Will Shaq and LeBron finally give the Cavaliers the championship they so desperately want?

In his first season with the Phoenix Suns, Shaquille O'Neal did nothing to help his team get past the first round of the playoffs. In his second season with Phoenix, the Suns — with stars Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Grant Hill — didn't even make the playoffs.

So what can O'Neal possibly be expected to achieve as a Cleveland Cavalier? Well, maybe the difference here is LeBron James.

Now might be a great time to throw down a little dough on those NBA Basketball Futures…

Before visiting the Lakers on Friday, the Rockets begin a challenging stretch run with a game at Phoenix, which hasn't given up on pulling back into the playoff picture despite missing some big opportunities to make a move over the last week.

Phoenix took a season-high six-game winning streak into a three-game road trip but returns home riding a three-game skid.

Steve Nash, who averaged 20.7 points in 15 games in March, scored a season-high 32 with 13 assists in his last game against Houston. Phoenix is 0-4 this season when he scores more than 25. The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games. Get your NBA basketball lines with Bodog today.

Still, Phoenix hasn't given up hope of making the postseason. The Suns have averaged 126.4 points while winning their last five games by an average of 16.0 points.

Phoenix plays six of its next eight games against teams ahead of them in the West, including a critical meeting with the Mavericks in Dallas.

Starting that stretch out by hosting Utah shouldn't be too intimidating. The Jazz are only 14-20 on the road.

However, the Jazz have won three of their past five visits to Phoenix and are 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Phoenix. NBA basketball picks? We've got 'em!

Carmelo Anthony scored 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting in Denver’s 108-101 loss in Phoenix on Dec. 20.

He missed the Nuggets’ 119-113 overtime win over the visiting Suns on Jan. 15 with a broken bone in his right hand.

In Denver’s last victory in Phoenix in 2004, Anthony had 36 points and 11 rebounds.

Steve Nash has 13 double-doubles in his last 17 games versus Denver, averaging 18.5 points with 11.1 assists during that stretch.

The favorite is 7-0 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series and the over is 7-1 in the last eight meetings. Get your NBA bets in the Bodog Sportsbook and make the game more exciting!

The Cavaliers are 20-4 versus the West this season for the best interconference record in the league.  But Cleveland has lost nine straight in Phoenix, dating to an 86-73 win in 1999.

It has not been LeBron's fault though. He has averaged 35.7 points, 7.3 assists and 6.0 boards in his last three games in Phoenix. The favorite is 8-0 ATS in the last eight meetings, so you may want to avoid picking an upset. Get your NBA picks in the Bodog Sportsbook.

It's unlikely Bryant, averaging 33.3 points in his last four games, is going to let a minor ankle injury keep him out when he can face Shaquille O'Neal.

The Suns are averaging 128.4 points and shooting 56.7 percent from the field in their last five games, though they are 14 1/2 games behind the Western Conference-leading Lakers.

The Lakers have won five of six meetings since being ousted by the Suns in the 2007 playoffs. NBA basketball picks? We've got 'em!

Wednesday night’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns (28-22 SU, 17-30-2 ATS) is at the former Gund Arena, so that certainly benefits James and his entourage. But it also gives the Suns a much-needed boost at the bank; they’re 7-16-1 ATS at home and 10-14-1 ATS away. Phoenix had Tuesday off, which is a big plus from a basketball standpoint – the Suns are 16-9 SU after a day of rest. But they’re also 8-15-2 ATS in this situation, while the young and deep Cavaliers are 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS playing the second of back-to-back games. Get your NBA betting odds with Bodog before the big games.

This isn’t good news for the Sixers, but it could be good news for their supporters. Philly is 2-0 SU and 1-0-1 ATS since Brand was yanked from the lineup; and last month’s seven-game SU and ATS streak came while the former Wooden Award winner was on the mend.

The Sixers can operate more quickly without Brand on the floor, just as the Phoenix Suns (28-21 SU, 17-29-2 ATS) were the fastest team in the West before the Shaquille O’Neal trade. Both O’Neal and Amare Stoudemire are reportedly on the block as the Suns try to cut costs and find a new identity. It was fun while it lasted. Get your NBA lines with Bodog today.

Shaq is scoring 18.2 per game in 2008-09, including 22.1 over his last 18 games.

The Spurs have given up 19.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game to O'Neal in the teams' first two meetings this season.

San Antonio, listed as a 1.5-point underdog tonight, has won five of their last six overall.

Phoenix is only 6-14 ATS at home and has not covered in a home game since their 128-100 victory over Dallas on Jan. 9.

Phoenix remains the league's top shooting team and is among the league leaders with 103.8 points per game. Shaquille O'Neal is expected to play tonight even though it is the second game of a back-to-back.

Washington's 1-3 road trip is part of a string of nine losses in the last 11 games for the Eastern Conference's worst team.

Heading home might not help Wiz backers cash in since the road team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings between these clubs. Get your NBA betting odds with Bodog before the big game.