NBA weekly betting trends: Hornets lacking buzz without Batum
By Jeff Glauser
The Charlotte Hornets have been essentially an even-up bet this year. But that may change with the loss of Nicolas Batum.
According to SportsBookReview, the Hornets are 20-18 overall entering this week and 18-19-1 against the spread. However, you might want to consider betting against owner Michael Jordan’s club for the next week or two as long as it remains without Batum.
In last Thursday’s exciting near miss at the Detroit Pistons, Batum suffered a knee injury. The good news is that an MRI revealed nothing torn, just a hyperextension, and he’s expected to miss up to a couple weeks.
The Hornets clearly missed him Saturday in scoring just 85 points in a blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Jeremy Lamb started in Batum’s spot and had 13 points and eight assists but isn’t the player Batum is. Lamb starting thus also weakens the bench.
This past offseason, Batum re-signed with the Hornets for five years and $120 million. He averaged 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists for the Hornets last season and became one of the top two-way small forwards in the game because he’s also strong on defense. At 6-foot-8, he’s able to guard multiple positions. This year, he’s averaging 15.1 points, 7.4 rebounds (third among all NBA guards) and 5.8 assists. He leads the team with seven double-doubles. Batum’s career-high for double-doubles is 15 with Portland in 2013-14.
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When the Hornets start All-Star guard Kemba Walker, Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller, they are 13-8. They are now 1-1 without Batum on the court, as he also missed a Nov. 26 win over the Knicks with an eye injury. When Batum and Walker each have at least 20 points in game, the Hornets are 6-0.
On the bright side for Charlotte fans, the Hornets only play twice this week as they continue a five-game road trip. On Tuesday, they visit the Houston Rockets—clearly not a favorable matchup—for the first meeting of the season between the two teams. The Hornets have lost 11 straight games in Houston. Batum probably would have drawn the “honor” of guarding MVP candidate James Harden.
On Friday, it’s a trip to Philadelphia to play the 76ers. The Hornets won on Nov. 2, 100-93, as Batum scored 17 of his 20 points in the third quarter to help Charlotte overcome a seven-point halftime deficit. However, even the lowly Sixers have shown signs of life lately, winning three of their last four.