Posts Tagged ‘NBA Finals betting’

June 10th, 2012 By Andrew Ryan
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And then there were two… The Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to be battling it out on the NBA Finals odds starting on Tuesday night. These are two of the most talented teams that we have seen in the league this year, and in this marathon of a season comes to a close, it is clear that one of these clubs is going to be well deserving champions.

#2 Miami Heat vs. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder Series Preview & Pick

We hate to think of this game as the “old guard” against the “new guard,” but that’s almost what this looks like. Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James were here with the Heat last year, and these stars are in the middling stages of their careers. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and James Harden have all been growing up together over the course of the last few years, and the team is now just four wins short of the ultimate reward, winning the NBA Championship. Remember that this team was atrocious just four years ago. Then came the first round of the playoffs. Then came the Western Conference Finals. And now, the Thunder are here in the NBA Finals for the first time since moving to Oklahoma City and the second time in the history of the franchise.

The Heat are clearly one of the best teams in the league and have been the favorites to win the NBA Finals for really the last two years. Of course, getting the Super Friends together was supposed to be the key to winning title after title in South Beach, but in the end, if this is the second straight year that Miami gets into the NBA Finals, only to lose, there would be a lot of explaining to do.

LeBron is coming off of a big time end of this series against the Boston Celtics. He scored 45 points against the C’s in Game 6 on the road, and then he came home and scored 31 points and had 12 boards in the series-clinching victory. D-Wade had a much better go of it in Game 7 than he did in Game 6, scoring 23 points, and Bosh had 19 points and eight boards off of the bench. That being said, the rest of the role players for this team just haven’t been all that remarkable, and that was what really killed the Heat last year. Will Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, James Jones, and the likes be able to step up their game and help this team out? That might be the big question right now in this series.

Meanwhile for Oklahoma City, the key is going to be the help around Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. These three are the key cogs for this roster, and they do the majority of the scoring for the club, but what we have seen here in the playoffs is all sorts of other players stepping up to the task. Thabo Sefolosha, Serge Ibaka, and Kendrick Perkins did tremendously against the Spurs, and it can’t be underestimated just how important Derek Fisher has been to the club as well.

This really should be a fantastic series. Both of these teams have the ability to get the job done, but in the end, we think that home court advantage is going to work to the edge of Oklahoma City. Take the Thunder in a relatively long series.

Oklahoma City Thunder in 6 (-165)

 
May 27th, 2012 By Andrew Ryan
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The Eastern Conference Finals is set to get underway, and it is clear that two of the best teams in the conference, the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are going to be involved in the soiree. This should be a fantastic series, and many think that the winner of this series is going to go on to win the 2012 NBA Championship. Don’t miss out on all of our Boston vs. Miami picks for the postseason!

#4 Boston Celtics vs. #2 Miami Heat Series Preview & Pick

The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics clearly don’t like each other. The Celtics were formed by bringing all sorts of big time names together for a run at glory, and they were able to get the job done. That’s why the Heat wanted to get their trio of stars together. Now, Boston is clearly at the tail end of its domination, while Miami is just trying to make its run for its first title. The two would love nothing more than to be able to end the other’s season in the Eastern Conference Finals.

With all of the big time names that are in the playoffs right now, the one that might be the MVP of the bunch is Rajon Rondo. Rondo was more or less just “that fourth guy” that was the glue to Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce and their stardom, but he has rounded into the most important player on the team. Head Coach Doc Rivers called Rondo the quarterback of the club for good reason. He is third on the team in scoring here in the postseason, and he is averaging over a dozen assists and nearly seven rebounds per game as well. Rondo’s Game 7 triple-double against the Philadelphia 76ers was one of the best and most important games that a Celtic has ever had, and it marked his ninth career playoff triple-double. Pierce and Garnett are both doing well in the postseason as well, averaging 19.3 and 19.2 points per game between them, but the rest of the team just seems to be full of liabilities. Allen looks old and slow, and with Avery Bradley out for the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, defense could be a big problem now that Boston is running into a solid offensive club with superstars on it for the first time in these playoffs.

The Heat have officially woken up. They were down 2-1 in the series to the Indiana Pacers a week and a half ago, and they were coming off of a stretch of five games in which they were beaten three times and nearly beaten a fourth. However, without Chris Bosh in the fold, Miami has gone on a great run, winning three straight games in dominating fashion to get to this point. The question though, is who will take over for Bosh in the paint? Udonis Haslem is the most likely candidate, but the better hope is that Bosh will be able to come back from this abdomen injury at some point in this series. We just don’t know if it is going to happen, though. That being said, LeBron and D-Wade are averaging over 50 points per game between them, but beyond those two and Mario Chalmers, no one on the club is averaging more than the 5.3 points per game of Mike Miller.

These two teams really just don’t like each other, and it is going to show once again over the course of the next two weeks. The lack of off days is going to come back to really hurt Boston though, as the more youthful legs of the Heat should be able to get through this series and all of the travel that is necessary a heck of a lot better. We know that the Celtics were able to win the final three games that these teams played in the regular season this year, but this is a different looking Miami team. This series might look a heck of a lot like last year’s series in the second round, when the Heat disposed of the C’s in five games.

Miami Heat in 5 (-500)

 
May 24th, 2012 By Andrew Ryan
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The Western Conference Finals is set to get underway, and it is clear that the two best teams in the entire playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to be involved in the soiree. This should be a fantastic series, and many think that the winner of this series is going to go on to win the 2012 NBA Championship. Don’t miss out on all of our Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio picks for the postseason!

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #1 San Antonio Spurs Series Preview & Pick

The old guard vs. the new guard. The value of depth vs. two of the biggest stars in the game. These are all ways that we can bill this series between the Spurs and the Thunder. They clearly are two totally different teams, but both excel at what they do to the highest of levels.

We’ll start with the Thunder. They have had to play in some tight games over the course of the first two rounds of the playoffs, particularly at home. Oklahoma City has won all five of its games played in front of its hometown crowd, but three of those games really came down to the wire. There is just one loss here in the playoffs for the Thunder, an almost predictable Game 3 loss at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, there is no shame whatsoever in the fact that the Thunder have gone through the defending NBA champs, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Lakers in a total of just nine games. Kevin Durant is averaging 26.7 points per game, and Russell Westbrook is good for 24.1 points per game. James Harden has been off just a bit at 17.0 points per game, while Serge Ibaka doesn’t quite have the numbers that we are expecting either at 9.8 points, 6.1 boards, and 3.7 blocks per game. Still, it’s all going right at the moment for Oklahoma City, and it is tough to ignore just how talented this team really is when push comes to shove.

The Spurs were the most dangerous offensive team in the game this past season, and they did it with their depth. They know that they can count on any number of players, even here in the playoffs, and true to their form, the Spurs have had nine different players average at least 5.6 points per game here in the postseason. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili know what it takes to win a title, and they are still the three leading scorers on this team, though all of them have had their minutes cut just a bit over the course of the first two rounds of the playoffs. It’s working though, as there really has only been one close game in the postseason. San Antonio is 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS in the playoffs, and it is now 18-0 SU and 15-2-1 ATS dating back to the regular season. We haven’t seen a run the likes of this in quite some time in the NBA, and especially in this condensed season, this has been a remarkable feat. The Spurs have had the easier of the two roads to the Western Conference Finals for sure, going through the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz, but as the No. 1 seed in the West, they deserved that easier road.

Last year, the Thunder just didn’t have enough to figure out how to get through the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. This year, we think that they are going to really suffer a similar fate. The Spurs are just playing too well right now, and they have too many more options to turn to. If Oklahoma City doesn’t take one of these first two games in the Lone Star State, this series could be over relatively quickly, and though we think that most of the games are going to be tight when push comes to shove, we also think that the Spurs are going to ultimately win this series in just five games.
San Antonio Spurs in 5 (-210)

 
April 28th, 2012 By Andrew Ryan
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The eight series in the NBA playoffs get underway this weekend with a slew of action on the hardwood. Check out how we stack up the NBA series prices and the NBA futures odds that are on the board for this weekend!

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls Series Preview & Pick

The Bulls are clearly the better team in this series, and the only question is whether the series is going to end up being a sweep or not. The 76ers just don’t have the offense to be able to keep up with a team that has a ton of talent on both sides of the court. Derrick Rose being back in the fold is going to make a heck of a lot of a difference in this series, and even if he only averages 25 minutes per game, it should be more than enough for Chicago to make quick, quick work of the worst team in the playoffs as we see it.

Chicago Bulls in 4 (-1350)

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat Series Preview & Pick

The Heat really can’t like the fact that they are stuck in this draw against the Knicks, knowing that they are facing a team that has the talent to be one of the best teams in the league. Carmelo Anthony is just on fire at the moment, and the Knicks are playing great team defense with Tyson Chandler manning the fort in the paint and Iman Shumpert doing the guarding on the outside. In the end though, we do think that Miami is going to find some way, whether by hook or by crook, to get the job done in this series, though we do think that New York is going to put up a heck of a lot more of a fight than most think.

Miami Heat in 6 (-900)

Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers Series Preview & Pick

Many are just writing off the Magic at this point, knowing that they are coming into this series without Dwight Howard, the heart and soul of their team. That being said, we think that Head Coach Stan Van Gundy is one of the best coaches in the NBA, and he can find a way to tighten the ropes around the Pacers, who are really playing for the first time in the playoffs as the “favored” team since Reggie Miller retired. Indiana has had no luck over the course of the last two years or so with Orlando, granted, with Howard playing in the lineup. That being said, the sharpshooters that the Magic have at their disposal might be able to win this series by themselves. Against better competition, this theory won’t work, but against Indiana, there is definitely a real chance that Orlando finds a way out of this series.

Orlando Magic in 7 (+600)

Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Series Preview & Pick

Last year when these two teams met, the Thunder were the slight favorites to win the series and move on to the NBA Finals. Little did we know that Dallas’ defense was going to carry the way once again past the Lakers and the Thunder and all the way to the team’s first ever title. This is a different year, though. Fortunately, James Harden is healthy after taking that wicked elbow from Metta World Peace just a week ago, and he, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant make up the best scoring trio in the league. The experience that this Oklahoma City team has picked up over the course of the last two years should serve it well. We just don’t think that Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks have the horses this year to get the job done.

Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 (-500)

Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs Series Preview & Pick

The Spurs made the mistake last year of losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Grizzlies as the No. 1 seed, and we just don’t see how they are going to be making that same mistake again. The Jazz are a very young team, and many of the players that are going to be on the court are going to be playing in their first playoff series. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan aren’t going to let San Antonio fail again, and even if they aren’t at their best, there are just too many players that have the ability to go off for big time scoring games to keep this team down. The strength in numbers is there for the Spurs, and though Utah has had a good history of sticking around with this team, we just don’t see it happening this time around.

San Antonio Spurs in 5 (-2150)

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Series Preview & Pick

The Lakers are certainly not a lock to get out of the first round of the playoffs this year. Metta World Peace is going to be sidelined for the first six games of this series after throwing that elbow at James Harden last weekend, and that is going to make the supporting cast for Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. The Nuggets are going to use their depth to try to counter the Lakers, and as we have seen in the past, it is possible to frustrate the heck out of this team, even here in the playoffs. We do think that LA is going to survive, but in the end, it is going to be a very tough series that goes the distance.

Los Angeles Lakers in 7 (-240)

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks Series Preview & Pick

What an odd series this is! The Celtics are the better of these two teams, and they are the higher seed, but the Hawks are going to start off at home after finishing with a better record. This is really the closest thing to a tossup series that we have in the first round, and we still believe that the Hawks can find their way to three victories out of four games at home, along with scratching out a ‘W’ on the road at some point. The C’s have played a lot better ball in the second half of the season, but we think that window of opportunity for another title for Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce gets slammed shut at some point over the course of the next two weeks.

Atlanta Hawks in 6 (+165)

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies Series Preview & Pick

The Grizzlies and Clippers fought it out for the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 seeds right until the end of the season, and in the end, the Grizz got the best of the Clips to get home court advantage. This has been a brutal travel schedule for LA, which has had to go from New York back to LA, and now over to Memphis in a relatively short stretch of time. To make matters worse, Blake Griffin, a man who really isn’t a great defender, is going to have to deal with Zach Randolph and the rest of the bigs for the Grizz in the paint. In the end, this just doesn’t look like a pretty series for Los Angeles, knowing that it has had an absolutely atrocious time trying to win big games on the road this year.

Memphis Grizzlies in 5 (-210)

 
June 17th, 2010 By Andrew Ryan

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All 82 games of the NBA betting regular season and four full rounds of the playoffs all come down to this one game on Thursday night at Staples Center, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics square off in a winner take all Game 7 to determine the NBA champions.

Boston Celtics (+7) @ Los Angeles Lakers
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
9:00 ET, Staples Center

Boston Notes: By all accounts, Game 6 was nothing but a total dud for the Celtics. This hasn't been the first time that they have gotten blown out of the water in a game in the playoffs, but it had better be the last time, or the season all goes for naught. The bench, which has been key for HC Doc Rivers in this series, was downright miserable on Tuesday night. The seven reserves that Rivers called upon shot a combined 4/26 from the floor (15.4%) and only scored 13 total points in spite of the fact that five players saw at least 15 minutes of court time. Those players are probably going to be called on quite a bit to help fill the minutes that will most likely be lost by the absence of C Kendrick Perkins. Perkins was out of the game after just seven minutes on Tuesday with a knee injury, and he is doubtful to play in Game 7. G Ray Allen had an encouraging second to last game of the season, scoring 19 points. Even though he and his three "Big Four" teammates all scored at least ten points, the efforts by all four are going to have to step up, especially offensively, for the C's to be called champions on Thursday night.

Los Angeles Notes: The Lakers have done their job and have narrowed the NBA Finals down to just this one game in front of their hometown fans. Game 6 wasn't a particularly strong offensive one for LA, as it shot just 41.8 percent from the field. However, holding Boston to 33.3 percent was all the more impressive. Both G Kobe Bryant and F Pau Gasol had double-doubles in the victory. Bryant shot 9/19 from the floor and scored 26 points to go with 11 boards. Gasol nearly had a triple-double, as he totaled 17 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists to go with his three blocks. Defensively, Gasol really has made the difference in this series. Speaking of defense, F Ron Artest has done a fantastic job in the first six games of the NBA Finals as well. However, his real difference making moment came in Game 6 when he nailed three triples and scored a personal series high with 15 points. F Lamar Odom came up two points short of a double-double as well, as he had eight points and ten boards.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 7

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+7
-7
187
Diamond Sportsbook
+7
-7
187.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+7
-7
187

Trends of Note: Six games up, and six games down for the team that has won the rebounding battle. After blowing Boston out on the glass 52-39 on Tuesday, the team winning the battle of the boards moved to 6-0 SU and ATS in this series. If the Celtics do win tonight SU, they would become the first team in NBA history to beat HC Phil Jackson in a seven game series in which his team won the first game of the best of seven (47-0). They would also become the first team in the history of the game to lose Game 3 and fall behind 2-1 in the NBA Finals in the 2-3-2 format and win the championship (10-0). Boston dropped to 12-5-1 ATS in its L/18 meetings with the Lakers overall. The Celtics have covered four straight games following a double digit defeat and are 7-1 ATS in their L/8 games following either an SU or ATS loss.

The Final Word: There really is no common logic for describing how the Celtics can win the NBA championship tonight after such a devastating setback in Game 6, but they are a bunch that has figured out how to overcome adversity every step of the way in these playoffs. We're going to back this bunch once again with the touchdown that is given to us, as we are expecting a nail-biting final game to the NBA betting campaign.

Prediction: Boston 99 – Los Angeles 98

 
June 15th, 2010 By Andrew Ryan

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The last game of the NBA betting campaign could be tonight in Tinseltown, as the Los Angeles Lakers try to save their season in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Boston Celtics (+6.5) @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
9:00 ET, Staples Center

Boston Notes: If the Celtics are to close out the series tonight, they are once again going to need to put together the complete team effort. HC Doc Rivers really hasn't had any true "superstars" in this series, but at any time, he could call on any number of about ten players to hit big shots or make crucial plays for him. Defense for the C's was a real staple at home, and it was that unit that carried the club to back to back wins to turn a 2-1 series deficit into the 3-2 series lead that they currently hold. In Game 5, Boston pretty much allowed G Kobe Bryant to do whatever he wanted to do, but the rest of the men in purple and gold were totally shut down. The team only shot 39.7 percent from the field, which include Bryant shooting 13/27. F Kevin Garnett had his second very strong game out of his L/3, recording his first double-double in this series with 18 points and ten rebounds. F Paul Pierce nailed 12 shots, including a pair of triples, scoring 27 to lead the way. It was another questionable game for G Ray Allen, who went 0/4 from downtown, but he still scored 12 points to be a key contributor.

Los Angeles Notes: As stated before, Bryant scored his 38 points in Game 5, but the rest of the team was totally missing in action. We give C Andrew Bynum a bit of a free pass, as he only scored six points and had one rebound, because of his injured knee, which has already been drained twice of fluids in these playoffs. However, F Pau Gasol shouldn't be held to 12 points and 12 rebounds in the NBA Finals in 39 minutes worth of court time. The Spaniard knows that he should be putting in at least 20 on the average night to give Bryant a hand, because there really isn't anyone else on the squad that feels like they can be counted upon on a consistent basis to help out offensively. The Lakers also shot themselves in the foot from the charity stripe in Game 5, going just 17/26. They outscored the C's at the line by eight points, but did so on 13 more attempts. The Lakers only had three fast break points for the entire game, and they were outdone in the paint 46-32. For the third time in this series, they also lost the rebounding battle, though a -1 margin shouldn't be considered alarming.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 6

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+6.5
-6.5
187.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+6.5
-6.5
187.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+6.5
-6.5
188

Trends of Note: We've talked about this every step of the way, but the team winning the rebounding battle is still perfect both SU and ATS in this series at 5-0. If the Celtics do win tonight SU, they would become the first team in NBA history to beat HC Phil Jackson in a seven game series in which his team won the first game of the best of seven (47-0). They would also become the first team in the history of the game to lose Game 3 and fall behind 2-1 in the NBA Finals in the 2-3-2 format and win the championship (10-0). However, it is hard to ignore the fact that the Celtics are now 9-2 ATS in their 11 NBA Finals duels with the Lakers over the L/3 seasons, and even harder to overlook the 12-4-1 ATS they are in their L/17 meetings overall.

The Final Word: The series ends tonight. The Celtics are just playing better team ball right now, and what the Lakers have proven to themselves is that Bryant isn't like to win a game on his own with no help. Confidence cannot be riding high right now in Tinseltown, and unless Bryant proves us wrong, that he indeed can beat the Celtics all by his lonesome, we very much so expect to see the city of Boston celebrating its second championship in the L/3 years tonight over the Lakers.

Prediction: Boston 97 – Los Angeles 91

 
June 12th, 2010 By Andrew Ryan

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Boston's TD Banknorth Garden will be the site of one final NBA Finals betting affair on Sunday night, as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers clash in Game 5 of the championship series. For the second time in this series, the C's fended off a potential two game series deficit when they stole a 96-89 win at home in Game 4 on Thursday.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics (-3)
Sunday, June 13th, 2010
8:00 ET, TD Banknorth Garden

Los Angeles Notes: This has become a very, very dangerous game for the Lakers. Losing Game 4 was a bit predictable after the Game 3 triumph, as there was probably a bit of a feeling of satisfaction knowing that this series was, at very worst, heading back to the Staples Center. C Andrew Bynum's injury concerns are once again present, as he had his knee drained yet again after not being able to play in the second half of Game 4. His partner in the paint, F Pau Gasol, once again had a respectable game for the defending champions, scoring 21 points and ripping down six boards. It should come as no surprise that G Kobe Bryant once again led the Lakers in scoring. He only shot 10/22 from the field, but he did connect on six three pointers and totaled 33 points. HC Phil Jackson probably wishes that his star would need fewer shots to score his points, and turning the ball over seven times is incredibly unacceptable. LA only shot 45.1 percent from the field, but the more embarrassing statistic was the fact that the team shot just 1/9 from beyond the arc if you discount Kobe's six triples.

Boston Notes: For the second time in this series, the Celtics have won the rebounding battle, but the key was the offensive glass for the hosts. Boston grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, which was eight more than the Lakers mustered. F Glen Davis had four of those o-boards. He was the real star of the game, scoring 18 points on 7/10 shooting in just 23 minutes of court time for the Celtics. Davis was one of six players that scored in double digits for HC Doc Rivers in what amounted to be an incredibly well rounded effort. It wasn't a fantastic game for F Paul Pierce, though Rivers will surely take 19 points, six boards, and five assists from "The Truth" on a regular basis. G Ray Allen rebounded from his woeful 0/13 shooting night by scoring 12 points and hauling in five rebounds. G Rajon Rondo really needs to get himself together in this series, as he only averaging 13.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game, but a lot of those numbers really came about from his triple-double in Game 2. Rivers is going to hope that he can count on his bench to come up in a big way yet again, as Boston outscored LA's bench 36-18 in Game 4.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+3
-3
187.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+3
-3
188
BetUS Sportsbook
+3
-3
187.5

Trends of Note: These two teams have split the SU and ATS proceedings against the NBA Finals odds in the first four games of this series. The team winning the rebounding battle has gone a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS. Los Angeles is now just 4-11-1 ATS in its L/16 clashes with the Celtics. Boston is 8-3 ATS in its L/11 home games and 9-4 ATS in its L/13 NBA betting affairs overall. When they are on at least two days worth of rest, the Celtics are a perfect 5-0, with all five games coming in these playoffs. They're also 4-1 ATS in their L/5 games as favorites of less than five points.

The Final Word: Once again, there is far more pressure on the Celtics in this game than there is on the Lakers. Boston has no chance of winning the NBA Finals from down 3-2 going back to Tinseltown in all likelihood, so this becomes a game of paramount importance. The Celtics are simply playing better all-around ball right now, and until Bynum or someone off of the LA bench proves that they can step up and make a difference in this series, we're going to continue to back the C's.

Prediction: Boston 100 – Los Angeles 90

 
June 9th, 2010 By Andrew Ryan

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The fourth game of NBA Finals betting action takes place on Thursday night at TD Banknorth Garden, and here at Cappers Info, we're dissecting the odds and picking out your free picks for the game.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics (-3.5)
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
9:00 ET, TD Banknorth Garden

Los Angeles Notes: Game 3 probably wasn't the most impressive game that the Lakers have played all season, but it certainly was an effective one that moved them to within two steps of becoming NBA champions for the second straight season. G Kobe Bryant probably took far too many shots for his own good (29 to be exact), but scoring 29 points was really a huge difference maker in the triumph. The rebounding battle swung back to the way it was in Game 1 for Los Angeles, as it won the bash on the boards 43-35. To no one's surprise, the team that has had the more rebounds in each game in this series is both 3-0 SU and ATS. C Andrew Bynum had his second straight quality start in this series, scoring nine points and bringing in ten rebounds. Even though many would expect him to be a bigger point producer, grabbing five offensive rebounds setup a number of opportunities that otherwise wouldn't have happened, which makes him as valuable of an asset as there was on the court in purple and gold.

Boston Notes: For all of the right reasons, G Ray Allen was the man that was highly discussed following Game 2 of the NBA Finals, as he was coming off of a game in which he nailed an NBA Finals record eight three pointers and pretty much single handedly carried the team to victory in Tinseltown. However, Ray Allen gives, and Ray Allen takes away. Allen shot 0/13 from the floor, including a woeful 0/8 from beyond the arc in the Game 3 loss, proving that he can be just as deadly to his own team as he can to his opponents. F Paul Pierce really needs to get his act in gear and take over as a leader of this team in order for it to survive. He has only averaged 16.3 points per game in this series, and though those numbers are respectable, he has yet to look like the superstar that the Celtics so desperately need on the court. G Rajon Rondo had an off night on Tuesday as well, scoring just 11 points. The best game in weeks by F Kevin Garnett was wasted. KG put up 25 points, and at times, he was the only offensive threat that was keeping Boston alive in the game.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+3.5
-3.5
190.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+3.5
-3.5
190.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+3.5
-3.5
190.5

Trends of Note: Since starting up the 2-3-2 format in the NBA Finals, there have been ten teams take a 2-1 series lead in Game 3. That team that took the 2-1 series edge is a perfect 10-0 in terms of winning the NBA Championship. Obviously, the Celtics are still staring in the face the prospects of that 47-0 mark by HC Phil Jackson in series in which his team took a 1-0 series lead. Still, Boston backers must rest assured that their team is a solid 10-4-1 ATS in their L/15 NBA betting battles with these Lakers. However, since Game 6 of the NBA Finals two years ago, LA is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS at the Garden.

The Final Word: We knew that Allen wasn't going to have the game of his life once again in Game 3, but going 0/13 is a tad bit ridiculous. If the former Connecticut Huskies guard even remotely looked halfway decent on Tuesday, the story would've been significantly different than the seven point defeat. Motivation and desperation should be the keys to victory for HC Doc Rivers' crew on Thursday night, as the Celtics should storm back and level this series for the second time.

Prediction: Boston 96 – Los Angeles 88

 
June 8th, 2010 By Andrew Ryan

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NBA Finals betting action continues on Tuesday night, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics get ready to have at it in Game 3 of this best of seven set.

Los Angeles Lakers (+3) @ Boston Celtics
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
9:00 ET, TD Banknorth Garden

Los Angeles Notes: It was most certainly a tale of two different games for the Lakers in Tinseltown last week. The NBA Finals odds were stacked in LA's favor in Game 1, as the hosts dominated the glass and watched G Kobe Bryant notch his fifth straight 30+ point game in the postseason in an easy victory to take a 1-0 series lead. That series lead became critical, as HC Phil Jackson has never lost a series in which he has opened with a victory. Game 2 looked totally different, though. Though F Pau Gasol had his second straight dominating game, Boston simply shot the Lakers out of their own building and evened this series at a game apiece. Gasol is averaging 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, and 3.0 assists per game in the NBA Finals, which is by far the most impressive performance from a player in purple and gold. If there was one encouraging sign in Game 2 for Lakers fans, it was that C Andrew Bynum scored 21 points in what easily amounted to be his best game of the L/2 rounds of the playoffs. Bryant only scored 21 points in Game 2 and must improve upon that for Los Angeles to get back in front in this series.

Boston Notes: G Ray Allen took it upon himself to make sure that the Celtics were getting back to Beantown all square in the NBA Finals. Just three days after only scoring 12 points and not logging a single other statistic, Allen was all over the court, nailing an NBA Finals record eight three pointers and outdueling every single sharpshooter that the Lakers have to offer. The former Connecticut Huskies star finished the night with 32 points to lead all scorers. G Rajon Rondo had his say as well. He had a triple-double through just three quarters of play and ultimately ended up with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and ten assists in the best game of his NBA Finals career in Game 2. Fs Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have really yet to truly get into this series, as the two only combined to shoot 4/16 and score 16 points in Game 2. HC Doc Rivers can't be thrilled about the fact that his team has yet to top 43.3 percent shooting from the field in this series. However, he can rest easily that the C's outrebounded the Lakers 44-39 in Game 2, just three days after getting their clocks cleaned 42-31 in that department.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5

Trends of Note: Including the Game 1 dud, the Celtics have now covered seven out of eight NBA Finals betting affairs against Los Angeles dating back to the '08 season. The Lakers are just 3-10-1 ATS in their L/14 against Boston overall. The C's are 6-2 ATS in their L/8 against the NBA playoff odds as favorites and are 8-3 ATS in their L/11 games overall. Los Angeles is only 5-14 ATS in its L/19 games playing on one day of rest, but Boston just snapped a five game ATS losing streak against the Western Conference in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

The Final Word: Does anyone else feel like it is now Kobe Time? Bryant and the Lakers know that they played perhaps their worst game possible, particularly on the outside on Sunday night. Playing well in the post once again will eventually yield a 'W' in Boston at some point, and we tend to believe that that victory is coming on Tuesday night. Look for Bryant to have another 30+ point showing as he carries the Lakers to victory.

Prediction: Los Angeles 100 – Boston 94

 
June 2nd, 2010 By Andrew Ryan

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The NBA Finals tips off on Thursday night at the Staples Center, and Cappers Info has the lowdown on Game 1 of NBA Finals betting action between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Boston Celtics (+5.5) @ Los Angeles Lakers
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
9:00 ET, Staples Center

Boston Notes: HC Doc Rivers has to be thankful that his team was given a few off days after playing back-to-back grueling six game series with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic. The names that you have become familiar with have all taken their place and taken their turns as the stars of the Celtics. F Paul Pierce is averaging 19.1 points per game in the playoffs to pace the team, but he really didn't shine his brightest until the Eastern Conference Finals against the Magic when he scored 30+ points in two of the final three games of the series to help put Orlando away. G Rajon Rondo has also been huge for the C's, as he put together a monster series against Cleveland in which he averaged 20.7 points per game. Boston is allowing just under 92 points per game in the postseason, the best such mark in the league. The Celtics haven't scored more than 96 points in a game since Game 5 against the Cavs, but the defense has conceded 90 points or fewer in seven of its L/9 NBA playoff betting affairs.

Los Angeles Notes: The Lakers have a lot of issues coming into the NBA Finals, most notably the health of their C Andrew Bynum. Bynum had fluid drained from his knee earlier in the week in an effort to get him ready for the championship series. He was rather harmless in the Western Conference Finals, posting three games of four points or less. However, he was picked up on the inside by the play of both F Lamar Odom and F Pau Gasol. Gasol has been particularly stellar in these playoffs, averaging 20.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Odom has had five double-doubles in the postseason, and he has had at least either double digits in points or rebounds in seven consecutive games. However, when it's playoff time, it's Kobe Time. G Kobe Bryant has been absolutely unconscious at times in the postseason, as he has scored 30+ points in four straight games and reached the 35+ point plateau four times against the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. Bryant still feels disrespected by the way that Celtics fans treated him and his Lakers following the 2008 NBA Finals, and he will inevitably try to channel that aggression to lead the purple and gold to their second straight NBA title.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 1

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+5.5
-5.5
192
Diamond Sportsbook
+5.5
-5.5
191.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+5.5
-5.5
192

Trends of Note: The season series was split between these two teams one game apiece with both teams winning on the opponents' court. However, the Lakers' loss at Staples Center was largely thanks to the fact that Bryant didn't suit up that day. The C's covered all six NBA Finals odds in the 2008 series between the teams, including sticking within huge numbers in both Games 3, 4, and 5 in Tinseltown. Boston's only failed cover attempt at Staples Center since the '07-'08 regular season was in a 92-83 Christmas Day loss in the first meeting of these two teams after the Finals.

The Final Word: Boston has the horses to win this series, just as it did in 2008. The difference this year is that there has to be a win for the visitors at some point if the Celtics have hopes of winning it all. That may be just what happens on Thursday night, as the C's are going to use a stifling defense to once again take care of an opponent on enemy soil. The Cavs and Magic went a combined 1-3 SU and ATS on their home floor against this Boston squad in Games 1 and 2 of those series. Don't expect LA to do any better than that.

Prediction: Boston 98 – Los Angeles 93