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Posts Tagged ‘Oklahoma City Thunder’

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

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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

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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

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March 5th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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It’s another big time Sunday for NBA betting battles, and our expert NBA handicappers offer up their free basketball picks for the biggest game on a huge slate of clashes!

NBA Matchup: Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 1:00 ET
Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
NBA Odds: Miami -5
Over/Under (Total): 188


The Heat are in bad shape right now, as they have been outscored by a whopping 51 points in their last three halves of basketball. Needless to say, regardless of who you’re playing, that’s not going to get the job done. Miami has been wildly inconsistent this season at home, going just 11-18 ATS over the course of its 29 games played here in South Beach. However, this is the back end of a brutal road trip for the Bulls after beating the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center on Friday night. Sure, Chicago has an incredibly deep team, but Miami just matches up particularly well against this team for whatever reason. Go with LeBron, D-Wade, and company to take care of the NBA odds in this one, as the good run of play for the Bulls will go by the boards. NBA Free Pick: Miami Heat

NBA Matchup: Los Angeles Lakers @ San Antonio Spurs
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
NBA Odds: San Antonio -2.5
Over/Under (Total): 191


If the Spurs were out to make a big time statement on Friday night, that’s exactly what they did when they obliterated the Miami Heat by a whopping 30 points at home. The defense was just locked in, and the lack of depth on the Heat just wasn’t able to keep up with the run and gun style of offense that Head Coach Gregg Popovich is now bringing to the table. Will it keep up against the Lakers? Kobe Bryant and company had better hope not, especially if Derek Fisher is going to be held out of the fold with an elbow injury. There is just so little respect for the Spurs this season, and this is really no exception. Sure, Los Angeles is good, but the time is really going to have to come that the oddsmakers realize that the Spurs really are the best team in the Western Conference, and potentially in the whole NBA. Tony Parker will be back at full strength in this one after getting his feet wet against Miami, and he should help lead this team to a ‘W’ on Sunday. Free NBA Pick: San Antonio Spurs

NBA Matchup: New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 6:30 ET
Location: Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA
NBA Odds: OTB
Over/Under (Total): OTB


Neither the Hawks nor the Knicks really thrill us right now, but health could really be a key factor in this one. We know that Chauncey Billups has been out of the lineup for these last two games with a thigh injury, but he is likely to be back to join the team in the Peach State for this NBA betting affair. However, the Hawks are likely going to be without Josh Smith. It is clear which team made the right moves at the trade deadline and which one probably didn’t, though Kirk Hinrich finally had his first big game with the Hawks in the loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. The truth of the matter though, is that the combination of Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Billups could easily combine for 75, or even more points in this one, and if that’s what happens, there isn’t a heck of a lot that the rest of this team is going to have to do to make for great NBA picks in this one. Expert NBA Pick: New York Knicks

NBA Matchup: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 7:00 ET
Location: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK
NBA Odds: Oklahoma City -5.5
Over/Under (Total): 212


This game could be significantly closer than the expert NBA handicappers really think. The Suns have been playing great ball of late, and they really probably found a diamond in the rough when they brought in Aaron Brooks to help out as a scorer. It’d be great if Vince Carter would play in this one, and the possibility is still there, but even if he doesn’t, we still tend to believe that Phoenix is the right play. It really just feels like the Thunder are merely trying to hang on until Kendrick Perkins gets into this lineup for the first time, as the truth of the matter is that the only differences between this team now and the one from a few weeks ago is that Nazr Mohammed is in, and both Nenad Krstic and Jeff Green are out. Not exactly a great deal quite yet, and it won’t look all that great on Sunday either. Free Basketball Pick: Phoenix Suns

NBA Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 9:00 ET
Location: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
NBA Odds: Boston -7.5
Over/Under (Total): 182.5


We’ve been talking a lot about injuries in this piece, but we know that there isn’t a team that we feel worse for this season than this one. The Bucks are just all over the board right now, as there aren’t any players that have been in the fold for even 59 of the 60 games this season. Still, grabbing that last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference isn’t totally out of the question, making this one a potential playoff preview. However, Jeff Green has really arrived at this point, and his 21 point effort off of the bench on Friday proved that. The C’s are a dangerous club, and even though they really haven’t turned up the defensive intensity in a few games, they are scoring a ton of late. The Bucks don’t have that inside banger to make up for the lack of bigs that Boston has, and as a result, the visitors should triumph in a big time way in the Bradley Center on Sunday. Free NBA Pick: Boston Celtics

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February 28th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Cappers Info takes a look at the ten most significant upsets in the week that was in the sports betting world…

10: Monday – Connecticut Huskies 73 – West Virginia Mountaineers 62: At the outset of the week, the Huskies had to feel like they were left for dead and headed to the NIT. But a huge win at home against West Virginia helped set the stage for their dramatic return to the bubble. It wasn't that it was an upset of epic proportions, as the hosts were only 2.5-point pups, but without that win, we're still leaving UConn outside of the NCAA Tournament.

9: Wednesday – Notre Dame Fighting Irish 68 – Pittsburgh Panthers 53: Ditto here as well. Notre Dame's win over Pittsburgh was just a tad more significantly because it came without F Luke Harangody in the lineup. The slight 1.5-point upset won't be the only time that you see the Irish on this list…

8: Saturday - New Mexico Lobos 83 – BYU Cougars 81: The Mountain West regular season title was likely decided on Saturday afternoon when the Lobos marched into Provo and secured the season sweep of the Cougars. Though it probably won't ultimately end this way, New Mexico has earned the right to be in the discussion for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament if it can run the table and win the MWC Tournament as well. The oddsmakers were off base quite a bit in this one, as the visitors were hefty eight-point underdogs.

7: Tuesday – Phoenix Suns 104 – Oklahoma City Thunder 102: This was a significant road win for the guests, as it snapped Oklahoma City's long winning streak and moved the Suns into a lot sturdier ground for the playoff chase in the Western Conference. It was also a significant game for the psyche of F Amare Stoudemire, who went off for 30 points just a week after not being traded at the NBA trade deadline as requested.

6: Saturday - Oklahoma State Cowboys 85 – Kansas Jayhawks 77: Any time the #1 team in the land takes a tumble, it's noteworthy. But the fact that that 'W' secured up a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the Pokes, it became that much more relevant. The Cowboys really took it to the Jayhawks from wire to wire and won their biggest game of the season as 5.5-point underdogs in Stillwater.

5: Sunday - Ohio State Buckeyes 74 – Michigan State Spartans 67: It's hard to tell if this was a bigger win for Ohio State or a bigger loss for Michigan State. The Spartans have totally fallen down the brackets in recent weeks, and a home loss to the Buckeyes as short favorites didn't help matters any. It was loss #4 in their L/6 games. For the Buckeyes, they moved one step closer towards the regular season Big Ten title, and considering the fact that Purdue is now without F Robbie Hummel for the rest of the year, they could be on track for a #1 seed in the tourney as well. All it's going to take is a Big Ten Tournament title and it'll probably happen, but none of it would've been possible without the upset in East Lansing.

4: Saturday - New Jersey Nets 104 – Boston Celtics 96: Without a doubt, this is the lowest point in the season for the Celtics. Yes, the C's were playing without G Paul Pierce in the lineup, but there just isn't any excuse to lose at home to one of the worst teams in NBA history when you're as good as Boston is. The hosts have had a miserable time playing at Boston Garden all season, but not even the fans in Beantown saw this one coming. HC Doc Rivers has his work cut out for him to get the Celtics in playoff shape.

3: Saturday - Notre Dame Fighting Irish 78 – Georgetown Hoyas 64: As promised, the Irish are back for their efforts on Saturday in our nation's capitol. The Hoyas laid a total egg for the second time this year at home, and though it won't cost them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, it's going to leave them with a sour taste in their mouths and a significantly more difficult matchup. The Irish are almost certainly on the inside of the field right now, and they proved once again that they have the ability to win without Harangody. When the big man comes back, Notre Dame could be a real force to be reckoned with.

2: Friday - Dallas Mavericks 113 – Atlanta Hawks 103: For the second time in the L/2 weeks, the Mavericks traveled half way across the country and took out one of the big boys in the Eastern Conference. This was a show of grit and character for the Mavericks, who have been sending a big notice to the Lakers and Nuggets in the Western Conference of late. They're here, and they're ready to take over as the new bosses of the West with F Caron Butler, C Brendan Haywood, and G DeShawn Stevenson now in tote.

1: Sunday – United States of America 5 – Canada 3: For the Americans' sake, this will hopefully only be the second biggest upset of the Olympics. The USA dominated the Canadians from the get go, and save a few hairy moments when Team Canada staged a huge comeback in the third period, the Americans really looked to have the better side. All will be settled today in the gold medal game, where the stars and stripes will go in search of their first gold medals in hockey since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.

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