Free NBA Playoffs Picks and Betting Preview (April 23, 2010)
These free NBA Playoffs picks are courtesy of Pregame.com.
The Miami Heat host the Boston Celtics in what amounts to be very close to an elimination game for Miami. The Heat are down 0-2 in their best of 7 game series, and are coming off an embarrassing loss in Game 2. The Heat are 4 point favorites, with a total of 182 points expected tonight. ESPN will televise this game at 7:00 EDT.
Miami is going to attempt to pull out all the stops tonight, as they quite simply need all the help they can get. The Heat organization is planning a black out, where everyone in the crowd wears black tonight. The Heat are down 2 games to none in their 1st Round playoff series with Boston. Miami was blown out in Game 2, losing 77-106 SU in a game they were favored to win. Miami has struggled with Boston all season long, as they've lost all 5 meetings to them. Miami has averaged a mere 76.5 PPG so far this series, and they will clearly need to perform better offensively to even remain competitive against the Celtics. The Heat are 47-37 SU and 42-41-1 ATS overall this season. The Heat are 24-17 SU and 18-22-1 ATS in home games this season. Miami is 21-22 ATS as the listed favorite this season, including 4-5 ATS as the listed favorite between 3.5 and 6 PTS. G Dwyane Wade is averaging 27.5 PPG so far this series, and has shot better than 60% from the field in each game thus far.
The Heat are 11-24 ATS in their last 35 home games against a team with a winning road record. The Under is 4-0 in the Heat's last 4 playoff games as a favorite. Point Guard Rafer Alston isn't expected back any time soon, as he has been suspended for quite some time now.
Boston is starting to get back their swagger, as they were dominant in a Game 2 SU win that many people thought they would lose. The Celtics seemed motivated to play a home playoff game as the listed underdog, despite missing F Kevin Garnett. Boston is so confident, that they've actually had players go on the record saying they were going to sweep Miami. Yet another reason for their confidence is the Celtics road play this year. Boston is the only team in the playoffs this year that has more road wins that home wins SU. Boston is 52-32 SU and 35-47-2 ATS overall this season. The Celtics are 26-15 SU and 21-19-1 ATS in road games this season. The Celtics are 8-9 ATS as the listed underdog this season, including 5-6 ATS as the lised underdog of 3.5 to 6 PTS this season. Boston has struggled this season after a high scoring game, as they are merely 7-20 ATS in the game after scoring 105 PTS this season. Boston is also only 8-15 ATS after a double digit win this year. PG Rajon Rondo continues to lead this Celtics team, as he's averaging 9 PPG and an impressive 9.8 APG so far in this playoff series.
The Celtics are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 8-3 in the Celtics last 11 games overall. Forward Kevin Garnett has served his suspension, and is likely to come out highly motivated tonight.
Pregame.com projects the final score to be 93-89 in favor of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics +4 is the Play of the Day!
Next free pick for the NBA Playoffs...
The Utah Jazz host the Denver Nuggets tonight in Game 3 of their very exciting playoff series. Both teams have lit up the scoreboard, and played down to the wire in each game. The Jazz are 2 point favorites, with a total of 216 points expected tonight. ESPN2 will televise this Western Conference clash at 10:30 EDT.
Utah came up with their most clutch win of the season in Game 2 of their playoff series with Denver. The Jazz were staring an 0-2 deficit in the face, ultimately playing one of their best road games of the season in winning 114-111 as 6 point underdogs. Utah is without 2 of their usual 5 starters, as both Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko are out. Both games have been very high scoring, as each team has scored more than 110 PTS in both games this series. Coach Sloan knows their best chance at continued success is to slow down the tempo. Utah also needs to rebound better, as they've been out-rebounded in both games during this series. In fact, of the 6 times these teams have squared off this season, the Jazz have only out-rebounded the Nuggets once. The Jazz are an impressive 32-9 SU and 26-13-2 ATS at home this season. Utah is 36-20 ATS as the listed favorite this season, including 3-1 ATS as a home favorite of 3 PTS or fewer. PG Deron Williams has been unstoppable this series, as he's averaging 29.5 PPG and 10.5 APG.
The Jazz are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite. The Over is 4-0 in Utah's last 4 against a team with a winning SU record. Center Mehmet Okur is out for the season with a serious ankle injury. Forward Andrei Kirilenko is out with a calf injury that he can't seem to shake.
Denver was shocked to lose home court advantage with their Game 2 loss, yet they still are confident they will advance to the 2nd Round. Part of that confidence is justified thanks to the electric play of F Carmelo Anthony. Anthony is averaging an astonishing 37 PPG this series, shooting better than 54% from the field and making 18 of his 19 free throw attempts. The Nuggets have 6 different players averaging double figures so far in this series, so obviously their offense isn't an issue. The issue for this Nuggets team has been on defense, as they've allowed an average of 113.5 PPG to Utah thus far in this series. In all, the Nuggets have allowed 5 consecutive opponents to score more than 100 PTS. Denver hasn't played well on the road this year, as they have a losing record of 19-22 SU and 16-21-4 ATS. All the pressure in the world is on this Denver team, as they now have to win in Utah to advance to the 2nd Round. The Nuggets are a profitable 10-6 ATS as the listed underdog this season. Denver is a perfect 6-0 ATS playing on 3 or more days of rest this year.
The Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 4-0 in the Nuggets last 4 games against a team with a winning SU record.
Pregame.com projects the final score to be 105-103 in favor of the Utah Jazz. The Under 216 is the Total of the Day!
Johnny Detroit, Gambling911.com
