NBA Basketball Betting

The streaky New Jersey Nets are about to get a major dose of consistency. Small forward Richard Jefferson will reportedly travel with the Nets as they enter the dreaded Texas Triangle, starting with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. Jefferson isnt sure exactly when hell take the floor for the first time since he had surgery on his ankle back on Jan. 22. It probably wont be Tuesday, but it should be soon. The Nets have been an up-and-down proposition for handicappers in Jeffersons absence. Already hobbled from last years injured ankle, Jefferson was still able to provide New Jersey with 16.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this season. Few teams can afford to lose a player like that, and the Nets are not one of those teams. Their thin bench was already being tested by the loss of breakout center Nenad Krstic (16.4 points, 6.8 boards) for the year with a torn ACL. Things should be much better now that the cavalry is on the way. But will cappers benefit from Jeffersons return? Quite possibly. Hes the third wheel on a club that already has Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, but hes a highly valuable wheel. Jeffersons offensive contributions from the right wing are like a poor mans Tracy McGrady; he can hit the mid-range and longer jump shots, but he can also drive and get to the free-throw line. His defense isnt too shabby either. Overall, Jefferson joins Kidd, Carter and Krstic on the positive side of the plus-minus Roland Ratings ledger at plus-1.3. New Jersey has been able to hang around in the woeful Atlantic Division in large part because Mikki Moore has unexpectedly stepped up his game to fill the hole Krstic left in the lineup. Getting production from the 3-spot hasnt been as easy. Antoine Wright (minus-6.7 Roland) disappointed in 22 starts and is now on the shelf with a sprained right elbow. Hassan Adams has picked up some starts with Carter sliding over from shooting guard, and thats worked out better. But losing at home on Saturday to the woeful Boston Celtics, then to the 76ers the following day in Philly, shows just how badly New Jersey needs Jefferson back in the lineup. Despite the lousy weekend, the Nets are clinging to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference at 28-32 straight up (31-28-1 against the spread). Dallas remains the best team in the league at 50-9 SU and a very tasty 31-24-4 ATS. Tuesdays matchup tips off from the American Airlines Center at 8:30 p.m. EST, with NBA-TV providing national coverage. Find the latest NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook - Betus Sportsbook