I will just combine the plays and analysis for the mid-week games in this thread.
Tuesday
New Jersey @ Toronto:
We cannot be suprised by game one whatsoever. This is a veteran New Jersey team that has won many road playoff games before. If not for their maddening inconsistency I would have thought the 5 points was a gift in game one. Well, the Nets did what they had to do and shopwed the young Raptors a lesson. This is obviously a must win for Toronto. You cannot go on the road down 0-2 in a playoff series. That being said I think its a 50/50 shot at best they cover this spread. I think New Jersey is a better team and even with desperation this will be a tight ballgame. Its going to be an uptempo affair in my opinion with much more scoring. The total has risen since open and I will bite as well...
New Jersey/Toronto Over 193.5 -110 2 units
Miami @ Chicago
I said before Game one I would play this both times. Nothing has changed for myself after Game one. I know many will say that Kirk and Gordon struggled and they will be better. Thats fine, Wade and O'Neal will play more while Deng won't look like an MVP either(althought he is the biggest rising star in league right now). I love how the officiating went in game one. Flash and Fatboy had a combined 11 fouls. O'Neal ripped Rush in the media. Things will be different come tonight. This is the NBA. Its predictable.
Looking back statistaically at Game one..The Bulls outrebounded Miami 46-33. They also had 10 more assists. Cobversely, the Heat had 4 more 3 balls hit the bottom of the net. O'Neal was dominant sans the fouls. I expect another performance such as tonight. Miami controls the 4th and goes back home tied up in the series...
Miami ML +150 8 units
LA Lakers @ Phoenix
The under was one of the easier calls we will get in these playoffs. Its always nice to beat a total by 30-some points. Thats the pace the Lakers need to play in order to have a chance in this series. They broke down in the 4th as they typically do when Bryant is hot early. They are so much better with Kobias playing the PG role and being a closer. We'll see what Phil has up his sleeves tonight. I like the under again and think Lakers give them a fight. I'll stick to the total though...
LA-Phoenix u207 -110 2 units
Wednesday
Washington @ Cleveland
I really have no interest in this series. Hell, even Stern kept this bad-boy off national TV. You know how pissed he must be not to have Bron on ABC..lol.
Game two should be much like game one. Cleveland will win somewhere near the number. Total has been adjusted though since game one. Tough call there.
Golden State @ Dallas
That certainly was a fun Game one(lol). A lot of specualtion going into that game and you Warrior backers should be proud. Hell, I was happy they won SU if Dallas wasn't going to cover the spread. It adds intrigue to what was already an intriguing series and will open up some good spots down the line here.
Many times a road team gets game one and is happy with a split going home. Some veteran teams will push to get both to essentially close out a series. I put Golden State in the former. They will play their game but I think Dallas will play unbelievable(cross fingers). The Warriors are not a defensive gem waiting to be unturned. They still suck on that end and I see Dallas being highly profecient this game. It will be a much higher scoring game and I think Dallas runs away with it late...
Dallas -9.5 -110 6 units
Denver @ San Antonio
Short and sweet: San Antonio is winning this game. By how much? I don;t know. Thats the problem in this game. Now, San Antonio is also winning game 3 in Denver or at worst Game 4. Most likely Game 3. I will sit this one out and wait for a low line up in Denver.
Great defense by the Nuggets in game one. Lack of fire by the Spurs. Iverson played under control and Anthony has already showed us in his young career he is up for the playoff challenge. This could prove to be a great series. I would say it goes 6 now. In all honesty I hope I am wrong as I would love to see the Nuggets win this..
Thursday
Detroit @ Orlando
Line is right where it should be. The normal six-point swing for change of venue. In reality this should be a huge play on Detroit. Then again, Detroit hasn't swept a series since 1990 I believe(vs PACERS). They simply have a misstep on road in so many series.
Detroit recent game 3's on road
Lost @ Miami
Lost @ Cleveland
Lost @ Milwaukee
Lost @ Indiana
Lost @ Philadelphia
Lost @ New Jersey
The last game 3 they won on road was in the First Round in 2004 @ Milwaukee. That was after losing game 2 though it should be noted.
We know about the obvious mismatches in this series. Detroit can do what they want basically. Now, the old disturbing Detroit trend came into play in the last five minutes of game two. They just let Chauncey dribble the ball and don't set up a play till under 10 in shot-clock. The offense bogs down badly and thats why they let a lot of teams back into games.
The two games at Orlando this year were 'pure' Pistons. They dominated the 4th quarters with tempo and stifling defense. The Magic have a difficult time in the 4th qaurters of slow down agmes against Detroit in the scoring department.
Pass for now...
Houston @ Utah
Well, unline the Orlando line this one isn't to form. A 9-point swing in the line from venue-to-venue. makes you wonder what is so special about this Utah team. They can play a good half here or there or can ride a potent Boozer for a game. In all honesty this team is done and they know it. Can they respond big-time at home? Absolutely. Will they? I wouldn;t bet on it. I'll take Value with 2 of the best 8 players in the NBA
Houston +4 -110 4 units
Das it....gl to all.:cheers:
Tuesday
New Jersey @ Toronto:
We cannot be suprised by game one whatsoever. This is a veteran New Jersey team that has won many road playoff games before. If not for their maddening inconsistency I would have thought the 5 points was a gift in game one. Well, the Nets did what they had to do and shopwed the young Raptors a lesson. This is obviously a must win for Toronto. You cannot go on the road down 0-2 in a playoff series. That being said I think its a 50/50 shot at best they cover this spread. I think New Jersey is a better team and even with desperation this will be a tight ballgame. Its going to be an uptempo affair in my opinion with much more scoring. The total has risen since open and I will bite as well...
New Jersey/Toronto Over 193.5 -110 2 units
Miami @ Chicago
I said before Game one I would play this both times. Nothing has changed for myself after Game one. I know many will say that Kirk and Gordon struggled and they will be better. Thats fine, Wade and O'Neal will play more while Deng won't look like an MVP either(althought he is the biggest rising star in league right now). I love how the officiating went in game one. Flash and Fatboy had a combined 11 fouls. O'Neal ripped Rush in the media. Things will be different come tonight. This is the NBA. Its predictable.
Looking back statistaically at Game one..The Bulls outrebounded Miami 46-33. They also had 10 more assists. Cobversely, the Heat had 4 more 3 balls hit the bottom of the net. O'Neal was dominant sans the fouls. I expect another performance such as tonight. Miami controls the 4th and goes back home tied up in the series...
Miami ML +150 8 units
LA Lakers @ Phoenix
The under was one of the easier calls we will get in these playoffs. Its always nice to beat a total by 30-some points. Thats the pace the Lakers need to play in order to have a chance in this series. They broke down in the 4th as they typically do when Bryant is hot early. They are so much better with Kobias playing the PG role and being a closer. We'll see what Phil has up his sleeves tonight. I like the under again and think Lakers give them a fight. I'll stick to the total though...
LA-Phoenix u207 -110 2 units
Wednesday
Washington @ Cleveland
I really have no interest in this series. Hell, even Stern kept this bad-boy off national TV. You know how pissed he must be not to have Bron on ABC..lol.
Game two should be much like game one. Cleveland will win somewhere near the number. Total has been adjusted though since game one. Tough call there.
Golden State @ Dallas
That certainly was a fun Game one(lol). A lot of specualtion going into that game and you Warrior backers should be proud. Hell, I was happy they won SU if Dallas wasn't going to cover the spread. It adds intrigue to what was already an intriguing series and will open up some good spots down the line here.
Many times a road team gets game one and is happy with a split going home. Some veteran teams will push to get both to essentially close out a series. I put Golden State in the former. They will play their game but I think Dallas will play unbelievable(cross fingers). The Warriors are not a defensive gem waiting to be unturned. They still suck on that end and I see Dallas being highly profecient this game. It will be a much higher scoring game and I think Dallas runs away with it late...
Dallas -9.5 -110 6 units
Denver @ San Antonio
Short and sweet: San Antonio is winning this game. By how much? I don;t know. Thats the problem in this game. Now, San Antonio is also winning game 3 in Denver or at worst Game 4. Most likely Game 3. I will sit this one out and wait for a low line up in Denver.
Great defense by the Nuggets in game one. Lack of fire by the Spurs. Iverson played under control and Anthony has already showed us in his young career he is up for the playoff challenge. This could prove to be a great series. I would say it goes 6 now. In all honesty I hope I am wrong as I would love to see the Nuggets win this..
Thursday
Detroit @ Orlando
Line is right where it should be. The normal six-point swing for change of venue. In reality this should be a huge play on Detroit. Then again, Detroit hasn't swept a series since 1990 I believe(vs PACERS). They simply have a misstep on road in so many series.
Detroit recent game 3's on road
Lost @ Miami
Lost @ Cleveland
Lost @ Milwaukee
Lost @ Indiana
Lost @ Philadelphia
Lost @ New Jersey
The last game 3 they won on road was in the First Round in 2004 @ Milwaukee. That was after losing game 2 though it should be noted.
We know about the obvious mismatches in this series. Detroit can do what they want basically. Now, the old disturbing Detroit trend came into play in the last five minutes of game two. They just let Chauncey dribble the ball and don't set up a play till under 10 in shot-clock. The offense bogs down badly and thats why they let a lot of teams back into games.
The two games at Orlando this year were 'pure' Pistons. They dominated the 4th quarters with tempo and stifling defense. The Magic have a difficult time in the 4th qaurters of slow down agmes against Detroit in the scoring department.
Pass for now...
Houston @ Utah
Well, unline the Orlando line this one isn't to form. A 9-point swing in the line from venue-to-venue. makes you wonder what is so special about this Utah team. They can play a good half here or there or can ride a potent Boozer for a game. In all honesty this team is done and they know it. Can they respond big-time at home? Absolutely. Will they? I wouldn;t bet on it. I'll take Value with 2 of the best 8 players in the NBA
Houston +4 -110 4 units
Das it....gl to all.:cheers: