thursday, 12/30/2010 9:30 PM

UTAH (22 - 10) at PORTLAND (16 - 16)
Thursday, 12/30/2010 10:00 PM

Most of the time Vegas are lazy and the lines are set after avg team score on the road for the road team and avg team score at home for the home team.

Examples:

UTAH (22 - 10) at PORTLAND (16 - 16)
Utah have avg 98.9 points on the road this year while Portland have avg 98.4 at home.

If you check out the other games for today New York should be a 7.5 favorite and San Antonio should be 8 points favorite.

Things are not that easy, you have to consider the opponents they have faced.

Average power rating of opponents played:

NEW YORK 94.3,  ORLANDO 95
SAN ANTONIO 95.3,  DALLAS 95.5
UTAH 96.2,  PORTLAND 95.4

New York have scored more points, but on easier opponents.
Same for San Antonio, so there are maybe not really an edge in the lines.

more to follow....

NEW JERSEY (9 - 23) at CHICAGO (20 - 10)
Friday, 12/31/2010 3:00 PM

Vegas Line: Chicago -10

Line when taking avg scores for teams: Chicago -10

Average power rating of opponents played:
NEW JERSEY 96.6,  CHICAGO 96

NEW ORLEANS (18 - 14) at BOSTON (24 - 6)
Friday, 12/31/2010 3:00 PM

WASHINGTON (8 - 22) at INDIANA (13 - 17)
Friday, 12/31/2010 3:00 PM

Vegas Line: INDIANA -6

AVG Scores Line: INDIANA -6

Average power rating of opponents played:

WASHINGTON 96.9,  INDIANA 96.4

GOLDEN STATE (12 - 19) at CHARLOTTE (11 - 19)
Friday, 12/31/2010 3:00 PM

GOLDEN STATE 95.5,  CHARLOTTE 95.1

TORONTO (11 - 20) at HOUSTON (15 - 16)
Friday, 12/31/2010 7:00 PM

Vegas Line: HOUSTON -9

AVG Scores Line: HOUSTON -6.7

Average power rating of opponents played:

TORONTO 96,  HOUSTON 95.1

ATLANTA (21 - 13) at OKLAHOMA CITY (22 - 11)
Friday, 12/31/2010 8:00 PM

Vegas Line: OKLAHOMA CITY -5.5

AVG Scores Line: OKLAHOMA CITY -11.8

Average power rating of opponents played:

ATLANTA 95.3,  OKLAHOMA CITY 94.8

DETROIT (11 - 21) at PHOENIX (13 - 17)
Friday, 12/31/2010 9:00 PM

Vegas Line: N.L

AVG Scores Line: PHOENIX -17.6

Average power rating of opponents played:

DETROIT 95.5,  PHOENIX 96.5

PHILADELPHIA (13 - 19) at LA LAKERS (22 - 10)
Friday, 12/31/2010 10:30 PM

Vegas Line: N.L

AVG Scores Line: LA LAKERS -10.5

Average power rating of opponents played:

PHILADELPHIA 96.4,  LA LAKERS 94

So far Golden State looks like a bet, together with Toronto, specially if more money is loaded on Houston and the line keeps on moving.

Golden State +2.5
Toronto +9
Phoenix -6.5

are lookin good

Also you must look at Tor on the 3rd game road trip, and they are only 4-11 on the road.  GS also is on the 2nd game road trip.  Just something to consider.

It doesnt matter if they are 4-11 on the road.
They are 8-6 ATS on the road, just like Houston are 8-6 ATS at home.

Despite Toronto facing much harder opponents.
But their 3rd road game is a concern, but that why we are gifted with a slighly better line.