Time to get the picks going!
Two Top Picks:
Atlanta -1.5 vs Boston
Memphis -5.5 vs Clippers
ATL- Pretty much everyone is picking the Celtics to win the series and I don't disagree but it will not be an easy series for either team. Generally I like the home teams early on in a series and I think Atlanta will send a message to Boston that they are not to be taken lightly.
Memphis- The Grizzlies have been another under the radar team and did not distinguish themselves in the regular season. I like them to jump out with an easy win in game one tonight. The Clippers will get their bearings as the series progresses but this one will be an easy win for the Grizzlies.
Derrick Rose Injury
Very tough break for the Bulls and a lot of people have compared this to the Jay Cutler injury but I think it is a lot closer to another Chicago heartbreaker - Mark Prior for the Cubs. Hopefully unlike Prior, Rose will be able to regain his form, if not then the Bulls will be feeling the effects for a long time.
For the immediate future, the big beneficiary is....NOT Miami or the Celtics but the Spurs or the Thunder. The Bulls were in a good position (before the injury) to take down Miami and the Celtics. Now Miami may be able to make the finals again but they do not match up well against the Spurs at all and a little better against the Thunder. I think the Spurs and Thunder are now the two best teams. Look for the Heat to get to the Finals but to go down in flames again. If Rose would have been healthy the Heat probably would not have made it but losing in the Finals two years in a row will be tough for LeBron and company to swallow.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
NBA Playoffs Opening Round
Glad the NBA post season has arrived. I have had pretty good luck handicapping the playoffs so I am looking forward to making some picks.
I am going to start off with some playoff series and get to individual games as the series get going.
The opening round is filled with heavy favorites. There is really no reason to consider betting on the big favorites or underdogs, I think you are better off picking off individual games.
I don't expect the Bulls, Heat, Indiana and San Antonio to struggle at all. I think the Thunder should win pretty handily but taking out the champion mavericks could be tricky. I will be watching to see if Dallas can steal one early and put the pressure on the Thunder.
For the other remaining series there are some potential decent plays.
Lakers -250 vs Nuggets +200- The Nuggets came on pretty strong and the Lakers had a bit of a soap opera towards the end of the season. The Nuggets could be worth a flyer as the Lakers are seemingly on the brink of imploding if things don't go their way. That said, they are pretty talented and if they come out focused should dispatch the Nuggets pretty easily with their size advantage.
Boston -220 vs Atlanta +150- I think the general sentiment is that the Celtics will take this one however Atlanta will not be an easy out. The Hawks have not gotten a lot of attention in the East but they match up pretty well with the Celtics. I see this series stretching out to the full seven and by the last game the Hawks may have worn the Celtics down. Definitely will be good opening round series.
Memphis -200 vs Clippers +170- Hard to say definitively what will happen in this one. Memphis was a surprise team last year and made a lot of noise in the playoffs. This year though they have not been the same and have kind of faded into the middle this year. The Clippers have some star power however I am not confident that this team is ready to win in the playoffs. This should be another seven game series and I do like the Clippers to get the win when its all said and done.
Be back with individual game picks throughout the playoffs.
I am going to start off with some playoff series and get to individual games as the series get going.
The opening round is filled with heavy favorites. There is really no reason to consider betting on the big favorites or underdogs, I think you are better off picking off individual games.
I don't expect the Bulls, Heat, Indiana and San Antonio to struggle at all. I think the Thunder should win pretty handily but taking out the champion mavericks could be tricky. I will be watching to see if Dallas can steal one early and put the pressure on the Thunder.
For the other remaining series there are some potential decent plays.
Lakers -250 vs Nuggets +200- The Nuggets came on pretty strong and the Lakers had a bit of a soap opera towards the end of the season. The Nuggets could be worth a flyer as the Lakers are seemingly on the brink of imploding if things don't go their way. That said, they are pretty talented and if they come out focused should dispatch the Nuggets pretty easily with their size advantage.
Boston -220 vs Atlanta +150- I think the general sentiment is that the Celtics will take this one however Atlanta will not be an easy out. The Hawks have not gotten a lot of attention in the East but they match up pretty well with the Celtics. I see this series stretching out to the full seven and by the last game the Hawks may have worn the Celtics down. Definitely will be good opening round series.
Memphis -200 vs Clippers +170- Hard to say definitively what will happen in this one. Memphis was a surprise team last year and made a lot of noise in the playoffs. This year though they have not been the same and have kind of faded into the middle this year. The Clippers have some star power however I am not confident that this team is ready to win in the playoffs. This should be another seven game series and I do like the Clippers to get the win when its all said and done.
Be back with individual game picks throughout the playoffs.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
NBA Time
I really wanted to take a shot at consistent NBA handicapping this season however it was not in the cards.
However now that we are coming down to the stretch run and headed to the playoffs, i am ready to start making some picks again.
Got a Top Pick for tonight.
Chicago -8.5 vs Detroit
Although the Bulls won a big game against the Heat on Thursday, it really was a loss for Derek Rose who had his worst game as a pro.
I am looking for a very focused effort from him and for the rest of bulls tonight. They are playing a Detroit that is playing out the string and any fan support they have has switched off to the red wings and tigers. The 8.5 does not seem like a big barrier the bulls to get past tonite.
However now that we are coming down to the stretch run and headed to the playoffs, i am ready to start making some picks again.
Got a Top Pick for tonight.
Chicago -8.5 vs Detroit
Although the Bulls won a big game against the Heat on Thursday, it really was a loss for Derek Rose who had his worst game as a pro.
I am looking for a very focused effort from him and for the rest of bulls tonight. They are playing a Detroit that is playing out the string and any fan support they have has switched off to the red wings and tigers. The 8.5 does not seem like a big barrier the bulls to get past tonite.
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