Nba Picks - May 14, 2009
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Our NBA winning bonanza continues tonight with a trio of 5-unit picks! Since mid-November, we are +124.7 units and in the playoffs, we are hitting nearly 60% at 39-28 for +32.6 units. During that time, we are also 20-4 on our OVER/UNDER plays!
Today's NBA Basketball Picks:
Game: Boston at Orlando (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on First Half UNDER 94.5 -110 (risk 5 to win 4.6)
The Boston Celtics have stolen two games in this series, overcoming huge deficits to prevail in the end. They have done what they always do, and that is come out playing defense to set the tone. They have kept the three-point shooting of the Magic down.In the last two games, the Celtics have held Orlando to 11-51 good for just 21.5%. That is a lot of empty possessions, while the Celtics work the shot clock to find a good shot. The stakes rise as the series deepens, and the Magic have to lay it on the line here or they are going home. That usually means coming out playing intense defense. These games have already seen four of the five games play to 94 points, 92, 90, and 82 points in the first half. In fact, 14 of the past 16 times these two teams have met, the first-half has gone UNDER! With so much at stake here, the intensity to start this one should be even more focused on the defensive end. The Magic are 13-3 UNDER this season in the first-half when revenging a loss. Boston is a ridiculous 21-4 UNDER this season when facing a team that outscores their opponents by 3+ ppg. This one should play UNDER as well.
Game: Los Angeles Lakers at Houston (9:35 PM Eastern)Pick: 5 units on Houston +9 (-110) (risk 5 to win 4.6)Pick: 5 units on First Half UNDER 98 -110 (risk 5 to win 4.6)
The Rockets are facing elimination and the oddsmakers have really played on the 40-point win by the Lakers last game, making them a huge favorite on the road. The largest amount a team has ever been favored by on the road in a semi-final playoff game leading in the series three games to two was 7.5 points - and that is home or away! So this line is groundbreaking for sure. This huge line also comes against a Houston team that has suffered just nine home losses on the season, including the playoffs. Only twice have they lost by a margin greater than this pointspread all year on their home court! The Rockets have bounced back off of a 10-point loss or more this season, going 10-2 ATS in their next game. They are also 15-4 ATS this season revenging a loss in which they were kept to 85 points or less. Meanwhile the Lakers stand just 2-6 ATS in their last eight on the road against a team with a winning record. I like the Rockets to keep it much closer than 9 here and an outright win wouldn't completely shock me. I also like the first-half UNDER. Houston will realize one thing here: They can't enter a track meet with the Lakers, or they get blown out. They are 4-1 at home in the playoffs and in those four wins they allowed 83.5 points per game. In their loss, they allowed 108. The Lakers have played four games on the road in the playoffs, and when they were allowed to get out and run early, they blew out Utah with 60 first half points. The other three games have seen them struggle with the first half concluding with fewer points than offered here. The Rockets have played five games at home and even the game that got away from them vs. the Lakers the first half didn't topple the posted total for this one. I look for a much more focused effort by the Rockets on the defensive end, that's when they are at their best. The Rockets are 31-15 UNDER in the first-half in home games this seaon including 9-1 UNDER after a game in which they allowed 105+ points. Take the Rockets and the first-half UNDER.
NBA Basketball Picks Resources:
Check out the last five NBA Basketball Picks Newsletters:
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-12-2009
The Magic and Celtics have exchanged blows through four games in what is turning out to be another very good series. Tonight they return to Boston, in what is now a best of three series. The tone of t...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-11-2009
When you look at an NBA semi-final round and see a double-digit line posted to the side of the visitor, it makes you look to the home side for value. The problem is that cupboard is bare. This is a Ha...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-10-2009
We were on the Magic in game three with a very easy 5-unit winner. What's changed for this game? Not much. We have the same line and I still like the Magic. Yes, this is more of a must-win for Bos...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-09-2009
Denver has been smokin' fools and lighting up chumps in these playoffs. Granted, most of their powerful wins have come at home. They lost to New Orleans in their first road game by two points. But...
NBA-Basketball-Picks-May-08-2009
The Celtics needed a big game after dropping the opener and they got it. They now have to head on the road, having lost the home-court advantage. As we predicted, they showed up big time after losing ...
