Nba Free Predictions - May 07, 2008
We went 2-0 last night pushing us to 9-1 for +25.2 units over the past four days. We look to keep our streak going with four picks tonight...
Today's NBA Basketball Picks:
Game: Detroit at Orlando (8:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Detroit +4 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Pick: 3 units on First Half UNDER 94.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
We were on the Pistons in the first two game got the W's. We're sticking with these guys again. Detroit has won nine in a row vs. the Magic but here are expected to lose? We think they remain motivated from the scare they received from the Sixers in round one. Many will look to the Magic keeping game two close. They were in fact up 68-65 in the third quarter. But, without having drilled seven straight three-pointers to get there, the Magic would have again been blown out. We're betting they don't hit seven threes in a row again. Detroit's defense is completely unnerving the Magic. Orland has shot just 42% from the field. Detroit has forced 32 turnovers while turning it over just 14 times. The Pistons are averaging just 85 ppg allowed in the playoffs and 81.4 over their last five games. Orlando has averaged just 93.4 ppg over their last five. This is simply a big mismatch - bigger than most think. The only thing that ruins Detroit's run here is if they let down. But, as stated, we think they avoid that based on what happened last series. Truth be told, Detroit is 13-5 ATS this season vs. teams at .600 or better. They are 19-5 ATS this season after two straight ATS wins as a favorite! We'll take the better team as a dog. We're also on the first-half UNDER here. Detroit has held their playoff opponents to just 40.1 ppg in the first half. Orlando's first-half productivity has fallen off dramatically. While they averaged about 52 ppg in the first half during the regular season, they have managed just 48.3 in the playoffs and 43.8 over their last five games. As the games have intensified, their offense has faltered. Detroit is 20-10 UNDER in the first half this season after 3+ straight wins. Orlando is 26-15 UNDER in the first half as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points and 24-14 UNDER after an OVER this season. The Magic are also 12-4 UNDER at home this season revenging a loss as they try to pick up the defense against such opponents. We'll back the Pistons plus the points and the first-half UNDER here.
Game: Utah at Los Angeles Lakers (10:35 PM Eastern)Pick: 4 units on Utah +6.5 (-110) (risk 4 to win 3.6)Pick: 3 units on First Half UNDER 103 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Lakers won and covered game one, winning by 11 points. But Utah hung with them for most of the game. They could have easily covered the spread but fell apart very late. Don't take our word for it. Here's what Phil Jackson said after the game: "We avoided a game in which we easily could of come up on the losing end of." The Jazz can hang with LA and we think tonight they do keep the game closer, giving the Lakers a scare at the minimum. Despite losing by 11, we think that game actually inspired a bit of confidence for the Jazz who know that they were within four points of the vaunted Lakers late in the fourth. Utah is 20-7 ATS in their last 27 vs. winning teams this season and they are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 vs. high-scoring teams like LA (those averaging triple figures). They are also 16-6 revenging a loss this year including 12-3 if the loss was by double-digits. We look for Utah to hang in this one. We also look for a low-scoring game in the first half. Game one had 95 first-half points yet this line is set a full 8 points above that. The Jazz are 20-9 UNDER in the first half this season to a line of 100 to 105. They are alsoe 28-17 UNDER on the road including 15-7 UNDER as a road dog. The past two seasons they are 24-10 UNDER in the first half with two days rest. This season they are 18-8 UNDER revenging a loss in which they gave up 100+ points (they come back committed to defense). The high-flying Lakers are 29-18 UNDER this season in the first half after a game in which 205+ points were scored. Utah and the first-half UNDER here.
NBA Basketball Picks Resources:
Check out the last five NBA Basketball Picks Newsletters:
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-06-2008
While James gets all the press, there are a couple of other reasons Cleveland had success vs. Washington. First, they dominated the glass to the tune of a 7.5 rebound per game advantage. Second, ...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-05-2008
Detroit seems to be back. They faltered against Philadelphia early as their "going through the motions" proved not to be enough. After getting down 2-1 to the Sixers, they have won four stra...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-04-2008
Talk about the Tale of Two Cities. This series has been a contrast in wills, home and away. The Hawks have surprised everyone taking the Celtics three straight at home, but have not been able to ...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-03-2008
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. The...
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...
