Chris Paul to Return, Odds on Hornets at Sportsbook Move. Sportsbook odds on the New Orleans Hornets are likely to move a little bit with All-Star guard Chris Paul returning to the lineup. When he was in the lineup the Hornets were in the playoff mix but they had gone 3-12 before Monday’s game to drop out of playoff contention. The odds at the sportsbook will be adjusted a little bit with Paul back on the court for the Hornets.
Sportsbook NBA scheduling noted that the Hornets were at home against Dallas on Monday and home against Cleveland on Wednesday. The Hornets are not going to make the playoffs but Paul really wants to return this year anyway. He has missed the past 25 games after having surgery on his left knee. He missed eight games earlier this season due to an ankle injury. Even though the Hornets are not part of the playoff race, they could play the spoiler role down the stretch. Paul wants to get back to playing even if the Hornets are not in the playoff picture. New Orleans also wants to see how Paul plays with Darren Collison. Since Paul has been injured, Collison has been great but it hasn’t really mattered because New Orleans has lost a lot of games. “I see two guys that have the same makeup,” New Orleans head coach Jeff Bower said, “They play the game with the same mentality. They measure everything they do based on winning and how the team is doing.”
The Hornets may chooses to put Paul or Collison on the trading block but Bower wants to see them both playing together. “I’m excited to see them together. I do think they can [function in the same backcourt]. Not the whole game, of course, but I think they can play together and Chris can be a dynamic scorer off the ball.” Bower said, “And Marcus Thornton can be a dynamic scorer with them.”
New Orleans does not have a winning record this season vs. the NBA lines at the sportsbook. They actually have a worse record vs. the point spread at home than on the road. It will be interesting to see how the Hornets respond this week when they get Paul into the starting lineup again. New Orleans is likely to still be an underdog in sportsbook NBA lines and that could give them a little bit of value with Paul in the lineup.