A hot team loses their star, and things can fall apart. A team loses three of their most important players, and even the most hard-nosed critic can be forgiving of a poor performance under such conditions.

The Cavaliers proved that it would take way more than that to stop them, sending a chill down the spine of all potential opponents for the remainder of the regular season, and into the playoffs. The Cavs were without LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Antawn Jamison, but Delonte West and Mo Williams just looked at it as an opportunity to flex. While the Cavs are seen by most as a team with some depth, the shine of LeBron James’ star often conceals the team’s actual prowess. It did not help matters that Cleveland had been 0-9 since 2007-2008 without James. Still, Cleveland showed San Antonio just what they had to offer on Monday night, and the potential finals between the Lakers and the Cavs that most sports book odds makers have been predicting all season suddenly seems a little more interesting. The Lakers are in need of something - anything - to stop the three game losing streak they’re currently riding. While the Lakers are not staring down the barrel of a gun just yet, the team needs to turn things around if for no other reason than to silence critics. If a demoralized team is faced with an unexpected injury or other unpleasant surprise, the Lakers could be deprived of the title most have expected them to take all season.

It’s not quite the NHL trade deadline, but there’s still some excitement for Thursday’s weekly doubleheader in the NBA on TNT. Two of the league’s biggest superstars will do battle in Florida, while there should be a shootout in the desert in the late game.

Lakers vs Heat odds – Thursday, March 4, 8:00 PM ET

The Heat should be favored at home, and even though they’ve dropped five of their last six against the Lakers overall, the Heat have beaten the Lakers in four of the last five meetings in Miami. The first meeting came on December 4^th, when Kobe Bryant hit a three-point bank shot over Dwyane Wade to give the Lakers a 108-107 win in Los Angeles. Bryant is a little than fresher than Wade, who came back from a calf injury two games ago, and the Heat supporting cast isn’t much better than a college team, even at home. They won’t keep it that close with the Lakers again.

Jazz vs Suns odds – Thursday, March 4, 10:30 PM ET

The Suns should be favored at home, where they are 23-7. They’ll be out to avenge a 124-115 loss in Utah on January 25^th, in which Andrei Kirilenko went for 25 points, while Carlos Boozer dominated his matchup with Amare Stoudamire, going for 21 points and 20 boards while Stoudamire had just 16 and five rebounds. The Jazz did lose in Los Angeles to the Clippers on Monday, but the Suns will be in Los Angeles on Wednesday, so the Jazz will be rested, and we all know that the Suns just ended an 18-game losing streak on TNT with a win over Dallas on January. Take Utah for the upset on the road.

Every year there is at least one college basketball player that gains recognition as being above the rest.

This year, that player is Kentucky’s John Wall.

When the number two-ranked Wildcats travel to number thirteen-ranked Tennessee this Saturday, the nation’s most highly touted player will attempt to lead his team to its eighth straight victory. A win would also mean a perfect February for Kentucky. Wall is a big reason why the college basketball odds are in its favor.

Wall has it all. Strength, speed, hops, and a smooth stroke from mid range are a few of the wide variety of attributes in the freshman’s arsenal. His transition game and driving ability have helped him to record an average of 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and four rebounds per game in leading Kentucky to 27 wins in 28 games this season.

The Wildcats will face a Tennessee team attempting to bounce back from a loss to Florida that pushed them one game back of the Gators in both conference play and overall.

Head coach Bruce Pearl’s Volunteers have done an excellent job remaining competitive in the SEC East. Many critics had Tennessee written off after the school suspended four players, including the dismissal of forward Tyler Smith, but the team has persevered. Injuries, in addition to the aforementioned changes have forced Pearl to change the way his team plays, a task the fifth-year coach of the Volunteers has proven capable of handling.

This will be the final of two games these teams will play against one another this season. Kentucky took the first at home, 73-62 on Feb. 13.

Defending not only one of the best players in the country, but one of the top teams in the nation will be a monumental task for Tennessee. But the Volunteers have experienced adversity, and that adversity has prepared them for the task at hand.

The NBA trade deadline has passed, with much excitement and fanfare, but few teams have seemed to make major moves to make a run in this years playoffs. Instead, many teams made moves that set up a very interesting offseason gearing up for the fall of 2010. Clubs moved players this past week to save cap room in the hopes of landing the top free agents. One of which, of course, is Lebron James.

The Knicks, Bulls, Heat, Clippers, Nets, and Wizards all cleared enough cap room and are all possible destinations for the most desirable player in the league. Even with these teams making the necessary financial changes, it doesn’t mean King James will end up in any of those cities.

Failing to get James leaves clubs with less desirable, though still stellar acquisitions. Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, and Joe Johnson would be great additions to any teams. However, in the shadow of Lebron James, the face of the NBA, a player who raises ticket sales and can sell anything, these players will seem a disappointment.

The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, failed to move Amare Stoudemire, and now risk losing him in the offseason as a free agent and getting nothing in return.

The NBA has become a league with a staggering lack of parity. The Cavs and Celtics made moves for depth that should help their push. But the teams that already have, simply have more, and those that don’t are planning simply for the offseason. The Trailblazers filled in their injury problems by getting Marcus Camby, and the Bucks picked up John Salmons. These two teams, however, sit on the cusp of the playoffs, and should they get in, and they may have only four games against the top ranked team.

It is shaping up to be an offseason with a incredibly amount of money changing hands, and some of the best players moving cities. With James likely moving, parity may be back in the league as his new team will be among the favorites to take home a title. In the meantime, there is still lots to look forward to as the NBA heads for the final stretch. Continue to monitor the games and check out the latest NBA odds to stay up to date and be successful.

Even though Kobe Bryant is questionable to play when Los Angeles hosts the Boston Celtics on Thursday, sportsbook makers know the Lakers should roll to victory.

The huge rivalry game might be without Kobe after he sat out the game against Golden State on Tuesday, seeing as the Lakers do not play until February 23 to give him almost an extra week to heal. He has now missed four games in an attempt to rest his injured ankle but the team has not missed a step with him out of the line-up. Andrew Bynum is expected back in the line-up.

The Lakers have been cruising without their star, winning four straight against Portland, San Antonio, Utah and Golden state by an average of 13.5 points and none by single digits. Los Angeles has also won nine of its past 11 as they sit six games clear of the Denver Nuggets to lead the Western Conference.

Boston has struggled as of late, losing two going into the All Star break and then had to hold off a late run by the Kings for a 95-92 win over lowly Sacramento (18-35). The Celtics lost their previous matchup with the Lakers in Boston and have not beaten a top four team since Christmas Day.

The Celtics have also only broken 100 points once in their last 14 games, and going up against a Lakers team that averages over 103 points a game, Boston just does not have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Lakers.

Los Angeles should move farther ahead of the Nuggets, who are in tough with a matchup against league leading Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Celtics will lose ground on idle Atlanta and are in danger of slipping out of home court advantage; if they continue with their poor play.

We’re betting management in the SEC had circled Saturday on their calendar as soon as John Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky, because that means that Calipari and Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl will meet twice a year now. Calipari’s Wildcats will look to defend their home court when Pearl’s Volunteers come to Lexington on Saturday night.

Tennessee vs Kentucky odds – Saturday, February 13, 9:00 PM ET

The No.12 Volunteers (18-5, 6-3) were thumped 90-71 at Vanderbilt in their last outing, and they may have been looking ahead to Kentucky already, and got caught by an underrated Commodores squad. Still, the Volunteers are in the hunt in the SEC, and senior forward Wayne Chism has stepped up his game, averaging 20.5 points over his last four games.

The No.3 Wildcats (23-3, 8-1) have won four straight since they were upset at South Carolina, and freshman center DeMarcus Cousins is working on a streak of seven double-doubles in a row, including 16 points and 13 boards in a 66-55 win over Alabama.

The Wildcats will be favored at home, where they are 16-0 this year, and Tennessee has lost eight of their last nine trips. The matchup between Chism and Cousins in the post will be one to watch, but that will also free up Patrick Patterson for Kentucky. Calipari and Pearl split their four meetings when the two faced off, and to break the tie, Calipari will use a wicked homecourt advantage, as well as a huge inside presence in Cousins and Patterson, to take game one of this anticipated series.

NCAA basketball betting pick: Kentucky

NBA betting players are still gung ho on the Los Angeles Lakers to defend their championship, but they’ve had the benefit of an easy schedule over the first half of the season, and now they have some injury concerns as they head into the All-Star break.

Kobe Bryant has been saddled with a broken finger and back spasms, but it’s an ankle injury that is keeping the former MVP and Olympian out of the lineup. Bryant’s left ankle was already sore before Lamar Odom stepped on it in a 99-97 win over Charlotte last Wednesday, a win that gave Phil Jackson the lead for most wins by a Laker coach. Bryant still scored 33 points in a loss in Denver, but then sat out wins over Portland and San Antonio. Andrew Bynum is also on the injured list with a bruised hip, and if the Lakers have their way, both of their starters will sit out until after the All-Star break. The Lakers will head to Utah on Wednesday night, and while Bynum is unlikely to play, Bryant said he will be a gametime decision. This is where Jackson has to pull rank and order Bryant to sit, as well as passing on the All-Star game (or at least play minimal minutes). The Lakers have a hard road to go until they get to the playoffs, as 17 of their last 28 games will be on the road, and while some point to a more balanced offense and more passing when Bryant is out, the Lakers are only 19-23 without their leader since 2003-04, and it’s an understatement to say that their NBA odds stand a better chance with Bryant in the lineup.

If you’re watching the Super Bowl line, you may have missed some big NBA news regarding New Orleans, who were just starting to get on a roll, but now will be without their star for a while.

This team is built around the skills and fire of Chris Paul, who was averaging 20.4 points, 11.2 assists and 2.3 steals before tearing his meniscus. Paul will be out one or two months, but probably closer to two if he wants it to heal fully. The Hornets were 12-5 in January and were starting to turn the corner, and now, they have to turn the team over to rookie Darren Collison, who has played very well with the increased minutes. Collison had 17 points and 18 assists in a win at Memphis in his first game after Paul was injured. The Hornets were 4-4 earlier this season when Paul missed eight games with an ankle injury in late November, but if Collison keeps playing like this, the Hornets should be fine. The biggest worry will come from David West, who was an All-Star with Paul in the past, and thrives off the pick-and-roll he runs with Paul. Collison will have to step up in a hurry if the Hornets want to keep their NBA betting odds alive.

While everyone in New Orleans is looking ahead to Super Bowl betting, the New Orleans Hornets have a chance to win their way back into a playoff spot against the Memphis Grizzlies. When these teams hook up on Saturday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, it will pit two of four teams that are ranked sixth to 10^th in the Western Conference; all of whom are within a game of one another.

New Orleans is coming off a game last night at home against Chicago, and with the last meeting with Memphis ending in a tight 113-111 win, the Hornets will be hard pressed on the road. Chris Paul is again leading the Hornets to a winning record almost single handily. Leading the League in assists (11.1) and his team in points (20.5) and steals (2.3), the Wake Forest product is on a short list of MVP candidates yet again. Emeka Okafor and David West anchor a solid frontcourt however neither are a dominant force that can win a game without the skills of West. Scoring over a point less a game then their opponents and being just 9-16 on the road, this will be a tough game for the Hornets.

Memhis is the Cinderella story of this season. Expected to be in another rebuilding season and struggling for wins, the young group has pulled together and is in the heart of the playoff race. They are coming home after a game in San Antonio however being as young as they are, it should not have a large effect on them. Zach Randolph has gotten back to his dedicated ways and is joins Chris Bosh as the only players in the league averaging over 20 points (21) and 10 rebounds (11.6) and has garnished All Star recognition. Along with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo, who are averaging 20.4 and 18.1 points, this is a very young group of players, average age of 24.4, that is making noise in the deepest division in basketball.

This game should be hotly contested and the people doing 5dimes reviews know that being at home and being on the hot streak that they are the Grizzlies should be able to pull this one out and put some distance between them and the Hornets.

While everyone checks out their Super Bowl odds for this weekend, take a look at a very good NBA matchup that will take place on Saturday night as Oklahoma City heads to Cleveland to meet the Cavaliers.

Thunder vs Cavaliers odds – Saturday, January 23, 7:30 PM ET

This will be the last of a four-game road trip for the Thunder, and for a young team, they’re great defensively, coming in sixth in the league. Combine that with Kevin Durant, who is third in the NBA in scoring, and the Thunder could be scary in the playoffs.

The Cavaliers are coming off a big win over the Lakers on Thursday, but LeBron James will have a bigger load to carry. Mo Williams will be out for 4-6 weeks thanks to a shoulder injury, and he was their second scoring option. This means Delonte West and Anthony Parker have to step up to help James.

The Cavs should pull out the win, as the Thunder play Friday night in Memphis, and they’re 4-4 in the second half of back-to-back games. James and the Cavs have the defense and experience to jump on the Thunder when they falter.

Internet sports betting pick: Cleveland