Celtics vs. Lakers

6/3/10

So we’re you one of the lucky (and smart) ones to pick the Celtics to make it to the NBA Finals? The Celtics had odds of 20/1 to win the NBA Title before the playoffs started. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you can now take your chances or you can hedge to lock in a profit. Nice job! As for the Lakers, no surprise there. They were the 2nd favorites behind the Cavs at 2/1 odds to win it all. Of course, nobody has won anything yet. That all gets underway tonight at the Staples Center.

Kobe and the LA Lakers are a -213 favorite to win the NBA Finals but I’ll take the greater depth of talent on the Boston Celtics at +150 to pull through in the clutch. There are so many reasons to like Boston in this series but none more so than the bench. With Rasheed Wallace, Big Baby Davis, and Nate Washington all able to do a job off the bench Boston possess the playoff ready talent to win this series even when their big stars need a break. Rajon Rondo, the man who carried Boston through the playoffs, will have enjoyed a full five days rest before the series and with the Big Three of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett also recharging this is a Celtics team ready to get the job done on the road. Back the Boston Celtics to win big with Sports Interaction.

While I like the Celtics to win the series there is one tempting bet for the Lakers that can’t be ignored. Sports Interaction is offering +650 on this series ending inside Four Games. If Los Angeles can defy my prediction and sweep its two home Games then I think they will close it out on the road in Boston. This is a team with Kobe Bryant, the ultimate closer in the NBA and it is facing a Celtics team which has failed to make home advantage count in 2010. Even with an offer that generous I’m not moving away from the Celtics. There’s an equally tempting offer of +650 for the Celtics to win 4-2 and I like Boston to win it in six so this is a great bet. The Celtics have shown an ability to win on the road but with at least one home defeat likely it isn’t a stretch to see this series lasting nearly two full weeks. Go with the Celtics to win six Games and win big with Sports Interaction.

The NBA Finals open in the Staples Center tonight and I like Boston to get off to a fast start against LA. Take the Celtics at +190 with Sports Interaction to win on the road and to win the race to 20 points at +115. This is a Celtics team which is better than the one that won the Championship back in 2008. The Lakers-Celtics rivalry may be the best in Basketball and there’s no better way to finish the NBA season then with these two meeting.

Suns Look to Even Series

5/25/10

The Phoenix Suns look to even their series with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, and they can thank the zone defense for it. Here’s the Game 4 preview from BroburySports.com

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The Suns are one-point home dogs at Brobury after opening as one-point ‘chalk.’ The total is 221-points and tip-off is 9 pm ET.

The Suns looked dead and buried before unveiling the zone defense at home in Game 3. The Lakers ripped them to shreds in the first two contests, scoring 126 PPG and shooting 58 percent from the field.

The zone really tripped the Lakers up, catching them by surprise. L.A. settled for a lot of long-range shots, including 32 three-pointers. They only hit nine of them (28.1 percent), which played to the Suns’ advantage.

The final Scorewas Phoenix 118, Los Angeles 109. That snapped an eight-Game winning streak for L.A. (going 7-1 ATS).

The 227 combined points scored again went ‘over’ the 219 ½-point total. The ‘over’ is 3-0 in the series and 9-1-1 in the Lakers’ last 11 Games. The total keeps climbing higher and is now up to 221 points. It’s kind of surprising it’s not a little more.

Phoenix needs to keep up the offensive pressure. Amare Stoudemire had 42 points last Game on 14-of-22 shooting. He also went to the line 18 times, just two less than the entire Lakers’ team. You can be sure Phil Jackson pointed that out to the refs about 100 times.

The free throw margin won’t be as pronounced tonight and the Lakers will be ready for the zone. Kobe Bryant has been unstoppable in this series and can take over any Fourth quarter. The Suns need to build a sizable early lead or they could be in trouble.

Los Angeles is feeling a lot of pressure in this Game. The hated Boston Celtics could end their series with Orlando tomorrow night. If the Lakers’ series stretches out too far, the aging Celtics could be well rested, negating any advantage Los Angeles may have had.

Can Phoenix even up the series in shocking fashion?

You decide at BroburySports.com.

Cavs vs Celtics

LeBron in trouble

5/13/10

The Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James are facing elimination heading into Thursday’s Game 6 in Boston. Here’s the preview from BroburySports.com, your NBA leader.

Fast Break to the Finals: Get a 100% Sign-up Bonus up to $100. Sign-up here using promo code: HOOPS100.

Boston (up 3-2) is a one-point home favorite with a total of 196-points. Tip-off is 8 pm ET.

The Celtics were behind in the series 2-1. They look Game 4 at home 97-87 behind an incredible 29 point, 18 rebound effort from point guard Rajon Rondo. He also added 13 assists for the triple-double.

Boston didn’t want to depend on Rondo to carry them in Game 5 in Cleveland and they didn’t. The old ‘Big 3’ of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined for 64 points, while Rondo chipped in 16 after being controlled in the first half.

Pierce had 25 points and that was key. The 32-year-old small forward was averaging under 12 PPG in the series after getting worn down from guarding James. He could have another big night on Thursday.

The final Scorewas 120-88, with Boston easily ‘covering’ as 7 ½-point dogs. It was the worst home playoff loss in Cavaliers history.

The question now is, what kind of shape is Cleveland in mentally? James is getting ripped from coast to coast for his 15 point performance last Game. There’s almost more speculation on where he’ll play next year as opposed to whether Cleveland will win.

The common theme in this series is Cleveland wins when James explodes. He scored 35 and 38 points in the two wins, one of them 124-95 in Boston for Game 3.

Shaquille O’Neal has done well this series, but they seem out of sync with him on the floor due to all the missed Games down the stretch. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison aren’t stepping up consistently as second scorers.

Through it all, Cleveland just needs one win to regain home cOurt. That Game would be Sunday and the Cavs would be a heavy favorite. James needs a big effort to get there, but his teammates need to come alive as well.

Can the Celtics eliminate the King?

You decide at BroburySports.com.

NBA Betting

3/12/10

With less than 20 Games left in the 2009/10 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are amongst the favorites to take the Eastern Conference championship and the NBA title.

Cleveland not only owns the best record in the conference, but also in the NBA (50-15). Online sportsbooks currently have them listed at -125 to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals and they are  +200 to win the championship but they are looking a little banged up.

With the “Big Aristotle,” Shaquille O’Neal, already out for up to eight months after having surgery on his right thumb, the Cavs were missing a cast of characters at practice on Wednesday, including star forward LeBron James (right ankle) and newly acquired forward Antawn Jamison (left knee).

Cleveland has another day before their next Game, a road Game against the Philadelphia 76ers, and James and Jamison could be ready for action.

LeBron James, who has already missed two Games, is eyeing a return on Friday and Jamison hasn’t been entirely ruled out either.

ACCording to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jamison has “a cyst in the knee that fills with fluid periodically,” which is causing discomfort but is day to day and if he doesn’t play on Friday against the 76ers, he will definitely see action on Sunday in a home Game against the Boston Celtics.

“It’s something that occurred earlier in the season,” Jamison told the Plain Dealer.

“With proper treatment, it went away. So I don’t see this lingering any longer than it has the last couple of days.”

In the Cavaliers’ last eight Games overall against Philadelphia, they are 7-1 straight up and 6-2 against the spread.

The story is similar in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ last eight visits to the City of Brotherly Love as they are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS.

Over/Under Alert: In the last nine Cavalier Games in Philly, there have been 8 Overs and 1 Under.

Chicago Bulls vs. Orlando Magic:

The Chicago Bulls are about to embark on a two Games in two nights odyssey and it begins Thursday in Orlando against the Magic.

The Bulls are solid in their last 12 road Games, going 8-4 SU and 8-4 ATS but in their last 12 Games overall against the Magic, they are 3-9 SU.

In the last nine Games that are the first of back to backs, Chicago is 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS.

In the last 10 Games in that same situation, there have been 3 Overs and 7 Unders.

The following night the Bulls head south to Miami and in their last 10 overall Games against the Heat, there have been 2 Overs and 8 Unders.

You can check the NBA Odds

Have a great week

ADJUSTED NBA FINALS ODDS

4/19/10

Think the Cavs are still a lock for the finals? This may be your last chance to get them at a price of better than even money to win it all. Currently 5dimes.com has the Cavs listed at +140 to win it all.  Next in line is the lakers at +225 followed by the Magic and Mavs at 5/1 and 6/1. Listed below are the adjusted odds to win the NBA Finals as of April 19th.

You can also check out 5dimes.com for the latest Odds to win the Stanely Cup. On the ice, it’s the Washington Capitals favored to win it all at +250 but according to the oddsmakers, they are quite the lock that the Cavs are to go all the way with the Penquins and Blackhawks weighing in at +350 and +450.

Here are the current Odds to win the NBA Championship

Cleveland Cavaliers

+140

Los Angeles Lakers

+225

Orlando Magic

+500

Dallas Mavericks

+600

Denver Nuggets

+1000

Phoenix Suns

+1200

Boston Celtics

+2000

San Antonio Spurs

+2500

Atlanta Hawks

+3000

Utah Jazz

+4000

Portland Blazers

+5000

Oklahoma City Thunder

+7500

Miami Heat

+8000

Chicago Bulls

+20000

Milwaukee Bucks

+50000

Charlotte BobCats

+50000

NBA Double Bill

Spurs vs Suns

Celtics vs Cavs

5/3/10

James gives Boston the elbow

LeBron James’ elbow is one of the most talked about body parts in NBA history. His Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Boston Celtics Monday night leading 1-0. Here’s the preview from BroburySports.com:

Fast Break to the Finals: Get a 100% Sign-up Bonus up to $100. Sign-up here using promo code: HOOPS100.

Cleveland is a 6 ½-point favorite for Game 2 with a total of 192 ½-points. Tip-off is 8 pm ET.

James got off to a slow start on Saturday in the opener and so did the Cavs. Boston controlled the Game behind point guard Rajon Rondo and led by 11 points midway through the third quarter.

Cavaliers’ guard Mo Williams then turned on the jets, scoring 12 points in six minutes. Fourth quarter was James’ time. He scored 12 of his Game-high 35 points in the final stanza, and Cleveland got the 101-93 win and ‘cover’ as 7 ½-point favorites.

Boston is now just 1-7 ATS in its last eight Games at Cleveland. They’re already sick of hearing about James’ elbow, and aren’t even considering him hurt. The 35-point outburst in Game 1 is good evidence of that.

The problem with Boston is they played very well on Saturday and still lost. This is an aging team with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen all slowing down. And they’ve been blowing second-half leads all season.

Boston needs much better production from its bench (just 12 points in Game 1) if it has any hopes of stealing a Game on the road.

San Antonio Spurs (+4) at Phoenix Suns

Game time is 10:30 pm ET. San Antonio has eliminated Phoenix from the playoffs Four times since 2003.

No. 7 San Antonio was very impressive against second-seed Dallas in the opening round (winning 4-2). They look to be regaining their old championship swagger with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and the emerging George Hill.

No. 3 Phoenix beat Portland in the first round, losing the first Game before going 4-1 SU and ATS.

The Suns (110.2 PPG) were the league’s highest scoring team in the regular season, and averaged 103.3 PPG against Portland. They’re not known for their defense and got real lucky when superstar Brandon Roy missed the first three Games of their series.

Phoenix is 34-10 SU and 27-16-1 ATS at home, while San Antonio is 22-22 SU and 21-23 on the road.

Phoenix was 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS against San Antonio this year and won both home Games by double-digits. That’s why they’re favored tonight,

Bet on the NBA Monday doubleheader at BroburySports.com.
 

5/17/10

In this piece we will look at the Western Conference Finals between the LA. Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. We will look at historical situations as well as more recent angles to help us break the series down and gain a better understanding of what to expect, when these 2 explosive teams meet to decide the Western Conference Champion.

The Lakers finished exactly three Games ahead of Phoenix. From 1947 through the 2010 NBA Quarterfinals, when NBA teams led their best-of-7 playoff series opponents by three regular-season Games, they have posted a 13-14 record in all best-of-7 series against those opponents. Not what one would have expected, a team with a better season record with an under.500 record in playoff series action .Looking at each teams historical playoff results we see that Phoenix has a 15-19 series record, a 2-6 Semifinals-round series record, and a 16-18 Game 1 record, while the Los Angeles Lakers have a 64-28 series record having won their last 6. They also have a 24-5 Semifinals-round record again having won their last 6 such series. In all Game ones the Lakers have an impressive 61-31 record, This will be the tenth time these 2 have met in the Playoffs, with the Lakers having won 6 of the 9 series. Then there is the Phil Jackson angle where any team he has coached that has won Game 1 has won 47 straight times.

The Lakers have a huge size advantage in this Game with Gasol, Odom and Bynum. Phoenix has A. Stoudamire, but he may have trouble staying out of foul trouble when the Lakers throw the ball down into their bigs. Bynum has a partial meniscus tear that will limit him. However he has been practicing and is willing to play through the pain. Phoenix may also have a hard time playing half cOurt with the Lakers, Los Angeles plays much better defense that Phoenix does. The Suns have tried to be more defensive minded this season with coach Gentry. However to beat the Lakers they may need to play their old run and gun style to keep the Lakers off balance. Coach Jackson is better equipped to make adjustments as the series goes along that his counter part Coach Gentry. On the perimeter K. Bryant should have an easier time scoring that in the 2 prior series. Phoenix as usual will be led by S.Nash who has not needed to play major minutes now that the Suns bench has improved. In fact the bench is where Phoenix will have their best advantage in this series as they have more depth than that of the Lakers. Phoenix will need their bench to play well especially on the road.

Looking at some potential scoring angles in this series we see that Phoenix is a lousy 1-11 both straight up and ats on the road when they Score90 or less the past few years. This happened to them once this season in a road loss to the Lakers where they could only manage 88 points. On the plus side the Suns are 37-5 straight up and against the spread when shooting 50% or higher and 27-1 at home with 23 spread covers if they Score110 or more, winning by an average 118-101 score. The Lakers are 11-1 at home when they Score110 or more and have played over the total all 12 times. Look for some of these potentially profitable scenarios as the series moves forward. In the season series the Lakers won 3 of the 4 Games. In both home Games they won by more than 19 points. In Phoenix the teams split out. Phoenix had a solid 15 point win and the Lakers won the last Game between the two team here by 6 points. In the end I look for the Lakers to win in six, as they have too much fire power for the Suns and a better coach. Take the Lakers to make it to the NBA Finals for the second straight year, and good LUck with all your post season wagers.

5/2/2011
 
The top-seeded Chicago Bulls (66-21) had a tougher time than expected in the first round but may have gotten a break here against the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks (48-40).  The Bulls are coming off a grueling five-Game series win over the eighth-seeded Indiana Pacers while the Hawks upset the Fourth-seeded Orlando Magic in six.  Chicago (-8.5 in Game 1) won the last two regular-season meetings with Atlanta by a combined 51 points and hosts the first two Games of this second-round playoff series at the United Center, starting on Monday.
 
The Bulls won the first three Games of their series against the Pacers by an average of five points, as leading MVP candidate Derrick Rose seemingly willed them to victory one way or another.  While Rose did not shoot the ball well from the floor throughout the series, he certainly did his best to get to the free-throw line late when the Games were on the line.
 
Rose averaged more than 16 attempts from the charity stripe through the first three Games, scoring nearly 15 points there alone.  That production dipped after he sprained his ankle early in Game 4, which Chicago lost 89-84 despite a monstrous comeback that saw the team cut an 18-point deficit to one in the final 15 seconds.  Indiana tried hard to be physical with him, using larger defenders such as rookie Paul George and Dahntay Jones.  Ultimately, the Bulls simply had too much talent with Rose averaging 28 points, and their superior defense allowed them to survive.
 
The Hawks performed much differently in knocking out the Magic, finding a way to shut down essentially everybody else besides All-Star center Dwight Howard.  They were at least even or held an advantage at all of the other positions besides center and made sure to capitalize on those mismatches starting right away by stealing Game 1 at Orlando.
 
Atlanta surrendered a series-high 46 points and 19 rebounds to Howard in the series opener but still pulled off a 103-93 victory, setting the tone for the next five Games.  Neither team scored more than 88 points in the next three Games before Orlando ended its scoring drought in a 101-76 rout in Game 5.  The Hawks had no problem bouncing back at home 84-81 in Game 6 though and won all three of their home Games as underdogs.
 
Two injuries are the early story to this series with Atlanta point guard Kirk Hinrich out due to a hamstring injury and Chicago power forward Carlos Boozer suffering from turf toe.  Hinrich is a former Bull who was brought in prior to the trade deadline to help out defensively.  His main role was going to be checking Rose, who will now be guarded by second-year player Jeff Teague.
 
Boozer’s injury is not as severe, but his play in the first round remains a concern.  Fortunately for Chicago, center Joakim Noah has stepped up his play lately offensively and second-year forward Taj Gibson has also provided quality minutes filling in for Boozer.  That quality depth should be the deciding factor against a Hawks team that relies primarily on jump shooting.
 
Series Pick:  Chicago Bulls (-805 at Bookmaker) in 5