basketball
Lakers vs Thunder Free Pick May 16, 2012
The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in game two of their western conference semifinal series. The Thunder won the first game of the series 116-90 in a blowout. The Lakers were weary from their seven game series against the Nuggets and did not have any energy from the opening tipoff.
The Thunder has the more talented team. In game one, they only turned the ball over four times and shot over 53% from the field. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, the two players that led the team in scoring all season combined for 52 of the Thunder’s 116 points. James Harden chipped in with 17 points.
The key to the game and the key to the series just may be the turnovers. The Thunder averaged over 16 turnovers each game in the regular season, the worst in the entire league. On Monday night, they only turned it over on four occasions. The Lakers averaged six steals per game during the season, the league’s worst in that category, and Monday they only had one.
Los Angeles must stop Westbrook. He made 10 of the 15 shots he took. He has changed from last season to this season and has improved his pull up jump shot. Westbrook, to go along with his 27 points, had a team high 9 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Bryant led the Lakers with 20 points but needs to get others involved in the offense. The team is better off if he scores between 20 and 30 and others chip in. Ramon Sessions only scored two points on the night. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol must step up in the remaining games of the series otherwise, the Thunder will sweep the Lakers in four.
The early line has the Thunder as a 7-point favorite. The total is sitting at 191 ½. Smart money bettors will put their money behind the Thunder to take game two less the points. The total will cash out to those taking the OVER.
Clippers vs Spurs Free Pick May 15, 2012
The San Antonio Spurs have been waiting for over a week to face their second round opponent. Tuesday May 15 they get their chance when they host the Los Angeles Clippers in the first game of their best of seven series. The two teams are completely different from one another and this will end up being a very competitive series.
The Spurs have three veterans who will run the show for them. Tim Duncan is in his 15th season, Tony Parker in his 11th and Manu Ginobili in his 10th. All three players have played their entire NBA careers with the Spurs. The Clippers have stars Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan who came to them through the draft, but the rest of the nucleus of the team came via trades or free agent signings.
The Spurs will have a huge advantage with experience and can count on any of their veterans down the stretch of a game. The Clippers have Chris Paul and Griffin they can go to in key situations.
The Spurs will play tradition basketball on offense working the ball around and looking for the inside shot after sharpshooter Parker opens the defense with this outside shots and drives to the hoop.
The Clippers will look to run and attack and get as many shots as they can at the basket. Both teams are full of talent and the series should go to at least six if not seven games. The Spurs come in red hot as they have won 18 of their last 20 games, but have had to sit and could be out of game shape for the first game.
The current line has the Spurs as an 11-point favorite, but should come down some as game time approaches. The total is sitting at 191 ½. Smart money takes the Clippers ATS and if you are a SU bettor, take the Spurs. The total will cash out to the OVER bettors.
Lakers vs Nuggets Free Pick May 4, 2012
The Los Angeles Lakers will travel to the Mile High City to take on the Denver Nuggets in game 3 of their best of seven western conference quarterfinal series. The Lakers withstood a late Denver rally in game two to win 104-100 on May 1 to take a 2-0 series lead. The Lakers have been led this series by Kobe Bryant, who scored a game high 38 in the win Tuesday night. Los Angles in that win shot 45% from the floor, but only 13% from three-point range. At one point in the game, the Lakers were up by 19 points, but could not put the Nuggets away until the last minute of the game.
The Lakers were helped by Pau Gasol’s 13 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. However, it was four points in the last minute by mid season acquisition Ramon Sessions that won the game for the Lakers. Los Angeles will continue with the same in game 3, Bryant, Bryant and more Bryant. The Lakers will also try to find a way to free up Andrew Bynum. The big man for Los Angeles was double-teamed the entire night and never got on track.
The Nuggets will look to Ty Lawson to have another good game offensively. He had 25 points, 17 in the second half and will look to do the same at home. Denver will also need production from Kenneth Faried who scored 14 in the second game with 10 rebounds. Corey Brewer and Danilo Gallinari will also be key for the Nuggets. Denver needs all its players to play well offensively if they hope to win game three or any other for that matter.
The line is currently sitting with the Nuggets as 2 ½-point favorites after opening at 4. The total is at 204. Smart money takes the Lakers plus the points in this matchup with the total ending OVER.
Clippers vs Grizzlies Free Pick May 2, 2012
Game Two of the Western Conference quarterfinals between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies will be played May 2 in Memphis. The Grizzlies will try to regroup after losing game one 99-98 after leading in the game at one point by 27 points. The Grizzlies had a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter and let the Clippers back in the game.
Thanks to good coaching by Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, the Clippers were able to come back to defeat the Grizzlies. He had All Star guard Chris Paul on the bench in the fourth quarter, but Paul insisted on playing again and Del Negro obliged. Paul ended up sinking two free throws with less than 24 seconds remaining on the clock to cap the Clippers comeback
The Grizzlies just ran out of gas. They allowed 35 points in the final quarter and could only scored 13. Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 19 points and O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley each had 17. Marc Gasol scored 14. In order to come back from such a disappointing loss, the Grizzlies will have to put the fourth quarter of their last game behind them and move on.
The Clippers will be looking once again to Paul, as well as their leading scoring and rebounder Blake Griffin. Los Angeles did get bad news after the game, as they were told guard Caron Butler broke his right hand and will be lost for between four and six weeks.
The current line has the Grizzlies favored at home by 3 ½ points after opening at 6 points. The total is resting at 185 for the game and 93 for the half. The Grizzlies will come back from their terrible first game collapse to take this game SU and ATS. The total in this game will end OVER, as both teams will look for a more up-tempo game.
Knicks vs Heat Free Pick April 30, 2012
The Eastern Conference quarterfinal series between the New York Knicks and Miami Heat continues on April 30 with the second game. The Heat leads the series 1-0 after routing the Knicks 100-67 Saturday afternoon. The Heat controlled the game from the start and their defense was able to shut down Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James dominated the game for the Heat as he scored 32 points, while Anthony suffered through 3 for 15 shooting. Dwayne Wade scored 19 for the Heat even though he played with a dislocated finger.
The Heat played very physical in the game and held the Knicks to a franchise playoff low 67 points. The Knicks also were taken out of their game as they had 21 fouls called against them in just the first half of play. They will have to play much tighter defense but not get into foul trouble. The Knicks also need to control their tempers as Tyson Chandler was called for a flagrant foul and got the Miami fans even more into the game than they already were.
The Knicks need the continued fine play of J.R. Smith but lost Iman Shumpert for the season with a torn ACL. Veteran guard Baron Davis needs to step it up a notch both offensively and defensively. Amare Stoudemire, the Knicks star forward told his team the series is not over as it was just the first game.
The Knicks will have to find an answer to the strong defense the Heat showed and will have to find a way to control James on the offensive end. Miami will look to put the Knicks in a big 2-0 hole by taking the second game at home.
The line opened with the Heat as 7 ½-point favorites but has increased to 8 points. The total is at 186 ½. The Heat is just too strong for the Knicks, who now will not have Shumpert, who has started the last 17 games for the team. Take the Heat less the points to cash out in this matchup, with the total ending UNDER.
Clippers vs Grizzlies Free Pick April 29, 2012
The NBA’s second season started April 28 with 16 teams and all with the same goal, winning the NBA title. One opening round series that looks to be a great matchup is the Los Angeles Clippers versus the Memphis Grizzlies. The Clippers were ahead of Memphis in the playoff race right up until the last game of the regular season. However, Memphis was able to slide past the Clippers into fourth place and take home court advantage away from Los Angeles.
The series gets under way on April 29 in Memphis. The Clippers were 40-26 on the season, but ended the season losing their last two games and were 6-4 SU over their last ten games. On the road, the Clippers were 16-17 on the year. Los Angeles will rely on two key figures in their lineup, Blake Griffin their leading scorer and leading rebounder and Chris Paul their leader in assists and second leading scorer. Paul may be slowed a bit by a sore groin and that could hurt the Clippers.
The Grizzlies finished the season 41-25. They come into the playoffs having won six straight games and were 8-2 SU over the last 10 games of the season. Memphis will rely on Rudy Gay for their scoring and Marc Gasol to clear the boards. Mike Conley runs the offense as their assist leader and leads the team in steals.
Head to head the teams are completely even 5-5 SU and ATS in the last 10. The games between the teams are usually defensive struggles and that is evidenced in the point total. In the last ten games between the two teams, the total has been UNDER 8 times and OVER 2 times.
The teams met three times this past season. The Clippers were 2-1 SU and ATS in those three matchups. The total ended UNDER in all three games between the two teams this season.
The current line has Memphis as 5 ½-point favorites with the line sitting at 184. Smart money takes the Clippers plus the points in a game that will end UNDER.
Nuggets vs Suns Free Pick April 21, 2012
The playoff race out West has two spots still open and the on April 21 two of the four teams fighting for those positions meet. The Denver Nuggets travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns at U.S. Airways Center. Denver has a record of 34-28 on the season and is in seventh place in the playoff race, one and a half games in front of eighth place Phoenix and ninth place Utah. Still not out of the picture is Houston who is currently in tenth position but only a game behind both Utah and Phoenix.
The Suns are 33-30 on the season and just a tiebreaker ahead of Utah who has the same record. Phoenix is 6-4 SU this season and at home is 19-12. Denver is 15-15 when playing on the road. Denver has two players out indefinitely with injuries while Phoenix has one, Grant Hill, who is day to day with a knee injury.
Head to head the Nuggets are 6-4 SU in the last ten games between the two teams. The total has been UNDER 7 times and OVER 3 times in those 10 games. This season the two teams have played twice and Denver is 2-0 SU and ATS. The last three games the two teams have played have paid out to UNDER bettors.
Denver is 3-2 SU over their last five games, including a 104-98 loss Wednesday night at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. They did however, defeat the Houston Rockets in back to back games Sunday and Monday. The Suns are 2-2 SU in their last four games, with wins against Portland and Houston.
The teams will both be playing at their best as the pressure is on and winning can make the difference between going on to the post season or going home at season’s end. Take the Nuggets on the road and the UNDER will pay out to smart money bettors.
Bucks vs Pacers, April 19, 2012
The Milwaukee Bucks are at this time on the outside looking in as they are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference race for the playoffs. The Bucks travel on April 19 to visit the Indiana Pacers in a key matchup for the Bucks. Milwaukee needs to win as many games as possible and hope the Philadelphia 76ers or New York Knicks lose their remaining games.
Milwaukee is 29-31 on the season and one and a half games behind Philadelphia for the eighth and final spot in the playoffs. The Bucks are 6-4 SU over their last 10 games and are a respectable 14-16 on the road.
Indiana is another story entirely. The Pacers are 9-1 SU in their last ten games having won six consecutive games. The Pacers are 21-8 at home and playing the best basketball as this time in the NBA. Indiana has nearly all but wrapped up the third spot in the playoffs and most likely will face either the Orlando Magic or Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Head to head the Bucks hold a 6-4 SU advantage over the Pacers in the last 10 games between the two teams. The total has been UNDER 6 times in those 10 games. The teams have met on two occasions this season with Indiana winning both SU and ATS. Milwaukee is 1-3 SU in their last four games with only a win over the lowly Detroit Pistons. Indiana, as previously mentioned is 6-0 SU over their last six games.
Milwaukee has much more incentive to win this game than Indiana does and Indiana may very well rest some of its top players. Take the Bucks plus the points in this, even though Indiana might win SU. The total will pay out to the smart money bettors who take the OVER.
Pacers vs 76ers April 17, 2012
The playoff picture in the Eastern Conference of the NBA is coming into clearer focus. Six of eight teams have qualified for the playoffs and just four teams have a chance to qualify for the two remaining spots. On April 17, the Indiana Pacers visit the Philadelphia 76ers in a key game with playoff implications for the 76ers. The Pacers have qualified for the playoff with their 38-22 record. The 76ers, on the other hand, are in seventh place in the conference by just a half game in front of the New York Knicks, and one and half in front of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 76ers have a record of 31-28 and have won only four of their last 10 games. Philly will be counting on Lou Williams and Elton Brand to carry the team to victory against the Pacers. The head to head matchup between the two teams has been close. Indiana is 6-4 SU and ATS over the last 10 games the two teams have played against one another. The point total has been UNDER in 7 of those same 10 games.
The two teams have played on two occasions this season. In early January the 76ers defeated the Pacers in Philly 96-86. In that game, the 76ers covered a 7-point favorite spread. In mid-March the Pacers routed the 76ers 111-96 to cover a one-point favorite spread. In the first game between the two teams, the total was UNDER, while the second game saw much more scoring and the total ended OVER.
With playoff implications on the line in this matchup, the 76ers will be giving 150% effort. The Pacers may rest a few players so they can recover from nagging injuries are to get ready for the playoff run. This game will be won SU by Philly, as they try to lock down one of the remaining two spots in the playoff race. An UNDER total will pay out to bettors.
New Jersey versus Philadelphia April 13, 2012
The Philadelphia 76ers are battling for first place in the Atlantic division and a good seed in the upcoming playoffs. On April 13, the 76ers will host the New Jersey Nets. The Nets have not played well this season and have an overall record of 21-38. The Nets are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games and on the road are just 12-18.
The 76ers have an overall record of 31-27 and have won their last two games nevertheless, they are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games. Currently the 76ers trail the Boston Celtics by three games in the Atlantic division and are in seventh place, one game in front of division rival New York in the playoff race.
The 76ers do not have any injuries on their roster, while the Nets are decimated with injuries. New Jersey has four players injured with just one day to day. This has been a problem for the Nets for the entire season.
When the two teams meet head to head, the 76ers have dominated the Nets. The 76ers are 9-1 SU and 6-4 ATS over the last 10 games between the two teams. This season the teams have met twice and the 76ers are 2-0 SU in those two games. The last time the two met on April 10, the 76ers routed the Nets 107-88 in New Jersey.
The Nets are 2-3 SU in their last five games with their two wins against Cleveland and Washington. The 76ers are also 2-3 SU over their last five games. This game will see the 76ers dominated and defeat the Nets easily as the 76ers try to move up in both the division and conference races. Smart money takes Philly less the points in this game with the total ending OVER.
