Weekend Preview – Its Going to Get Physical
NBA Weekend Preview
Outside of Kenyon Martin’s $25,000 shoulder block on Dirk Nowitzki and the presentation of LeBron James as league MVP, NBA betting on both the Cleveland-Atlanta and Denver-Dallas series has been ho-hum.
The Nuggets won and covered in both games of their Western Conference semifinal with the Mavericks at Pepsi Center, while the Cavaliers rolled to the bank in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal with the Hawks.
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The other two conference semifinals have been anything but garden variety. With both the Boston-Orlando and L.A. Lakers-Houston series headed for Game 3 (Friday) and Game 4 (Sunday) this weekend, here’s a quick look at what has bettors talking, so they have a better idea about the NBA odds:
Boston at Orlando (Eastern Conference semifinals series tied 1-1)
The expectation following the announcement Kevin Garnett was very likely to miss the duration of the playoffs because of his knee injury was Paul Pierce and Ray Allen would have to walk on water to get the Celtics back to the Finals.
While Pierce and Allen have definitely had their moments, Rajon Rondo has not so quietly become Boston’s most important player. After a lackluster performance in the Celts’ 95-90 loss to the Magic in Game 1, Rondo exploded for 15 points, 18 assists, and 11 rebounds in Boston’s 112-94 payday as 4-point favorites in Wednesday night’s Game 2. With his third triple-double of the postseason, Rondo became the only Celtic other than Larry Bird to have three playoff triple-doubles in one season.
Eddie House drained a career playoff-high 31 points for Boston in Game 2, but it was the way he drew the ire of Orlando’s Rafer Alston that could affect Friday night’s Game 3. Alston swatted House in the back of the head in frustration following one of House’s four three-pointers, which could lead to his suspension for Game 3. If Alston has to sit, Anthony Johnson would start at point guard and leave the Magic without a dependable backup.
An Alston suspension shouldn’t affect the 4.5-point fave tag on Orlando, or the 189-point total set by oddsmakers.
The Magic should also have the added boost of starting shooting guard Courtney Lee, who hasn’t seen the floor since Game 5 of Orlando’s first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering a broken sinus. Lee is officially listed as probable, and will be a gameday decision for Stan Van Gundy.
L.A. Lakers at Houston (Western Conference semifinals series tied 1-1)
Suspensions could play an even bigger role for Game 3 between the Lakers and Rockets, who are 1.5-point underdogs for Friday night’s contest. Los Angeles’ 111-98 victory as 10-point chalk in Wednesday night’s Game 2 was marred with technical fouls, flagrant fouls, and ejections, and as of press time there was still a possibility both Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher could be forced to sit out Game 3.
Bryant didn’t even draw a personal foul for his high elbow in a tie-up with Ron Artest on Wednesday night, and Artest was actually the one kicked out of the game for pleading his case to the officials before confronting Bryant near midcourt. Replays show Kobe’s elbow hitting Artest in the upper chest, so it’s highly unlikely Bryant gets a game from NBA brass.
Fisher probably has a 50-50 chance of getting nailed after bodychecking Luis Scola on a screen. The flagrant-2 came on the ensuing play after Scola was hit with a technical during an altercation involving both Lamar Odom and Luke Walton, who were also assessed technicals. If Fisher is suspended, the Lakers promise to go with a point guard by committee involving Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, and backup shooting guard Sasha Vujacic. Odom could also handle the ball significantly even if one member of that trio is on the floor.
As for the basketball that was played in Game 2, the Lakers benefited from foul trouble to Yao Ming, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes. Phil Jackson moved Odom back into the starting lineup for Andrew Bynum, and the switch forced Ming to guard a much more active Pau Gasol, who finished with 22 points and 14 boards.
In the end, Bryant was the difference. Kobe dropped 40 points and had six rebounds on 16-of-27 shooting, and his outburst allowed the teams to play over the 193-point total.
Oddsmakers have the over/under for Friday night’s matchup set at 195.
3 replies on “Boston at Orlando | L.A. at Houston Previews”
LA has to start realizing that they aren’t going to get a free pass to the NBA finals. I see them taking out Houston in 7 games, but if they aren’t careful they could easily find themselves on the losing end of this series.
Brooks was unreal last night!
Sundays winners in game 7’s
1.Lakers
2. Celtics