NBA Playoffs: New Orleans vs San Antonio Spurs Betting Predictions (05-08-0) | Sports Handicapping - Free Sports Picks - Free Picks

Thursday, 08 May 2008

NBA Playoffs Picks: New Orleans vs San Antonio Spurs Betting Predictions (05-08-0)

Monday night New Orleans did it again, blowing out the Spurs in a Game 2 NBA Playoffs win, 102-84. The Hornets now lead the series 2-0 heading back to San Antonio for games 3 and 4 of the NBA Playoffs. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That is what the Hornets have to keep in their minds going into NBA Playoffs Game 3. The oddsmakers at sportsbetting.com currently have the San Antonio -6.5 favorites to New Orleans heading into this NBA Playoff betting matchup.

New Orleans' Chris Paul has been dominating Spurs guard Tony Parker. He looked like Steve Nash in '04, dribbling around everyone like they were puppets. If the Spurs want to continue in this series, Tony Parker is the key, both offensively and defensively. If he can contain Paul and get into the lane and force Chandler to respect him, then the Spurs have a chance to open up their offense and get everyone involved. They need to move the ball around and have everyone touch it at least once on offense. If they keep trying to work exclusively through Duncan, I don't think this series makes it a Game 6.

New Orleans is playing great ball and making the Spurs look like the old veteran team. We'll have to wait and see what happens in Game 3, if the Spurs can pull this off and get back in the series. Remember the Dallas Mavericks two years ago when they were up 2-0 vs. Miami in the Finals? They were a fairly young team and on fire. Miami came back and won four straight to take the championship. So I'm not buying that the Spurs are done just yet. Let's wait until after Game 3 before we start "the Spurs' is done" routine. The Atlanta Hawks were down 2-0 to Boston and came back and made it a seven game series. So New Orleans fans, don't say the Spurs are done just yet, they are going back to Alamo country now.

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Playoff Matchup: When ANY NBA Team Played as Home team as a Favorite - Vs Southwest opponent - Coming off vs Western conference opponent - Coming off a Road loss as a Underdog - Coming off a 2 ATS lost SAN ANTONIO 24-6 SU in this spot. When SAN ANTONIO team played as a Home team - Total is between 180 to 185 - Scored 85 or less points FOR in their last game - Coming off a Road loss 17-1 SU in this spot.

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 10 May 2008 )

NBA Playoffs Picks: Cleveland vs Boston Betting Predictions (05-08-08)

Written by Glen McNeil

Thursday, 08 May 2008

NBA Playoffs Picks: Cleveland vs Boston Betting Predictions (05-08-0) The NBA Playoffs pick Boston Celtics took Game 1 of this NBA Playoff series Tuesday night with a 76-72 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston's Paul Pierce was 2-for-14 shooting and Ray Allen was 0-for-4 from the field for his first scoreless performance in his last 852 games since 1997. LeBron made Paul Pierce look like a 6 year old in the first quarter. In this series, LeBron might make Pierce look like he plays on a little league team. The oddsmakers at sportsbook.com currently have the Boston -8.5 favorites to Cleveland heading into this NBA Playoffs betting matchup.

It was a defensive game and a lot of people are saying Boston can't win against the West coast teams. Boston was 25-8 against the West; they beat the Spurs twice, Lakers twice, Mavericks twice and split the series with the New Orleans Hornets.

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce had terrible games and the Cavs still lost. You can also say LeBron had a bad game and still had a chance to win. Yeah, LeBron had a bad game and the Celtics made him take some tough shots, but fortunately for the Celts he missed a bunch of the easy open shots they gave him, so we should expect a different game from him. But when you factor in how badly Allen and Pierce played, that kind of cancels that out. Cleveland fans are the ones who should be worried. You will never get a night where Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combine for 4 points again. This was a game Cleveland should have stolen from Boston.

I saw one of the worst flagrant fouls called in Game 1 on Sam Cassell, he fouled LeBron James going to the basket and they called this a flagrant foul? Anyone who watched the game knows what I'm talking about. Look what the NBA has come down to, you can't foul a guy anymore, which was one of the worst flagrant foul calls I have seen. Then James lays down like he's about to die every time he gets touched. They call dumb fouls, but that was ridiculous. It was a nice bail out call for baby James, he was falling down before anyone touched him, but they do have to coddle the poster boy.

Kevin Garnett was clutch in NBA Playoff Game 1. He single-handedly won that game for them. It's good to see Garnett calling for the ball in the paint with the game on the line and taking the crucial shots. Garnett scored 28 points to make up for an off night for the rest of the Boston's Big Three.

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Playoff picks Matchup: When BOSTON team Played as Home team as a Favorite - Last 5 years - with 1 day off - Coming off a 2 game winning streak 8-2 SU in this spot. When CLEVELAND team played as a 6.5 to 9 Road Underdog - Last 2 years - Coming off vs. Eastern conference opponent 1-13 SU in this spot. When CLEVELAND team Played as Road team as an Underdog - Vs Atlantic opponent - with 1 day off 9-2 ATS in this spot.

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 May 2008 )

NBA Playoffs Betting: Pistons vs Magic Game 3 Preview and Picks (05-07-08)

Written by John Evano

Wednesday, 07 May 2008

Betting NBA Playoffs: Pistons vs Magic Game 3 Preview and Picks (05-07-08) Tonight the Detroit Pistons will travel to Orlando to face the Magic in game 3 of their NBA playoff series. Orlando lost the first 2 games of the series in Detroit and will have to play perfect basketball if they want to win tonight. They are down 2-0 to a team who has made five straight appearances in the Eastern Conference finals. A NBA Playoffs comeback will be a tough task and an uphill battle. Orlando will need a near perfect game tonight. Tonight Orlando will have to control the tempo of the game, not force shots, and not turn the ball over.

In Monday’s NBA Playoff game the Magic had 19 turnovers, while Detroit only had 10. When you turn the ball over it’s hard to give yourself a chance to win the game. The Magic will need to cut back on turnovers drastically. In game one they only hit 2, 3-pointers, but last game were hot, hitting seven in a row and making a total of 11. Dwight Howard will need to have a good game, like he did on Monday. He has a slight left thumb injury but it didn’t seem to bother him, as he scored 22 points and collected 18 rebounds. Currently Oddsmakers at BodogLife.com have the Magic as a -4.5 point favorite heading into tonight’s game.

Orlando has lost 9 straight NBA playoffs games to the Pistons. Last year Detroit swept the Magic in 4 games. Also in 2003 Detroit trailed the Magic 3-1, but came back to win the final 3 games and the series. Detroit has had Orlando’s number, look for this to continue tonight. Detroit is just a better team and they play better team basketball. The Pistons are finally coming into their NBA playoff form. Look for them to go deep into the NBA playoffs and possiblely win it all again this year.

View NBA Betting Odds at OnlineSportsHandicapping.com before you bet on the NBA Playoffs at BodogLife.com

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 May 2008 )

NBA Playoffs Picks: Detroit vs Orlando Betting Predictions (05-07-0)

Written by Glen McNeil

Wednesday, 07 May 2008

NBA Playoffs Picks: Detroit vs Orlando Betting Predictions (05-07-0)

Orlando down 2-0 dropping both games in Detroit, and now they play NBA Playoffs Game three at home. Orlando needs this NBA Playoff game tonight or they could be down 0-3 and the series could be over. Orlando has now lost nine playoff games in a row to Detroit. If they lose this game tonight it will tie them with three other teams for the second-longest postseason losing streak to one team in NBA history. The oddsmakers at sportsbook.com currently have the Orlando -3.5 favorites to Detroit heading into this NBA Playoff betting matchup.

The Magic showed much more fight and competitiveness in NBA Playoff Game 2 against the Pistons. If they are going to win tonight they have to make the easy lay-ups and keep turnovers to a minimum. Game two the score was tied at 29 after the first quarter, then Detroit outscored Orlando by 10 in the second period to earn a cushion at halftime. Orlando came back with a strong 3rd quarter outscoring Detroit 36-28. Late in the 4th quarter Orlando actually had the lead by a point but came up short 100-93 game two loss.

Tonight's NBA Playoff game will be a tough one but Detroit has proven in the past they are one of the best playoff road teams. The Orlando Magic home record is 25-16-0 (.610). Well, it also happens to be the Piston's record for road games. The Pistons have a habit of losing Game 3's in a series. Yes, this is a make or break NBA Playoff game for the Magic. If Detroit can contain Howard then they can win this series easily. If not, then Detroit will have to rely on making clutch shots at the right time to win this NBA Playoff matchup.

Game stats from NBA Playoff Game Two: Wallace and Prince combined for 34 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists. Detroit's final 13 points all came from the free throw line. Pistons had the better shooting percentage than the Magic from the floor and free throw line, made more field goals and free throws, and had the superior assist/turnover ratio.

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Playoff Matchup: When ORLANDO team Played as Home team as a Favorite - Vs Conference Opponent - with 1 day off - Coming off 2 game road stand 10-1 ATS in this spot. When ANY NBA Team played as a -3.5 to -6.0 Home Favorite - Total is between 185 to 190 - After a non division game - with 1 day off - Scored between 91 - 95 POINTS FOR in their last game - Coming off a Road loss as a Underdog ORLANDO 3-13 O/U in this spot.

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 May 2008 )

NBA Playoffs Picks: Utah vs LA Lakers Betting Predictions (05-07-0)

Written by Glen McNeil