Archive for April, 2011

April 30th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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It was awfully unpredictable to think that the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies would be playing each other in the second round of the playoffs, but that’s where we are at. One of these two will beat the NBA playoffs odds and make it to the NBA Finals, and we have our postseason NBA picks for this crucial series.

How the Grizzlies Can Win This Series
The Grizz have really had a very predictable formula for beating the NBA odds thus far in the playoffs. They’re just going to work really, really hard, win all of the hustle stats, make a few timely shots, and come up clutch in the end. That was the only way that they were able to beat a San Antonio Spurs team that truly outclassed them in the first round of the playoffs, yet the series really never was all that close.

The question is whether the stars are going to be there to keep up with the scoring prowess of the Thunder. Zach Randolph could get away with 20-25 point games making him the top scorer against the Spurs, but that just won’t be the case against the Thunder. We really don’t see anyone else being able to step up and knock down 10 shots in a game on a regular basis, which really puts a lot of pressure on the man in the middle. In fairness, Randolph did have 31 points in the close out game against the Spurs, so he definitely is capable, but pulling it off again and again against Oklahoma City is a different story.

Mike Conley Jr. did just about everything for the Grizz in the first round, accounting for right around 14 points, six assists, and four boards per game. Marc Gasol was the double-double machine with just over 14 points and a dozen rebounds on the average night. These two will have to be clutch, and someone else will have to come forward on a regular basis, whether it be OJ Mayo, Darrell Arthur, Sam Young, or an unheralded hero for Memphis to march on to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history.

How the Thunder Can Win This Series
The equation is now absolutely right for the Thunder. Sure, looking at the stats for Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammad isn’t all that impressive, but these two really have brought a toughness to the defense for Oklahoma City in the paint, and the end result was holding one of the best offensive teams in the game below its scoring average in five straight games.

Last season, there was really only Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in the playoffs. Sure, Jeff Green and James Harden did their thing from time to time against the eventual champs, the Los Angeles Lakers, but if Westbrook and Durant didn’t get the job done, no one was really able to. Now, it’s true that these two are the big time heroes of this team once again. Durant averaged 32.4 points per game, while Westbrook was at 23.8 points per game against the Nuggets. However, they were definitely not the only stars that were able to shine.

Serge Ibaka was really the man that came up big, and if he dominates both on the glass and in the blocks department the same way that he did against Denver, it’s all over but the crying for the Grizzlies. Ibaka scored 10.2 points, brought down 11.0 boards, and blocked 4.8 shots per game in the series against Denver.

The Last Word – Memphis definitely has the ability to compete in this series, and it will find itself favored in games on its home court assuming that the Thunder don’t just absolutely roll with two easy wins in the Sooner State to get started. Don’t be shocked if this ends up being a heck of a lot better of a series than it is billed for. Both of these teams are going to fight tooth and nail, but in the end, it’s home court advantage that will rule the day. NBA Playoffs Picks: Thunder in 7

 
April 29th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and they are going to really be going at it for what could be an epic second round series in NBA betting action.

How the Celtics Can Win This Series
Boston badly needs to be able to shore up its defense in this series better than it was in Games 1 and 2 against the New York Knicks. However, Head Coach Doc Rivers has a veteran team which really knows how to keep the energy turned up when push really comes to shove. The ‘D’ allowed just 89 points in Game 4 against New York, but this was a significantly better game than the stats really suggest.

It would really help if someone is able to step up to help out the veteran players for Boston. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Garnett all had absolutely remarkable series again the Knicks. Pierce was good for 22.2 points per game in the first round, while Allen was just behind at 22.0 points per game. The man that really made the offense go was Rondo at 19.0 points, 12.0 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game. Garnett averaged a double-double as well at 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Glen Davis and Jeff Green only contributed a dozen points between them on average. Their contributions weren’t needed against New York, but you can bet that they will have to be against the Heat.

The big question is whether there is going to be a big man that can help out in the paint. KG can only do so much, and Big Baby Davis just isn’t quite there. Jermaine O’Neal only averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 boards per game, and Nenad Krstic really didn’t make any contributions against the Knicks either.

How the Heat Can Win This Series
Miami might have needed five games to take care of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, but we tend to believe that this was a better series for its long term health in the playoffs than the short series was for the Celtics. Again, defense is going to be key, as the Heat really didn’t play all that well on this side of the ball at all times against Boston this year.

The Heat are also going to have to get over their own problems of playing against teams that were legitimate contenders to beat the NBA Finals odds. They really didn’t play well against teams like Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and the likes on this season.

Just like Boston though, the Heat are really struggling trying to get production outside of their biggest scorers. Of course, there isn’t a much more talented trio in the league than LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The three combined for over 65 points, 28 boards, and over 12 assists per game. James Jones and Mario Chalmers both averaged right around seven points per game, while Joel Anthony and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had decent contributions as rebounders and blocked shot artists.

The Last Word – Home court advantage is going to be absolutely key in this series. We tend to believe that both teams can steal one game on the road, but when push comes to shove, Rivers and company are really going to kick themselves for giving up in those last few games of the season when they could have earned Game 7 at home. The Heat will just barely live to tell about a series with the defending conference champs. NBA Playoffs Picks: Heat in 7

 
April 28th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #5 Nashville Predators – We’re getting a really nice price here going against the top seed in the Western Conference, as we’re really not sold that Roberto Luongo has the confidence to be able to take down anyone right now in a seven game series. The problem for Nashville though, is that it has no clue how to win a series like this because it has never been involved with a series beyond the first round of the postseason. Pekka Rinne really didn’t play up to his abilities in the first round against the Anaheim Ducks, and if the Quack Attack was giving Rinne problems, we can’t even imagine what Vancouver is going to bring to the table. The offense alone for Vancouver should manage to take down this series. NHL Playoffs Picks: Vancouver Canucks in 5 (-255 @ SportBet Sportsbook)

#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #3 Detroit Red Wings – There are a heck of a lot of Stanley Cup betting fans that think the Red Wings are going to run away with this series, but we’re really not all that sure that that is the case. Last season, it was San Jose that was able to really issue a beat down to Detroit, winning the series four games to one, with really just one even remotely iffy game in the bunch. Both of these teams have fantastic offensive weapons, as there are a ton of players on both sides that were good enough to be playing on their respective national teams in the Winter Olympics a year ago. Heck, the Sharks had their own All-Canadian line out there. The difference in this series, aside from home ice advantage, is the fact that Antti Niemi knows what he is doing to win a Cup. Niemi wasn’t always pretty last year, but he got the job done. Jimmy Howard really wasn’t all that great in the first series against the Phoenix Coyotes, but the offense was outstanding. If Howard struggles like that again, the Sharks will take this series. NHL Playoffs Picks: San Jose Sharks in 6 (+100 @ SportBet Sportsbook)

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #5 Tampa Bay Lightning – Grit and tenacity won’t be enough for the Bolts in this series. Sure, Tampa Bay was basically able to outmuscle and outwork the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs, but the stars really just don’t look aligned right now for them. Steven Stamkos was nowhere to be found during the majority of the series, and Martin St. Louis has fallen off just a bit. How much longer before Dwayne Roloson finally has a bad game? There are just too many questions here. The Caps look great, and unlike Pittsburgh, they have their stars in order. Alexander Ovechkin should have a mammoth series against a suspect Tampa Bay defense, which has allowed just a slew of shots thus far in the playoffs. Too much offense here for the ‘Ning to keep up. NHL Playoffs Picks: Washington Capitals in 5 (-175 @ SportBet Sportsbook)

#3 Boston Bruins vs. #2 Philadelphia Flyers – The Bruins and Flyers really are only considered right near each other due to the fact that the Flyers have home ice advantage in this series. You see how much that really meant to either one of these teams in their first series. Both lost two games at home, but were able to win Game 7 on their home ice. Boston is just the better team from top to bottom. We don’t see Daniel Briere scoring six goals in this series as he did against the Buffalo Sabres, and we certainly don’t think that Philly has any chance whatsoever of surviving if it needs to use three different goalies. The confidence that Boston has shown in Tim Thomas through thick and thin is finally going to pay off in this series. NHL Playoffs Picks: Boston Bruins in 6 (+100 @ SportBet Sportsbook)

 
April 27th, 2011 By Louie - Cappersinfo Admin

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Again, our blog writers and handicappers just keep rolling along. Our bloggers are currently 8-2 with their NBA playoff picks; including a 2-0 Monday night with the Lakers & over. Our forum members are currently red hot in the bases as well as the NBA playoffs. Be sure to check them out as well as the Free MLB contests on the forums that are starting this weekend.

Here’s another rock solid NBA playoff move from “The Raven”. This one is for the all important game 5 match-up between San Antonio and Memphis. Here at Cappersinfo.com, we will continue to work hard to not only bring you daily picks, but bring you quality picks from REAL handicappers. That’s the Cappersinfo difference.

NBA Matchup: Memphis Grizzlies @ San Antonio Spurs
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, April 27th, 8:35 ET
Location: AT&T Center- San Antonio, Texas

NBA Odds: San Antonio Spurs -6.5
Over/Under Odds: 189

Game Analysis: Who could have imagined we would be coming back to San Antonio for game 5 with the Spurs trailing three games to one? However that is where we stand at the moment with the Spurs collective backs against the wall in need of a win in game 5 at home or the season is over and the number one seed loses in the first round. There is no longer any margin for error and the Spurs had better get the momentum back on their side. So far this series Memphis has controlled the play both offensively and defensively. I have faith however that the experienced Spurs won’t go out without a fight. The best asset they have right now considering how sporadic the offense has been is their team defense. San Antonio has allowed Memphis to shoot 50% twice in the series and in both those games they allowed 100 points and came out on the losing end. In the other two games they held Memphis to 91 and 87 respectively on 40% and 42% shooting. I think in game 5 you will see a defensive intensity we have not yet seen from San Antonio in this series. Where the Spurs have had the most problems in this series is on offense averaging just 91 PPG. You have to give a lot of that credit to Memphis who has played excellent defense this series. I expect that defensive tenacity to continue for the Grizzlies in game 5. The total in this very important game is set at 189 which is within a half point of the lowest total yet for the 5 game series. I have to side with under 189 in this game expecting the Spurs to play the kind of defense that has led them to the number one seed in the Western Conference this year. I think Memphis will play well too and as far as the side goes it’s too close to call. However the under 189 stands out as a great play in the NBA playoffs going Wednesday night.

Free NBA Playoff Picks: UNDER 189

 
April 25th, 2011 By Andy "The Raven" Frank (Cappersinfo Contributor)

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The Cappersinfo.com blog is the place to be for the best free NBA picks on the web.  Our contributors and handicappers continue to sizzle in the NBA playoffs with win after win.  Andy “The Raven” Frank is a combined 6-2 in the NBA playoffs thus far (75% winners).  Where can you go for results like that?  It’s now week two of the playoffs and some interesting situations are unfolding.  This is a special side and total pick for the Tuesday, April 26 matchup between the Hornets and Lakers.  Enjoy…

NBA Matchup: New Orleans Hornets @ LA Lakers
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 @ 8:05 ET
Location: The Staples Center- Los Angeles, California

NBA Odds: Los Angeles Lakers -10.5
Over/Under Odds: 183

Game Analysis: Tonight is the all important game 5 in a series tied at two games each. The Lakers were able to win one of two in New Orleans but are coming off a 93-88 loss Sunday in a thrilling back and forth game. Sunday’s game was a special one for Chris Paul who led his team with a triple double, his first of the season. 27 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists is a monster game and for it to come in the playoffs makes it a clutch performance too. Paul has almost single handily carried the Hornets on his back in this series and given the Lakers nation something to really worry about. If his play weren’t enough to hurt the Lakers Kobe Bryant aka “mamba” tweaked his foot late in game three and is expected to play in game 4. At first the injury was thought to be a sprained ankle which might be the lesser of two evils for the Lakers, however it is now being called a injury to his foot. Only time will tell what the ramifications are of this injury however there is no doubt that the Lakers’ fate rests in whether Kobe can play or not. As for game 5 we go back to the Staples Center in LA where the crowd will be in rare form. All the celebrities will be in their expensive courtside seats and this is a very important game in the Lakers quest for the three-peat. LA has only played one game up to their standards in this series so far and that was the 100-86 win in New Orleans on Friday. However in their playoff history since 1996 they are 20-8 ATS in game 5’s of all playoff series, and 8-3 in games 5’s the last three years. LA knows when to turn it on and with their backs against the wall are in need of a big game. That is right when they are about to have one of those games when we say “Oh yeah, that’s right they are that good”. Game 5 will be the wake up call for us all with a convincing win for the Lakers. I also like the over 183 in this game because when the Lakers are pressured they somehow almost always come up with one of their best efforts. That will include well over 100 points against the Hornets and a comfortable win by double digits.

Free NBA Playoff Picks: Los Angeles Lakers -10.5 & Over 183

 
April 23rd, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The 2011 NFL Draft is just about upon us, and here at Cappers Info, we’ve got our first round Mock Draft available for scrutiny. Check out how we see the first round of the draft going!

1: Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton, QB, Auburn – The Heisman Trophy winner takes his trade to Carolina, where he’ll have a significantly tougher time making headway than he did with Auburn.

2: Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama – Denver badly needs some help on defense, and this is a good way to start. The success of Ndamukong Suh last year in Detroit makes this pick all that more sexy for the Broncos.

3: Buffalo Bills – Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri – Buffalo could do just about anything with this pick, but it really has to take a quarterback in the first round of the draft one of these years. Gabbert is a pro’s pro, and he should help right away under center for a team that hasn’t had much to cheer about at that position since Jim Kelly left town.

4: Cincinnati Bengals – AJ Green, WR, Georgia – A perfect fit that makes a ton of sense here for the Bengals. New OC Jay Gruden would love to have himself a big time wide receiver to throw the ball to, and that might help get Carson Palmer to come back to the ‘Natti. It’s not likely, but Green is still a great choice anyway, especially if both Gabbert and Newton are off the board.

5: Arizona Cardinals – Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M – A dream scenario here for Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt. He could go with Patrick Peterson here, but instead, the prototypical outside linebacker in a 3-4 falls to him in this spot in Miller, a blazer off of the corner that can get to the quarterback.

6: Cleveland Browns – Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU – You can never have enough shut down corners at your disposal, and Peterson would be too good here for the Browns to pass up at No. 6. Peterson and Joe Haden would suddenly make up the best young tandem of corners that this league has seen in quite some time.

7: San Francisco 49ers – Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina – This would be a tough, tough spot for Head Coach Jim Harbaugh in his first draft. If this is how it were to play out, both the top corner and the top pass rusher on the board would be gone, as would the top two QB prospects. We have to assume that the Niners would try everything to get out of this spot at this point, because it’s probably too early to take Prince Amukamara. Instead, we’ll give the Niners the best player available in Quinn to help rush the passer.

8: Tennessee Titans – Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn – The Titans take a very talented player with a troubled history in Fairley, which could be good… and it could turn out to be another Vince Young situation.

9: Dallas Cowboys – Tyron Smith, OT, USC – Jerry Jones takes his first ever offensive lineman in the first round in team history by taking Smith, who should do a better job of protecting Tony Romo than the OL in Big D did last year…

10: Washington Redskins – Julio Jones, WR, Alabama – The SEC West takes half of the Top 10 in this draft when Jones comes off the board. Washington needs a wide receiver in a big time way, but if it were smart, it would try to trade down and stock pile some picks, as there is plenty available for this team to pick later on.

11: Houston Texans – Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska – The only reason this pick is going to take so long to get to the podium is because it’s going to take some rep for the Texans at least 20 seconds to spell Amukamara. If this pick is available and Houston doesn’t go grab the former Husker, everyone in the War Room should be fired in an instant.

12: Minnesota Vikings – JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin – Probably a bit of a reach here for Minnesota, but with an aging defensive line and a lack of interest for Jake Locker, Watt makes for a decent pick in a lousy spot to be in.

13: Detroit Lions – Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri – The reformation of the Detroit defense continues with Smith, who could be a monster lined up on the same side of the line as Ndamukong Suh.

14: St. Louis Rams – Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue – The run on defensive linemen continues here at No. 14, as Steve Spagnuolo collects a real stud out of Purdue that can be a double digit sack man.

15: Miami Dolphins – Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida – Pouncey becomes the first interior lineman off the board here at No. 15 in a position that Miami desperately needs to fill. It’ll do so with a local player from Gainesville that it hopes turns into the second coming of his brother, Maurkice Pouncey in Pittsburgh.

16: Jacksonville Jaguars – Jake Locker, QB, Washington – The Jags have had a history of terrible drafting, and this might be the pick that finally puts Head Coach Jack Del Rio in his grave. Jacksonville needs a quarterback, but Locker is clearly a project pick, not a guy you’re slotting in there right away.

17: New England Patriots – Justin Houston, LB, Georgia – Here, we just have a good fit for the Pats with Justin Houston. Sure, it’d be a reach of a pick here at No. 17, but Bill Belichick has never cared about draft value, just getting the right guys in the right spots in his lineup. Houston fills a big time void at OLB.

18: San Diego Chargers – Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal – This is the proper pick at this point for the Chargers, who need a replacement for the departed (and fallen off the face of the earth) Shawne Merriman.

19: New York Giants – Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College – The G-Men would be doing cartwheels to end up with Castonzo, one of the best exterior OL options on the board this year.

20: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson – The Bucs have totally revamped their defensive line over the course of the last two years in the draft, and this year, the task will be complete if they can snare Bowers or one of the other stud defensive ends in this draft.

21: Kansas City Chiefs – Game Carimi, OT, Wisconsin – There’s never anything wrong with drafting a Wisconsin offensive lineman. The big man for the Badgers will end up in a KC uniform if he’s still on the board at No. 21.

22: Indianapolis Colts – Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois – Yeah, the Colts would probably be better served not drafting an interior lineman here, but GM Bill Polian always drafts the best talent available. Liuget is certainly a Top 20 talent, and Indy would be thrilled to have him at No. 22.

23: Philadelphia Eagles – Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado – The Eagles could be trading up for a corner at some point during the draft, but if they don’t, this is the man that they want. Smith is a perfect complement for Head Coach Andy Reid’s defense.

24: New Orleans Saints – Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple – Save for Will Smith, there isn’t anything on this defensive line that scares us for the Saints. Wilkerson would at least threaten to change that.

25: Seattle Seahawks – Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas – Mallett has prototypical size for a quarterback, and he is just the type of man that Head Coach Pete Carroll built his teams around at USC. This is assuming, of course, that the team doesn’t have confidence in Charlie Whitehurst any longer after watching him stink it up for the most part last season, save for in that playoff game. It’s an ideal situation for Mallett to be in as a rookie, learning from Hasselbeck and Carroll.

26: Baltimore Ravens – Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State – And now we have three men named Cameron drafted in the first round with Heyward coming off the board to the Ravens. These big time athletic defenders are just what Baltimore is always looking for, and inevitably, Heyward would be able to step right in and help out a big time unit.

27: Atlanta Falcons – Nate Solder, OT, Colorado – We love the pick here for Head Coach Mike Smith to shore up another offensive line spot with Solder, a man who was a beast going against some of the best that the country had to offer in the Big XII last season.

28: New England Patriots – Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama – The rich just keep getting richer. Ingram is a Top 10 talent and is definitely the best back on the board, but his injury concerns are making teams shy away. If Ingram is the real deal, you can bet that New England won’t pass on him, especially with Belichick and one of his old assistants, Nick Saban in cahoots.

29: Chicago Bears – Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State – MSU is one of these programs that is growing in stature right now under Dan Mullen, and Sherrod could be a beast at offensive tackle for the Bears. Protection of Jay Cutler at least gives him a chance, though there might not be a chance for a man that has this bipolar of an arm.

30: New York Jets – Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA – Phil Taylor will be tempting here for the Jets, but Ayers is a pass rusher that is absolutely coveted by Head Coach Rex Ryan. Ryan loves these athletic players, and this is the perfect combination of speed and strength to add to the mix in the Big Apple.

31: Pittsburgh Steelers – Brandon Harris, DB, Miami – The Steelers really don’t have a lot of glaring weaknesses right now, but corner is probably one of them. Don’t be shocked if Pittsburgh tries to move up to get Mike Pouncey to slot in next to his brother, but it’s not all that often that we see the black and gold moving up, especially when they draft so well in the slots that they are in.

32: Green Bay Packers – Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona – With Heyward off the board, there isn’t much left for a 3-4 based team to go after. Reed is a nice alternative right now, though the possibility of a wide receiver is out there as well.

 
April 21st, 2011 By Louie - Cappersinfo Admin

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NBA Matchup: Orlando Magic @ Atlanta Hawks
Game Date/Time: Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 8:05 ET
Location: Philips Arena – Atlanta, Georgia

NBA Odds: Orlando -1.5
Over/Under Odds: 181

Game Analysis: Of all the picks I have made so far for the playoffs this one is the strongest of them all. I loved Atlanta in game one and not only picked them to cover the spread but to win the game outright which they did. Orlando bounced back in game two but still failed to cover winning 88-82 laying 9 points. This year’s Orlando team is not even close to a shadow of their past playoff teams. In this series the only real scoring threat for Orlando has been Dwight Howard, and Atlanta has done an excellent job on defending his supporting cast. If Orlando doesn’t start to find some offense elsewhere they are in for big trouble in this series. The crowd should be in rare form tonight considering the fans certainly didn’t forget last year’s disappointment and the severe beating the Hawks got at home against Orlando in the conference semi-finals. Revenge is usually not a factor in the NBA, but I can see it in the Hawks play that they were completely embarrassed last year and made a commitment this year to revenge that loss. Orlando is the perfect team to face in this situation having made late season moves that are questionable at best and not playing nearly as well this year as they have in the past few years. Dwight Howard did all he can do in the first two games and the Magic were really lucky to gain a split at home If you ask me Orlando’s run of dominance in the early rounds of the Eastern Conference Playoffs will come to an abrupt end this year at the hands of Atlanta. A win in Game three is a very important step for the Hawks to take to exercise last year’s demons and regain respectability.

Free NBA Playoff Pick: Atlanta +1.5

 
April 20th, 2011 By Louie - Cappersinfo Admin

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NBA Matchup: Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers
Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 21, 2011 @ 7:05 ET
Location: Conseco Fieldhouse- Indianapolis, Indiana

NBA Odds: Chicago Bulls -4.5
Over/Under Odds: 189

Game Analysis: The Pacers have stayed closer then expected in both of the first two games in this series. They covered the spread in both games one and two with game one going over the posted total and game two staying under the total. The Bulls find themselves favored by 4.5 points for game three on the road with a total of 189. I fully realize Indiana has looked good in the first two games of this series, however the Bulls have been able to hold serve at home and can look to put the hammer down on this series with a win on the road in game three. Chicago has played at Indian twice this season winning 99-86 in January and losing 115-108 in March. Their effort on defense in the January win was the difference and I am looking for a big defensive effort from the Bulls in Indiana for game three. The Bulls know from their loss in March that an up and down type of game with Indiana is not putting their best foot forward. The Pacers have played excellent defense on the Bulls in the first two games forcing Derrick Rose to use some of his MVP magic to will Chicago to wins. I am expecting another great defensive game from Indiana and if they can force Rose’s teammates to be the ones who beat them they might be able to get the win at home as an underdog. I am more interested in the total in this game which is posted at 189. I am picking under 189 in this game as this series has been dominated by defense thus far and the change in venue to Conseco Fieldhouse won’t change that a bit. This may be the lowest scoring of the first three games as both teams have a good idea by now what the other wants to do and how to stop it. Look for a game played below 90 points by both teams as the Pacers will fight to keep it close at home and avoid a 3-0 deficit.

Free NBA Playoff Pick: Under 189

 
April 19th, 2011 By Andy "The Raven" Frank (Cappersinfo Contributor)

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NBA Matchup: Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, April 20th, 8:05 ET
Location: Oklahoma City Arena – Oklahoma City, OK

NBA Odds: Oklahoma City -4.5
Over/Under Odds: 208

Game Analysis: Oklahoma City was able to escape game one at home with a close 107-103 victory. Denver kept the game very close and was able to cover the spread getting 5.5 to 6 points. The game went over the posted total of 204.5 despite just 91 second half points being scored. In game one there were 119 first half points scored. A different style of play in the second half helped the Thunder hold the Nuggets to 43 second half points. Game one went much like it did in the Miami-Philadelphia and the Chicago-Indiana series. In both of those series the first half pace was extremely fast followed by a second half that was much better defensively and a game two in which both home teams played defense in the entire game closer to how they played in the second halves of game 1. I expect the same from Oklahoma City especially after holding Denver to just 43 second half points in game 1. The total for this game opened at 207.5 and is up to 208 at the moment. It is entirely normal after an outcome of 210 on a total listed of 204.5 that in game two the total would be slightly higher. The public has the tendency to follow the most recent outcome and expect that to hold true in the next game. That doesn’t happen too often, more often then not game two’s in general are played completely differently then game ones are played. In game one we already saw such a wide range from what was scored in the first half (119) to the second half (91). I think Oklahoma City would much rather play Denver like they did in the second half then when they allowed the Nuggets to score 63 first half points. In game two a concentration on defense for the Thunder should control the pace of this game. The total is set way too high, and instead of the number going up due to the outcome of game one, I believe the total should be lower tonight due to the disparity in scoring between the first and second halves. Play under 208 in this game and wait to place the wager until the last moment the line may go up even higher.

Free NBA Playoff Picks: Under 208

NBA Matchup: New Orleans Hornets @ LA Lakers
Date: Wednesday, April 20th, 10:35 ET
Location: Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA

NBA Odds : Lakers -11.5
Over/Under Odds: 187.5

Game Analysis: Everyone and their cousin will be lining up to bet on the Lakers in game two considering their huge upset loss in game one. However before you do that keep this in mind; over the last 8 games the Lakers went 2-6. Now you might say it was the end of the season but it is also a fact that playoff seeding was up for grabs at the same time. This “lapse” happened to LA earlier in the year and they were able to “right the ship” after the all-star break and go on an extended win streak. However in my opinion this Lakers team has one very large weakness and it is the key to beating them. I have seen this particular weakness cost them several games this year and in the playoffs it might be the key to if the Lakers can three-peat. The one glaring weakness on the Lakers is their ability on defense to stop a point guard who can score. I’ve seen several top point guards in this league eat Derrick Fisher up and the Lakers don’t have anyone else to go to should Chris Paul start to dominate him again like he did in game one. Paul outscored Fisher in game one 33-8 he also had 14 assists compared to just two for Fisher. That kind of domination in game two will give the Lakers fits. Even if Paul doesn’t have as good a game the Hornets are likely to be able to cover the inflated line of 11.5 points. The Hornets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 visits to the Staples Center and must have gained tremendous confidence in their surprise game one win. Chris Paul owns the kind of magic needed to beat LA in this series, and if the Lakers don’t clamp down on defense and force his supporting cast to beat them they are in for trouble not only in game two but in this series. Look for a much better defensive effort from the Lakers, but 11.5 points is way too many to expect LA to cover. I do also like the under a little at 187.5, but I am much more interested in playing New Orleans +11.5. This is another game you should wait until the last minute to wager on if you’re taking New Orleans. There is little doubt the public will drive this line up even more and pound LA late. Don’t fall into that trap; the right side tonight is New Orleans +11.5

Free NBA Playoff Selection: New Orleans +11.5

 
April 16th, 2011 By Andy "The Raven" Frank (Cappersinfo Contributor)

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Matchup: New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Date: Sunday, April 17th, 7:05 ET
Location: The TD Garden

NBA Odds: Boston -6
Over/Under Odds: 197

Game Analysis:  The rivalry that exists between the cities of Boston and New York is one that few outsiders really understand.  If it’s not the Yankees and Red Sox doing battle or the Bruins and the Rangers it’s the Knicks and the Celtics.  Boston and New York are the two largest cities in the Northeast and are constantly pitted against each other in sporting events.  Their fans are known for their enthusiasm to say the least and this year an old playoff rivalry is renewed.  The rivalry between the Knicks and the Celtics goes back a long time and this year’s renewal is somewhat of a surprise.  The Knicks made some big moves in the off season acquiring Amare Stoudamire and improving their team.  Right before the trade deadline they made another huge move getting Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in a big three team trade.  Unfortunately the results have been mixed since the trade.  The Knicks offense is something they have gotten going since the trade with the obvious double threat of Carmelo and Stoudamire it gives New York two very good scoring options and difficult match ups for the opposition.  The Knicks have had their issues on defense this year and especially since the trade.  Against a good team like Boston that will lead to plenty of open jumpers and easy baskets.  If you leave Ray Allan open he will kill you and he should have a field day against the Knicks.  Boston relies on their defense but is not averse to getting into the open floor if the opportunity presents itself.  Against the Knicks there are many open floor opportunities and that should help keep the score of this game well above 100 for both teams.  This total could be eclipsed early in the 4th quarter if New York tries to run which I suspect they will.  Due to the Celtics defensive reputation the line is set a relative low number 197.  However I know they will take advantage of the Knicks lack of defense and put up a nice score in this game.  Whether they cover the 6 points is questionable although I’d lean to yes, what is not questionable is that this game should go way over the posted total of 197. 

Free NBA Playoff Picks: OVER 197

Matchup: Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: Saturday, April 17th, 9:305 ET
Location: Oklahoma City Arena

NBA Odds : Oklahoma City -5.5
Over/Under Odds: 200

Game Analysis:  Perhaps the best of all 8 first round playoff match ups is this Oklahoma City-Denver series.  Oklahoma City is obviously a young and talented team that got a lot of much needed playoff experience last year and made a key move before the trade deadline getting defensive presence Kendrick Perkins.  They are lead by perennial NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant and the combo of Durant and Westbrook may be the best young combo in the NBA.  The Thunder will host Denver who made quite a run after trading away their top scorer Carmelo Anthony.  After trading Carmelo it appeared two things happened in Denver, first off they started to share the ball more and that made their offense actually more versatile.  Second, for the first time since I can remember the Nuggets actually started playing defense. That combination sparked them to a #5 seed and a real chance in this series to come away with the win.  The reason I feel Denver not only has a great chance in game 1 but also a great chance to win the series is that although Oklahoma City got the experience of playoff basketball last year and excelled especially giving the Lakers a scare this year they have to deal with the added pressure of expectations.  Last year was all good for the Thunder as no one expected anything from them so what we got we were surprised to see.  This year is a different story all together; Thunder fans and the media in general are expecting a rematch with the Lakers.  Where there was no pressure at all last year there is tremendous pressure this year.  How this young team reacts to this pressure is the key to their playoff fate this year.  I think in game 1 we will see some of that pressure surface and the Thunder will struggle to win the game.  Denver went 1-3 against Oklahoma City this year and just played them April 8th losing 104-89 on the very same court they will play on Sunday.  Sunday should be a different outcome with Denver not only covering but very likely winning the game.

Free NBA Playoff Selection:  Denver Nuggets +5.5