Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls 4/25

April 24th, 2010 admin

Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5

The Cavaliers and mighty Lebron faltered in game three, but can the Bulls win two in a row? If Chicago was able to pull of consecutive wins in this series, it would be absolutely amazing. Despite a decent showing in game two and a phenomenal performance in game three, the Bulls are still outclassed. The Cavs demonstrated just how many weapons they had when they pulled the game to within 2 points in game three. It seemed like Chicago had the game in the bag with a 20+ point lead, but Lebron and company proved otherwise. For a few minutes, it seemed to be a near certainty that the Cavs would take over the game an ultimately win. It took Cleveland a bit too long to stage a comeback, however, and they fell shorts. Give the Cavaliers credit, though, as no one thought they had a shot after falling into a massive hole after half time.


Lebron is the key to the Cavaliers success, everyone knows that, but it is becoming quite apparent that the Bulls are nothing without Derrick Rose. This might be pushing it a bit, as Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and others have really stepped up their efforts in the past two games. The problem is that they are going to need another perfect performance if they want to win game four. This is just too much to ask of anyone, especially a relatively inexperienced playoff squad like the one that Vinny Del Negro is working with. Is it possible that the Bulls get another win in game four? Yes. Is it likely? Absolutely not. Lebron wants to wrap this series up, he was probably frustrated with just one loss, and he surely doesn’t want to add another to his playoff resume.

The swings in the betting lines for this series have been incredible. The Bulls went from heavy 11+ point dogs in game one, to 10 point dogs in game two, and then ultimately were slight underdogs in game three. For game four, the spread has come a bit back to life, with the Cleveland Cavaliers sitting at -5.5. The Bulls moneyline is your best bet if you feel confident in Chicago’s ability to win another game at home. At +220, it is a great investment that is much better than the line available in game three. The Cavs, however, are still the best bet here. Cleveland should earn another win in game four so long as they avoid any scoring droughts like the ones that put them in a hole in game three.

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat 4/25

April 24th, 2010 admin

Miami Heat -1.5

The Celtics vs. Heat series looked to be the most unlikely series to finish in four games. Three games in, however, Boston has a 3-0 series lead. With a win on Sunday, Boston is going to be the first team to advance to round two of the playoffs. They played a lot of close games with the Heat, but managed to escape with wins in each one. Game three went down to a buzzer beater, and game one required a big comeback. Game two was not even close, with Boston completely destroying Miami. Miami does not want to walk away from this series without a win, even if they have little shot of coming back in this series. Game four is a battle for pride, and Miami has home court advantage to aid them in their mission.

Michael Beasley, for the most part, has underperformed in this series. The Heat needed him to step up if they wanted a legitimate shot at winning this series. Dwyane Wade, on the other hand, has been phenomenal. Wade doesn’t seem to have an off game. When he isn’t scoring, he is creating opportunities for his teammates. There isn’t much more that a coach or fan (or bettor) can ask from Dwyane Wade. If Miami’s role players show up on Sunday, they can make this series 3-1. Boston is either going to play hard and try to wrap up the series early, or they will be relaxed and let Miami steal a win. Miami has to want this game more than Boston, but the question is whether they can match Boston’s talent.

The money line is worth a look in this game if you can find it, but it is off at most sportsbooks. Betting on Miami is the optimal play in this game, especially when you consider that they are going to be out 4-0 if they lose. This would not only be a disappointment for Miami, but also an embarrassment. If they want to salvage anything from this series and give themselves a small bit of hope), Miami needs to get a win in game four. They have home court advantage, they have Dwyane Wade, now they just need to put it together for a full four quarters.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City OKC Thunder 4/24

April 24th, 2010 admin

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Under 194)

Game three was a bit of a shocker, thought it wasn’t a major surprise. It wouldn’t be very fair to say that the Thunder were a big underdog in game three. They made game two very interesting, and this series could easily be 2-1 in favor of the Thunder. This is why game four is so tough to bet. It is perhaps the trickiest game of the playoffs, and it is tough to pick a winner. Oklahoma City clearly received a big boost when they were able to move back home, perhaps even more than anyone could have expected. It was very loud in OKC and the Lakers stumbled towards the end. Veteran leadership could be enough for the Lakers to regain control in game four, but Kevin Durant would love nothing more than to tie this game up at 2-2.

There are some interesting aspects to this Lakers vs. Thunder match up. One on hand, there is Kevin Durant, a young player looking to make his mark in the NBA playoffs. On the other hand, there is Kobe Bryant, a constant force in the NBA who has won it all many times before. Which one do you want to put your faith in? Perhaps the difference between these two teams is not their superstars, but the supporting cast that keeps them going. Kobe and the Lakers have the edge in this regard, with veterans to fill any role. The Thunder (and their fans) were extremely happy with one win in this series, and that is an accomplishment in itself, but it might be all they get.

As mentioned previously, betting on a winner in this game is quite a task. The Lakers are the best pick if you are looking to bet on the spread (or moneyline where available), but 1.5 points were trimmed off of game three’s line. At +3.5, the Lakers would be a great pick in game four, but at +2, it is just too close. Los Angeles could blow out the Thunder, but there it is almost as likely that Oklahoma City keeps it interesting. The Lakers got off to a hot start in game three only to squander their lead, so we know the Thunder can win. The under is the best bet in this game so long as both teams don’t catch on fire for the entirety of the contest.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks 4/24

April 24th, 2010 admin

Atlanta Hawks +1

While this is the best chance for the Bucks to land a win in this series, the Hawks are still the dominant team. A game is always worth a look when the line drops close to 10 total points. The only difference between game one and game three is the court. Milwaukee’s arena is going to be packed, there is no doubt about it, but the fans can’t bring back Andrew Bogut or Michael Redd. This is the biggest problem for the Bucks, the absence of their superstars. While Redd has been out for quite awhile, Bogut was lost somewhat recently. His teammates still need to adjust to life without the big man.

The Hawks were a big favorite in game one, and they were still pretty big favorites in game two. By game three on Saturday, however, they have been reduced to 1 point dogs. This is the time for the Hawks to all but lock up this series. If they can win game three, it gives them a 3-0 lead an makes it all but impossible for the Bucks to stage a comeback. The Hawks know this, and they are going to be playing as hard as they can. The Bucks are at home and are going to have the adrenaline running, but it might not be enough for a win.

The moneyline is not even an option in this game as it is off. The over/under can be confusing in this game with the shift to Milwaukee. Game four is a better game to pick when betting the over/under. The Hawks are certainly the best team in this match up. The question is really whether home court advantage is going to play a major role. It has been a big factor in the other series as they changed courts, and it is likely that it will make an impact in this game as well. Take the Hawks and rest assured knowing that Atlanta is the best team in this battle. Even if they manage to lose, a one point loss is a push, and a loss is likely to be close.

Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers 4/24

April 24th, 2010 admin

Phoenix Suns -1.5

The Suns put a beating on the Trail Blazers in game three. We told bettors to take the Suns in game three when they were even money. In fact, we said it was one of the easiest bets in the entire playoffs. Game four is no different. The Trail Blazers may have won a game in this series, but don’t let that confuse you. The Suns are a much better team than the Blazers. Portland just can’t run with Phoenix, even if it might seem like it on the outset. If you watch these games, it is blatantly obvious that Phoenix is the better team. Whether it be the veteran leadership or the actual talent, Phoenix has Portland crushed in every dynamic imaginable.

It really is fascinating that the Trail Blazers are only being given 1.5 points in this game. If Portland didn’t win a game this series, it is a near certainty that this spread would be closer to 4 or 5, at the very least. Yes, the Trail Blazers are at home, but they demonstrated in game three that home court advantage wasn’t much of a boost. There are certain teams where home court advantage is huge, Boston for example, and then there are teams like Portland where it is largely irrelevant. Far too much credit is given to the Blazers in this game, that much is certain. The Trail Blazers could win this game, it is not an impossibility, but it is far from likely.

There are a few areas to consider in this game. The moneyline is off in most sportsbooks, so that bet is out of the question. If you can manage to snap it up at a better price than the 1.5 point spread, take it in a heartbeat. The over/under is very touchy in this game, primarily because of the volatility of the Trail Blazers. Take the Suns at -1.5 and look for a relatively easy win.

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