Sportsbook odds on the Portland Trail Blazers have been adjusted because of the injury to Brandon Roy. The Blazers leading scorer had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and is likely out for the first round series against Phoenix. The Suns are a solid favorite in NBA odds at the online sportsbook to beat the Blazers in their series.
Sportsbook odds list Phoenix as a 6-1 favorite to beat the Blazers in their seven-game series. The Blazers would have been less of an underdog if they had their leading scorer in this series. “This was not an easy decision to make,” Roy said, “But, if I’m going to be out there, I want to be contributing. If we’re fortunate enough to advance in the playoffs, having the surgery now gives me the best opportunity to help our team.”
Portland has been beset by injuries all season. Only two players, Andre Miller and Martell Webster have played in all 82 games. “At the end of the day you still have to go out and play,” Webster said, “We’re going to rally together and play the game.”
Roy underwent knee surgery on Friday and he is hoping to be back in two weeks. Unfortunately for the Blazers, they could be out of the playoffs by then. Without Roy in the lineup it seems unlikely Portland will have enough offense to get past a high scoring Phoenix team. The Blazers do have the league’s third best defense but containing the Suns will not be easy. Phoenix led the league in scoring this season and they are particularly tough at home. Portland struggled on offense even when Roy was in the lineup. He averaged 21.5 points per game and Portland simply does not have anyone to take his place in the lineup. Perhaps the Blazers can steal a game at home in this series but it seems unlikely they can win the series without their top player.
Portland was a pretty good team on the road this season vs. the NBA odds at the sportsbook. They were 25-15-1 vs. the point spread in road games. Surprisingly, the Blazers went over the total in 24 of their 41 road games. Phoenix had the identical against the spread record at home as they were 25-15-1. They were actually a team that went under the total at home a little bit as 21 of their 42 games went under the odds at the online sportsbook with one push.