Cleveland @ Chicago

Thursday, April 8

Bookmaker Odds: No line (as of yet)

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a complete novice at sports betting, you need to do some basic homework when researching a given matchup. The Chicago Bulls might need to win a lot more than the Cavs do in this nationally-televised tilt (on TNT), but that reality can only do so much for coach Vinny Del Negro’s team when it steps on its home court at the United Center. The Bulls are a banged-up team. They’re getting healthier, but they’re still in poor shape. Center Joakim Noah is playing with a foot injury. Guard Kirk Hinrich sprained his ankle in a March 30 loss to Phoenix. Luol Deng is recovering from a calf strain and has said that his body is still very sore. Superstar guard Derrick Rose is in the lineup and playing reasonably extended minutes, but he’s missed chunks of the season with injuries and has been a magnet for physical punishment all season long. This is just not a team that’s blessed with a fresh tank of energy for a grueling NBA home stretch. Chicago got two days off on Sunday and Monday of this week, but the Bulls – after dealing with Milwaukee on Tuesday – get only one day off before this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t figure to be very merciful.

LeBron James and his teammates are steaming mad after losing at Boston on Sunday afternoon, and coach Mike Brown wants his team to be sharp heading into the playoffs. The Cavs have not been ravaged by injuries the way the Bulls have, so it’s hard to expect the team with the NBA’s best record to leave Chicago with a loss. One thing that could have helped the Bulls in this game was the schedule; perhaps Cleveland could have entered this game playing the second half of a back-to-back set. However, that’s not the case. The Cavs took on Toronto on Tuesday and then got a break on Wednesday. If the Bulls had added rest, the scales could have evened out for this Eastern Conference clash, but with equal amounts of recuperation time, Cleveland has to be considered the favorite.

Just as the Masters odds aren’t going to favor an obscure golfer, so it also stands that basketball bettors shouldn’t be thinking about an upset on Thursday night. LeBron should be able to get to the rim at will, and the Cavs should be able to get a high-quality look at the basket on most of their possessions as a result. Chicago’s injuries have certainly hurt, but the loss of John Salmons to Milwaukee has also detracted from the ballclub that extended the Boston Celtics to seven games in last year’s epic NBA Playoff series.

Online basketball betting pick: Cleveland

The New York Knicks take on the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at Conseco Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, IN. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. The Knicks lead the season series 4-2, but overall, sportsbook cappers know that 2009-2010 has been a disappointing
year for both clubs.

Fresh off a much-needed win against the Clippers at the Staples Center, the Knicks are a team in need of wins. For fans, the season hasn’t been
terribly disappointing, but only because expectations were so low at the start of the year. The Tracy McGrady deal was exciting and seemed to be just what the Knicks needed. Thus far the results have been lackluster however, with the star averaging just 26 minutes and 10 points a game for his new team. Many analysts have labeled this season one of preparation for free agency. With the vast majority of the Knicks’ roster coming to expiring contracts, the clear lack of motivation, while frustrating, is understandable. The Knicks just didn’t come to win this year, but there’s always next season, right?

For their part, Indiana is a team that has not fared much better in the 2009-2010 season. For hoops fans in Indiana, Butler has really been the team to watch this year. Unbeaten in 2010 until their loss in the championship game, the Bulldogs stepped up to provide all the high-flying, fast-paced action on the court fans of basketball betting weren’t getting from the Pacers.

This was a year of regression for the Pacers. It is noteworthy, that numerous players on the roster have turned in worse performances than the previous season. Troy Murphy provided fewer rebounds, T.J. Ford provided fewer assists, and Danny Granger scored fewer points. While one cannot fault preseason pick Tyler Hansbrough for his medical issues, his absence has meant another setback for the team. On the bright side, Roy Hibbert has had a breakthrough season, and second-round draft pick A.J. Price showed his ability to step up during the tumultuous Ford drama mid season. These bright spots however, have not been enough to salvage what has been a poor year for the Pacers.

After dropping four straight, the Knicks rebounded with a big win against the L.A. Clippers. Will that game be the start of some late-season momentum? NBA odds say probably not. Despite the big win at Staples Center for the first time, New York is outmatched by the Pacers, and will have to face Boston on Tuesday night before hand. The Pacers, despite their laundry-list of deficiencies, are still a team which should beat New York at home. The Knicks have lost 5 of their last 6 on the road, and fans of NBA betting know that when things fall apart for the Pacers, it typically happens on the road. Look for the Pacers to best the Knicks in a low-scoring, perfunctory affair. ]]> http://www.thetripledouble.com/2010/04/06/knicks-meet-pacers-at-home-in-perfunctory-battle/feed/ 0 http://www.thetripledouble.com/2010/03/31/dallas-hosts-orlando-thursday-in-a-potential-nba-championship-preview/ http://www.thetripledouble.com/2010/03/31/dallas-hosts-orlando-thursday-in-a-potential-nba-championship-preview/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:49:13 +0000 BetOnline http://www.thetripledouble.com/?p=289 On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks will host the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center, in Dallas, Texas. For fans of basketball betting, the matchup pits the number one team in the Southeast against the number one team in the Southwest, and is expected to be a tough test for the road-weary Magic, who have been struggling with injuries as of late. Could Thursday’s game be a preview of our 2010 NBA Championship?

The good news for the Magic, is that SF Mickael Pietrus is expected to be back in the lineup. Pietrus missed the last two games for Orlando, after spraining his left ankle in a game against the Atlanta Hawks last Wednesday. Stan Van Gundy, head coach for the Magic, indicated to reporters that Pietrus will be back, and is healthy to play the Mavericks.

Vince Carter, veteran SG for Orlando, has also indicated he is hopeful for a return against the Mavericks. Carter jammed the big toe on his right foot on Sunday, while playing against the Denver Nuggets. The injury forced Carter from the game after just one and a half minutes. Carter told reporters that the toe is still bothering him, but that he would “try to make an appearance” against the formidable Mavericks.

Carter has plenty of motivation to play for his team on Thursday. Fans of NBA betting know that the Mavs present a tough matchup for Orlando, a team looking more and more road-weary and banged up. It is unknown whether or not PG Anthony Johnson, who was out of practice earlier this week with flu-like symptoms will be in the lineup. Point guards Jason Williams and Jameer Nelson are also question marks, with foot and thumb injuries, respectively. Orlando’s age is starting to show – three of their starters are more than 30 years old. Williams and Johnson off the bench are also in their mid-thirties. With the rest of the season hanging in the balance, coach Van Gundy doesn’t believe his more aged players will be getting any more rest than usual.

The Mavericks, for their part, will look to capitalize on the Magic’s perhaps fragile state. In fact, even a 100% healthy Orlando team could still have a great deal of trouble with the surging Mavericks.

In looking at NBA odds, Dallas has what it takes to win the championship this season. They can beat the dynamic Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. They can also beat the sportsbook favorites from the Eastern Conference, notably the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers – and yes, possibly the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. Will we see a potential championship preview on Thursday night? Regardless of how the playoffs actually unfold, the Magic will have to be on their game and not give up an inch to Dallas.

What: NCAA Basketball Betting

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

The Story

If a sportsbook indicated that one of these teams was likely to win by anything more than five points, a federal investigation would be necessary. If one outcome is particularly likely in the Final Four’s first game, it’s that Butler and Michigan State will play a very close contest over the course of 40 minutes (and maybe overtime).

The Bulldogs and Spartans own a blue-collar identity and have maintained a lasting commitment to the no-glory aspects of basketball. Coach Brad Stevens demands lock-down defense for a Butler team making its first appearance in the Final Four, while Michigan State coach Tom Izzo insists on effort and toughness from his Spartans, who are making their sixth Final Four trip in the past 12 seasons.

Offensive Edge

Sports betting experts would certainly say that Michigan State has a better offense than Butler does. MSU sharpshooter Durrell Summers has once again elevated his game in March. The potent perimeter performer scored 21 points on just 10 shots in Sunday’s 70-69 win over Tennessee. Summers – along with teammates Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe – can play above the rim and dunk the ball in traffic. Only Butler swingman Gordon Hayward can do the same for the Bulldogs.

Defensive Edge

Michigan State’s defense is terrific, but Butler’s defense is unquestionably better. The Bulldogs took on the top two seeds in the West Region over the past weekend, and throttled both of them thanks to suffocating on-ball pressure that clogged passing lanes and restricted good ball movement. Against top-seeded Syracuse and No. 2 Kansas State, Butler held a pair of high-octane offenses to fewer than 60 points.

Injuries

Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas is out (torn Achilles). Michigan State forward Delvon Roe (torn meniscus) will play. Michian State shooting guard Chris Allen (strained arch in his foot) will play.

Prediction

Expect this game to come down to the final 30 seconds. Why pick Michigan State? Tom Izzo very rarely loses as a favorite at the Final Four. In his previous five semifinals, Izzo has a 2-3 record. Only once – in 2001 against Arizona – did Izzo’s MSU team fail to uphold its status as a semifinal favorite. (MSU was a semifinal underdog in 1999, 2005 and 2009; it was a favorite when it defeated Wisconsin in 2000.)

Clippers vs Rockets odds – Thursday, March 25, 8:30 PM ET

The Clippers’ 106-96 loss in Dallas on Tuesday was their ninth in 10 games, and their starters held their own, but the bench was simply awful. Drew Gooden had a huge 26-point, 20-rebound night, and he’s played well since he was traded from the Mavericks, but the Clippers’ bench were outscored 43-5. They also allowed Jason Kidd to run wild from the perimeter, as he nailed six three-pointers on his 37^th birthday. Kidd is still a good player and all, but the Los Angeles guards should be ashamed of themselves. Look for them to check out the March Madness favorites for next year’s draft pick, although players should be warned when looking at last year’s pick, Blake Griffin, and the rest of the Clippers’ draft history.

The Rockets fell 98-88 in Chicago on Monday, shooting a miserable 33.7% from the field. Luis Scolla had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who are five games behind Portland as of Wednesday, and the Trailblazers are holding onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. However, they’ll need more production from Aaron Brooks, who was 3-of-17 for nine points against the Bulls, and he’s cooled off after a pair of 31-point games last week. The Rockets still have play in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

The Rockets should be favored at home by sportsbook odds (sportsbook reviews) as the Clippers have lost eight of their last 10 in Houston, including five in a row. The Rockets have won both meetings so far this season by an average margin of 13 points, but their leading scorer against the Clippers, Carl Landry, is now in Sacramento. They’ll need the backcourt duo of Brooks and Kevin Martin to step up and lead the way, and they should feel encouraged by the way that the Clippers handed Kidd on Tuesday. The Rockets have more incentive to play in this game as well, while it looks like the Clippers are just playing out the season so they can roll the dice in the lottery. They’re also a putrid 7-29 away from home, and even though the Rockets are playing on Wednesday night, it’ll take a collapse to lose to the Clippers. Take the Rockets before making your March Madness betting picks on Thursday.

When you are researching your March madness odds, spend some time looking at how many times Phil Mickelson has been favored to win a tournament in 2010. The answer is once, and that is this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. The online super casino experts have been shying away from Lefty this season because of his ongoing personal distractions with his wife’s health. But in this tournament he is a 10 to 1 favorite, and it is highly doubtful that he is ready to live up to that just yet.

When you bet March madness you pick the teams that you think will win based on factual information, but the Arnold Palmer Invitation seems to avoid that. Looking at the top five favorites to win you have Mickelson at 10 to 1, Steve Stricker at 16 to 1, Ernie Els at 18 to 1, and Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk at 20 to 1.

You can eliminate Vijay Singh. Until Vijay learns how to putt again, he will not be contending for any tournament. Steve Stricker has a habit of getting close but then fading away in the final round. Ernie Els is always a fan favorite, but he has had trouble putting tournaments away and his driving has been erratic lately.

Of these top favorites the best pick would be Jim Furyk. He is coming off of a win last week at the Transitions Championship, and he beat a very good golfer in South Korean K.J. Choi. Furyk has the most unconventional swing in all of golf, and his backwards putting grip makes him an unlikely PGA winner. But he knows how to use the gifts he has, and he is starting to establish himself as a regular winner on the tour.

Two more names to keep an eye on for this tournament are the aforementioned K.J. Choi and Retief Goosen. K.J. Choi has 25 to 1 odds, but his performance in the Transitions Championship last week was no fluke. His driving failed him on the final nine, but if Choi can maintain his swing he will give anyone a run for their money.

Retief Goosen is a 25 to 1 favorite as well, and it just feels like Goosen is on the cusp of having a great season. He has four top ten finishes this season in only six tournaments played. He hasn’t won yet, but look for Goosen to start making waves in 2010.

The long shot pick for the Arnold Palmer Invitational is Bubba Watson. He is a 66 to 1 pick to win this tournament, and that would normally scare any betting person away. But Bubba has a second and third place finish this year, and he is 18^th on the Fedex Cup points list. His scoring average is below 70 and he has yet to win a tournament. It is highly unlikely that Bubba Watson will start tearing up the PGA tour, but he is definitely due for at least one win and that win could be in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

NBA Picks:

Bulls +8.5 for 2 units

Orleans -2 for 2 units

Pacers -3 for 1 unit

Nice day yesterday going 4-0. I look to cotinue the streak today.

NBA:

New Orleans +2 for 2 units Loss for 2.2 units

CBB:

Rice -3 for 2 units Loss for 2.2 units

Northern Iowa -5.5 for 2 units Loss for 2.2 units

Iowa +4.5 for 1 unit Loss for 1.1 units

Sorry for the lack of posts. Been really focused on studying for the bar exam and working a ton. Just ran out of time to keep focused on all the games and didn’t want to be giving out poor plays. I should have plays every day for the next couple weeks as I am working less and have more free time.

NBA Games:

Oklahoma City -1.5 for 2 units Winner for 2 units

UNDER 218 Houston/Golden State for 2 units Winner for 2 units

CBB Games:

Central Florida -1 for 2 units Winner for 2 units

Wisconsin -2 for 1 unit Winner for 1 unit

4-0 on the day for 7 units of profit. Nice day to come back. That brings the overall loss back to a small 3.9 units. I am already working on a few plays tomorrow and should have a HUGE play if the line is right. Thanks for the support.

Simply struggling to get things right, can’t say much more than that.

Wednesday’s Play:

Memphis (+8) vs Syracuse for 2 units