Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs. Denver (2)
The Lakers seem to be oblivious to the rest of the league, and that attitude bit them in their butts three times against Houston. Maybe they were never in danger of being taken out by the Rockets, but it forced them into playing another belly-to-the-wall game in Game 7 that may have drained them of energy they’ll need against Denver.
#5 Houston Rockets vs. #1 LA Lakers
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# 6 Dallas Mavs vs. #2 Denver Nuggets
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Denver (2) vs. New Orleans (7)
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Key to series: Does Billups have much gas left in the tank?
Denver: 54-28
New Orleans : 49-33
Season series: Tied 2-2
Head-to-head:
Denver 101, (at) New Orleans 88
(at) New Orleans 94, Denver 81
(at) Denver 105, New Orleans 100
New Orleans 105, Denver 101
Playoff schedule:
Game 1 – Sun April 19 New Orleans at Denver 10:30PM TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 22 New Orleans at Denver 10:30PM TNT
Game 3 – Sat April 25 Denver at New Orleans 1:00PM ESPN
Game 4 – Mon April 27 Denver at New Orleans TBD
Game 5 * Wed April 29 New Orleans at Denver TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 1 Denver at New Orleans TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 3 New Orleans at Denver TBD
Playoff Gambling Trends: Denver closed the season on a 14-3 run, which started with a win in New Orleans. The Hornets limp in, knowing that just a few more victories would have bumped them up 3 or 4 notches and given them home-court edge in at least one series. The Hornets are still smarting over the 7-game loss to San Antonio last season.
How Denver wins: Chauncey Billups will be outplayed by Chris Paul, but if Billups can moderate the damage, the Nuggets should be OK. George Karl figures out a way to keep Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith focused for 10 days. The Nuggets can play decent defense for a series, but it’s hard to see them dig in for a couple of months.
How New Orleans wins: NO takes full advantage of their edge at the point and Paul turns in big numbers against a weary Billups. James Posey comes of the bench and makes Anthony work for every shot.
Prediction: New Orleans in 7
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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel writer from Massachusetts. He is personally responsible for the election of Barack Obama and has also taught himself how to juggle? He can be reached at newenglandhoops.net.
San Antonio (3) vs. Dallas (6)
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Key to series: The benches. There are a lot of miles on the starters for both teams. Drew Gooden gives the Spurs some toughness which they lacked.
Portland (4) vs. Houston (5)
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Key to series: Stamina. This series should go 6 and could go 7, and Houston’s starters will have to log huge minutes which could be costly in the end.
Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs. Utah (8)
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Key to series: Pace. The Lakers can’t lose if this becomes a showtime series. Utah would prefer to play on mud.
