The most hyped series of them all is this Lakers-Thunder showdown, a series where the general public and the wiseguys seem to be valuing these teams very differently. The public looks at LA and sees a team that won two recent championships with their current corps of players; a team with a rested and healthy Metta World Peace back in the lineup; a team that stepped up during crunch time of Game 7 in Round 1 thanks to passionate efforts from big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, and a team that has gotten significantly better since acquiring point guard Ramon Sessions at the trading deadline.
Wiseguys look at the Lakers and see an older team that can’t match the Thunder’s youth and energy. Sharp bettors have pounded Oklahoma City on the series price, bet up as high as -460 prior to Game 1. They give OKC an edge in nearly every department, preferring Kevin Read more
The Spurs-Clippers series has drawn a lot of attention in handicapping circles for one reason â€" a complete coaching mismatch. San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich is a tactical genius, plain and simple, earning another NBA Coach of the Year award in 2012. His veteran stars â€" Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan â€" all buy into what he is preaching 110%. Parker, in particular, is as close to a head coach on the floor as you’ll find in the NBA these days. Popovich certainly recognized the effect of his veteran leaders on their teammates. “Every NBA team had the same problem as far as developing rookies, bringing in free agents, rounding out the team. Leadership here from Tony, Manu and Tim has been spectacular. They set the tone and were very committed.â€
The Clippers shocking Game 7 win in Memphis after blowing a fourth Read more
Indiana’s Game 1 loss to the Heat wasn’t anywhere near as bad as the two blowout regular season losses they suffered at the hands of Miami: 118-83 and 105-90. In both of those blowout losses, the Heat were able to force turnovers in bunches (39 in the two games combined), leading to easy fast break buckets the other way. With fast break layups galore, the Heat shot 50% or better in both games. Miami’s perimeter defense also had great success shutting down Indiana’s perimeter shooting threats, holding the Pacers to a combined 7-of-34 from three-point range.
But each of the last three meetings â€" a two point Pacers loss in OT at Miami, a 15 point Pacers win at home, and Sunday’s nine point Miami home win â€" have been much more competitive, in large part, because Indiana has been able to cut down those turnovers. Yes, Miami played the better end game in Read more
The betting markets often struggle to accept that teams can change their stripes in the postseason, performing at a very different level than they did during the regular season. Philadelphia is a prime example; not the same team now that they were a month or two ago, when they struggled mightily to step up in class.
Philly is healthy. They are confident after squeaking by the injury riddled Bulls in the first round. And they’re getting dramatically improved play from two key starters right now; the biggest reason why Boston is the single shortest favorite on the series price futures betting board even after their Game 1 victory, rallying back from a double digit deficit to escape with the one point win.
The two biggest personnel differences for the 76ers now compared to the regular season are Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes. Turner was the #2 overall pick in the draft last Read more
Today's segmentsErin Rynning -Â MLB and NBA Every Game on the Board
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We recommend keeping an eye on Dan Haren's start tonight against Oakland. Haren was smacked around for eight hits,