Joe D'Amico's NBA Atlantic Division Game of the Month

Brooklyn vs. Philadelphia, 03/11/2013 19:00 EDT, Score: 97 - 106

Point Spread: -5½/-108 Brooklyn

Sportsbook: 5Dimes

Result: Loss

Today's winner is Brooklyn over Philadelphia. This is my Atlantic Division Game of the Month.

Brooklyn is surging. The Nets have won 3 straight (all covers) to put themselves just 2 1/2 games behind the 1st place Knicks in the Division. Deron Williams is a man on a mission as the Guard is averaging 23.1 PPG and 6.9 RPG over the L10 outings. Joe Johnson has been shaky with a sore knee but Lopez is posting 18.6 PPG and adding another 7.1 RPG while Blatche, Wallace, Humphries, and Evans are teaming up for a total of 32 boards per game between them. Overall, B'klyn ranks 13th on the offensive boards and 3rd on the glass on "D". On top if that, their defense is 4th in the NBA in both points allowed and FT% allowed. Four players are putting up DDs. They have faced Philadelphia twice this season, winning both by an average of 11.5 PPG. In the last meeting, they were +18 on the glass. Philly dropped 5 in a row and 12 of their L13 SU going 1-4 ATS at home. Jrue Holiday leads the 76ers in scoring but has been "off" lately. Coach Collins has been "experimenting" with the lineup which has cause a surge in TOs. The Road Team is 6-0 ATS the L6 meetings in this series. The 76ers are 6-20 ATS their L26 games played on 0 days rest and 3-7 ATS their L10 games played vs. teams with a winning record. The Nets are 5-1 ATS their L6 games played on the road and 4-1 ATS their L5 games played vs. the Eastern Conference. Take Brooklyn. Thank you.