Posts Tagged ‘NBA Playoff betting’

May 17th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Chicago Bulls absolutely stormed through Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, crippling the Miami Heat 103-82 thanks to a huge second half. Will it be more of the same for those making NBA picks in Game 2 on Wednesday night? Check out our NBA predictions for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals!

NBA Playoffs Preview: Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls Game 2
Date: Wednesday, May 18th, 8:30 ET
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
Game Line: Chicago -2
Over/Under 181.5

Heat Notes: Okay, Miami. You’ve officially been smacked in the mouth. It’s time to see just how rough and tough you really are! It has really become disturbing for the Heat that they have been held in the 80s in each of the last three meetings against the Bulls dating back to the regular season, and it goes without saying that there won’t be any cause for a championship celebration and a ticker tape parade in South Beach without that changing. For his first game in the Eastern Conference Finals since his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James certainly didn’t play like a King. He shot just 5-of-15 from the field, and it really seems surprising that he only took those 15 shots when push came to shove. We know that James has some better pieces to the puzzle around him now that he didn’t have before, but we also know that he needs to be more aggressive with the basketball and get to the hoop against the Chicago bigs. James scored just 15 points and had six boards and six assists in Game 1. Dwyane Wade too, needs to be more aggressive to get to the hoop. Wade shot 7-of-17 and accounted for 18 points, but he was really totally out of the loop aside from that. The hero was surprisingly Chris Bosh, who did his job against the big time boys in the middle of the Bulls, coming up with 30 points and nine rebounds on 12-of-18 shooting. We spoke of others stepping up, especially in situations in which the Big Three aren’t playing like absolute studs. In Game 1 though, only Mario Chalmers scored more than four points, and the rest of the team only had a total of 19 points.

Bulls Notes: Chicago was particularly impressive defensively in Game 1, holding Heat to just 68 total shots. Of course, a lot of that was thanks to the fact that the Bulls accounted for 19 offensive rebounds and a total of 45 boards against the 33 for the Heat. Miami did a nice job in terms of shooting percentage at 47.1 percent, which was a heck of a lot better than the 43.7 percent that Chicago shot, but again, when you have a difference of 21 shots, you can afford to miss a few more as well. Derrick Rose wasn’t the greatest on Sunday night, but he did come up with 28 points and six helpers to lead the way for the team. Luol Deng was arguably the best Bull on the court. He had 21 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-15 shooting, and he also knocked down four big time three pointers to help blow this game out of proportion in the second half. In fact, Chicago shot 47.6 percent from the land of trey as a team. Carlos Boozer had 14 points and nine rebounds, while both Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah had big games in the paint. Gibson had nine points and seven rebounds off of the bench. Noah had 14 boards, eight of which came on the offensive glass, and he also had nine points and four assists. The Bulls also won the turnover battle 16-10, something that has to make Head Coach Tom Thibodeau a very, very happy man.

The Final Word: Momentum is absolutely on the side of the Bulls right now, and we just aren’t so sure that the Heat are going to be able to get off of the mat at any point during this series, especially here in the Windy City. There’s no excuse for Chicago to not turn up aces once again, and we tend to think that we will see an awfully similar score in Game 2 that we saw in Game 1.

Free NBA Playoffs Picks: Chicago Bulls -2
Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat Prediction: Chicago 95 – Miami 83

 
May 14th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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For the first time in NBA playoff betting action, we have a Game 7 on our hands. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies have fought tooth and nail over the course of these first six games, and when the dust settles on Sunday afternoon, one will be in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history. Check out our NBA picks for the biggest clash of the year!

NBA Playoffs Preview: Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder Game 7
Date: Sunday, May 15th, 3:30 ET
Location: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Game Line: Oklahoma City -6.5
Over/Under 191

Grizzlies Notes: This is also the first time that we have seen the Grizz play in a Game 7 in franchise history. Of course, the hope for them in this one is that no one on the Thunder, save for Kendrick Perkins, there is no Game 7 history either. The best news for Memphis is that it is on a roll from the second half in Game 6. The Grizzlies outscored Oklahoma city 51-29 in the second half. The bad news though, is that Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol haven’t been on the same page a lot in these last two games. This is the first duo since the 1970s over the course of the same seven game series to score 20+ points and have 20+ rebounds in a game. Randolph put up 30 points and had 13 boards on 12-of-22 shooting on Friday night. Gasol though, only had eight points and nine rebounds in what might have been his worst game of the postseason for him. The good news was that OJ Mayo really stepped up, scoring 16 points, including knocking down a pair of big time three point shots. Mike Conley Jr. really hasn’t had a great shooting touch in this series, and that showed again when he went just 3-of-12 from the floor in Game 6. He was the man that was doing a ton of setting up for the other stars though, particularly Z-Bo. Conley had a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists. The Grizz shot just 43.4 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from beyond the arc, but 18-of-22 from the foul line made up big time for an awful shooting night from the charity stripe in Game 5.

Thunder Notes: Kendrick Perkins warned the rest of his teammates that the Thunder hadn’t accomplished anything when they won Game 5. Now, just a few short days later, the team is on the brink of the disaster of blowing a 3-2 series lead to a team that had never won a series before this year in team history. Kevin Durant has had some absolutely terrible games in this series, and these last two games have been awfully bad. Durant had just 11 points and picked up just seven rebounds in Game 6, and he shot just 3-of-14 from the field and 1-of-9 from three point range. He’s down to averaging 28.0 points per game, which was a number over 30.0 points per game before these last two outings with just 30 points combined. Durant also had three double-doubles in the first four games in this series. He hasn’t even come close since that point. Russell Westbrook did have a nice game in terms of shooting a 11-of-22 for 27 points, but you definitely want your point guard coming up with more than four assists, especially when there are five turnovers that were offsetting it. In fact, that turnover problem was a big one in Game 6. Oklahoma City coughed up the rock 16 times against just 15 assists. The team shot just 16.0 percent from three point range and 41.9 percent from the field. Only six offensive rebounds won’t cut it either, and it was the worst production on the glass that the team has had in this series.

The Final Word: This is going to be a heck of a fight right down to the wire. Could the Grizzlies win this game? Absolutely! Memphis is every bit as good as Oklahoma City is right now, and knowing that we are getting 6.5 points on our side is just too good to pass on. We tend to believe that when push comes to shove, the Thunder are going to move on, but this could easily go either way.

Free NBA Playoffs Picks: Memphis +6.5
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies Prediction: Oklahoma City 102 – Memphis 98

 
May 12th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder have really played a fantastic series for NBA betting fans. The Grizz are on the ropes right now though, as they are facing a do or die situation on their home court at the FedEx Forum. Here at Cappers Info, we’re all set to make our NBA picks for the biggest playoff game on Friday night!

NBA Playoffs Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Memphis Grizzlies Game 6
Date: Friday, May 13th, 9:00 ET
Location: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
Game Line: Memphis -2
Over/Under 195.5

Thunder Notes: Kendrick Perkins really made a statement to the rest of his teammates on Wednesday night with a big time win in Game 5. He really wasn’t happy with the way that the Thunder celebrated their big time way, and he called his team out as if they hadn’t accomplished anything yet — after all, Oklahoma City is still only through seven of the 16 games that it needs to win to win an NBA title. The pace of Game 5 was played right at the clip that Perkins would have wanted in his days with the Boston Celtics. Perkins only accounted for five points and three boards in the game, but he also played absolutely fantastic defense the entire game. Nazr Mohammed also had a ton of issues trying to make an impact in this series before this, but in Game 5, he really shined and proved that he was worth the trade at the deadline. Mohammed scored 10 points and had six rebounds. Ironically, this was a game in which Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant really didn’t do a heck of a lot. Westbrook only took 10 shots, which is a far cry from what we are used to from the rest of this series. He scored 11 points, while Durant had 19 points and seven rebounds. Instead, men like Nick Collison (9 points, 10 rebounds) and Daequan Cook (18 points) really stepped up to the plate to pick up the slack. When it was all said and done though, the team shot 47.4 percent from the field, knocked down nine out of 20 shots from three point land, had 50 boards, and forced 14 turnovers, numbers which are all absolutely fantastic.

Grizzlies Notes: The Grizzlies played their hearts out in the first four games of this series, but Game 5 was just downright ugly. Sure, the defense against Durant and Westbrook was great, but when push came to shove, the offense was really just an atrocity. There’s no excuse in this league to shoot just 35.9 percent from the floor in any game, and to make matters worse, connecting on 60.9 percent of your foul shots is every bit as bad. Memphis has struggled all series with its long range shooting, but on this night when it went just 2-of-8, the inside forces just weren’t there to clean up the mess. Both Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have had great series, and they are the first tandem since the 1970s to each have games of 20+ points and 20+ boards in the same series. However, in Game 5, Gasol had just 15 points and five rebounds, while Z-Bo had nine points and seven rebounds — not to mention five fouls. There wasn’t a player on the team that was above the Mason-Dixon Line in the scoring effort while on the court. No one aside from Gasol reached double digits in scoring, and only Randolph had more than five rebounds. Obviously, it goes without saying that the Grizzlies have to play better than this to win Game 6 and to keep their season alive. Scoring 20 points or fewer in all four quarters isn’t going to get the job anywhere near done.

The Final Word: The Thunder know that they have the Grizz right where they want them. If the hardnosed antics of this team can keep up, Memphis is in a heck of a lot of trouble. Oklahoma City clearly has the better side right now, and we aren’t so sure that this game won’t be a pretty big romp as Game 5 was.

Free NBA Playoffs Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder +2
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction: Oklahoma City 90 – Memphis 76

 
May 9th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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After four games, the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls are dead even at two games apiece, and the Eastern Conference Semifinals have essentially become a best of three series. The first of those three game is played in the Windy City on Tuesday night, as Atlanta tries to carry the momentum from its Game 4 triumph back to Chicago for Game 5.

NBA Playoffs Preview: Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls Game 5
Date: Tuesday, May 10th, 8:00 ET
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
Game Line: Chicago -8.5
Over/Under 181

Hawks Notes: It really doesn’t feel like the Hawks are the better team in this series, but they are finding a way to hang in there even though they are playing without their star point guard and the man that they mortgaged a ton of players for to get at the trade deadline in Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich has been out of the first four games of this series with a hamstring injury, and it is anyone’s guess as to when he is going to be available to return to the lineup. In fairness, in his place, Jeff Teague, a man that was used for just a grand total of about 1,700 minutes in his first two years in the league is being called upon to play 40+ minutes per night. Heck, he was only on the court for a total of nine minutes against the Orlando Magic! However, he is hanging in there and has averaged 16.0 points per game, and he only has a total of five turnovers to his credit at this point in the playoffs. The key for Atlanta this whole season, and really for a ton of years though, has been getting off to a great start. We’ve seen this time and time again. When the Hawks get down, they are often held down for the rest of the game, series, or even season. Case in point: Game 1 against the Magic, they jumped out of the blocks to the early lead, and they never looked back. Games 3, 4, and 6, same situation. The one time that Orlando had the quick start, the Hawks were buried by 25 points at the Amway Center in a game in which they gave up in. The Bulls have two quick starts in this series, and they have two wins to show for it. Atlanta needs to make sure that it gets off to a hot start to be able to have any chance of winning this game at the United Center.

Bulls Notes: The reason that the Bulls are so scary right now for the rest of this series is that they just have to hold serve at home to be able to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Beating Chicago this year at the United Center has been a heck of a task for any team to undertake, as it went 36-5 in the regular season. However, the Hawks proved that the task is doable, as they did win Game 1 relatively comfortably on the road, and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, the league’s Coach of the Year, is going to be warning his team of just how dangerous this spot really is to be in. The truth of the matter though, is that the Bulls really should have the physical advantage at just about every spot on the floor against their adversaries in this one. However, the way that Derrick Rose is playing right now, it almost seems as though the other four players on the court in red and white are more or less just out there instead of being involved in the offense. Rose has shot the ball at least 27 times in all three games in this series, and the end result is that the rest of his teammates just aren’t getting involved. Sure, Rose has put up some great numbers, and he is proving why he is the league’s MVP, but even at 29.4 points, 7.4 assists, 4.8 boards, and 1.9 steals per game, he is going to need the help of his teammates. Joakim Noah has looked lost in the last two games of this series, scoring a grand total of just eight points in those two outings, while his mate on the inside, Carlos Boozer, is only accounting for 10.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in the playoffs.

The Final Word: The Bulls are still just the superior team here in this series, and they are due to flex their muscles for another romp. Chicago is the deeper team, and unless the Hawks come out of the gate with guns blazing and shots fall from all over the court, we just don’t see how they can keep up when push really comes to shove.

Free NBA Playoffs Picks: Chicago -8.5
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks Prediction: Chicago 97 – Atlanta 84

 
April 8th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Though we already know who 15 of the 16 teams will be in the playoffs (and will be sure to add No. 16 to that list by the time the weekend is said and done with), there is certainly plenty of jockeying for positioning going on to complete the NBA playoff picture. Check out the best games of the week and our NBA picks for how things are going to shake down this weekend!

NBA Matchup: Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Friday, 8:00 ET)
This one is so important, not so much because it will probably have an effect on the way that the seedings break down in the West, but because this really could be a playoff battle in the first round. OKC knows that it can still move up as high as No. 2, while Denver is more or less just stuck at No. 5, and a win by the Nuggs would basically ensure that these two teams will meet starting next weekend in the playoffs. The Thunder will get the job done on their home court though, keeping the pressure on both Dallas and LA.

NBA Odds: Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers (Friday, 7:30 ET)
The truth of the matter is that this game really isn’t all that sexy, but a win for the Bulls would ensure that they have home court advantage throughout the entire postseason in the Eastern Conference, and it would guarantee that they avoid both the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat until the Eastern Conference Finals. Don’t be shocked if Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and company lay the smack down early and just wrap up this top seed without any further issues.

NBA Betting Matchup: Los Angeles Lakers @ Portland Trail Blazers (Friday, 10:00 ET)
This is another one of these potential first round playoff battles. The Lakers still need three more wins to make sure that they are going to be the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference this year, while Portland is trying to move up as high as the No. 6 seed in the West. The Blazers have played well this year at home, and they’ll take down a slumping bunch from Tinseltown.

Pro Basketball Matchup: Chicago Bulls @ Orlando Magic (Sunday, 1:00 ET)
We already know that the Bulls are going to be playing the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, and anything less than a sweep would be surprising. We also know that the Magic are going to take on the Hawks in the first round, and last year when these teams met, it was the most lopsided postseason series ever in NBA history. Expect tempers to be flaring in this probable second round playoff date. Orlando is in trouble without the suspended Dwight Howard, who is going to miss this one after picking up his 18th technical foul of the season earlier this week, and Chicago should make a huge statement for its 60th win of the year.

NBA Preview: Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat (Sunday, 3:30 ET)
Hide the women and children from this one, my friends. This is going to be a bloodbath. The winner of this game is going to have a huge advantage in the race for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. These two teams are level going into play on Friday night, and gaining the edge on the other is paramount, not so much for the sake of taking on some No. 7 seed instead of a No. 6, but to have home court advantage on the other in the second round of the playoffs. Dwyane Wade has been out of the lineup resting his sore thigh, but there’s no way that he’s missing this one. He and the Heat come up big and knock off the big, bad Celtics in South Beach.

Pro Basketball Betting Battle: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers
Last year, the Thunder were knocked out of the playoffs because they couldn’t figure out how to take a game in Tinseltown. This year, things could be significantly different. Of course, these two teams aren’t likely foes in the postseason until the Western Conference Finals, but you can bet if this gap gets any tighter before Sunday between OKC and LA, these two are going to be scrapping for the full 48 minutes. The Thunder are going to keep this one close, but in the end, this is still the type of game that Kobe Bryant and company live for. If the No. 2 seed in the West hadn’t essentially been decided before this point, it will be when this one is said and done. Don’t be surprised if the Thunder hang inside of the number, though, as this one should be touch and go the entire way.

 
June 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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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 "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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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 "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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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 "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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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 "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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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