Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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05-23-11 | Dallas Mavericks v. Oklahoma City Thunder -3.5 | Top | 112-105 | Loss | -107 | 12 h 6 m | Show |
Dallas at Oklahoma City
Must win game for the Thunder after falling down 2-1 with 2 of 3 remaining games being played in Dallas. Oklahoma City couldn't hit the side of a barn last time out including shooting 1 of 17 from behind the arc. What we do like about the Thunder in this series is their ability to get to the foul line. They have consistently shot more free throws in every match-up this season. We still think Dallas wins this series but they have a bit of a comfort level heading into game four. These teams are very close talent wise and yet the Thunder are being underpriced in our opinion here. Oklahoma City knows a home loss here would virtually end their season and this team is just too talented to go down that way. PLAY OKLAHOMA CITY |
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05-09-11 | Oklahoma City Thunder v. Memphis Grizzlies -2.5 | Top | 133-123 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 17 m | Show |
Oklahoma City at Memphis
The Grizzlies are now 5-2 straight up against the Thunder this season so their play in this series has not been a fluke. Memphis is undefeated at home winning by margins of 5, 6 and 8 points against the Thunder this season. It's clear that Memphis has faced the two teams in San Antonio and Oklahoma City that they match up well against, and we consider the line in tonight's game to be rather cheap. Memphis is 35-16 ATS on the year when facing a team with a winning record. They have really come into their own in the second half of the year and are playing with great confidence. The only game in this series that Oklahoma State won the Thunder was on fire from the field hitting 52.8% overall and a whopping 57.1% from long range. We can't expect that to happen on the opposition's home court. Memphis held a lot of pointspread value against the Spurs throughout that series and they once again are undervalued here. Look for Memphis to take a commanding series lead tonight as they put the doubters to rest. PLAY MEMPHIS |
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05-06-11 | Los Angeles Lakers +2.5 v. Dallas Mavericks | Top | 92-98 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 56 m | Show |
LA Lakers at Dallas
Champions come to play when their backs are against the wall, and we feel the Lakers will win this game outright. Sure Los Angeles hasn't looked good the first two games of this series, but the Lakers have looked bad for extended stretches this year. Just when everyone is about to write them off they go on a long run and shut everyone up. Los Angeles has been a better road team than home team all season. We expect the Lakers to step up big time tonight as they were favored in Dallas in both regular season meetings. Now they are installed as an underdog and you know Phil Jackson will play that for all it's worth. We've been big believers in the Mavericks all season. Making more money on Dallas than any other team. That said, you can't help but think the Mavericks are feeling pretty good about the situation. They were hoping to get a split in LA and they won both games in impressive fashion. The Lakers have brought another dynasty to Los Angeles and this team will not go down in this fashion. Dallas may still win the series but Kobe and company will not be defeated in an embarrassing manner. PLAY LOS ANGELES |
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04-29-11 | San Antonio Spurs v. Memphis Grizzlies -3 | Top | 91-99 | Win | 100 | 13 h 14 m | Show |
San Antonio at Memphis
It's becoming crystal clear that this isn't the same Spurs team as earlier in the season. San Antonio surprised the league with more of an open court style early in the year, and they looked like the team to beat until roughly one month ago. But when the NBA playoff futures were released it was clear from a linesmaker's perspective the Spurs would be an afterthought in the postseason. That's been the case thus far as San Antonio needed to go to overtime last game in order to extend their series with Memphis. But after tonight Tony Parker and company will have a long needed vacation. Memphis has covered every game of this series except last time out in a seven point overtime loss while catching 6 1/2 points. It's clear that the betting public has been slow to recognize the clear personnel advantages by the Grizzlies in this series. Memphis has outshot the Spurs from the field in 6 of the last 7 meetings and despite having the bigger named players San Antonio hasn't had preferential treatment from the refs, as neither team is dominating from the foul line. Memphis has had a rebounding edge of 4-2-1 in the last seven games and it's clear that their youth has made a big difference. The Grizzlies are the hungrier squad and they have posted a better overall record that the Spurs the last part of the season. Memphis' rise continues tonight as they eliminate an aging Spurs squad. PLAY MEMPHIS |
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04-24-11 | Boston Celtics -3.5 v. New York Knicks | Top | 101-89 | Win | 100 | 6 h 59 m | Show |
Boston at New York
The Celtics have now won the last seven meetings between these squads as they look to sweep the series today in New York. With Miami also up 3-0 in their series it's imperative that Boston closes out New York here. Teams playing at home and down 3-0 in the first round are very bad pointspread squads. Boston is a veteran team which has had to deal with major injuries all season. They need the rest a four game sweep would provide. New York hasn't shown much heart all season and now Billups is doubtful and Stoudemire is less than 100%. Boston has had little problem winning in this building the past three visits. Offensively Boston matches up extremely well with the Knicks and New York simply doesn't have the defensive presence to slow them down. Look for Boston to bring out the broom today. PLAY BOSTON |
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04-21-11 | Chicago Bulls v. Indiana Pacers +5 | Top | 88-84 | Win | 100 | 9 h 37 m | Show |
Chicago at Indiana
The Pacers have matched up very well with the Bulls in the first two games of this series cashing both meetings. Indiana has outshot Chicago the last three meetings holding the Bulls to less than 44% shooting each game. The Pacers have won 2 of the last 3 games played in Indianapolis and Chicago hasn't looked nearly as dominating in this series as most suggested. Chicago had a free throw advantage of 22 after the first two games played at home but that won't be the case tonight in a different venue. Indiana has proven that they can compete with Chicago and tonight they get their own home cooking. PLAY INDIANA |
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04-17-11 | New York Knicks v. Boston Celtics -6 | Top | 85-87 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 47 m | Show |
New York at Boston - The Celtics swept the season series but the Knicks played well down the stretch. Boston is by far the better defensive team but the big three may be on their last legs. That said we expect Boston to come out strong in the opening game as they have something to prove to the rest of the league. They have clearly the more playoff experienced roster as the most postseason players from New York came over in the Denver deal.
Boston lacks a lot of depth right now but with the added time outs in the playoffs the Celtic starters can play extended minutes. This was also a team that struggled without rest all season and that won't be the case in the postseason. PLAY BOSTON |
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04-11-11 | Oklahoma City Thunder v. Sacramento Kings +5.5 | Top | 120-112 | Loss | -103 | 8 h 19 m | Show |
Oklahoma City at Sacramento
We've been waiting for this situation for quite some time as it's clear that the City of Sacramento are about to lose the Kings. Therefore we expect a great atmosphere these last two home games as the city sends off their only major league team with huge support. The players continue to give their all as witnessed by the straight up road win at Golden State last night. Oklahoma City is also playing the second game of a back to back situation after visiting the Lakers in LA last night. The Thunder outscored the Lakers by 16 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. They finish off the regular season at home on Wednesday. Off an emotional win over the defending champions we can't expect a superior effort here from the visitor. Look for Sacramento to take this one to the wire. PLAY SACRAMENTO |
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04-08-11 | Washington Wizards +12.5 v. Boston Celtics | Top | 88-104 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 19 m | Show |
Washington at Boston
With the Celtics loss last night to the Bulls it's become more important to rest their best players down the stretch. At just 4-13 ATS on the second game of a back to back situation, and with possible playoff foe Miami on deck, we look for Boston to go through the motions here. Washington shocked the Celtics 85-83 the last time these two met and the Wizards have cashed 5 of their last 7 games over the last two weeks. Like Cleveland and Sacramento the Wizards are not going into the offseason without a fight. With a high line Washington can easily stay within this number. PLAY WASHINGTON |
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04-01-11 | Miami Heat v. Minnesota Timberwolves +11 | Top | 111-92 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 59 m | Show |
Miami at Minnesota
Nice spot to go against the Heat who are in the midst of as easy a schedule as you could ask for in the NBA. After facing Cleveland and Washington on the road Miami plays at Minnesota and New Jersey. The Heat are coming off a 16 point win over the Wizards and they beat Minnesota by 32 points in their only meeting this season. There is no type of motivation for Miami tonight yet they are expected to win by double digits. Minnesota on the other hand have dropped eight straight games and they won't be intimidated by the Heat here. Minnesota is off games against Dallas, Oklahoma City, Boston and Chicago. It's telling that Chicago, the hottest team in the league, only laid 9 1/2 points here and Miami is expected to win by more. The Heat are playing short handed right now and are looking to just stay healthy before the playoffs arrive. We can't see them being motivated to run up the score here. PLAY MINNESOTA |
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03-26-11 | New Jersey Nets +10 v. Atlanta Hawks | Top | 87-98 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 27 m | Show |
New Jersey at Atlanta
The Nets are obviously not a very good team but they continue to play hard for the coaching staff. Last night they went on the road to Orlando and brought home the cash in a 10 point defeat to the Magic. An Orlando team that is much better than the Hawk team they will face tonight. Atlanta has regressed the second half of the season dropping 12 of their last 18 games. They are playing uninspired ball since they are locked into their playoff seed with no way to move up for home court advantage. This is not the type of team you want to lay double digits with. New Jersey has beaten Atlanta 2 of the first 3 meetings this year as this is a team they have a great amount of confidence against. While this is the second of a back to back situation for New Jersey the Hawks must play again tomorrow, so they are likely to rest the starters if they have a lead. More reason to back the double digit underdog Nets. PLAY NEW JERSEY |
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03-23-11 | Atlanta Hawks +7 v. Philadelphia 76ers | Top | 100-105 | Win | 100 | 8 h 22 m | Show |
Atlanta at Philadelphia
The Hawks should be in a foul mood tonight after being pummeled last night hosting the Bulls 114-81. Chicago is playing terrific ball right now and Atlanta ran into a buzz saw. The Hawks have had a very favorable schedule as of late playing 10 of their last 11 games at home. So just because this is the second game of a back to back situation doesn't mean the Atlanta players are fatigued. The Hawks also have embarrassing revenge with the Sixers after losing by 34 points at home in their last meeting. Philadelphia completely dominated a lethargic Atlanta team that was outrebounded by 20 on their home court. This game should have special meeting for the visitor. Philadelphia is playing their first game back home off a West Coast road trip. The Sixers have lost 3 of 5 as of late despite playing the likes of the Kings, Clippers, Bucks and Jazz. Because of their earlier improved play Philadelphia is now being overpriced in the betting marketplace. Atlanta has won 2 of the 3 meetings this year with the lone loss coming in embarrassing fashion. Off a non-competitive game last night we expect the best out of the Hawks tonight. PLAY ATLANTA |
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03-18-11 | Denver Nuggets +6 v. Orlando Magic | Top | 82-85 | Win | 100 | 8 h 41 m | Show |
Denver at Orlando
Like Dallas earlier in the season the betting public has been slow to realize just how good this new fangled Nuggets team really is. Denver has won 10 of their last 12 games with the losses coming by 1 point at Portland at 6 points at the Clippers. The Nuggets have Miami on deck tomorrow so the Magic will get their full attention in what likely is a more winnable game. Denver has an 11-1 spread record during this streak and have proven themselves to be a better team without Carmelo Anthony. Orlando is playing their first game back at home after a five game western road trip where they went 3-2. This is a team that is fading fast having won just 3 of their last 7 games overall. When stepping up in class the Magic lost to the Lakers on the road and Portland and Chicago at home. After this game Orlando heads out of town again the next two games. This is a team that made a big move earlier in the season but the sustained improvement hasn't come. Their best player is very likely to play elsewhere next season and the window is closing quickly for an NBA Championship. The Magic continue to be priced as an elite team in the east but that fact is no longer the case. We are getting the better team plus the points here, an automatic play. PLAY DENVER |
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03-16-11 | Cleveland Cavaliers +8.5 v. Sacramento Kings | Top | 97-93 | Win | 100 | 11 h 46 m | Show |
Cleveland at Sacramento
The Cavaliers are a well rested team having last played on Sunday. In fact, they have played just once in the last six days. Cleveland has gone on the road just twice in the last 13 games. Not only are they extremely well rested but are off back to back embarrassing 20 point defeats. Because Cleveland has fallen so far so fast they may have the smallest home court advantage in the league. After leading the NBA in wins the past two seasons the Cleveland faithful had grown entitled and they haven't been very vocal this season. Which is why the Cavaliers are much better plays on the road where they catch extra points. The Cavs have been hit hard by injuries this year and have had to go through an adjustment period each time. Now with a very favorable schedule and plenty of practice time this team will know their roles much better after the injury to Jamison. Cleveland has played just four road games over the past six weeks covering three times, they are catching too many points from a weak Sacramento squad. The Kings are playing their fourth game in six days. Like Cleveland the local fans have become disenchanted. Not only because of their poor play but because it's almost certain the team owners will look to move the club in the offseason. Sacramento has dropped 7 of 9 straight up at home and they have won only once in the last 19 games overall by more than this spread. That victory came in their last outing against Golden State in a 129-119 victory. The Kings play very shoddy defense allowing 106 points or more in seven straight games. They are just 3-7 ATS on the season in the role of a favorite. Sacramento is just 6-18 straight up this year playing a team with a losing record. They simply do not deserve to be a favorite of this size. Bad teams are very thankful for a victory and are satisfied with the outright win. To expect the Kings to win here by a margin would be a big mistake. PLAY CLEVELAND |
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03-12-11 | Sacramento Kings +10 v. New Orleans Hornets | Top | 103-115 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 23 m | Show |
Sacramento at New Orleans
The Kings have been a tough opponent for the Hornets this season with all three meetings being decided by 6 points or less. Sacramento beat New Orleans 102-96 in the last meeting. The Kings have dropped five straight games but gave San Antonio all they could handle last night. This is a team still playing hard despite having a shortage of healthy talent. This is a definite flat spot for the Hornets who just played Chicago and Dallas and have Denver, Phoenix and Boston on deck. They are off a satisfying 93-92 victory over the Mavericks but have dropped 4 of their last 6 games here in straight up fashion. Chris Paul is likely to return to action tonight for the host who will likely be a bit overconfident against this scrappy underdog. If you've followed the Hornets all season you are well aware of their tendency to get up for big games but somehow fall asleep against teams they should coast by. We expect that to be the case once again on Saturday. PLAY SACRAMENTO |
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03-04-11 | Chicago Bulls +2 v. Orlando Magic | Top | 89-81 | Win | 100 | 11 h 31 m | Show |
Chicago at Orlando
The Bulls are now 14-9 straight up and 15-7 ATS when playing a team with a winning record. While they are playing their fourth straight of a five game road trip none of the games are in a back to back situation. The Bulls have held 7 of the last 9 opponents to under 100 points and for a rare occasion have a full arsenal of healthy bodies available. Orlando has been an up and down team all season. In fact, we saw last night exactly what the Magic faithful have seen all season. Orlando trailed Miami by 24 points in the third quarter only to come all the way back for the victory. That took a lot out of this team especially considering they were taking on the Heat in a nationally televised contest. Unlike the Bulls, Orlando hasn't stepped up very often against the better teams in the league. They are just 11-14 straight up and 9-15 ATS against winning squads. Chicago is the better team here and they are rested. Look for a Bulls outright victory. PLAY CHICAGO |
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03-01-11 | Dallas Mavericks -1.5 v. Philadelphia 76ers | Top | 101-93 | Win | 100 | 9 h 34 m | Show |
Dallas at Philadelphia
It's amazing to us that the Mavericks continue to be overlooked when talking about title contenders this season. We hear all about the Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Lakers and Spurs with never a mention of Dallas. Hell, the Knicks have gotten more publicity than the Mavericks. But Dallas enters play tonight at 43-16 on the season including 41-9 with Dirk Nowitski in the starting lineup. This is a team that has won 16 of their last 17 games with the only loss coming by a single point in the second game of a back to back in Denver. Philadelphia is making a playoff run in the East but they will really be stepping up in class on Tuesday. The Sixers just played the likes of Cleveland, Detroit and Washington, possibly the three worst teams in the league right now. They get Minnesota and Golden State the next two games. Dallas is 19-8 ATS on the season against teams with winning records, including a perfect 6-0 ATS in the second half of the season. The Mavericks lost to the Sixers last year in this building, they won't take them for granted here. PLAY DALLAS |
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02-27-11 | Philadelphia 76ers v. Cleveland Cavaliers +7.5 | Top | 95-91 | Win | 100 | 6 h 13 m | Show |
Philadelphia at Cleveland
The Sixers have just beaten up on two weak teams at home in Washington and Detroit and are expecting much of the same today in Cleveland. But we expect the road to me a much tougher place for Philadelphia on Sunday. Cleveland has won 3 of their last 5 games in straight up fashion including wins over soon to be playoff teams the Lakers and Knicks. The Cavs still have problems defending but this is now a team that has shown an ability to put points on the board. Cleveland has surpassed the century mark each of the last five games including 115 and 119 the last two times out. Recently traded Mo Williams was a boost for this offense but his defensive problems hurt this team more than helping. Now as coach Scott brings in more of his type of players the 11-47 Cavs are going to have plenty of value. Philadelphia has won three straight games in impressive fashion with a home showdown with Dallas on the horizon. The last time they faced Cleveland they won by 20 points shooting 51.9% from the field. We see an overconfident Sixers team just happy to get out of "The Q" with a victory. Too many points for a Cleveland team that is just starting to believe. PLAY CLEVELAND |
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02-25-11 | New Orleans Hornets v. Minnesota Timberwolves +5.5 | Top | 95-81 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 19 m | Show |
New Orleans at Minnesota
The Hornets have dropped 6 of their last 7 road games in straight up fashion. They have lost both meetings with Minnesota this year by margins of 12 and 15 points. New Orleans is in the midst of a schedule that sees them playing in a different city for 15 straight games. Yet they are not only expected to win here but do so by a margin. Minnesota has dropped six straight games as the offense has had a real tough time as of late. But now they face an equally poor scoring unit as the Hornets have gone five straight games under the century mark and 9 of the last 10. New Orleans will likely be without David West tonight while Emeka Okafor tries to return to the lineup after missing the past ten games. That leaves a disjointed team who hasn't played together with this lineup in a very long time. Tough to look sharp on the road without one of your premier scorers. In a low scoring affair we look for Minnesota to stay within this number. PLAY MINNESOTA |
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02-16-11 | Sacramento Kings v. Dallas Mavericks -11 | Top | 100-116 | Win | 100 | 9 h 28 m | Show |
Sacramento at Dallas
The Kings are off an embarrassing 30 point loss at Oklahoma City last night but we don't expect a rebound of sorts for Sacramento tonight. They are playing their 4th game in 5 nights with the All-Star break on deck. Sacramento has dropped 6 of their last 7 games and teams without playoff aspirations have a tendency to mail it in right before the break. With a 13-39 record on the season this isn't a team we would expect to go out with a bang at this point. Unlike the Kings the Mavs have plenty to play for. They are a veteran team that has a great chance for a high seed in the playoffs. With the Lakers obviously taking a step back the Western Conference is wide open this season. Dallas has had the last three days off before facing the Kings and Suns before the break. The Mavericks struggled with Sacramento in the first two meetings this year with a pair of two point road wins. That means Dallas won't take Sacramento lightly tonight. PLAY DALLAS |
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02-15-11 | Charlotte Bobcats +9.5 v. Chicago Bulls | Top | 94-106 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 40 m | Show |
Charlotte at Chicago
Many will expect Charlotte to suffer a letdown here after knocking off the Lakers last night at home. But this isn't the Lakers team of old as it's obvious to anyone who has watched this team play that they are not the favorite to raise the trophy again this season. So a victory over Los Angeles doesn't have the same significance as it had in the past. The Bobcats are playing great ball having covered 4 of the last 5 games including outright wins over the Lakers, Hawks and Celtics, all teams that will have high seeds come playoff time. They have matched up very well with Chicago this year winning both meetings outright as 7 1/2 and 3 point underdogs. Chicago is home for their first game from an extended road trip which is always a bad pointspread proposition. They also have a statement game with San Antonio up next on Thursday night. Charlotte was just 6 for 34 from the 3 point line in the two wins earlier this season against the Bulls. If they can win those game with that type of shooting from long range it's obvious that the spread here is simply too high for the Bulls to cover consistently. We'll gladly takes the points with the confident visitor. PLAY CHARLOTTE |
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02-10-11 | Dallas Mavericks +3 v. Denver Nuggets | Top | 120-121 | Win | 100 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
Dallas at Denver
It's clear that the Mavericks are the better squad here so we're kind of surprised by the current line. Sure the number is shaded towards Dallas but it's not nearly enough of an adjustment when you take into account how these two teams are playing. Dallas is seven games better in the standings even though they played quite some time without their best player, although Carmelo was absent for a while for the Nuggets. So even if you call that a wash Dallas has proven themselves to be the better team when both squads are healthy. Dallas has won 10 straight games entering tonight including victories over Atlanta, New York and Boston. The latter two teams on the road. Denver on the other hand has dropped 5 of 7 including losses to New Jersey, Golden State and a struggling Utah squad. Both teams are off road games last night so the normal home court advantage for the Nuggets is lessoned. Dallas has won 3 of the last 5 meetings including 2 of 3 straight up in Denver. Dallas is 16-8 SU when playing a team with a winning record while Denver is just 9-13 SU when doing the same. We expect money to come in on the Mavericks by game time as it's clearly the right side here. PLAY DALLAS |
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02-09-11 | Chicago Bulls +1 v. Utah Jazz | Top | 91-86 | Win | 100 | 10 h 17 m | Show |
Chicago at Utah
The Bulls have dropped two straight games at Golden State and Portland with Utah and New Orleans remaining on this road trip. They haven't had great success against the Jazz as of late but this Utah team pales in comparison to previous versions. The Bulls had gone 13 straight games holding the opposition under the century mark until the two recent defeats. With a day off we expect Chicago to put the clamps down on this inconsistent Jazz scoring unit. Utah is on a current 4-9 streak with the only quality win coming against Denver. Sacramento, Charlotte and Minnesota were the only other victories. The Jazz have traditionally been strong at home but they have dropped 3 of the last 5 games played here in straight up fashion. Chicago has been at their best when facing high scoring teams and we expect that defense to be the key tonight. Look for Chicago to come out of Utah with an outright victory. PLAY CHICAGO |
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02-04-11 | Dallas Mavericks +6.5 v. Boston Celtics | Top | 101-97 | Win | 100 | 9 h 11 m | Show |
Dallas at Boston
The Mavericks are one of those NBA teams that is just as strong on foreign courts as their own. Now 14-7 67% straight up on the road and that includes the games Big Dirk missed because of injury. Dallas is 17-4 straight up against the East and they have enough talent to take the Celtics to the wire tonight. After all they have beaten the Celtics 8 of the last 13 meetings and they enter play tonight on a solid five games winning streak after pounding the Knicks in New York 113-97. They do play tomorrow night at Charlotte but this could very well be a statement game for the Mavericks. This is the first game back for Boston after a West Coast trip which saw them capture 3 of 4 against the likes of the Blazers, Kings, Lakers and Suns. After upsetting Los Angeles the Celts survived a letdown spot at Sacramento. But now back home the spot isn't as favorable with a quality opponent in wait. Revenge is on the minds of the host as they dropped a two point decision at Dallas in the first week of the season. But we have learned since then that the Mavericks are a force in the league as defensively they are far superior to previous editions. Talent wise there is not that big of gap between these two squads. We take the points with Dallas tonight. PLAY DALLAS |
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02-02-11 | Houston Rockets v. Utah Jazz -2 | Top | 97-96 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 28 m | Show |
Houston at Utah
The Rockets are off a tough overtime loss to the Lakers last night and now must travel to the altitude of Utah to take on a very hungry Jazz squad. The Rockets have been in a brutal stretch of games playing the rejuvenated Clippers, Mavericks, Spurs and Lakers in the last week. That's enough to take the air out of any team, especially considering the extra five minutes of action last night. Utah has been in a funk the last couple weeks but they have shown signs of a turnaround. The Jazz have won 2 of the last 3 games and they are looking much tougher on the defensive end of the court. Utah has dominated the Rockets in this building winning 32 of the last 39 meetings in straight up fashion. With the line being so low tonight a straight up win very likely rewards the ATS backers. Okur, Kirilenko and Williams are doubtful tonight but there is a chance they can make a return to action. Even with the major injuries the Jazz have felt this month they are still 5-2 straight up at home. Keep in mind Utah won outright at Houston just three weeks ago, so they match up pretty well with the Rockets. PLAY UTAH |
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01-31-11 | Cleveland Cavaliers v. Miami Heat -17.5 | Top | 90-117 | Win | 100 | 9 h 39 m | Show |
Cleveland at Miami
Motivation is probably the biggest handicapping factor in NBA basketball, that and analyzing the traveling situation. We all remember the first meeting of the season when LeBron returned to Cleveland only to see the Heat whip the Cavs in front of a national audience 118-90. At that time Cleveland looked to be a borderline playoff team while the Heat as expected got off to a slow start to the season. By the time these two met again it was clear that that first game was a turning point for both squads. Miami beat Cleveland in that game 101-95 as the Cavaliers had huge motivation. Now six weeks later it's clear that Miami is a force while Cleveland clearly has the worst team in the league. Where as the Cavs had something to prove in the previous two meetings they know this game will not be a competitive contest. LeBron himself has said he wants to take it to his old team every chance he gets because of his hatred towards the Cleveland owner. After winning by just six points the last time these two teams got together we can see James and company showing no mercy here. Cleveland just lost to Boston by 17 and Orlando by 16 when it was clear neither of those teams had any interest in running up the score, that won't be the case tonight. Cleveland has a somewhat winnable game hosting Indiana on deck while Miami doesn't play again until Thursday at Orlando. This one will get ugly in a hurry. PLAY MIAMI |
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01-24-11 | Cleveland Cavaliers v. New Jersey Nets -8.5 | Top | 101-103 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 57 m | Show |
Cleveland at New Jersey
Cleveland is in the midst of playing ten road games in a 13 game stretch. Other than one set of back to back home games Cleveland has been a traveling circus. The Cavaliers are a terrible team that is even worse on the road. Injuries to key players have made this lineup variable each and every night. Because of that players do not have defined roles which makes backing Cleveland a rarity. Keep in mind that the majority of these players have won consistently before this year, in fact, the Cavaliers posted the best record in the NBA the last two seasons. With a thorough house cleaning sure to follow this season what type of motivation do these players have. New Jersey has lost five straight games to Cleveland including two games very early in November. This is a motivated team that has something to prove. It's also a team that now knows their roles and what is expected of them since the owner nixed the Carmelo Anthony trade. It's telling that since the announcement New Jersey has played much more inspired ball. The Nets beat Utah and Detroit each by double digits and took Dallas to the wire in a one point defeat. As opposed to the Cleveland travel situation New Jersey has been home since the 18th. It's rare that we will lay this type of number with a team like New Jersey, but this is a team on the way up while Cleveland is the worst team in the league with nothing to play for. PLAY NEW JERSEY |
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01-22-11 | Boston Celtics v. Washington Wizards +7 | Top | 83-85 | Win | 100 | 7 h 13 m | Show |
Boston at Washington
The Celtics are traveling today to face the Wizards off an easy 110-86 win over Utah in Boston. We want no part of Boston here off a comfortable win and now installed as a road favorite. The Celtics are just 3-11 of a double digit victory to go along with a 3-7 spread mark playing without rest. Considering that Boston pounded the Wizards by 31 points in their only meeting this year, we simply can't see the Celtics being motivated here. Washington also played last night losing in embarrassing fashion on this court to the Suns 109-91. They had won their previous four home games in straight up fashion. With a very rough schedule on deck the Wizards could be in for a long losing streak with a loss tonight. We expect an all out effort from the more motivated host. Winning and covering on the road is not the easiest thing to do when unrested, especially with a veteran cast like the Celtics. PLAY WASHINGTON |
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01-21-11 | Sacramento Kings v. Golden State Warriors -6.5 | Top | 112-119 | Win | 100 | 11 h 17 m | Show |
Sacramento at Golden State
The Kings are in a horrendous scheduling stretch where they are playing 7 of their last 8 games on the road. The Kings are just 3-15 straight up on the road this year and they have really struggled to match Golden State on the scoreboard as of late. The last three meetings have seen Sacramento shooting 39.0%, 42.2% and 38.0% against the Warriors. In the only meeting this season the Kings lost at home to Golden State by 8 points. While the Kings have been on an extended tour as of late the Warriors are enjoying a taste of home cooking. They are in the midst of 11 of 12 games played in the friendly confines of Oakland. Although friendly and Oakland are rarely spoke of in the same sentence it's a huge edge tonight for the Warriors. Golden State has won 5 of their last 7 games with the only losses coming against the Red Hot Clippers and the World Champion Lakers. This is a team staying under the radar right now but we expect to make a major run in the second half of the season. This is a cheap number for the much better team in a great scheduling situation. PLAY GOLDEN STATE |
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01-19-11 | Utah Jazz -6.5 v. New Jersey Nets | Top | 95-103 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 59 m | Show |
Utah at New Jersey
The Jazz have been at their best against the Eastern Conference posting a 14-3 straight up mark while cashing 12 of those 17 games. Off a loss last time out and facing the likes of the Celtics, Lakers and Spurs right around the corner this becomes a must win game for Utah. The Jazz have won and covered 4 of the last 5 meetings in this series and they have performed well away from home this year. The Nets have dropped 11 of their last 12 games in straight up style. This is also their first game home off a winless West Coast road trip. Not only is New Jersey losing but they are doing so by margins. All 11 of their recent losses came by 7 points or more. The first game back from a road trip is always the toughest and they have winnable games coming up against Detroit and Cleveland. Utah we know will give full effort tonight, the Nets with Carmelo on their minds may not be fully focused. PLAY UTAH |
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01-14-11 | Chicago Bulls -1 v. Indiana Pacers | Top | 99-86 | Win | 100 | 8 h 47 m | Show |
Chicago at Indiana
The Bulls have been at their best when playing teams with losing records posting a solid 16-5 straight up record. We mention the SU record here instead of the spread record because the winner of this game will get the spread cover at the current line. The Bulls are a perfect 7-0 vs divisional rivals and they have proven that they can win on the road. Chicago has cashed 6 of the last 9 meetings in this series. After dropping three straight on the road and having Miami on deck this is a very important game for the Bulls. Indiana has struggled when stepping up in class this year posting a 5-12 straight up mark against winning teams. Indiana has won the last two times they stepped on the court but they faced teams that were either missing key components or squads that were not fully healthy. Even with those victories the Pacers have dropped 10 of their last 15 games. In the lone meeting this year the Bulls completely shut down the Pacers offense holding them to 36% from the field and just 16% from 3 point range. We expect more of the same from a Chicago team that has held 9 of their last 10 opponents to under the century mark. PLAY CHICAGO |
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12-21-10 | Philadelphia 76ers +6.5 v. Chicago Bulls | Top | 76-121 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 30 m | Show |
Philadelphia at Chicago
The Sixers are playing great ball right now having won 8 of their last 11 and cashing 13 of 15 games. The defense has been especially impressive holding 11 of 12 teams to under the century mark. In fact, the last five games Philadelphia has permitted 89, 93, 91, 77 and 70 points. This is a huge road trip for Philadelphia as they are playing the second of an eight game trip that ends up on the west coast. Chicago is playing well themselves winning 7 of 8 while covering 4 of 5. But the loss of the emotional leader Noah is sure to affect this team in the long run. He's such a fiery competitor and a terror on the boards that he will be missed in these type of games. You could see signs on the defensive end last time out as the Bulls allowed the Clippers to score 100 in a one point home loss. Chicago just isn't the same team without him and the linesmaker hasn't made the needed adjustment. PLAY PHILADELPHIA |
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12-17-10 | Phoenix Suns v. Dallas Mavericks -7 | Top | 91-106 | Win | 100 | 10 h 1 m | Show |
Phoenix at Dallas
The Suns have dropped four straight against the spread as defense continues to be a problem. Overall 13 of their last 14 opponents have reached triple digits. Even slow paced teams like the Blazers have had little problem scoring against the Suns as evidenced by two Portland wins over Phoenix in the past week. It's becoming very obvious that teams with a defensive mindset have a huge edge on the Suns, and that's exactly what this years edition of the Mavericks has. Only six teams all season have reached the century mark against these Mavericks. Dallas was still 4-2 straight up in those contests. When holding the opposition to under 100 points the Mavs have been deadly, now 12-5 ATS on the season. We liked how the team bounced back Wednesday against Portland after having their 12 game winning streak snapped against Milwaukee. They led that game by nine points at halftime before falling apart in the second half. That's pretty much the only bad half of action this Mavericks team has had in the last three weeks. With a trip to Miami and Orlando on deck this becomes a must win game for the host. They should have no problem taking the Suns out of their game plan and gaining a double digit victory. PLAY DALLAS |
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12-11-10 | Utah Jazz v. Dallas Mavericks -5.5 | Top | 97-103 | Win | 100 | 7 h 24 m | Show |
Utah at Dallas
The Jazz played a physical Orlando team last night and have to travel to red hot Dallas tonight. While it's a revenge game for the Jazz who lost 93-81 at home just eight days ago, Utah just isn't in the same category as the Mavs right now. Dallas has won 11 straight heading into tonight including wins over Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Miami. All of those victories were by 7 points or more. Schedule wise it's been a good week for Dallas as they haven't played back to back games since the 3rd and 4th. They don't play again until Monday against Milwaukee. The Mavs have held 14 of 17 teams to double digit scoring and the Jazz need to put points on the board in order to compete. In the middle of a six game homestand we'll continue to back the Mavs who may be the best team in the league at this juncture. PLAY DALLAS |
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12-10-10 | New York Knicks -2.5 v. Washington Wizards | Top | 101-95 | Win | 100 | 7 h 10 m | Show |
New York at Washington
The Knicks are at the top of their game right now riding a six game winning streak into the nation's capital. This is a team that has talent and is playing well in this run and gun system. While they have played a very weak schedule as of late the Wizards are no better than the Torontos and Minnesotas of the league. This is also a nice scheduling spot for New York as this is the lone road game in a six game span. Rested and confident the Knicks continue their success tonight. The Wizards return home from a three game west coast trip. They didn't win a single game allowing 125, 115 and 116 points in the process. This is a team with severe defensive issues and a rookie point guard just learning the ropes. Washington has played much better at home than on the road this year but most of their success came against teams that took them for granted. That won't be the case tonight as the Knicks have been down just as long if not longer than Washington. We get the much better team at the top of their game laying a small number. PLAY NEW YORK |
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12-07-10 | Golden State Warriors v. Dallas Mavericks -9 | Top | 100-105 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 33 m | Show |
Golden State at Dallas
As much talent as the Warriors have this year they have yet to put it all together. Golden State has lost 10 of their last 12 games with the victories coming on the road at Minnesota and hosting Detroit. When facing elite teams the Warriors lost at the Lakers by 24, lost at the Lakers by 28 and lost hosting San Antonio by 20. In none of the three games did they score triple digits. The better teams take them out of their style of play and slow the tempo. Nobody does that better to these new and improved Mavericks. Dallas is playing their best ball in years with only four losses on the season. They dropped games to Memphis by a point, Denver, New Orleans by 2 points and Chicago. They enter play tonight on a nine game winning streak. This game also is the first of a six game homestand and Dallas is well rested having last played on Saturday. Unlike past editions the Mavericks play defense this year and they should have little problem with a Warriors team who hasn't played well against the league's best, and make no doubt about it the Mavericks are there. PLAY DALLAS |
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11-30-10 | Boston Celtics -7 v. Cleveland Cavaliers | Top | 106-87 | Win | 100 | 17 h 44 m | Show |
Boston at Cleveland
The Celtics are well rested not having played since a 110-101 home win over Toronto Friday night. This is the only road game in a five game span for Boston and they well remember the last time they played in "The Q". It was the second day of the season right after they beat the new kings of hype the Miami Heat 88-80. At that time Miami was considered to be an all-time great team and a win over Miami would be a major accomplishment. While the season is still young it's starting to look like these Celtics may be the beast of the east. That said Boston was off a majorly hyped game and now had to face the LeBron less Cavs who were projected to be a bottom dweller. Despite leading at the half and controlling play most of the night Boston went cold late and came out of Cleveland as 95-87 losers. They well remember how that game played out. Cleveland on the other hand have their biggest game of the season on Tuesday as LeBron James and the Miami Heat invade downtown Cleveland. The city, the country and surely the players are looking forward to the festivities of hatred. That means Boston will not be the number one priority for either the fans or the players. Therefore we have a focused favorite playing with revenge against a preoccupied foe. The Celtics overlooked Cleveland the first time when the Cavaliers needed to make a statement, this time it's payback for the Celtics. PLAY BOSTON |
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11-27-10 | Miami Heat v. Dallas Mavericks -2 | Top | 95-106 | Win | 100 | 10 h 54 m | Show |
Miami at Dallas
Normally we would look to go against a team after they beat their biggest rival in which ended a long winning streak. But this Dallas team is for real. Before the season we bet the Mavericks under in our season wins portfolio, but we're ready to tear up that ticket. Dallas has been very impressive thus far losing just four times on the season. The Mavericks have won 8 of their last 10 games and as opposed to other seasons they are doing it with defense. Only three opponents have scored triple digits against Dallas this year with a high water mark being 103 points. Miami is a team that came into the season with unprecedented hype. The big three, breaking the all-time record for wins. Well last night they led the lowly 76ers at home at the end of three quarters by just a bucket. The held off Philadelphia to improve their record to 9-7 on the season, just 1-6 against .500 or better opposition. The players don't have an answer for their poor play and they haven't shown any signs of pulling out of this. The only success they have had all season is when they face a team with severe defensive issues. That won't be the case tonight in Dallas. Miami has just two road wins on the season, beating Philadelphia and New Jersey. In this price range they need to be close in the end and based on the way these two have played we simply can't see that happening. PLAY DALLAS |
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11-23-10 | Cleveland Cavaliers +5 v. Indiana Pacers | Top | 89-100 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 48 m | Show |
Cleveland at Indiana
The Cavaliers have a bit of revenge today after losing at home to the Pacers a week ago Saturday. In that game they were shorthanded and we're outworked in the second half 45-31. Cleveland hasn't played since Saturday while Indiana upset the Heat in Miami last night. The Pacers have been a slow starting team being outscored 26.8-23.5 in the first quarter this season despite playing 7 of 12 games at home. Off that impressive victory we look for Indiana to come out a bit slow tonight, especially against a Cleveland team that excels in the early going. The Cavaliers in this price range are the play but if you're able to play Cleveland in this first quarter it may be even a better bet. PLAY CLEVELAND |
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11-19-10 | Oklahoma City Thunder v. Boston Celtics -6.5 | Top | 89-84 | Loss | -110 | 17 h 26 m | Show |
Oklahoma City at Boston
The Thunder have been scoring very well as of late putting up 116, 115, 104, 110 and 109 points in their last five games. But now they face a team of veterans who take pride in their defensive ability. The last time these two squads faced each other was on the 7th in Oklahoma City where the Celtics won 92-83 holding the Thunder to their season low in scoring by a whopping margin of 9 points. Boston has dominated the opposition in the first quarter and first half all season. With the big four on the court this could be the most talented squad in the NBA. The early season problem had been that the bench hasn't played exceptionally well and coach Rivers has had to limit the second half minutes of his starters. But as of late that problem hasn't surfaced. Over the last four games Boston has outscored the opposition in the second half by eight points. In 3 of those 4 games Boston led at the half by 5 points or more, so it's not as if they are playing the starters in order to make a big comeback. When backing Boston you always have to worry about their schedule because this is an aging team. But the Celtics have played just once in the last five days which means they are extremely fresh and ready to show an ESPN audience that they can take it to the up and coming Western Conference squad. PLAY BOSTON |
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11-17-10 | Houston Rockets +7 v. Oklahoma City Thunder | Top | 99-116 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 46 m | Show |
Houston at Oklahoma City
Talk about an overreaction. The Rockets are getting more points in this game than in any other road game this season. That includes visits to the Lakers and Spurs, two teams playing far better ball than Oklahoma City. And by the way Houston easily covered both those games. Sure the Rockets are in the back end of a two games in two days stretch, but they are 1-1 in that situation this year with the loss by just 1/2 point. It's very clear that the Thunder are not playing the same type of ball they did at the end of last season. It's tough for young teams to make that next step and losses to the Clippers do not instill a great amount of confidence. Oklahoma City in their last three home games were favored by 2 1/2 against San Antonio, 2 1/2 against Portland and 8 1/2 against Philadelphia. This line should be closer to the middle of that range and not just 1 1/2 points less than the 2-9 Sixers. The last two times Houston took to the road they won at Indiana by 3 and at New York by 8. The public perception is that the Thunder are far better than the Rockets and from a talent level point that's simply not the case. PLAY HOUSTON |
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11-15-10 | New Orleans Hornets +4.5 v. Dallas Mavericks | Top | 95-98 | Win | 100 | 9 h 39 m | Show |
New Orleans at Dallas
How many times do you need to get kicked in the shin before you move your leg? That's the case with the New Orleans Hornets as they not only are the lone undefeated team in the NBA but they are also a perfect 8-0 against the spread. Yet for the 5th time this season they have been installed as underdogs. The prior four times they were taking points they beat San Antonio on the road by 9, Houston on the road by 8, Miami at home by 3 and Milwaukee on the road by 6. This team is playing the best ball in the league and they are looking to remain unbeaten, which means there will be no quit in the Hornets tonight. Dallas has gotten off to a solid start with a 6-2 record, but they are just 4-3-1 ATS. The Mavericks have taken advantage of a fortuitous schedule in which they have played 5 of their 8 games at home and have not faced a back to back situation. They in turn played an aging Boston team in the second game of a back to back and hosted a Phoenix team playing their third straight game on the road. This is the first of a home and home series between these two and with the Hornets playing supreme ball right now it's next to crazy to give them this type of points. The undefeated season continues for New Orleans. PLAY NEW ORLEANS |
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11-10-10 | Dallas Mavericks v. Memphis Grizzlies -1.5 | Top | 106-91 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 14 m | Show |
Dallas at Memphis
No Caron Butler for the Mavs tonight who take to the road for just the third time this season. For a team struggling to score his energy will be sorely missed. Despite playing 4 of 6 games at home the Mavs have reached the century mark just twice with a season high of 102 points. Off a thrilling last second win over the Celtics after back to back games with Denver, this is a letdown spot for Dallas. Memphis sits at 4-4 on the season but 5 of those 8 games came on the road. They are fresh off an impressive 109-99 win over Phoenix in what is a three game homestand. Memphis beat these Mavs 91-90 earlier in Dallas, holding the Mavericks to just 90 points. They get it done again tonight. PLAY MEMPHIS |
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06-08-10 | Los Angeles Lakers +2.5 v. Boston Celtics | Top | 91-84 | Win | 100 | 9 h 51 m | Show |
Los Angeles at Boston
We've cashed the first two games of this series as we have had a pretty good feel of these two squads. Last game in LA the Celtics outworked the Lakers and received just about every call possible from the Refs. Now with the series tied we expect the Lakers to rebound tonight. After all they have simply dominated Boston down low which is the key to winning on a consistent basis. Boston averaged .483 field goal shooting during the regular season but they have shot just .430 in the opening two games of this series. They simply cannot get good shots underneath against the talented front court of the Lakers. If it wasn't for an amazingly hot .462 shooting from 3 point land the Lakers would be running away with this series. Keep in mind that Boston only shot .348 from downtown during the regular season. Not only is Los Angeles keeping Boston out of the paint, but when they attempt close shots they are being contested. Los Angeles is blocking 10.5 shots per game in this series. We would rather back a squad that is winning the battle under the basket than one that must rely on a hot hand from the perimeter. The Lakers are the better team, coming off a loss, and getting points. A nice combination to have. PLAY LOS ANGELES |
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06-06-10 | Boston Celtics +6 v. Los Angeles Lakers | Top | 103-94 | Win | 100 | 8 h 5 m | Show |
Boston at Los Angeles
The Lakers had their way against the Celtics in game one but these two squads are much closer in talent than what showed in that game. Boston has a veteran cast with one of the best coaches in the league. Off that embarrassing performance we look for the Boston defense to step up and make this a very competitive game. The Celtics are a solid 16-9 ATS the past three years off a double digit defeat and 4-1 ATS during the same time when trailing in a playoff series. They were outshot in game one from the field 48.7% to 43.3%, made just one three point attempt, and were outrebounded by 11 boards and still they only came up short by 13 points on the scoreboard. Boston has the big bodies to keep the Lakers off the glass and the point guard to penetrate and kick to quality outside shooters. Los Angeles has not shown the killer instinct in the playoffs so we can't expect a renewed vigor here. Look for Boston to take this one to the wire with the points never coming into question. PLAY BOSTON |
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05-28-10 | Orlando Magic v. Boston Celtics -3 | Top | 84-96 | Win | 100 | 10 h 55 m | Show |
Orlando at Boston
After winning the first three games of the series the Celtics are now starting to feel the pressure to close out the Magic. A loss here would mean they must win a game 7 in Orlando which is highly unlikely. Not only because they had lost three straight, but they would be playing on the road with just one day of rest. This is the game the Celtics need and they will do everything in their power to get it done. Boston has outplayed Orlando in this series in just about every key category. They've shot better from the field, the free throw line and beyond the 3 point circle. But the big advantage Boston has had is in the pace of the offense. Orlando has had to fight with second chances and put backs while the Celtics have had far more success in the natural flow of their offense. Boston is averaging 5.8 more assists per game than the Magic. Orlando averaged 19.7 assists on the season but have been held to just 14.6 in this series. The Magic are working way too hard to push deep in this series. Boston is a veteran team that has played very well in this building. We look for Boston to put away the pesky Magic tonight. PLAY BOSTON |
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05-24-10 | Orlando Magic v. Boston Celtics -7 | Top | 96-92 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 55 m | Show |
Orlando at Boston
The Magic have shown a lack of heart in this series, so why would they care about extending it? Simply put they don't. This is a team that went to the NBA Championship last season and had high hopes for a repeat. That's exactly the type of team that will mail in a series, especially on the road. The Magic have already finalized their travel plans and it's not including going back to Orlando for a home game. This team is shooting .076% worse in this series than they had the entire year. They have no confidence offensively against this Boston defense and it's not going to change tonight. Boston is an aging team that knows they must get rest before taking on the Western Conference representative in the final series. It's very important to put away the Magic here and now and get a few days of rest before facing probable winner Los Angeles. All the motivation is for the home team here and this one should be decided very early. Look for the Celtics to come out early and step on the Magic throats as they take away any Orlando spirit early on. PLAY BOSTON |
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05-18-10 | Boston Celtics +7 v. Orlando Magic | Top | 95-92 | Win | 100 | 10 h 42 m | Show |
Boston at Orlando
The Celtics are proving to be a very tough match-up in the playoffs. Cleveland had no answer for the inside outside game and now Orlando is looking as a vulnerable team. Boston outshot the Magic from the field in game one holding Orlando to 23% from three point range. We expect that to continue as Boston has the length to really disrupt the Orlando passing game. Keep in mind that the Magic had a grand total of 10 assists in game one. That's an unheard of number especially for a team like Orlando who has a terrific perimeter game. The truth is that Orlando will find the going tough offensively throughout this series because of the excellent defense and personnel of the Celtics. We all are well aware of the Zig Zag theory which states the outright loser of the previous game bounces back in the following match-up. But the linesmakers just haven't been watching these games closely as it's clear Boston has big advantages in this series. For the line to be even more attractive for the underdog here is simply absurd. These two teams are much more equally matched than during the regular season when Boston battled injuries. Look for this one to go down to the wire as the points are clearly the way to go. PLAY BOSTON |
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05-13-10 | Cleveland Cavaliers v. Boston Celtics -1 | Top | 85-94 | Win | 100 | 10 h 37 m | Show |
Cleveland at Boston
Going into the playoffs we felt Cleveland was the best team in the league. But after watching LeBron James play in the first two rounds it's obvious that his elbow injury is far worse than he has let on. He's only been aggressive in one game in this series, after a three day rest period. Without his aggressiveness he's simply not the same player and that's very evident against Boston. The offense simply has no movement and Cleveland just isn't shooting well enough to compensate for the easy baskets around the rim. As a former Clevelander I'm sorry to say the Cavs are done. Boston's coaching staff has run circles around coach Brown and the Cleveland brain trust. Rondo has done anything he has wanted, as Cleveland simply doesn't have a player that can keep up with his speed. They haven't been able to man up with him offensively because of his quickness in getting into the lane. Therefore he has good looks at not only the basket but in finding his teammates. We've watched virtually all of the Cavalier games this season and the same energy just hasn't been there in this series. The players know that they just don't have an answer for Boston and without a supreme effort this series ends tonight. Boston is simply the better TEAM and they show it once again on Thursday. PLAY BOSTON |
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05-08-10 | Orlando Magic -2 v. Atlanta Hawks | Top | 105-75 | Win | 100 | 8 h 54 m | Show |
Orlando at Atlanta
Normally this would be a clear situation when you would look to back the home team down 0-2 in the series, but that's just not the case here. Two things are clear entering this game. Orlando is on a mission after losing the NBA Championship to the Lakers last season, and they match up extremely well with the Hawks. Orlando has dominated in every facet of the game in the first two playoff meetings and we don't see much changing here. After two games they have proven that Atlanta just can't compete against this deeper and more talented squad. The Magic are shooting .539% compared to the Hawks .378%. They have outrebounded Atlanta by six boards per game and held Atlanta to 14 assists per contest, a full 7.8 assists less than Atlanta averaged in the regular season. Speaking of the regular season, Orlando owned the Hawks there too. The Magic took 3 of 4 meetings outscoring the Hawks 394-329. Orlando is now 8-1 the last nine meetings with the only loss coming by just two points on a buzzer beater by JR Smith. And they just haven't won, they did so in dominating fashion. Atlanta is a different team when playing at home but Orlando has proven their worth on the road this year. We just can't see the Hawks having any confidence in this game knowing how thoroughly dominated they have been in this match-up the past year. Look for Orlando to come out early and shut down the Hawks and the crowd and coast to another satisfying victory. PLAY ORLANDO |
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05-04-10 | Atlanta Hawks v. Orlando Magic -9 | Top | 71-114 | Win | 100 | 10 h 4 m | Show |
Atlanta at Orlando
The second half of the season nobody was better than the Orlando Magic. They continued that success with a first round sweep of Charlotte. Now they look to advance once again by taking on the Atlanta Hawks. Orlando won 3 of 4 games against the upstart Hawks this season, dominating on the glass. We look for more of the same here especially since Howard struggled so much in the previous series. Atlanta doesn't have an answer for the Orlando big man and we expect him to have a stellar series. Short turnaround for Atlanta who was forced to seven games against the young and depleted Bucks. Keep in mind that the Hawks were behind 3-2 in that series before rallying the final two games. They expended much more energy in their series than did the Magic, and it's really going to show especially in the second half here. Atlanta is a very athletic team but they lack proven scorers, especially against a defense of this caliber. In four games against Orlando this year the Hawks' high scoring output was 86 points. Look for the Magic defense to be the key here as Orlando dominates game one for an easy victory. PLAY ORLANDO |
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05-03-10 | Boston Celtics v. Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5 | Top | 104-86 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 27 m | Show |
Boston at Cleveland
As predicted in our game one selection Rondo controlled the game for the Celtics by continually getting into the lane against a slow footed Williams. He had great success finding his shot in the first half until Cleveland made the necessary defensive changes to slow him down. Without Rondo getting into the lane the Celtics just don't have enough offensive firepower to compete in Cleveland. Garnett isn't the same player he used to be and Allen and Pierce can't get set for open jumpers. Pierce has the ability to create his own shot with the best of them but now he's matched up against James who has the better quickness and added size to give him trouble. Cleveland played poorly in game one and still found a way to get the cover. James was very tentative in the first half with his elbow injury and the Cavalier offense stagnated. He picked up his aggressiveness in the second half and Cleveland dominated. While Boston is sure to make adjustments the fact remains that the Celtics still don't have an answer for The Chosen One. Look for Cleveland to start the game off much stronger and put the Celtics away early. If Rondo doesn't bounce back with a full game effort this one could get ugly in a hurry. PLAY CLEVELAND |
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05-01-10 | Boston Celtics v. Cleveland Cavaliers -7 | Top | 93-101 | Win | 100 | 16 h 36 m | Show |
Boston at Cleveland The Celtics looked good in their opening series win and are expected to give Cleveland a tough time in this series. But after watching these two teams go after it the four previous meetings this season we have to give Cleveland a significant edge in this series. In the first meeting a 95-89 Boston victory Cleveland was trying to get new addition Shaquille O'Neal into the flow of the game. They went out of their way to get the big man accustomed to their style of play, and if you remember Cleveland struggled out of the gate because of it. In the next two meetings, a 108-88 Cleveland victory and a 104-93 Cavaliers win, both teams were fighting for playoff seeding and played equally hard. In the final match-up of the regular season Boston held on for a 117-113 victory in a game they led by 20 points and had to hold off a late Cleveland rally. The Cavaliers had no motivation in that game and came out with minimum effort. Boston on the other hand used that as a statement game and they were lucky to get the outright victory. In watching these two squads play it's very clear that Boston has no answer at all for LeBron. He has been able to do anything he has wanted from getting his teammates involved in the first three meetings, to taking the game upon himself when the Cavs trailed badly in game four. The only advantage for the Celtics is in the point guard position as Rondo has a significant quickness edge on the Cleveland backcourt. But that edge is negated by Boston's inability to score around the basket. Cleveland has the best inside defense in the league and Boston has had to rely on outside shooting all season against this Cavalier team. In the four meetings Cleveland outscored Boston on average 103.5-98.3 and that included one game where Boston clearly had the motivational edge. With all the talk about LeBron James and his elbow injury we expect Cleveland to make an opening game statement here. Look for the Cavs to get off to their traditional great start early on and coast to an easy game one victory. PLAY CLEVELAND
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04-26-10 | Magic(Orlando) -4 v. Bobcats(Charlotte) | Top | 99-90 | Win | 100 | 7 h 9 m | Show |
Orlando at Charlotte
When looking over the series long stats it's very hard to imagine that the Magic have dominated. A field goal percentage edge of .447-.441 in favor of Orlando. A free throw shooting edge of .754-.713 in favor of Charlotte. A rebounding edge of 37.7-36.7 in favor of Orlando. No the only real difference between these two teams is three point shooting where the Magic have a huge advantage .368-.286. It's what Orlando does, they spread the floor and beat you with long range threes. It's happened all season and the Bobcats have no answer. Teams up 3-0 in a series have a huge edge in game four, although it didn't show in Miami last night. Charlotte simply doesn't have enough offensive talent and now they are facing perhaps the best defensive team in the league. Orlando knows a victory tonight will give them an added edge down the line when it comes to NBA Playoff fatigue. They take care of business on the road. PLAY ORLANDO |
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04-25-10 | Boston Celtics +1.5 v. Miami Heat | Top | 92-101 | Loss | -110 | 3 h 6 m | Show |
Boston at Miami
Put a fork in 'em, the Miami Heat are done. The way they lost game three in the final seconds we cannot see any way this team pulls through today. They outshot the Celtics from the field and foul line and still came up short on their own court. Teams down 0-3 in a four game series are a terrible pointspread proposition. Those who were expected to be competitive likely are an even worse pointspread play. Boston is an aging team that knows how to win in the playoffs, they also know how much harder the games become the deeper in the postseason they go. The Celtics more than any other team besides San Antonio need to play the least amount of games as possible. Injuries to older stars can be devastating in the short term and Boston would like nothing better than to close out the Heat today. Boston has dominated the Heat in rebounding and defense, look for that edge to continue as Boston gets the sweep. PLAY BOSTON |
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04-24-10 | Magic(Orlando) -2 v. Bobcats(Charlotte) | Top | 90-86 | Win | 100 | 1 h 19 m | Show |
Orlando at Charlotte
Traditionally this is the game the 0-2 team wins in order to keep themselves alive in the playoffs. But as we saw yesterday with Miami it doesn't always work out that way. Once again in game two Charlotte outplayed the Magic winning the shooting battle both from the field and the line and played even on the boards. Yet they still came up short in a 92-77 defeat in Orlando. It's become apparent that this isn't the same team who played so well against the big boys in the regular season. Charlotte just doesn't have the personnel to match up with the Magic, especially offensively. They've scored just 89 and 77 points in the first two games and now they face off once again with one of the best road teams in the NBA. Orlando is on a mission right now playing the best ball in the league in the second half of the season. They are looking to return to the NBA Championship and know winning this series in less games gives them a huge edge as they advance in the postseason. Vince Carter and Dwight Howard have made just 9 and 7 field goals respectively through two games yet the Magic haven't been threatened by the Bobcats. Not a good sign in a win situation for Charlotte. PLAY ORLANDO |
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04-21-10 | Charlotte Bobcats v. Orlando Magic -9 | Top | 77-92 | Win | 100 | 9 h 11 m | Show |
Charlotte at Orlando
The Bobcats outshot the Magic from the field and free throw line and held a 41-34 rebounding advantage and still lost the opening game 98-89. That doesn't bode well for game two where the Magic have their sights on a return to the NBA Finals while the Bobcats look for a rare playoff victory. Dwight Howard was virtually invisible in the opening game attempting just four shots from the field and grabbing seven rebounds. He's too good of a player to be held in check in back to back games. With Vince Carter going 4 of 19 from the field the Magic are lucky to have won the game let alone challenge the 9 1/2 point line. Look for Orlando to come out focused tonight and have their big guns ready for retribution. PLAY ORLANDO |
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04-19-10 | Chicago Bulls +10.5 v. Cleveland Cavaliers | Top | 102-112 | Win | 100 | 10 h 11 m | Show |
Chicago at Cleveland
We liked the way the Bulls played in the opening game after they were pummeled in the first quarter. They didn't give up and actually stood toe to toe with Cleveland the remainder of the game. Now after getting the opening game jitters out of the way we look for the Bulls to remain competitive throughout in game two. Chicago was outshot .464 to .425, were out-rebounded 50 to 38 and allowed five more three point makes and they still came up just 1 1/2 points away from the closing spread. After the game LeBron James said they weren't in the business of blowing teams out, just winning and advancing. The Cavs played all 12 on the roster including nine players who played seven minutes or better. This is the deepest team in the league and that depth will play out as they make their way through the different types of match-ups needed in the playoffs. Chicago doesn't know they are supposed to lay down and die here. They showed great resolve in the opening game and also last year in extended the much more seasoned Celtics in the first round. Look for that never give up attitude to continue as the Bulls make this a game and put a scare into the Cavaliers. PLAY CHICAGO |