First game of the first round - NBA discussion thread

[divol]

[TABLE="class: linesTbl, width: 934"]
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[TD="colspan: 8"][h=4]NBA BASKETBALL BASKETBALL - SAT 4/19[/h][/TD]
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[TR="class: linesColumns"]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, colspan: 4, align: center"]GAME[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]HANDICAP[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]MONEY LINE[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]TOTAL POINTS[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]MORE[/TD]
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[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Sat 4/19[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]701[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Brooklyn Nets[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]+2 1.943[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Over 194.5 1.980[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB, align: center"][/TD]
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[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]09:30 AM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]702[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Toronto Raptors[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]-2 1.962[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Under 194.5 1.926[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Sat 4/19[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]703[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Memphis Grizzlies[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]+7 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Over 192.5 1.909[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE, align: center"][/TD]
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[TD="bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]06:35 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]704[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Oklahoma City Thunder[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]-7 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Under 192.5 2.000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Sat 4/19[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]705[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Atlanta Hawks[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]+7.5 1.917[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Over 186 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB, align: center"][/TD]
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[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]04:05 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]706[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Indiana Pacers[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]-7.5 1.990[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Under 186 1.952[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Sat 4/19[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]707[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Golden State Warriors[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]+7 1.980[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Over 212 1.980[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE, align: center"][/TD]
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[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]12:30 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]708[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Los Angeles Clippers[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]-7 1.926[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Under 212 1.926[/TD]
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[TABLE="class: linesTbl, width: 934"]
<tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px;">[TR="class: linesHeader"]
[TD="colspan: 8"][h=4]NBA BASKETBALL BASKETBALL - SUN 4/20[/h][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesColumns"]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, colspan: 4, align: center"]GAME[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]HANDICAP[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]MONEY LINE[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]TOTAL POINTS[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]MORE[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Sun 4/20[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]709[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Dallas Mavericks[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]+9 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Over 207 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]10:05 AM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]710[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]San Antonio Spurs[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]-9 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Under 207 1.952[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Sun 4/20[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]711[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Charlotte Bobcats[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]+9.5 1.980[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Over 189.5 1.971[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE, align: center"][/TD]
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[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]12:30 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]712[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Miami Heat[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]-9.5 1.926[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Under 189.5 1.935[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Sun 4/20[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]713[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Washington Wizards[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]+5 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Over 181.5 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]04:05 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]714[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Chicago Bulls[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]-5 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Under 181.5 1.952[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Sun 4/20[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]715[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Portland Trail Blazers [/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]+5.5 1.917[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Over 215.5 1.980[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE, align: center"][/TD]
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[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]06:35 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]716[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Houston Rockets[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]-5.5 1.990[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Under 215.5 1.926[/TD]
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[divol]

First leans:
Pacers -7
Memphis +7
Houston -5
Wizards +5
Charlotte +9.5

 

[CASH]

Nets/raptors could turn into a grind it out kinda game - if first half total points is high- will look at 2nd half.

Grizz/okc- was hoping for a lower total - still think it may go over

Hawks / Pacers - hawks need to run to have a chance, they have no size to defend pacers. will look at hawks 1st half and tt over

Warriors/clippers - over over and over

Mavs/spurs - spurs -9 and over for them

Heat/Cats - depends how much the heat care - they could win by 25 or by 3 - do think they score on a very over rated cats team

Wizzy/bulls - similar to nets/raptors

Blazers/ rox - Rox and tt over.. (on rox for the series big)

just some thoughts

 

[divol]

I don't think that Charlotte are over rated. They are surprisingly very good defensive team that has few very effecient tools on offense, especially since I can't see who can guard Jefferson.
I doubt they will win more then 1 - 2 games, but they can really keep it close.

 

[CASH]

The perception is that they are a good defensive team. They are decent at home and are bad on the road.. Jefferson and mcroberts are not good defenders...

jefferson on will get his 20 and 10.. But it won't matter...

 

[UTSUX]

Really like the OVER in GS/LA game.

 

[cashflowmatters]

Divol

Although I don't always agree with your thoughts/angles, I want you to know I sincerely appreciate all that you do to make this the best NBA forum on the net. Good luck on your action always & thank you!!

 

[pip2]

Divol

Although I don't always agree with your thoughts/angles, I want you to know I sincerely appreciate all that you do to make this the best NBA forum on the net. Good luck on your action always & thank you!!

Yeah I gotta agree with that. It especially occurred to me the other day when some guy got on here (who I've never seen do anything on this board) and started cursing Divol out, after Divol has been patiently and diligently setting up these threads for months...

 

[divol]

Thanks guys!

Trying to do the best I can.

Today I took Wizards +5 - I honestly don't know who will take the series, but I do think that this one should be the closest series from the 8 we got.
I think that Wizards have great experience. Nene, Miller, Gortat, Ariza (who is the only starter on both that actually has a championship ring).

Wizards slightly worse than Bulls on defense, but so much better on offense. The only weak spot on defense is Beal and I'm not sure that Dunleavy will expose him.

 

[divol]

Took yesterday mostly off, but I do like Pacers -7 (I know that most will be on the Hawks or skip) and Warriors +8 - already took both for the next games.
Pacers are the only favorite that lost the other night, that got shorter line than in Game 1 (Clips got extra point, Toronto got extra point, Pacers with 0.5 point less).
They are a huge mess, but still, Hawks are so much weaker than them, it's not even funny and I just doubt that they will shoot the ball again as good as they did in Game 1.

As for the Warriors - they won Denver and lost Lee and still managed to win ATS in Game 2 (almost won SU as well). This team doesn't take nights off in the playoffs and should be a really good bet as an underdog.

 

[nbafan88]

I don't think you can trust players who are playing in their first playoff games ever. The wizards and bobcats....

Miami and Chicago first quarter plays seem to be very good IMO

 

[divol]

Nene, Gortat and Ariza don't have experience?

Miller? Harrington? Gooden?

I think that Wizards players have more playoff experience than Bulls players if you sum it up...

 

[nbafan88]

Nene doesn't have much. Gortat also doesn't have much. What does it matter if you sum them up? The wizards playoff experience as an organization over the past 10 years is no where near the bulls. And that makes a huge difference IMO. If you don't think the wiz will be more nervous and make stupid mistakes then ill just respectfully disagree

 

[CASH]

I think the bobcats are garbage and do is their coach..

 

[nbafan88]

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Rockets were happy simply to return to the playoffs last season.


A year later and with the addition of Dwight Howard, the Rockets are back in the postseason and looking to make some noise. They play Game 1 of their first-round series against Portland on Sunday night.
''Just being here is not good enough,'' said Chandler Parsons, who made his playoff debut last year. ''We want to win and we want to contend for a championship and we want to be the last team standing.''
The Rockets returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009 and battled back from a 3-0 deficit in the first round before being eliminated by Oklahoma City in Game 6.
James Harden, who is fifth in the NBA in scoring with 25.4 points a game, believes the experience of last year will help Houston this time around.
''I think last year that first-round playoff series gave us a little taste of what it feels like to be in the playoffs,'' he said. ''So hopefully we're familiar with the playoffs and whatnot and we go out there and just play basketball.''
Howard's first season in Houston has been a good one. He bounced back from his one tough season in Los Angeles to average 18.3 points and 12.2 rebounds a game. This will be his seventh trip to the postseason and the 28-year-old is looking to help his less-seasoned teammates handle the pressure of the playoffs.
''I just try to lead these guys by example,'' he said. ''Just give the guys some words of advice, but make sure they're also confident that we can win this series and win the whole thing.''
The Trail Blazers haven't advanced to the playoffs since 2011. LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum lead their group of players with postseason experience, but a number of their teammates will be making their playoff debuts.
Second-year point guard Damian Lillard is among the Trail Blazers who are new to the postseason.
''I'm just going to try to go into it and play it like another basketball game,'' Lillard said, ''and not put too much pressure on the fact that it's my first playoff game or that we're on the road or all those other things.''
Five things to know about the Portland-Houston playoff series:
HAIR FOR WHEELS?: Howard wanted his teammates to get Mohawk haircuts like the ones he and Harden have before the playoffs. Parsons was reticent to put the clippers to his well-coiffed 'do so Howard gave him a nice incentive to make the change. He's letting him drive his white Ferrari as long as Houston is in the playoffs. ''I'm driving that thing every day until we win a championship,'' said Parsons, who normally drives a Cadillac. ''I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to drive something else, that thing's unreal.'' The story got misconstrued at first and some thought Howard gave Parsons the car for the haircut, something Howard scoffed at. ''That would be kind of crazy,'' Howard said. ''I love Chandler, but I'm not giving him a car.'' Parsons was scheduled to get his haircut Saturday evening.
BACK AT HOME: Aldridge, who is from Dallas and went to the University of Texas, is looking forward to playing in his home state. ''I've always loved coming back and playing against the Spurs and Rockets and Dallas,'' he said. ''So it's definitely some added fun for me coming back here.'' He said he's been inundated with ticket requests from friends and family, but he doesn't want it to be a circus so he only got seats for about six family members. Aldridge has been excellent against Houston this season, averaging almost 27 points a game in the four meetings and has two games with more than 20 rebounds.
BAD BOYS: Several of the Rockets watched ESPN's documentary ''Bad Boys'' about the Detroit teams in the late 1980s and early 1990s this week and enjoyed coach Kevin McHale's cameo in the film playing for the Celtics against those teams. They thought McHale was being harder on them in practice this week because he was fired up by the movie. ''He always brags about how they don't make them like they used to and how he's so much tougher than everybody,'' Parsons said. ''It looked like it on the floor. I don't want to fight him.''
LOOKING FOR A WIN: The Trail Blazers have lost in the first round in their last six trips to the playoffs. They haven't advanced to the second round since losing in the Western Conference finals in 2000. The drought doesn't add any extra motivation for Aldridge, though. ''I'm motivated period,'' he said. ''I don't have to have that I'm just an overly motivated person.''
THE CLOSER: Harden has developed a penchant this season for being Houston's closer. There's no one the Rockets would rather have handling the ball with the game on the line than him. ''I think James has just made a lot of big shots all year long,'' McHale said. ''We go to him in the end. He's done a good job of understanding that it's not always taking the shot, it's making the play.'' Harden said his increased confidence has made this role easier this season. ''It's all about decision-making,'' he said. ''My teammates have a lot of confidence in me to make the right play and I've got to ready at all times.''