Free Basketball Picks - May 03, 2008
Tonight we have picks in both opening games in round two...
Today's NBA Basketball Picks:
Game: Orlando at Detroit (7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Detroit -6.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Pistons' stubbing of their toe in round one vs. Philly gives us a couple of points of line value here. In losing game one at home and trailing 2-1 at one point, they lost a lot of backers. They woke up after that, trouncing the Sixers in three straight games. They held Philly to just 80.7 ppg in those last three games while averaging 97 themselves. You can bet Detroit doesn't fall asleep again in game one in this series. The Magic had their way with the Raptors in their series. Dwight Howard was a man-child putting up 22 points and pulling down 18 boards per game. Against this Pistons defense, don't expect a repeat. Detroit held opponents to 88.1 ppg at home this season. They gave up just 47 rebounds per game (11 offensive). On the season, the Pistons were 12-4 ATS at home vs. teams that scored 99+ ppg. They were 15-7 ATS at home vs. teams that allowed 99+ ppg. We like a motivated Pistons team in a game in which we feel the line is off by a couple of points.
Game: San Antonio at New Orleans (10:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on New Orleans -3 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
People still can't believe this Hornets team is as good as they are. One of the best teams in the tough West in the regular season, and a 4-1 winner in round one, continues to get little respect with this line on their home court. The Spurs certainly impressed in their opening round win over Phoenix. So now they have believers ("the Spurs just turn it on come playoff time."). But how much of that was a fairly weak Phoenix team that played no defense? When this series goes to San Antonio, it could be a different story. But on the road, the Spurs just weren't that good this season. They were just over .500 and notched 17 losses to playoff teams this year on the road. Meanwhile, New Orleans has gone 15-1 at home their last sixteen games. On the road, San Antonio is 16-27 ATS. At home, the Hornets are 28-16 ATS. In expected close games (line of -3 to +3), the Spurs are just 6-15 ATS this season. As a road dog of up to 3 points, they are 2-10 ATS. We like the Hornets who remain undervalued.
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Check out the last five NBA Basketball Picks Newsletters:
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-02-2008
While thus far this has been a home team series, with each team winning and covering all games at home, we look for things to turn here. The Pistons gained control of their series with their game five...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-30-2008
Get rid of the Wizards already. Unless you are from Washington, how can you like this team? They have proven themselves to be trash talking thugs. And losing ones at that. DeShawn Stevenson took out L...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-29-2008
The Mavs got knocked out early from the playoffs last season and this year, with not quite as good a team, they are on their way to getting bounced again. It has been their inability to win against th...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-28-2008
What happened last game? Doesn't really matter to be honest. It was a fluke. Atlanta hadn't come within 10 points of Boston in five losses prior to the last game. That win was their first post...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-27-2008
The first three games in this series have seen the following first-half points of 92, 93 and 82. The 82 was here in Washington. We like this one to also go UNDER the first half total. The Cavs ar...
