NBA Playoffs Picks for Friday May 7, 2010
These NBA Playoffs picks are courtesy of Pregame.com. Visit Pregame.com here for all the latest free NBA and MLB picks.
The Boston Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of their Eastern conference playoff series. The Celtics have home court advantage now with their Game 2 win, so Game 3 is extra crucial for each team. The Cavaliers are 1 point favorites, with a total of 191 PTS expected tonight. ESPN will televise the game at 7:00 EDT.
Boston stole home court advantage away from Cleveland, and will look to take the series lead with a SU win tonight. The Celtics outscored the Cavaliers 31-12 in the decisive 3rd Quarter. Boston had great scoring balance in Game 2, as 6 different players scored double figures. The Celtics shot 51% from the field while limiting Cleveland to only 40%. PG Rajon Rondo continues to mature right before our eeys, as he's having a breakout post-season. Rondo had 13 PTS and 19 assists in Game 2. Rondo is averaging 16.3 PPG and nearly 12 APG during the playoffs this year. G Ray Allen is leading the Celtics in scoring this post-season, averaging 19 PPG while making nearly 50% of his 3 point attempts. F Kevin Garnett is also playing well, averaging 16.5 PPG and nearly 10 RPG during the playoffs. Boston is 55-34 SU and 38-49-2 ATS overall this season. Boston is 27-17 SU and 15-28-1 ATS in home games this season. The Celtics are 2-6 ATS after a SU win as the listed underdog.
Boston is 8-2-1 ATS n their last 11 games as a home underdog. The Over is 5-1 in the Celtics last 6 games as a home underdog. Forward Kevin Garnett is listed as Probable with an injured foot. Center Kendrick Perkins is also listed as Probable due to a sore knee.
For the first time in a long time, there is serious worries that Cleveland might not make it to the Finals this year. Cleveland has lost home court advantage against Boston after working so hard all year to have the best overall record in the NBA. F LeBron James has a banged up elbow, and they are playing their bitter rival who is very experienced. The Cavaliers are going to have to fight and play with more passion to win not only tonight, but the entire series. PG Mo Williams is coming off a poor performance in Game 2, where he only scored 4 PTS on 1 of 9 shooting. Besides James and F Antawn Jamison, no one else showed up offensively for Cleveland. Making matters worse, the Cavaliers were outrebounded by double digits in Game 2. Cleveland is 66-23 SU and 41-47-1 ATS overall this season. The Cavaliers are 27-16 SU and 23-19 ATS in road contests this season. Cleveland is 1-1 ATS as a road favorite of 3 PTS or fewer this season. The Cavaliers are 22-17 ATS this season when playing against a team with a winning SU record.
The Cavaliers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home. The Over is 4-0 in the Cavaliers last 4 games as a road favorite. Forward LeBron James is listed as Probable with the worlds most talked about elbow. Center Anderson Varejao is also listed as Probable with a balky back.
Pregame.com projects the final score to be 98-92 in favor of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics +1 is the Play of the Day!
...... The San Antonio Spurs host the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of their Western Conference playoff series. The Spurs are down 2-0 in their best of 7 series. The Spurs are in desperate need of a win tonight, so they will be playing with extra effort and passion. The Spurs are 6.5 favorites, with a total of 205.5 tonight. ESPN will broadcast the game at 9:30 EDT.
San Antonio is a bit perplexed, as they aren't facing the Phoenix Suns of old. The Spurs are used to dominating the Suns in the playoffs, but the Suns are tougher mentally than they've been in the past. San Antonio was up by 9 PTS after the 1st Quarter, but that was the only bright spot for them. The Spurs are demoralized a bit, because they shot better than 50% from the field in Game 2 and still lost. San Antonio allowed too many 3 pointers and too many free throws by the Suns. Phoenix shot 37 free throws to the Spurs 22. 5 different Spurs players scored in double figures in Game 2, led by F Tim Duncan and his 29 PTS. F Richard Jefferson also had a big game, scoring 18 PTS and grabbing 10 rebounds. Unfortunately, the Spurs only had 4 bench PTS besides PG Tony Parker. San Antonio is 54-36 SU and 47-41-2 ATS overall this season. The Spurs are 32-12 SU and 26-16-2 ATS in home games this season. San Antonio is only 6-7 ATS as a home favorite between 3.5 and 6 PTS this season.
The Spurs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a SU loss. The Over is 5-0 in the Spurs last 5 games against a team with a winning SU record.
It was perceived that San Antonio was playing the best basketball of the teams entering the 2nd Round. Phoenix has proved that statement to be a resounding false, as the Suns are up 2-0 on the Spurs. Phoenix has scored 110 and 11 PTS against the Spurs so far in this playoff series. Phoenix is dominating the Spurs at the 3 point line and with their vaunted pick and roll. PG Steve Nash and F Amar'e Stoudemire are the main reasons the Suns pick and roll is so good. The duo combined for 42 PTS in Game 2, after an impressive 56 PTS in Game 1. Besides the dynamic duo, Phoenix has had an enormous offensive contribution from G Jason Richardson. Richardson is averaging 23.4 PPG during the playoffs, and is shooting better than 50% from the 3 point line this post-season. C Channing Frye and F Jared Dudley have contributed 26 three pointers so far in the playoffs. Phoenix is 60-30 SU and 54-35-1 ATS overall this season. The Suns are 24-20 SU and 25-19 ATS in road games this season. The Suns are a profitable 8-2 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 PTS this season. Phoenix is now 16-4 ATS against Southwest Division opponents this year.
The Suns are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a road underdog. The Over is 12-4 in the Suns last 16 Conference Semifinals games. Center Robin Lopez is still listed as Questionable due to his injured back.
Pregame.com projects the final score to be 102-96 in favor of the San Antonio Spurs. The Under 205.5 is the Total of the Day!
Johnny Detroit, Gambling911.com
