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Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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05-05-17 | Predators v. Blues UNDER 5 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 12 h 53 m | Show |
The set-up: The Nashville Predators may be the No. 8 seed in the West but after a 2-1 Game 4 win, they are on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. The Predators won back-to-back games in Nashville to push St. Louis to the brink of elimination and up their postseason record to a stunning 7-1. The Blues scored just two goals in two games in Nashville (one in each) and can hardly count on a return home to serve as a panacea, as they are just 6-8 in their last 14 playoff games at Scottrade Center, including 2-2 this postseason. Nashville: Pekka Rinne was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the eighth round in 2004, back when the franchise was celebrating its first playoff appearance. Thirteen years, 11 NHL seasons and 564 games later, Rinne and the team that drafted him are a win away from reaching a place they've never been before. There were questions about the drop-off in Rinne's play entering the playoffs but he has posted a 7-1-0 mark, 1.33 goals-against average and a staggering .953 save percentage, the highest for a netminder with at least eight starts since 1982-83. Nashville's defensemen have played well in front of him plus have scored eight goals and added 14 assists in the team's eight playoff games. St. Louis: The Blues know they must reduce their time in the penalty box, after seven minors in Game 4 and six in Game 3. St. Louis must also improve its own power play, as the Blues are 1 of 9 with a man advantage against Nashville and a woeful 2 of 24 on the power play in this year's playoffs, to-date. One player the Blues can't blame is goaltender Jake Allen, who owns a 2.05 GAA and .936 SP. The pick: I expect nothing to change in Game 5. Allen will play well but the Blues just can't get much (if anything?) past Rinne. Nashville's 11 goals allowed in eight playoff games is the fourth-lowest total since the expansion era. Make the Under an 8* play. |
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05-05-17 | Blue Jays v. Rays OVER 7.5 | Top | 8-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: The Toronto Blue Jays have played in the last two ALCS matchups but have opened the 2017 season with the worst record in MLB at 9-19. The Blue Jays are still waiting he left side of their infield, 3B Josh Donaldson and SS Troy Tulowitzki, to return from injuries, as they head to Tampa for a three-game series with the 15-15 Rays. Donaldson (calf) has been sidelined since April 13 while shortstop Tulowitzki (hamstring) has been out since April 21, but both could return early next week. The Rays beat Miami 5-1 on Thursday and have won three of their last four games, allowing just four runs in those three victories. The Blue Jays took two of three from the Rays last week in Toronto, allowing just one run in each of the victories. The pitching matchup: Francisco Liriano (2-2 & 3.97 ERA) opens the series for Toronto, opposed by Tampa's ace, Chris Archer (2-1 & 3.43 ERA). Liriano beat the Rays last Saturday in Toronto, allowing just one run on four hits over five innings. The 33-year-old vet has had control issues this season, walking 15 batters in 22 2/3 innings but has allowed only one HR. He's 3-3 with a 5.49 ERA in 12 career appearances (11 starts / teams are 5-6) versus the Rays. Archer is win-less in his last three outings (0-2 with a 4.74 ERA / team is 1-2) but in his most recent start (April 30), he allowed just one ER on four hits in a no-decison against the Blue Jays (Toronto won 3-1). He is 6-4 with a 3.06 ERA in 21 career starts against the Blue Jays (Rays are 12-9). The pick: These teams have seen a lot of each other so far, with the Rays taking three of four from Toronto in an early series at Tropicana Field and the Jays winning two of three when they played at Rogers Centre last weekend. Toronto's recovered from a 1-9 start to go 8-10 its last 18 but the Jays are only 6-11 on teheroad, allowing 5.9 RPG. Meanwhile, the Rays are 10-5 at home, where they have averaged 5.20 RPG. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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05-05-17 | Cavs v. Raptors +3.5 | Top | 115-94 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers needed six games to beat the Toronto Raptors in last year's Eastern Conference finals, although the four wins came by an average margin of 28.5 PPG. The two teams are meeting a round earlier this season and after sweeping the Pacers in the first round, the Cavs have again opened their series with the Raptors by easily winning Games 1 and 2 of this series at home. Game 1's margin was 'just" 11 points, although let's note that the Cavs led by 22 points entering the fourth quarter in that contest. Cleveland led by 18 heading into the fourth quarter of Game 2 and extended the lead to win by 22. The Cavaliers are 6-0 in this year's postseason and have averaged 1115.3 PPG. Toronto had its hands full with Milwaukee (won in six games) and now hope its deja vu against the Cavs. Cleveland steamrolled Toronto in the first two games of last season's playoffs as well, before the Raptors thrived in their home environment and won the next two contests at Air Canada Centre. |
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05-04-17 | Jazz v. Warriors OVER 204.5 | Top | 104-115 | Win | 100 | 14 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The Warriors fell just shy of covering in Game 1, winning 106-94 as 13-point favorites. However, Golden State controlled the flow in the series opener and sure didn't look rusty form an eight-day layoff. The Warriors got balanced scoring (all five starters were in double digits) and the lone negative was the team's poor three-point shooting (7 of 29 or 24.1%). However, the team held Utah star forward Gordon Hayward to just 12 points and Utah was almost as bad from three-point range as the Warriors, making only 9 of 29 (31.0%). Utah: The Jazz were never able to get their offense in gear, as Hayward and postseason standout Joe Johnson both struggled. In fact, center Rudy Gobert was the club's high scorer with 13 points. "We just didn't execute like we wanted to and missed some shots," Hayward said during postgame festivities. "So definitely not the way we wanted to start, but just one game. Have to figure something out and be ready for the next one." Hayward was just 4-of-15 from the floor and Johnson has just 11 points, on 4 of 10 shooting. George Hill had just seven points in the opener, after averaging 16.9 points in the series against the Clippers. Golden State: Curry suffered a left ankle injury during Game 1 (led with 22 points) and missed practice on Wednesday. However, he isn't expected to be hampered in terms of Game 2. He only played 21 seconds in the final quarter and insisted after the contest that it was "just routine maintenance" and "it's nothing to worry about." Small forward Kevin Durant scored 17 points in the opener and looks nearly fully recovered from the calf injury that caused him to miss two games in the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Green added 17-8-6, so don't worry about the Warriors in this one. The pick: No way either team shoots as poorly again from three-point range (see numbers above) and this over/under remains low for a Golden State team averaging 116.8 PPG in winning its first five postseason games. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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05-04-17 | Celtics +5.5 v. Wizards | Top | 89-116 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: It's been the "Isaiah Thomas Show" in the first two games of this second round series between the top-seed Celtics and fourth-seeded Wizards. Washington opened Game 1 on a 16-0 run but lost by 12 and then scored 42 points in the first quarter of Game 2 (led by 13), only to lose (and fail to cover) in OT, 129-119. Thomas has persevered through personal tragedy to score 33 points in Game 1 and then 53 points in Game 2 (one shy of Hondo's franchise record for a single playoff game), with 29 of his points coming in the fourth quarter and OT. Washington PG John Wall collected 40 points and 13 assists for the Wizards in Game 2, after scoring 20 points with 16 assists in Game 1, but he's been overshadowed by Thomas. "It was a heck of a basketball game," Washington head coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "Two teams played their hearts out. Two great players played well. I thought both teams competed, played their hearts out, nothing to be ashamed of. We lost both games. Now we got to go home and take care of Game 3." Boston: Sure, Thomas has been the definitive star but center Al Horford had 21-9-10 in Game 1 and then 15 & 12 in Game 2. SF Crowder has averaged 19.0 & 6.5 in the first two games and Thomas' backcourt partner Bradley, has averaged 16.0 PPG, although he has shot just 13-of-36 from the floor in the series. Who knows what might have been if Rondo hadn't gotten hurt after Chicago took a 2-0 lead? However, we do know that Boston has now won six in a row, averaging 112.2 PPG. Washington: John Wall darted, dashed and dished from all over the court in Tuesday's Game 2 but nothing was enough to conquer Boston's Thomas. It sure didn't help that after scoring 27 points and shooting 4-of-7 on threes in in Game 1, Bradley Beal went 1-of-9 from three-point range in Game 2 while scoring only 14 points. Washington led 110-104 with 2:43 remaining in regulation but couldn't close out the Celtics. "It was tough. We had opportunities to win this game," Wall said. "Last 2/3 minutes, (we) had the opportunities to make shots, but we missed some good looks. They came down and made some tough shots. They made shots that we missed." The pick: Will playing on familiar turf help Washington's defenders better deal with the 5-foot-9 Thomas? Washington did win both home regular-season games against Boston but I'm not stepping in front of this Boston 'train,' led by Thomas 'the conductor.' Boston head coach Brad Stevens was just 2-10 in this playoff career after the Celtics lost the first two games against Chicago at home. However, he has since led Boston to six consecutive wins and covers. Can you say SEVEN in a row? Make the Celtics an 8* play. |
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05-04-17 | Senators v. Rangers -167 | Top | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 20 m | Show |
The set-up: The Rangers "gave away" Game 2 of the series to fall into an 0-2 hole but rebounded strongly in Game 3, scoring the contest's first four goals in a 4-1 victory. The Senators had played eight straight one-goal decisions to open the postseason and erased a two-goal deficit on three occasions before prevailing in double overtime in Game 2. However, in speaking about Game 3, Ottawa head coach Guy Boucher told reporters of New York's domination, "We got a slap in the face and we've got to get up." Tuesday's matchup is now another must-win for New York. “It says that we can erase an emotional loss,” Rangers forward Rick Nash told reporters about his team's Game 3 win. “We’re still down, so the next game is that much of a bigger deal.” Ottawa: The Senators may view this game as a must win as well, as returning home tied at two-all would mean momentum had swung in the favor of the Rangers. Ottawa has some injury concerns as forwards Bobby Ryan and Zack Smith each were knocked out of Game 3, although Boucher said Ryan is likely to play Thursday while Smith's status will be determined at the morning skate. However, on the positive side, it appears defenseman Chris Wideman and winger Tom Pyatt, both of whom have been out since late in the opening-round series against the Boston Bruins, will return to the Ottawa lineup Thursday. NY Rangers: Mats Zuccarello, the leading scorer during the regular season, had a goal and an assist Tuesday to give him five points in his last four games. Mika Zibanejad, acquired from Ottawa in the offseason in exchange for Derick Brassard, also is raising his level of play with six points over the past five games to take over the team lead with seven in the postseason. "At the end of the day, all we've done is win one game," warned Rangers' head coach Vigneault. "(Thursday) is the most important game of the season for us." The pick: The Rangers played a nearly flawless game, a passionate and well-executed performance, while little went right for a Senators team that put up limited resistance and made a host of mistakes after winning the first two games of the series on home ice. The Rangers were just a so-so team on home ice for much of the regular season but they have reversed their fortunes in the playoffs, having won their last three at MSG. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist has allowed just one goal in each of those three games! In contrast, Ottawa netminder Craig Anderson has permitted nine goals in the past two games and committed another puck-handling gaffe that led to a gimme tally in Game 3. Make the Rangers a 10* play. |
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05-04-17 | Rockies v. Padres OVER 8 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 25 m | Show |
The set-up: The Rockies lost 2-0 (13 inn.) on Sunday and then opened a three-game series in San Diego with the Padres on Tuesday with a 6-2 defeat. However, those Colorado bats woke up Wednesday night at Petco, pounding out 14 hits in an 11-3 win. Ian Desmond was the hitting star, going 3-for-5 with two HRs and three RBI. The loss ended San Diego's modest three-game winning streak and note that San Diego has now lost three of its last four home games, leaving them just 6-5 at home. The teams square off in the rubber game of this series with 17-11 Colorado sitting atop the NL West and the 12-17 Padres 5 1/2 games back of the Rockies, ahead of only the 11-18 Giants in the division. |
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05-04-17 | Rangers v. Astros -151 | Top | 10-4 | Loss | -151 | 6 h 55 m | Show |
The set-up: The Houston Astros have scored 24 runs in winning the first three of this four-game home series against the Texas Rangers. The Astros are now 19-9, giving them MLB's best record, as they go for the sweep in this Thursday afternoon contest. Houston has matched the franchise's best 28-game start from 2006 and has opened 2017 at 15-4 against its American League West rivals. By losing these first three games against the Astros, the Rangers' losing streak has reached four in a row and with seven losses in their last nine, the Rangers now occupy the basement in the AL West at 11-17. |
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05-03-17 | Ducks v. Oilers -117 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -117 | 14 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks won the Pacific Division for the fifth straight time in the 2016-17 season but just barely, as the Edmonton Oilers finished just two points behind them. The Oilers then won Games 1 and 2 at the Honda Center to take a 2-0 lead in this second round series, before the Ducks were able to win 6-3 on Sunday at Rogers Place. Sunday's triumph in Edmonton gives the Ducks a 3-0 in Alberta this season plus Anaheim also he won both encounters during its first-round series against the Flames in Calgary. All of a sudden, the pressure is back on the Oilers, who are 27-13-5 on home ice this season, including the playoffs. Anaheim: Jakob Silfverberg recorded his first career multi-goal performance and extended his goal-scoring streak to three contests after tallying twice in Sunday's victory. His six goals trail only Pittsburgh rookie Jake Guentzel for the league lead while his 31 career points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 30 playoff games over the last three seasons underscores his worth "when it counts!" Forward Patrick Eaves was seen wearing a walking boot following Game 3 on the heels of a neutral-zone collision with former Duck Patrick Maroon in the third period. He joined defenseman Kevin Bieksa (lower body) in the stands during Tuesday's battle drills, with his availability to play in Game 4 depending greatly on if he's able to skate on Wednesday morning, coach Randy Carlyle said. Bieksa's status is much clearer as he will miss his third straight contest on Wednesday. Edmonton: Connor McDavid had a goal in Game 3 but his minus-2 rating on Sunday shows that the 20-year-old still has things to learn, despite his 100-point regular-season performance (he's one of three, Hart Trophy finalists). The Oilers may also be concerned regarding goalie Cam Talbot, who now owns an .898 save percentage in his past six starts, after recording two shutouts in the previous three contests. The pick: The visitor has won the first three games of this series and that isn't exactly news in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. Road teams have won 30 of the first 53 games this postseason. However, home ice 'ruled' last night (both Rangers and Predators won) and I'll back the home team here, making Edmonton an 8* play. |
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05-03-17 | Angels v. Mariners OVER 8 | Top | 7-8 | Win | 100 | 14 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The red-hot Angels pushed across two runs in the 11th inning for a 6-4 triumph in Tuesday's opener of the three-game set at Seattle. LA has now won seven of eight, as Albert Pujols recorded three hits on Tuesday, including the tie-breaking double in the 11th inning. Mike Trout extended his hitting streak to 15 games, matching his career best. It was LA's 11th comeback win of the season and the 15-13 Angels are now 4-0 against the Mariners this season. Los Angeles is 15-13 (3 1/2 back of Houston), while Seattle falls to 11-16, tied with Texas at the bottom of the AL West, seven games back of the Astros. The pitching matchup: Ricky Nolasco (2-2 & 4.13 ERA) will take the mound for LA and Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2 & 4.15 ERA) for Seattle. Nolasco has won back-to-back decisions, including a victory over Oakland last time out in which he allowed one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Nolasco settled for a no-decision against Seattle back on April 8 (LA won 5-4), when he gave up two runs and four hits over six frames, and is 1-4 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts versus the Mariners (teams are 2-4). Iwakuma remains winless in five starts to open the 2017 season and even more troubling, he has lasted less than six innings in each of his last three outings. He had a career-best 16 wins last season but a KW ratio that was more than 7-to-1 in 2014 (154-21!), is nearly even this season (12 strikeouts, 11 walks). Iwakuma is 9-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 20 career appearances (19 starts / Seattle is 11-8) against the Angels. He gave up one run and two hits in six innings of a no-decision back on April 9, a game LA won 10-9 with a seven-run 9th! The pick: The Angels are rolling (7-1 run) and I won't stand in their way here. However, I don't much trust Nolasco, who has had ERAs of 5.38, 6.75 and 4.42 in each of the last three seasons. He kept the ball in teh park against the Athletics in his last start but the veteran had served up seven HRs over his first four starts, allowing 27 hits over 22 2/3 innings with a 4.76 ERA. The Mariners have averaged 5.10 RPG at home and have allowed 4.20. The Angels have averaged 5.40 RPG in their last five wins and that makes the Over an 8* play. |
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05-03-17 | Rockets v. Spurs UNDER 215 | Top | 96-121 | Loss | -103 | 13 h 25 m | Show |
The set-up: Expecting that the Rockets would severely test the Spurs in this series was not a stretch but few could have predicted Houston's stunning 126-99 beat down of the Spurs in Game 1 on Monday. The third-seeded Rockets were up by 30 at the half and were never threatened in the 27-point win. "You have to play like a champion, and that's what we did - that's just one day," Houston head coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "We need to repeat this three more times." The Spurs shot just 36.9 percent in Game 1 and had no answers on the defensive end. "We really have to step up, and it's hard to pinpoint something because we got outplayed in just about everything," San Antonio veteran guard Manu Ginobili told reporters. "We were not ready or attentive, and they were inspired - they played great." Houston: Harden had 20 points (modest but he was not needed) along with 14 assists. More importantly, Houston's frontcourt delivered in a way it hadn't in dispatching OKC 4-1. Ariza had 23 points, after he had averaged just 6.2 points in the five-game first-round series against the Thunder. Cent Clint Capela added 20 & 13 and Anderson 14. Anderson made four 3-pointers in Game 1 after being just 3-for-24 in the series against OKC. Houston launched 50 three-point shots, making 22. San Antonio: Kawhi Leonard was just 5-of-14 shooting while registering 21 points and 11 rebounds in the opener, his worst game of teh 2017 postseason. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge was inept, with just four points on 2-of-7 shooting. PG Tony Parker was unable to follow up his strong effort (27 points on 11-of-14 shooting) in the closeout win over the Memphis Grizzlies and had just 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting. As I've noted this postseason, the Spurs rely way more on Leonard than most people realize. This is not a typical San Antonio team of the recent past. The pick: Still, the Spurs have a legacy and there is no better head coach than Popovich. What the Spurs still can do is play defense and that's the way they can get back in the series. Therefore, the Game 2 play is a 10* on the Under. |
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05-03-17 | Capitals v. Penguins OVER 5 | Top | 2-3 | Push | 0 | 11 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The perennially underachieving Capitals lost the first two games at home against the Penguins and then with Game 3 seemingly in hand, allowed two quick goals (less than a minute apart) and were headed to OT. However, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk's power-play goal 3:13 into overtime on Monday allowed the Caps to see a light at the end of the tunnel. What's more, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby was blasted with a cross-check to the head in the early part of Game 3 and the Penguins' transcendent superstar is in an all-to-familiar place; the NHL's concussion protocol (his history of concussions is well-chronicled,). Crosby has been ruled out for Game 4. Washington: The reigning Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals (also won Presidents' Trophy last season) now have a chance to even the series, although a loss at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh would leave them on the brink of elimination. Former Penguin Matt Niskanen delivered the hit on Crosby (he received a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct) but told reporters that it was "absolutely not" his intention to injure his former teammate. Putting aside the Crosby incident, the Caps got a quality performance from goalie Braden Holtby. He was pulled in Game 2 but during the regular season, he had registered a 3-1-0 mark with one shutout, a 2.27 GAA and .922 save percentage in four games after being pulled. Yes, he gave up those two late goals but he stooped 30 of 32 shots in Game 3. Washington will need another effort like that. Pittsburgh: Crosby will sit but fellow former Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin leads the NHL with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in eight playoff games and is no stranger to picking up the slack in the absence of "Sid the Kid." Fellow forward Phil Kessel is the next man up both figuratively and literally, as the 29-year-old's 12 points trailed only Malkin in the league entering Tuesday. The pick: Washington's 3.14 GPG ranks 3rd in the NHL and Pittsburgh's the top-scoring team at 3.44 per. A "typical" Washington road game averages 5.82 goals and a home game for Pittsburgh averages 6.34. Emotions will be running high in this one and I expect goals to be scored. Make the Over an 10* play. |
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05-03-17 | Indians -169 v. Tigers | Top | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 11 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: Miguel Cabrera returned from the DL last night for Detroit and hit his 450th career HR, helping the Tigers to a third straight win, 5-2 over the Indians. It also marked the Tigers' fourth win in five outings this season versus the Indians, who won last year's Central Division (Tigers finished eight games back). With two wins in this four-game series so far, the Tigers are now tied at 14-12 with the Indians, as the AL Central has four teams at the top of the division (Twins and White Sox are the others), all within a half-game of each other. The pitching matchup: Carlos Carrasco (2-2 & 2.04 ERA) takes the mound for Cleveland up against Detroit's Matthew Boyd (2-1 & 3.86 ERA). Carrasco hasn't had much run support this season, as the Indians hav escored just 12 runs during his 35 1/3 innings, leaving him a modest 2-2 in five starts (team is 3-2), despite his 2.04 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and .175 opponents BA. Carrasco doesn't have a strong record against Detroit, going 5-7 with a 5.14 ERA in 15 career starts (team is 7-8). Boyd got the better of Carrasco in the April 16 outing after yielding just one run in six innings to improve to 1-0 with an 0.84 ERA in two career outings versus Cleveland. He comes into this game off back-to-back no-decisions in his last two trips to the mound. The pick: Detroit's four wins (in just five games) matches the team's total against the division champions of 2016. Carlos Carrasco's 2016 season ended abruptly against the Detroit Tigers in 2016 when he sustained a fractured right hand after he was struck by an Ian Kinsler line drive last September.when. However, he has returned with a vengeance this season and enters off four straight quality starts. He finally gets some support and gets some revenge against Boyd, from that 4-1 April 16th loss. Make Cleveland an 8* play. |
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05-03-17 | Raptors +8 v. Cavs | Top | 103-125 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 35 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers played very poor team defense in going 10-14 from March 1 through the end of the regular season but the team's answer to that come the playoffs has been...Outscore its opponents. The Cavs have averaged 113.4 PPG in winning their first five playoff games, scoring a low of 106 and high of 119. Second-seeded Cleveland made it a four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the opening round and built a 12-point lead after one quarter against the Raptors, then took a 22-point lead into the 4th quarter in cruising past the Raptors 116-105 on Monday. Cleveland knocked off the Raptors in last season's Eastern Conference finals when its four victories were by an average of 28.5 points and Toronto players know they need to prevent a landslide. "We've just got to play defense and not let them go up and down and do what they do, play defense for 48 minutes," Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry told reporters after Game 1. "We got to find ways to limit their spurts." Toronto: The Raptors could tinker with the lineup by going back to guard Norman Powell instead of center Jonas Valanciunas, which was how they won the last three games of their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Powell may have had 12 points in Game 1 off the bench, but shot just 3 of 11. Or they could swap P.J. Tucker with DeMarre Carroll. Tucker had 13 points and 11 boards off the bench Monday. DeRozan and Lowry were fairly quiet (combined 39 points) but the bottom line is, the team must shoot better than 43.8% from the floor, including only 10 of 26 on threes. Cleveland: LBJ had 35 points and 10 rebounds in the opener and needs just 25 points to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5,762 points) for second place on the all-time postseason scoring list. He also has 88 career 30-point outings in the postseason, matching Kobe Bryant for second place on the all-time list. The records just keep falling. PG Kyrie Irving had 24 points and a career playoff-best 10 assists in Game 1 plus center Tristan Thompson collected 14 rebounds to raise his playoff average to 11.6 and he has reached double digits in all five of Cleveland's playoff games. The pick: Will the Cleveland 'express' just keep rolling? Losing Game 1 of a playoff series is hardly new for Toronto, as the Raptors now own a 1-12 record all time in those contests. History doesn't exactly bode well here either, as they are 1-5 in Game 2s on the road in postseason play. However, maybe Toronto can gain some measure of hope in noting that In their five playoff losses to Cleveland dating back to last year's conference finals, Game 1 on Monday was the closest. If the Raptors want any chance in this series, a win tonight is almost a must. Take the points and make Toronto a 10*. |
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05-02-17 | Jazz v. Warriors OVER 206.5 | Top | 94-106 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 55 m | Show |
The set-up: The Utah Jazz won Game 7 at Staple Center to win their series with the Clippers, the first series win for the franchise since 2010. The team's reward is a date with the well-rested Golden State Warriors, who have not played since completing a four-game sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers back on April 24th. The extended rest has allowed Kevin Durant to fully recover from an injury that caused him to miss two games in the Portland series. Golden State won two of the three regular-season meetings, with Utah's win coming at Oracle Arena 105-99 on April 10th. However, that game probably needs an asterisk, as the Warriors rested Klay Thompson that night plus the Jazz were without Favors, Hood and star forward Gordon Hayward. Utah: Speaking of Hayward, his star shown brightly against the Clippers, as excluding his nine-minute Game 4 effort due to food poisoning, he averaged 27.2 PPG in the other six games. "You can see his confidence out there," Snyder told reporters of Hayward. "He's played through missed shots, contact, hot streaks, you name it. He's handled that with poise, and he's a heck of an offensive player. He's so versatile that he's hard to guard, and we try to use him in a way that allows him to shine in those situations." Snyder also received outstanding efforts in the first round from reserves Joe Johnson (15.7), Rodney Hood (10.4) and Derrick Favors (10.0 & 6.4). Golden State: Steve Kerr (back surgery complications) is expected to miss the series and it will be up to acting coach Mike Brown to get his players focused, as several of them were chirping that they would have rather played the Clippers than the Jazz due to the lack of nightlife in Utah. PG Stephen Curry averaged 29.8 points and made 19 three-pointers in the sweep of Portland and he averaged 26.3 points in three regular-season meetings against the Jazz. SG Klay Thompson averaged just 18.3 points on 38.8 percent shooting against the Trail Blazers and registered just one 20-point outing. The pick: "They're never in a rush," Curry said about the Jazz. "They usually run the clock down looking for the best shot. And then, God forbid you give up an offensive rebound, and you've got to do it all over again. That's where they kind of beat you down mentally with their pace." That was the case when the Jazz beat the Warriors 105-99 on April 10. It was the only time Golden State has been held below 100 points since March 11, and the result was the Warriors' lone loss in their past 20 games. As noted above, Golden State won the other two meetings but didn't reach its season scoring average (a league-high 115.9) in those games, either. So under? I think not. The Warriors know they can't let Utah dictate the pace and they rang up 119 and 128 points in the final two games of the series at Portland even with coach Steve Kerr absent and Durant making modest contributions. Make the Over a 10* play |
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05-02-17 | Angels v. Mariners OVER 7 | Top | 6-4 | Win | 100 | 13 h 20 m | Show |
The pitching matchup: Matt Shoemaker (1-1 & 4.73 ERA) gets the ball for Seattle and James Paxton (3-0 & 1.39 ERA) for the Mariners. Shoemaker picked up his first victory of the season Wednesday versus the Athletics (in his fifth start), allowing two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over five innings. He has struck out 20 in 17 1/3 innings over his last three appearances and permitted two runs or fewer four times but he has managed only one quality start. Shoemaker is 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 11 career stats against Seattle (team is 7-4). Paxton did not allow an earned run in his first three starts of 2017 but then allowed five at Oakland on April 20. However, he regained his dominant form Wednesday at Detroit, allowing only four hits while striking out nine in seven scoreless innings to win for the third time in his last four turns. He has posted a 39-6 KW ratio for the season. Paxton is 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels (team is 4-3). |
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05-02-17 | Blues v. Predators OVER 5 | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 49 m | Show |
analysis soon |
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05-02-17 | Brewers v. Cardinals -173 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
analysis soon |
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05-02-17 | Wizards v. Celtics -5.5 | Top | 119-129 | Win | 100 | 11 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Wizards jumped out to a 16-0 lead in Game 1 but by game's end, the Celtics had their fifth straight playoff win (and cover!) since losing the first two games (at home!) of their first round series against the Bulls. Washington was outscored 71-42 in the second and third quarters, as Boston went on to a 123-111 victory. Thomas led the way with 33 points plus Crowder (24 & 6) and Horford 21-9-10) each had their best games of the 2017 postseason. Washington shot 50 percent as a team but made 10 three-pointers, compared to Boston's 19. Washington: Power forward Markieff Morris went down in the first half of Game 1 with an ankle injury and while he insisted after the contest that he would play Game, others are skeptical after he was seen noticeably limping and reportedly struggled to put on his shoe over the swollen left ankle. Wall had 20 points and 16 assists but wasn't dominate. SG Beal scored 27 points on Sunday and is now averaging 29.3 in the last four games. However, Washington knows it has to defend the three better. "Their 3-point shooting is a problem," head coach Scott Brooks said of the Boston Celtics, who tied a franchise record with 19 treys in Game 1. Bradley Beal added; "We gave up 19 threes, on the road. ... It's just a matter of us defending, man." Boston: Isaiah Thomas flew home to Tacoma, Wa., on Saturday for his sister's funeral and flew back across the country in time for the game, during which he delivered 33 points. "I mean, it's tough but it's the playoffs," Thomas told reporters. There's no excuses. I decided to play and I just tried to give it all I got for my team, and we came out with the win." Brad Stevens depends on Thomas but had to be even more thrilled with the play of both Crowder and Horford (see above). The pick: The Celtics may not yet be ready to challenge the Cavs but for now, Boston seems to be establishing itself as at least, the East's second-best team and by a significant margin. Boston owns five straight wins and covers this postseason, winning by a margin of nearly 14 PPG (108.4-to-94.6). Make Boston an 8* play. |
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05-02-17 | Senators v. Rangers -160 | Top | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 10 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: The Rangers lost a hard-fought Game 1 in Ottawa but then just "gave away" Game 2. They held a two-goal advantage with less than 3 1/2 minutes remaining but Jean-Gabriel Pageau took over, scoring three straight goals, including the game-winner at 2:54 of the second overtime. The Rangers will be anxious to get back on the ice Tuesday for Game 3, especially since this series receiving an extra day off between games. Ottawa: Pageau became just the second player in playoff history to cap a four-goal performance with an overtime winner. His four-goal effort was also the first in the postseason since Game 4 of the 2010 Western Conference semifinals, when Detroit's Johan Franzen tallied four times against San Jose. Head coach Guy Boucher had been playing the underdog card since before the New York Rangers came to town for Game 1 but it's time for Boucher to acknowledge his team might not be as over-matched as he'd like people to believe. NY Rangers: Michael Grabner and Derek Stepan scored short-handed goals in Game 2, helping New York tie the franchise record for most in a playoff game. Still, it was not enough. A key issue for teh Rangers has been poor defrensive paly and it seemingly isn't improving regardless of who is in the lineup. Lundqvist bailed out the Rangers in holding Montreal to four goals as the Rangers won Gams 4, 5 and 6 to take that series. He stopped 84 of 88 shots (.955) in the last three games vs. the Canadiens, then turned away 41 of 43 (.953 SP) in Game 1 vs. Ottawa. However, it caught up to him in Game 2, as SIX of Ottawa's 34 shots got past him (SP of just .824). The pick: Yes, Ottawa is up 2-0 but the Senators won Game 1 when captain Erik Karlsson's bad-angle shot bounced off the head of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and in Game 2, they were just minutes away from losing until Pageau turned into Wayne Gretzky! Make the Rangers an 8* play. |
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05-01-17 | Rockets +6 v. Spurs | Top | 126-99 | Win | 100 | 13 h 59 m | Show |
analysis by 12 pm et |
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05-01-17 | White Sox v. Royals -155 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 12 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The White Sox dominated the Kansas City Royals in a series at home last week, outscoring the Royals 27-8 in the three-game sweep. Chicago built off that and had won six in a row, before losing 7-3 Sunday in Detroit. Meanwhile, Kansas City has been unable to recover from that beating by Chicago and with the White Sox coming to Kansas City for the opener of a four-game homestand, the Royals are on a nine-game losing streak, the team's longest in five years. The 7-16 Royals currently own MLB's worst record, while the 13-10 White Sox sit a half-game back of the first-place Indians in the AL Central. The pitching matchup: Chicago hands the ball to rookie Dylan Covey (0-1 & 6.91 ERA) and the Royals will counter with lefty Jason Vargas (3-1 & 1.40 ERA). This marks Covey's fourth career start. He had a brutal April 19th outing at Yankee Stadium (5 IP / 10 hits / 8 ERs in a 9-1 loss) but while not earning a decision in his other two, he allowed just three ERs in 9 1/3 innings (both Chicago wins). That included Covey allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in four innings against the Royals last week (White Sox won 10-5). As for KC's Vargas, he's been a lone bright spot in April for the Royals. He was reached for four runs (three earned) in in five innings 12-1 loss at Chicago last Monday but that was after he had allowed just one run over his first three starts of 2017, all wins. That said, his history against Chicago is not good, as he owns a 1-3 career record with a 6.70 ERA in 10 career games (nine starts / teams are 3-6) against the White Sox. The pick: Ok, I'll admit the Royals are not the same team which went to back-to-back World Series in 2014 and 2015 but they are also not a .304 team either! Vargas has started well in 2017 and is up against a rookie making just his second road start. Covey's first road start was that horrible effort at Yankees Stadium back on April 19th (see above). Make KC an 8* play. |
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05-01-17 | Capitals v. Penguins UNDER 5.5 | Top | 3-2 | Win | 107 | 11 h 4 m | Show |
analysis by 12 pm et |
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05-01-17 | Raptors v. Cavs OVER 208.5 | Top | 105-116 | Win | 100 | 10 h 29 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors and Cavs meet for the second straight postseason. The teams met in the Eastern Conference finals last year, with Cleveland winning in six games. However, many (most) will remember that the Cavs totally dominated the Raptors in their four victories, winning by 31, 21, 38 and 26 points. The Raptors will get get another crack at the defending champs one round earlier this spring. The second-seeded Cavaliers completed a four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the first round while the third-seeded Raptors had their troubles with the Bucks (tied 2-1), before winning Games 4, 5 and 6. Toronto: The Raptors developed a stronger defensive identity with the acquisitions of P.J. Tucker and Serge Ibaka during the regular season and limited the Bucks to an average of 86 points while winning the final three games of their first-round series. Those additions will give Toronto better defensive options against LBJ and Kevin Love this time around. Offensively, the Raptors will need more from PG Kyle Lowry, who was held to an average of 14.3 PPG in the first round (averaged 22.4 in the regular season), while shooting just 28.1 percent on threes. Center Jonas Valanciunas came off the bench in the final three games against the Bucks and while Toronto won all of those games he didn't start by going with a three-guard lineup (Powell averaged 15.0 PPG in the three consecutive wins), he figures to return to the starting lineup against the Cavs. Cleveland: The Cavaliers went 10-14 down the stretch in the regular season (going back to March 1) and defense was the team's problem. The team's defensive woes continued against the Pacers, as Cleveland became the first team since the 1995 Houston Rockets to sweep a first-round series while allowing its opponent to score 100 or more points in each game. LBJ is logging more minutes than ever and averaged 43.8 in the first round. "King James" was his royal self against the Pacers, averaging 32.8-9.8-9.0, with Kyrie chipping in 25.3 PPG and Love 15.5 & 9.3. No other player averaged in double digits (Frye was the highest at 8.5 PPG). The pick: Toronto and Cleveland finished the regular season with identical 51-31 records but no one sees this as an "even" series. After all, the Raptors are 1-11 all time in Game 1 of playoff series, while the Cavs have gone15-1 against Eastern playoff teams at home dating back to the 2015 playoffs. It's true that Toronto has the best defensive numbers of the first round, holding Milwaukee to a league-low 93.2 PPG, by keeping the Bucks under 100 points four times in five contests. However, the Cavs are NOT the Bucks. Cleveland averaged 112.5 PPG against the Pacers (a franchise record for a playoff series) and averaged 13.5 three-pointers per game, even though neither Kyle Korver (5.3 PPG) nor J.R. Smith (6.8 PPG) got untracked from the perimeter. The defending champs haven't played in seven days and are rested, healthy and confident coming in. However, Cleveland ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency during the season and allowed 111 points per 100 possessions to Indiana, which was even worse than the Cavs' regular-season average. make the Over a 10* play. |
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05-01-17 | Blue Jays v. Yankees -163 | Top | 7-1 | Loss | -163 | 10 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The New York Yankees rallied from an eight-run deficit to earn a 14-11 win in 10 innings over the Orioles on Friday and then routed Baltimore 12-4 on Saturday. However after rallying again on Sunday, the Yanks fell 7-4 in 11 innings on Sunday. The 15-8 Yanks are tied with the Orioles for first in the American League East and get set to host the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set beginning tonight. The Jays lost the rubber match of their series in Tampa on Sunday and still have yet to win a series tin 2017. After playing in the ALCS each of the last two seasons, Toronto has opened this season 8-17 and sits in last-place in the AL East, EIGHT games back of the co-leaders. The pitching matchup: Marco Estrada (0-1 & 2.70 ERA) will get the nod for Toronto and Luis Severino (2-1 & 3.00 ERA) takes the mound for New York. Estrada has pitched well in his last three outings, allowing just two ERs over 19 innings (0.95 ERA) but he has not factored in the decision of any of them (Jays did win two of the three). He's 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA in nine career starts against the NYY (team is 6-3) and fared well against them in 2016, going 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts (Jays won all four!). Severino had a streak of two straight starts of posting double-digit strikeouts come to an end on Wednesday but he still managed to hold the Boston Red Sox scoreless on three hits over seven innings for the win. Severino is looking for his first career win over the Blue Jays and enters with a 0-2 record and a 5.89 ERA in five career games, including four starts (Yanks are 2-2 but his ERA as a starter is 7.05!). The pick: Estrada was outstanding against the Yanks last season but the 2017 Blue Jays are a mess, scoring 3.56 RPG (28th) while batting .228 (26th). Severino has put his 'ugly' 2016 season behind him and has allowed just 17 hits over 27 innings with a 33-4 KW ratio. He owns an 0.78 WHIP and opponents are batting just .175 against him. He takes the mound for a New York team that is 10-2 in Yankee Stadium, averaging 6,83 RPG. Make the NYY an 8* play. |
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04-30-17 | Cubs v. Red Sox OVER 9 | Top | 2-6 | Loss | -100 | 22 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: A series between the Cubs and Red Sox was expected to draw a lot of interest and the atmosphere at Fenway Park has been electric for the first two games. The Red Sox won 5-4 on Friday night and the Cubs bounced back with a 7-4 Saturday afternoon. Now, it's a the rubber match of this series Sunday night on ESPN. The 13-10 Cubs are looking to win their fourth straight series, while the 12-11 Red Sox are attempting to avoid their third consecutive series loss. The pitching matchup: Kyle Hendricks (2-1 & 4.50 ERA) goes for Chicago and Boston will counter with Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1 & 3.12 ERA). Hendricks won the NL ERA title last year in his most recent start, looked much more like that pitcher than in his first three starts (11 ERs in 16 innings for a 6.19 ERA). He pitched six scoreless innings Tuesday at Pittsburgh, allowing four hits and two walks in a 1-0 victory. Hendricks never has faced the Red Sox and is 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA in nine career interleague starts. Rodriguez allowed nine hits and seven walks in his first two starts of 2017 (six ERs in 10 1/3 innings for a 5.23 ERA) and pitched out of the bullpen on April 19th. However, he was outstanding in his return to the rotation last Sunday at Baltimore, holding the Orioles to one hit over six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Actually, Rodriguez is holding opponents to a .172 average but he served up three HRs in his first two starts of the season. The pick: Rodriguez looked good in his last outing but he also allowed a career worst-tying five walks against the Orioles. In fact, Rodriguez has walked a team-worst 12 batters (17 1/3 innings) through four games (three starts) this season. That doesn't bode well vs. the dangerous Chicago lineup. Yes, Hendricks was sharp in his last outing but his first three (6.19 ERA) leave some questions still to be answered. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-30-17 | Phillies v. Dodgers -175 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 18 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: The Dodgers look to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon and extend their overall winning streak to four games. LA opened the ninth inning on Saturday with three straight HRs to erase a three-run deficit and then Adrian Gonzalez delivered a two-out RBI single for a 6-5 victory. The Dodgers had five HRs in all on Saturday and while Philadelphia pounded out 13 hits, it suffered its second straight loss following a string of six victories in a row. The pitching matchup: Nick Pivetta (NR) goes for Philadelphia and the Dodgers will hand the ball to Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-4 & 4.64 ERA). Pivetta was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley when Aaron Nola went down with a back injury. He will finally be making his major-league debut as his originally scheduled turn during the week was delayed by a rainout. He has been outstanding for the minors this season, going 3-0 with one complete game and a 0.95 ERA in three starts. Pivetta was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by Washington, which traded him to Philadelphia in July 2015 for Jonathan Papelbon. Ryu deserved a better fate Monday as he was saddled with the loss at San Francisco despite allowing just one run and five hits in six innings. It's been a rough beginning to 2017 for Ryu (see above) The 30-year-old South Korean has not recorded a victory since Aug. 31, 2014, as he has been limited to five starts since that season due to shoulder and elbow injuries. Ryu has a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies (0-0 and the team is 1-1). |
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04-30-17 | Jazz v. Clippers -3.5 | Top | 104-91 | Loss | -105 | 18 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: The Jazz and Clippers each finished the regular season 51-31, so it only seems fitting that the teams will play a Game 7 (only first round series to go the distance) to decide which team will advance to meet the Golden State Warriors. The Clippers will get to play Game 7 at home, due to having won the season series between the two teams. It's been a back-and-forth series plus one that's been influenced by injuries. First it was Utah center Rudy Gobert going down in the first minute of Game 1 and then LA's Blake Griffin was injured in Game 3. Gobert returned in Game 4 but Griffin is out for the remainder of LA's postseason. Gobert twisted his left ankle late in Friday's Game 6 (LA won to force Sunday's contest) but X-rays ruled out a serious injury, so he will be available for Game 7. Utah: Utah SF Gordon Hayward has four 20-point outings in the series and is averaging 27.4 PPG, not including his Game 4 stint, which was limited to nine minutes due to food poisoning. Gobert is averaging 13.7 points and 11 rebounds since returning in Game 4.. Reserves Joe Johnson and Rodney Hood were having superb series until Game 6, when the Jazz squandered a great opportunity to close out the Clippers. Johnson had nine points on 3-of-9 shooting and Rodney Hood had four points on 2-of-10 shooting. LA Clippers: PG Chris Paul registered 29 points and eight assists in Friday's 98-93 do-or-die victory at Utah to even the series. "He is as competitive as a human being as I've ever been around," Clippers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "When you put that with the talent and the will, that's why he has performances like this in big games." This is a common refrain when people talk about Paul but is it an accident that he's never been on a team that has won a second round playoff series? No Griffin is not good news but center DeAndre Jordan has averaged 14 points and 13.8 rebounds in the series, while recording a double-double in each contest. The pick: The Clippers (as well as Paul) have had a checkered playoff resume but the Jazz haven't won a playoff series since 2010. However, bottom line is this. Home teams are 101-25 (.802) all-time in Game 7s. Dating back to to 1990, home teams are 52-14 SU and 39-25-2 ATS (60.9%) in Game 7s. Make the Clippers a 10* play. |
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04-30-17 | Blues +129 v. Predators | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -100 | 17 h 19 m | Show |
The set-up: The Blues were down 2-1 in the early third period of Game 2 and in danger of falling into an 0-2 hole by losing two in a row at home. However, Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as St. Louis rallied for a 3-2 victory, making the series one-all heading into Sunday's Game 3 at the Nashville Predators. The eighth-seeded Predators lost for the first time this playoff season, after five consecutive victories (three on the road). St. Louis: Tarasenko had a team-high 39 goals this season (scored 40 in 2015-16) but had been limited to one goal and two assists before breaking loose in Game 2. Goaltender Jake Allen also came up big when it mattered most, making 14 saves in the final 20 minutes after facing only nine shots in the first two periods. However, the Blues need to improve their power play, as it is just 2-for-21 in seven postseason games. Nashville: The Predators gave St. Louis five power play opportunities, without having one of their own in Game 2. Clean that up and the team will be in much better shape in Game 3. Nashville has reason to feel it still has its best hockey ahead, as the Predators out-shot the Blues in both contests and have outhit them as well. The pick: "Good situation, 1-1," Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne told reporters after the loss. "It's a series. Obviously going home now and a huge game at home on Sunday. It's going to be a big one, but yeah we're in a good situation." Every road team talks about the need to earn a split in the first two games of a series in order to steal home-ice advantage and Nashville did just. However the Predators must feel somewhat empty after that late St. Louis comeback. Note that the Blues have been a better road team in the last two postseasons, going 6-4 last spring and 3-0 this year. Make St. Louis a 10* play. |
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04-30-17 | Wizards v. Celtics UNDER 215 | Top | 111-123 | Loss | -107 | 15 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: Many felt that Boston was the weakest No. 1 seed in many years and even possibly, the weakest No. 1 seed ever. Boston promptly lost the first two games of its first round series to the 41-41 Chicago Bulls but received a reprieve, when Chicago PG Rajon Rondo broke his thumb. That 'broke' Chicago's momentum and 'backs,' as the Celtics became just the fourth team in NBA history to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first two games at home by winning four straight. The Celtics now move on to face the fourth-seeded Washington Wizards, who are coming off beating the Atlanta Hawks in six games. Those teams each 'held serve' in the first four games of their series, before Washington won a close Game 5 at home. The Wizards ended that series in style, taking Game 6 in Atlanta, 115-99. The Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics split four games (home teams won all meetings) during the regular season and these teams truly don't like each other. The games were nasty with that nastiness even threatening to pour off the court, as members of the Boston police stood in the hallway between the locker rooms after one game. Washington star SG Bradley Beal had his team arrive for a Jan. 24 meeting in all black clothes.However, now it's time to play. |
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04-29-17 | Penguins v. Capitals -141 | Top | 6-2 | Loss | -141 | 12 h 25 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Capitals, perennial playoff underachievers, will host the Pittsburgh Penguins (defending champs) in tonight's Game 2 at the Verizon Center. After a scorelsss first period in Game 1, Sidney Crosby scored twice in a 52-second span in the first 1:04 of the second period, giving him a franchise high-tying 51st career multi-point postseason performance. The Capitals had an 83-41 advantage in attempted shots (led in shots on goal, 35-21) in the series opener but while Alex Ovechkin's second-period goal and a second straight Caps goal eventually tied the score, the Pens went on to win, 3-2. Pittsburgh: Crosby is riding a five-game point streak (four goals, five assists) and has collected 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 14 playoff contests against the Capitals. Nick Bonino continues to be a thorn in the side of Washington, ending last year's second-round series with the overtime winner in Game 6, by converting on a breakaway with 7:24 remaining in the third period on Thursday. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 15 of his 33 saves in the third period on Thursday, improving to 5-1 in the playoffs with an impressive .934 save percentage. Washington: Ovechkin has recorded 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists), five more than Crosby, in the same stretch versus the Penguins. However, the Penguins have won both of the previous two series and the Caps are well aware! Washington rallied to tie the score in the third period of Game 1 and appeared to have the momentum but then Pittsburgh's Nick Bonino netted what proved to be the game winner on that breakaway. Same old, same old for Washington against Pittsburgh. "What I like about our group is it was 2-0 and there was no panic," Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said. "There was absolutely no panic and you saw us building momentum and keep coming and coming. I thought we generated enough chances to not only tie it up, but maybe go ahead." We'll see. The pick: However, in Game 2 of a playoff series, the Capitals' superstars have traditionally come to play! Ovechkin has 10 goalsa nd six assists), while Nicklas Backstrom has seven goals and eight assists. As for goalie Braden Holtby, he owns a 1.63 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage in his career in Game 2s. It's now or never for the Caps. Make Washington a 10* play |
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04-29-17 | Rockies v. Diamondbacks -136 | Top | 7-6 | Loss | -136 | 12 h 22 m | Show |
The set-up: The Rockies won last night's game 3-1, the opener of this three-game series between Colorado and Arizona. Colorado's victory gives them a 15-9 record, a half-game better than 15-10 Arizona. That's pretty heady stuff (although it's early) for teams which were 75-87 and 69-93 in 2016, respectively. Colorado's bullpen combined for three hitless innings last night, after being torched for 25 runs over the previous three games (all losses). As for the Diamondbacks, the team managed just six hits, after averaging 7.57 RPG over the last seven contests. The pitching matchup: Lefty Tyler Anderson (1-3 & 7.11 ERA) gets the nod for Colorado and Arizona will counter with Zack Greinke (2-2 & 2.93 ERA). Anderson comes off a win but had lost his previous three starts and has yet to complete six innings in any of his five 2017 starts. Anderson is in just his second season and he posted a 6.30 ERA in two starts against Arizona last year and while he wasn't saddled with a loss in either game, the Rockies lost both. Greinke has allowed one run in three of his five starts this season and has struck out 31 while walking just six this season. He struggled against Colorado last season, going 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in three starts to drop to 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA n 20 career appearances (19 starts / teams are 12-7). The pick: As noted, Anderson is in just his second season and the road has not been kind to him. He's 1-6 with a 5.29 ERA in 10 career road outings, with the Rockies going 2-8! Yes, Arizona had just six hits (all singles) last night but the D'backs had scored 53 runs in their previous seven games. Getting to Anderson hardly seems like a stretch and note that the Rockies halted a five-game slide against the Diamondbacks with Friday's victory. All back Greinke and make Arizona a 10* play. |
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04-29-17 | Angels v. Rangers UNDER 8.5 | Top | 3-6 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: Mike Trout and Albert Pujols each homered in LA's 6-3 Friday victory and the Angels will take a five-game winning streak into the middle contest of their three-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Saturday. Trout and Pujols are the two biggest reasons for LA's recent success. Trout has reached base safely in 24 of 25 games this season and is batting .372 with four HRs, seven RBI and 11 runs during his eight-game hitting streak. Pujols is batting .371 with a HR and 10 RBI during his 12-game hitting streak plus moved past Ken Griffey Jr. and into 14th all-time with 1,838 RBI ,one shy of Ted Williams for 13th (pretty sweet company, huh!). While the Angels are now 13-12, Texas, AL West champs in 2016, are just 10-13 and in last-place, five games back of first-place Houston. The pitching matchup: Jesse Chavez (2-3 & 4.13 ERA) will take the mound for the Angels, opposed by Texas ace Yu Darvish (2-2 & 3.03 ERA). Chavez allowed one run, four hits and four walks while striking out seven in six innings of a 2-1 victory over Toronto on Monday. He currently owns the lowest ERA among regular Los Angeles starters and has recorded two straight quality starts, including a 3-0 setback at Houston on April 17. Chavez is 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA in 17 games (four starts / 5.24 ERA, going 2-2) versus Texas after allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-3 loss on April 12. Darvish allowed two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out eight in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Kansas City. He pitched eight innings for the first time since 2014 prior to Tommy John surgery. Darvish is 8-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 starts against Los Angeles (Texas is 11-3), after striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings of an 8-3 road victory on April 13. The pick: Angels' starting pitchers have surrendered fewer than three runs in 13 of their last 14 games and as noted, currently owns the lowest ERA among regular Los Angeles starter. It's hard to ignore Darvish's excellent career numbers vs. LA (see above) plus both Darvish and Chavez are coming off strong starts heading into this second of a three-game series at Globe Life Park. Make the Under a 10* play |
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04-29-17 | Rangers v. Senators UNDER 5 | Top | 5-6 | Loss | -121 | 8 h 31 m | Show |
The set-up: The Rangers owned the most road wins of any team in the regular season, plus took two of three at Montreal in eliminating the Canadiens in the first round, but the Senators were able hold serve at home and win Game 1 of this series, 1-0. Ottawa now hopes to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series in Saturday's Game 2. Ottawa star defenseman Erik Karlsson's goal from a near-impossible angle was the difference in the series opener, the Senators' seventh one-goal decision in as many playoff games. NY Rangers: New York needs to focus on a better start, as Henrik Lundqvist faced 21 shots in Game 1's first 20 minutes, which ended 0-0. It marked his highest save total ever for one period in the postseason. “Obviously we want to play fast, but we can’t rush it up with one guy trying to break through, give it away and have them come back and shove it up our (butt),” forward Mats Zuccarello told the New York Post. “It’s important for us to be patient with the puck against their trap." Ottawa: Karlsson missed five games down the stretch because of a pair of stress fractures in his heel but he once again delivered with his first goal of this postseason to go along with his six assists. "I think our fans have to appreciate what we have here," head coach Guy Boucher marveled. "It's more than a star right now. That's what I think is unbelievable. He's a skilled player that became a star and now he's a winner." That also applies to goaltender Craig Anderson, who has now won his last four against New York with a staggering .984 save percentage. The pick: “I think we just have to forget about this,” ex-Ottawa center Mika Zibanejad said. “We were down in the Montreal series, as well, 2-1. It’s 1-0. A lot of hockey left to play.” However, New York's leading goal scorer Chris Kreider remains stuck on just one assist through seven playoff games. Lundqvist and Anderson on at the top of their games and the Under isa 10* play. |
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04-29-17 | White Sox v. Tigers -161 | Top | 6-4 | Loss | -161 | 5 h 22 m | Show |
The set-up: The White Sox won the opener of this three-game set in Detroit last night by the score of 7-3. Chicago is the hottest team in the AL Central with five straight wins over division rivals and look to make it six in a row this afternoon, against the Tigers. Chicago beat Cleveland last Sunday, then swept a three-game set from Kansas City, before winning Friday's opener. The White Sox have now outscored their division rivals 40-13 in the five consecutive wins. The Tigers will look to halt a three-game slide which leaves them 11-11 on the season (White Sox are 12-9). The pitching matchup: Derek Holland (2-2 & 1.99 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago against last year's ROY, Detroit's Michael Fulmer (2-1 & 2.88 ERA). Holland was reached for seven runs (but just two earned!) on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of a loss at the New York Yankees on April 17 but bounced right back against Cleveland on Sunday, a game which jump started Chicago's current winning streak. He scattered three hits and allowed just one run over six innings while striking out a season-high six to pick up the win. Holland is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four career regular starts against the Tigers but has not faced them since July 13, 2013. Fulmer has had four quality starts to begin 2017 and is off his longest outing of the young season at Minnesota on Sunday, when he allowed two runs and four hits while striking out seven in seven innings to pick up the win. Fulmer is looking for his first career win over Chicago after going without a decision in two starts against the division rivals last season (3.86 ERA), although Detroit won both games. The pick: Knee and shoulder injuries have marred Holland's last three seasons with the Texas Rangers but he's off to a strong start with Chicago. However, I need to see more. As for Fulmer, the Tigers went 19-7 in his 2016 starts, as his moneyline mark of plus-$1292 was the sixth-best among all MLB starters. The Tigers are 3-1 (plus-$202) in his 2017 starts and I'm making Detroit a 10* play |
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04-28-17 | Clippers +6 v. Jazz | Top | 98-93 | Win | 100 | 14 h 19 m | Show |
The set-up: The Los Angeles Clippers scored only 58 points through three quarters in Game 5 and a 34-point final period was not enough for them to win on their home floor, as the Jazz pulled out a 96-92 win. The Jazz now own a 3-2 series heading back to Salt Lake City for Game 6 and will have a chance to win the franchise's first playoff series since downing the Denver Nuggets in a first-round series back in 2010. "It's no secret our back's against the wall, down 3-2," PG Chris Paul told reporters after Game 5. The Clippers have to win tonight and then back at Staples Center in Game 7, or it will be yet another underachieving postseason for that "other team from LA." LA Clippers: Regarding his team being down 3-2, Chris Paul added after Game 5, "Fortunately we've got a lot of guys in the locker room who had to do this a couple of years ago. We've got to do what we've got to do." However, the loss of power forward Blake Griffin (toe) is a huge loss and it's been magnified with Marreese Speights starting in his place in Games 4 and 5. Speights made just 2 of 8 shots for five points in Game 4, then missed his only three shots in Game 5, scoring just one point. Clippers guard Jamal Crawford exploded for 25 points in Game 4 but he then disappeared in Game 5, going 2 of 8 for four points. J.J. Redick finally got untracked with 27 points in Game 5 but over the first four games, he was only 10 of 29 from the floor (34.5%) while averaging 7.8 PPG. Utah: Gordon Hayward scored a career-high 40 points in Game 3 (a Utah loss) but due to food poisoning, was a non-entity in Game 4 (played only nine minutes) before being sent home at halftime. However, he was back on his game in Tuesday's victory as he contributed 27 points and eight rebounds. The return of center Rudy Gobert has also been a huge plus for the Jazz, as Utah's defense has turned up a notch since his return, with Gobert averaging 13.0 & 12.0 in Utah's Game 4 and 5 wins. Then there is veteran Joe Johnson, who averaged 9.2 points in the regular season but has increased that to 18.2 while leading a young squad. "These guys have never been in this situation. We have to go home with a business mindset and not be overconfident but confident enough." Let's also not forget backup SG Rodney Hood, who is averaging 17 points over the past two games (both Jazz wins), after averaging 8.0 PPG over the first three contests. The pick: Chris Paul has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs, in a carer that many believe is HOF worthy. Now it's seems highly unlikely that either the Clippers or Jazz will have much of a chance against the Warriors in the second round but the last thing Paul needs on his pathetic postseason resume is another first round loss. "This team is not going to quit, I can tell you that," Clippers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the Game 5 loss. "You could see it in the locker room." All the pressure is on the Jazz in this one and Utah not only has to win but win by a margin to "collect the cash" in this one. Expect Chris Paul to come up big. Take the points and make the Clippers a 10* play. |
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04-28-17 | Oilers v. Ducks UNDER 5 | Top | 2-1 | Win | 125 | 14 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks opened their series with the Edmonton Oilers having not lost in regulation over an 18-game span (15 wins and three OT losses). However, that streak came to a screeching halt in Wednesday's Game 1 at Honda Center, as the Oilers won 5-3, seizing a 1-0 lead in this second round series. Edmonton was 31-43-8 last season with its 70 points representing the third-fewest in the entire NHL. However, the Oilers went 47-26-9 this season and their 103 points were only two fewer than Pacific Division-leader, Anaheim. Edmonton: Hart Trophy candidate and the league's scoring-leader, Connor McDavid, was the player Anaheim intended to focus on in this series. However, second-year winger Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists in Edmonton's Game 1 win and scored six goals in five regular-season games between the teams. Defenseman Adam Larsson matched his point total from his previous 23 games by scoring two goals and setting up another on Wednesday. "He's definitely not Bobby Orr, but (Wednesday) he sure looked good on that last one, skating," head coach Todd McLellan told reporters, referring to Larsson's game-winning goal. Fellow Swedish blue-liner Oscar Klefbom, who has recorded 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in his last 11 contests, extended his point streak to three games after notching an assist in back-to-back matches. Anaheim: Captain Ryan Getzlaf scored and set up a goal in Game 1 to give him 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) in his last 23 overall contests, while increasing his total to nine (two goals, seven assists) in six meetings with Edmonton. After dealing with injuries to All-Star Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen, Anaheim's defense corps has another on its hands as coach Randy Carlyle deemed Kevin Bieksa (club-best four assists) "doubtful" for Game 2 because of a lower-body injury. Vatanen has missed two games with an upper-body injury, with Carlyle telling the Orange County Register that the playoff situation "has not allotted us enough time for him to be 100 percent." The pick: The Oilers may be in the playoffs for the first time since 2006 but allowing Edmonton to take a 2-0 lead in this series, may all but doom the Ducks. Anaheim's Game 1 loss was the team's first defeat of the postseason and first regulation loss since March 10. However, I feel that the Under is the safest bet. Make it a 9* play. |
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04-28-17 | Phillies v. Dodgers -175 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 14 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: Break up the Phillies The Phillies open a seven-game road trip Friday night at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phils are riding a six-game winning streak, which puts them at 11-9. The Phillies are brimming with confidence, sitting two games above .500 for the first since Memorial Day weekend in 2016. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have lost seven of 11 and open the series at 11-12. The pitching matchup: Jerad Eickhoff (0-1 & 2.55 ERA) will get the ball for Philadelphia up against the struggling Kenta Maeda (1-2 & 8.05 ERA) of the Dodgers. Eickhoff opened the season with three quality starts in a row and although that streak was snapped in his last outing, Eickhoff tied his season high with seven strikeouts while allowing one run on two hits over five innings against Atlanta. Despite opening with those three straight quality starts, Eickhoff had three consecutive no-decisions. He deserved better, giving up just five ERs over 18 innings with the team losing all three games! He's made just one career start against the Dodgers, allowing two HRs and four runs (6.00 ERA) in another no-decision, although Philly won that game. Maeda won 16 games as a rookie in 2016 but he is struggling during his sophomore campaign, failing to pitch beyond five innings in each of his first four starts. He was hammered in his last outing at Arizona, surrendering a career-worst four HRs and giving up six runs (also a career high) on nine hits over five innings. He won both of his starts against the Phillies last season, but allowed four HRs and posted a 4.19 ERA. The pick: Philadelphia opened the 2017 season with a three-game set against the Reds but followed with 17 in a row against NL East opponents. However, this visit to LA followed with a four-game set at the Chicago Cubs, will test these over-achievers, who are off to their best 20-game start since 2011. The Dodgers were an impressive 53-28 at home last season, while the Phillies were 34-47 on the road. Make the Dodgers a 6* play. |
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04-28-17 | Celtics v. Bulls OVER 203.5 | Top | 105-83 | Loss | -108 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The Celtics have climbed out of an 0-2 'hole' with three straight wins over the Bulls, after losing the first two games at home during this series. The visiting team was 4-0 SU & ATS in this series before the Celtics won Game 5 at the TD Garden on Wednesday, seizing a 3-2 series advantage. Starting guards Thomas and Bradley each scored 24 points in Wednesday's contest, while Chicago's star Jimmy Butler Jimmy Butler was held to a series-low 14 points. As all (most?) must know, this series turned when Chicago PG Rajon Rondo fractured his right thumb. Boston: Isaiah Thomas was full of praise for his backcourt partner, after Bradley made 11-of-19 shots in Game 5. "Even the stat sheet doesn't explain how good of a player he is sometimes," Thomas told the media of Bradley. "When he's not scoring or rebounding, he's doing a lot of things to help out everybody else on this team, whether that be help-side defense, whether that be making the right play on offense. He’s a complete basketball player." Center Al Horford was a non-factor in the first two games of the series (both Boston home losses) but he's averaging 18 points, nine rebounds, 6.3 assists and two steals in Boston's three consecutive victories. Chicago: Jimmy Butler averaged 26.0 PPG while the Bulls took the first two games of this series but after going in Game 5, he's now averaging 20.3 PPG on 38.5 percent shooting in Chicago's three straight losses. Butler took just two shots during Boston's decisive 20-4 run in the fourth quarter, prompting head coach Fred Hoiberg to insist that the team needs to get its All-Star the ball a bit more down the stretch. Some good news for Chicago in Game 5 was that Dwyane Wade had his best outing since returning from an elbow injury late in the regular season, finishing with 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. The pick: Boston ended Wednesday's game on a 20-4 run, despite seeing Thomas shoot 6-for-17 from the floor, including 1-of-10 from three-point range. The Celtics hope to carry the momentum of their Game 5 victory Wednesday into Game 6 and why not? Fred Hoiberg insisted that Rondo playing in tonight's game was "a long shot." In this do-or-die contest, the Bulls will need more from Butler and Wade. Is Wade even capable of another effort like the one in Game 5? As for Butler, he's attempted zero free throws in Game 3, 23 in Game 4 (made 19!) and one in Game 5. I've had Boston the last two games but I'm not ready to "go back to the well" again in this Game 6. Expect Butler to have a huge game and after 87- and 95-point efforts at home, look for the Bulls to make the Celtics score to win this one. The Over is an 8* play |
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04-28-17 | Angels v. Rangers UNDER 9.5 | Top | 6-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: The 10-12 Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep and snapped a two-game skid with a 14-3 win over Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. They now welcome the LA Angels to Globe Life Park for a three-game weekend series. The Angels are coming off a 2-1 home win Thursday night over the Oakland A's, giving them a four straight wins and five of seven, to reach 12-12 on the season. The pitching matchup: Tyler Skaggs (1-1 & 4.44 ERA) gets the nod in the opener for LA, opposed by the Rangers' Nick Martinez (0-0 & 1.29 ERA). Skaggs has pitched well in his last two starts, blanking Kansas City on four hits over seven innings in a no-decision on April 16 and following up by allowing just two runs and seven hits in seven frames of a win over Toronto. That's quite an improvement over his first two 2017 starts, when he allowed five ERs in each outing (8.71 ERA). He escaped with a no-decision against Texas earlier this month, despite allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings. That outing leaves him 2-1 with a 6.20 ERA in five career starts versus the Rangers (Angels are 3-2). Martinez will be making just his second start of 2017, in place of the injured A.J. Griffin (ankle). He defeated Kansas City 2-1 on April 22nd, allowing just one run on four hits over seven innings for his 14th career victory. Martinez is 2-3 with a 2.51 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts / Rangers are 2-4 in those starts with a 2.92 ERA) against the Angels. The pick: Actually, both teams come in playing fairly well, as both enter the series having won five of seven. Skaggs has had two straight good outings, in keeping with an LA starting staff which has now not allowed more than two earned runs in 12 of its last 13 games, compiling a 2.10 ERA in that span. Martinez looked sharp in his 2017 debut (see above), so the Under is a 10* play. |
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04-28-17 | Predators v. Blues -116 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The Nashville Predators shocked the Chicago Blackhawks by sweeping them out of the playoffs and remained only team that yet to lose in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs by earning a 4-3 win in Game 1 over the Blues in St. Louis. However, rookie left winger Kevin Fiala, who scored twice in the Predators' four-game sweep of top-seeded Chicago in the first round, was lost for the remainder of the postseason after suffering a fractured left femur in a scary crash into the end boards. As for St, Louis, the team's series-opening defeat dropped them to 5-8 in their last 13 home playoff games. "We have to be better at home," St. Louis head coach Mike Yeo told reporters. "We have to address this. As coaches, it's up to me to figure out why that is. We have to find a way to be better." Nashville: P.K. Subban came to Nashville in a surprising offseason trade of captain Shea Weber and in Game 1 of this series, became the first Nashville blue-liner to register three points in a playoff game while boosting his career postseason total to 43 points in 60 contests. More good news came the Predators' way with LW Colin Wilson getting back in the lineup for the first time in three weeks. He scored his 11th goal in his last 21 playoff contests in Game 1. St. Louis: The Blues took care of the Wild in five games in the first round but struggled on special teams. St. Louis has now converted on just 1-of-16 chances with the man advantage in the playoffs and surrenderedtwo power-play goals in Game 1, for the second straight contest. "Penalties killed us," right wing Ryan Reaves told reporters after Thursday's practice session. "We've obviously got to eliminate penalties. Playoff hockey, teams are going to make you pay." The Blues may also be getting concerned with goalie Jake Allen. He began the postseason by allowing just five goals in four games but has now allowed seven in his last two. The pick: Talking about his Game 1 performance, Nashville's Suppan 'modestly' said, "We can sugarcoat it, but that's why they pay me, you know? It's to come up big in these games and perform." That quote may just come to 'bite' him in the you-know-what. After all, the Predators aren't exactly known for having much success come the postseason. In fact, they are trying to advance to the first Western Conference finals in franchise history. Expect the Blues to even the series here in Game 2. Make St. Louis a 10* play. |
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04-27-17 | Spurs -4 v. Grizzlies | Top | 103-96 | Win | 100 | 34 h 5 m | Show |
San Antonio: How things have changed for the Spurs. Manu Ginobili is a four-time NBA champion and averaged 14.7 points in 198 career playoff games prior to this postseason. However, he had gone scoreless on a combined 0-of-15 shooting in the first four games of the series, before breaking out for 10 points on 4-of-6 in Game 5. Lucky for the Spurs, they have Kawhi Leonard, who some think is the league MVP, not Westbrook or Harden. Leonard is averaging 31.6 PPG on 57.6 percent shooting in the series, including 54.2 percent from three-point range. He's basically carrying the Spurs, who are not the same supremely talented and deep group of past editions. Memphis: PG Mike Conley has been a dominant force on the offensive end the last four games, averaging of 27.3 points on 53.5 percent shooting. Big men Marc Gasol (19.6 & 6.8) and Zach Randolph (13.2 & 7.6) have also been good but the drop off is dramatic after that, as the 40-year-old Vince Carter is the team's fourth-leading scorer at just 8.6 PPG. The pick: The home team is undefeated in nine overall meetings this season between these two teams but the Spurs have a championship pedigree, while the Grizzlies have nothing but playoff mediocrity to draw from. If the Spurs lose here, it's back to San Antonio for a Game 7 on Saturday and assuming they win, they'd have to host the well-rested Rockets in Game 1 of the next series on Monday. That's not something "Pop" will want for his overachieving team. Make the Spurs a 10* play. |
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04-27-17 | Penguins v. Capitals -138 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -138 | 32 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Caps are the two-time reigning President's Trophy winners and will meet the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second straight year. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby will resume their personal rivalry as well but Washington vs. Pittsburgh can hardly be called much of a rivalry, as it's been all Penguins. as their respective teams. Pittsburgh is 8-1 in playoff series vs Washington in playoff series, including winning both meetings during the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin era. Pittsburgh won in six games last year and in seven games back in 2009. Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin had an NHL-best 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in the first round. Linemate Phil Kessel added eight points (two goals, six assists). Pittsburgh expects 'numbers' from its big names (Crosby had seven points Columbus) but rookie Jake Guentzel (NHL-best five goals) and third-year player Bryan Rust (four goals) also made their presence known in the first round. Pittsburgh enters the series minus defenseman Kris Letang, who is done for the season, and (for now) goaltender Matt Murray. Forward Carl Hagelin, who had three goals and seven points in last year's playoff series, has been out since March with a lower-body injury, but practiced Wednesday. Washington: T.J. Oshie matched Ovechkin in goals this season with a club high-tying 33 and they both had three goals against Toronto, as Justin Williams and Tom Wilson. Defenseman Karl Alzner is questionable for the series opener after missing the last four games versus the Maple Leafs because of an upper-body injury. Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury stepped in for fellow G Matt Murray (lower body) prior to Game 1 versus the Blue Jackets and boasted a .933 save percentage in the first-round series. However, in three appearances against Washington this season, that SP was just .884. Let's not forget that Washington is 34-7-2 on home ice this season, outscoring opponents 3.20-to-1.68 GPG. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's allowed 3.02 GPG on the road this year. The pick: The Penguins finished second behind the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division by going 50-21-11 (111 points), while Washington finished 55-19-8 (118 points). This marks the first time since the 2001 Stanley Cup Final (Colorado Avalanche vs. New Jersey Devils) that the NHL's top-two teams from the regular season will meet in a playoff series. Isn't Washington overdue? At least for Game 1, the Caps get the best of the Pens. Make Washington a 10* play. |
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04-27-17 | Yankees v. Red Sox -167 | Top | 3-0 | Loss | -167 | 11 h 0 m | Show |
The set-up: The Yanks took the first of this rain-abbreviated two-game series in Fenway last night, 3-1 (Tuesday's game was postponed and will be made up later this season). Boston led the majors in runs in Ortiz's final season in 2016 but sits in the bottom half of the league almost a month into 2017 (3.90 RPG ranks 22nd) despite a lineup that still includes MVP candidate Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez and Xander Bogaerts. The Red Sox totaled 13 runs in the last six games and are 6-for-42 with runners in scoring position in that span, including 0-for-7 in Wednesday's 3-1, series-opening loss. The Yankees weren't much better on Wednesday (1-for-5 with runners in scoring position) but got the big hit when they needed it with rookie Aaron Judge's seventh HR. Nerw York is 12-7 and Boston 11-9, heading into tonight's contest. The pitching matchup: Masahiro Tanaka (2-1 & 6.00 ERA) gets the ball for the Yankees while Chris Sale (1-1 & 0.91 ERA) gets introduced to one of baseball's greatest rivalries in the series finale for the Red Sox. Tanaka is coming off his best start of the season, limiting the White Sox to one run and six hits over seven innings on April 19. He has won his last two starts while allowing four runs in 13 1/3 innings but opened the season allowing 10 runs over just 7 2/3 innings in his first two outings. Tanaka went 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA in three starts against Boston last season but in his career, sits 5-2 with a 4.05 ERA against Boston in 10 starts (Yanks are 5-5). Chris Sale has been everything the Red Sox thought they were getting when they sent four prospects to the White Sox in exchange for the perennial Cy Young candidate over the winter. Sale struck out 13 and scattered four hits over eight scoreless innings last Thursday at Toronto and owns 42 strikeouts against six walks in 29 2/3 innings. However, Boston's struggling offense leaves him with just one win in four starts, although Boston is 3-1. He has dominated New York in 10 career appearances with a 1.17 ERA. In seven starts, he's got a 4-1 record and 1.43 ERA but his team is just 4-3. The pick: Expect Sale to finally get some support and make Boston an 8* play. |
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04-27-17 | Raptors v. Bucks OVER 195 | Top | 92-89 | Loss | -110 | 31 h 25 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors went to a three-guard lineup in Game 4 and the team has won back-to-back contests to seize a 3-2 series advantage. Norman Powell saw just 21 minutes of action through the first three games (two appearances) of the series but was inserted into the starting lineup and made all three of his three-pointers in a Game 4 win at Milwaukee. He then erupted Monday night at home, going 4-of-4 on three-pointers en route to 25 points in Game 5. DeRozan added 18 and Lowry 16 in the backcourt as well, with Toronto playing its best game of the series in a 118-93 win. The Raptors now have back-to-back double-digit wins after losing by 27 at Milwaukee in Game 3, leaving the Bucks trying to rediscover that Game 3 form in an effort to avoid losing their eighth consecutive playoff series dating to 2001.! Toronto: The Raptors now lead the series but have been far from consistent. DeRozan has been up and down in the series, especially at Milwaukee, where he went 0-for-8 from the floor in Game 3 before shooting 12-for-22 in Game 4. Lowry has rebounded from an ugly Game 1 effort but is still under his regular season averages the last four games, at 17.3 points and 5.3 assists. Forward Serge Ibaka was 13-for-39 from the floor over a three-game span but then scoried 19 points on 8-of-10 in Game 5. Any sure just which Toronto team shows up here? Milwaukee: "You can talk about it but you’ve got to go out there and you’ve got to play. You've got to know how it feels to get your (expletive) kicked, right? And that’s what happened (Monday)," head coach Jason Kidd told reporters. "Being a young team, we were in that position in Game 3 (winning big). We have to understand what took place so we know what we have to do come Game 6." Milwaukee is looking to overcome a recent history of embarrassing Game 6 failures at home, which includes a 120-66 loss to Chicago in 2014 and an 83-69 setback against Atlanta in 2010. However, the team's lone star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is averaging just 16.5 points at home in the series, compared to 27.3 on the road. The pick: Postseason success hasn't exactly been a hallmark of the Toronto Raptors, or for the Milwaukee Bucks. Not sure I trust either team in this spot but I like Toronto's three-guard lineup plus there is little reason for Antetokounmpo to be struggling to score at home. This total is fairly low considering the Raptors are averaging 106.9 PPG on the season (including the playoffs), while the Bucks have averaged 105.3 PPG at home, despite that 76-point effort in Game 4. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-27-17 | Toronto Blue Jays - Game #2 v. St. Louis Cardinals - Game #2 OVER 8.5 | Top | 4-6 | Win | 100 | 11 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: The St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays will try to complete a three-game IL series, after getting rained out Wednesday, by playing a doubleheader on Thursday. The Jays won 6-5 (11 innings) on Tuesday but last night's game was rained out. Wednesday's scheduled starters (Latos and Martinez) will go in Game 1 with the second game following. Toronto entered the series ranked 29th in the majors in scoring but eked out a 6-5 victory in 11 innings Tuesday night. The win gets Toronto to 6-14, after opening 1-9. The Cards are just 9-11 and already are "looking up" at their hated rivals, the Chicago Cubs. The pitching matchup: Casey Lawrence (0-2 & 7.56 ERA) will start Game 2 for Toronto and Adam Wainwright (1-3 & 6.27 ERA) takes the hill for St. Louis. Lawrence gave up a grand slam to Andrelton Simmons in the third inning of his first career start this past Saturday against the LA Angels, taking a 5-4 loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings before exiting after 97 pitches. Lawrence walked just three batters on Saturday after issuing five free passes in two combined innings of relief against Tampa Bay on April 8-9. Wainwright hit a two-run HR in Friday's 6-3 win over Milwaukee to help him snap a three-game losing skid. He also pitched well in the victory, striking out a season-high nine in five innings to subdue the Brewers. That said, Wainwright has not looked like the Wainwright of old, with that 6.27 ERA, a 1.93 WGHIP plus opponents BAA of .366! |
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04-27-17 | Rangers v. Senators OVER 5 | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -100 | 31 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: The Rangers ousted Atlantic Division champion Montreal in six games for the right to face Atlantic runner-up Ottawa, which also won its first-round series in six games over Boston Bruins. The Rangers posted a league-high 27 road wins this season and took two of three games in Montreal in the first round. Meanwhile, Ottawa won all three road games at Boston in its first round series. NY Rangers: New York eliminated Montreal despite getting one assist each from two of its leading goal scorers, Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller, In fact, Mika Zibanejad's four points represented a team high. However, that speaks to the Rangers' depth. A real positive was the late arrival of leading overall scorer Mats Zuccarello, who scored twice in the Game 6 clinching win over Montreal. In the end though, the Rangers will likely pin their hopes on goalie Henrik Lundqvist. After a 2-0 shutout of Montreal in Game 1, he surrendered seven goals in back-to-back losses. However, the veteran then allowed just four goals in three straight New York wins. Ottawa: The Senators just finished a tightly contested series against Boston, one which that featured six one-goal games. Senators captain Erik Karlsson made a surprising revelation following the series with Boston. He was playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel, but it certainly did not appear to hinder the star defenseman, who collected six assists against the Bruins and played nearly 42 minutes in Game 5. Forward Bobby Ryan followed up a 13-goal regular season by scoring four times against the Bruins, and with Clarke MacArthur back in the lineup after missing most of the past two seasons due to concussions, Ottawa can counter New York's outstanding balance with four solid lines of its down. The pick: Lundqvist comes in hot but as we saw in Games 2 and 3 against Montreal, he can be beat. As noted, the Rangers are an outstanding road team and so far, have averaged 3.02 goals in all road games this season, Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson allowed three goals in half of the six games against Boston and don't be surprised if this first game sees both teams being able to put the puck in the opposing net. Make the Over an 8* play. |
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04-27-17 | Mariners v. Tigers -124 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -124 | 6 h 46 m | Show |
The pitching matchup: Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2 & 5.31 ERA) will oppose Justin Verlander (1-2 & 6.04 ERA) in the rubber match of this series this afternoon at Comerica Park. Iwakuma allowed a modest three runs over 12 innings in his first two outings of 2017 but then nine runs in 8 1/3 innings in the last two.He's already allowed six HRs in just 20 1/3 innings to open the 2017 season. Iwakuma is 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in eight career games - seven starts (Seattle is 4-3) - against Detroit with nine HRs allowed in 46 2/3 innings. Verlander, a former Cy Young and MVP winner, is also going through similar struggles in MLB's first month. He allowed just two ERs over 13 1/3 innings in his first two starts before trouble set it. He was ripped for nine runs on 11 hits in four innings at Cleveland on April 15 and then could not find the strike zone while issuing six walks in five innings of a 7-6 loss at Minnesota last Saturday. Verlander is 10-8 with a 3.25 ERA in 20 career starts vs. Seattle, with Detroit going 11-9. The pick: Verlander did not factor in the decision in either of his two starts against Seattle last season but pitched well, allowing three runs in 14 total innings. Coming off being shut out, on the heels of scoring 13 and 19 run sin the two previous games, I expect thoss Detroit bats to bounce back. After all, Seattle's win in Detroit last night gives the Mariners just a 3-10 road record in 2017, where they've allowed an average of 5.23 RPG (Detroit has averaged 5.33 RPG at home). Make Detroit an 8* play. |
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04-26-17 | Bulls v. Celtics -8 | Top | 97-108 | Win | 100 | 13 h 12 m | Show |
It's not often we see the No. 1 seed in a conference lose the first two games of a series at home, especially when that No. 1 seed is matched against a No. 8 seed. However, the Bulls surprised the Celtics 106-0102 in Game 1 and then stunned them with a 111-97 victory in Game 2. However, Celtics have turned the tables on the Bulls by winning Games 3 and 4 in Chicago. The Celtics' back-to-back wins in Chicago came after Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo was sidelined with a fractured thumb, Boston PG Isaiah Thomas, whose playoff experience has been dominated by the grief of losing his sister in a car accident prior to the series, had his best game of the series in Game 4. However, Chicago head coach Fred Hoiberg claims that Thomas carries the ball repeatedly. The teams meet tonight in Boston, as the Celtics try to become the first home team to win a game this series. Chicago: Rondo has shed his cast and could potentially return for a Game 6 or Game 7. The Bulls need him, as after shooting 46.7 percent and averaging 25 assists in two wins at Boston, Chicago shot just 40.1 percent with 16.5 assists in the two games without Rondo at home. While the team waits on a possible Rondo return, Isaiah Canaan will be thrust into the starting lineup for Game 5 after emerging to score 13 points in 34 minutes of Sunday's loss. Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams have failed miserably in trying to replace Rondo in Games 3 and 4. Jimmy Butler remains Chicago's star, averaging 24.8-7.3-5.0 in the series. Boston: There can be little doubt that Rondo's injury gave Boston 'life,' but don't discount Brad Stevens' coaching. He made the decision "to go small" after Game 2, including the insertion of Gerald Green into the starting lineup. Green scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with seven rebounds in Game 4 while regular starter Amir Johnson did not see a single minute of action, after playing only six minutes in Game 3. The pick: Rondo was originally ruled out for Wednesday but USA Today reported Tuesday night that he might attempt to play in Game 5. As I noted in taking the Celtics in Game 4, Boston may be a VERY weak No. 1 seed but Chicago is one weak team, especially with no Rondo. Before Game 3, Stevens owned a 2-10 playoff record, the worst in NBA history for any coach with at least 10 decisions. Now, the picture is brighter and his team delivers a third straight win is this series, with room to spare!. Make Boston an 8* play |
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04-26-17 | Twins v. Rangers UNDER 9 | Top | 3-14 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: The Twins opened this three-game series at Texas having lost six of their previous seven games but have beaten the Rangers 3-2 (Mon.) and 8-1 (Tue.). These back-to-back losses for Texas has but a sudden halt to the four-game winning streak the team had when it opened the new week. Texas now looks to avoid getting swept in Arlington by the Twins for the first time in 41 years on Wednesday night! However, more trouble may be looming for the Rangers, as the Twins have now won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams dating to last season. The pitching matchup: A pair of left-handers take the mound tonight at Globe Life Park, Hector Santiago (2-1 & 2.19 ERA) for Minnesota and Cole Hamels (1-0 & 2.77 ERA). Santiago continued his string of strong outings this season on Friday, recording his third straight quality start, earning a 6-3 win over Detroit. He has a 17-4 KW ratio through four starts, with an 0.97 WHIP and ,217 BAA. He's made 17 starts against the Rangers in his career, going 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA (teams are 10-7). Cole Hamels is off his best performance this season on Friday, allowing one run on three hits in eight innings of a 6-2 win over Kansas City. Not that Hamels had pitched all that poorly in his first three, but Texas had lost each of those three starts. That's quite a change from last season, when the Rangers were 24-8 in Hamels' 32 starts (plus-$1469, which ranked 4th-best among all starters). He's faced the Twins just five times in his career without much success, going 1-1 with a 6.92 ERA (teams are 2-3). The pick: Santiago is off to a great start for the Twins in 2017 and Hamels finally looked like his "old self" in his last outing. Make the Under a 10* play. |
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04-26-17 | Predators v. Blues -117 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -117 | 12 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: The St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Central Division. Then both teams went out and pulled off impressive upsets in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Blues needed just five games to dispatch the Minnesota Wild, who finished seven points above St. Louis in the Central. Meanwhile, the Predators, as the West's No. 8 seed, executed a stunning four-game sweep of the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks, holding Chicago to a total of just three goals in the entire series (won shutouts in the first two games of the series, both in Chicago!). The teams open the series tonight in St. Louis and let's note that Nashville won three of five regular-season meetings against St. Louis, although the teams have played only once since December, a 4-1 Blues victory in St. Louis on April 2.
Nashville: Pekka Rinne posted his fewest wins (31) in a full season since 2008-09 but the veteran goalie was brilliant against the Blackhawks, turning away 123 of the 126 shots he faced, while coming within 5 1/2 minutes of posting three shutouts in the series. Nashville's No. 1 line features 31-goal scorers Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson flanking center Ryan Johansen, who tied for the team lead in scoring during the regular season and had a goal and five assists.against Chicago. The Predators also feature an strong group of defensemen, led by the pairings of Romlan Josi-Ryan Ellis and P.K. Subban-Mattias Ekholm. Each player logged at least 20 minutes in all four games versus the Blackhawks. St. Louis: Jake Allen had his share of rocky moments in net during the regular season (like Rinne) but he set the tone against the Wild with a 51-save performance on the road in Game 1 and turned aside 174 of 182 shots in the series, boosting his save percentage to .942 since Yeo took over for Hitchcock. While St. Louis forward Vladimir Tarasenko is the most dangerous offensive player on the ice for either side with 116 goals over the past three seasons, the return of linemate Paul Stastny from a month-long injury absence and the late-season addition of Vladimir Sobotka from the Kontinental Hockey League bolsters the team's balance.The pick: Allen was terrific against the Wild but Rinne was even better against the Blackhawks. This is the first time the Blues and Predators have met in the playoffs and while the Blues advanced to the conference finals last season (where they lost to the Sharks), the Predators have never advanced that far. St, Louis head coach Mike Yeo has done a great job since taking over the Blues and let's not forget, he spent five years behind the Minnesota bench before he was fired 14 months ago. He may know just a little Nashville's strengths and weaknesses. Make the Blues a 10* play. |
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04-26-17 | Cubs -163 v. Pirates | Top | 5-6 | Loss | -163 | 11 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: After a 14-3 rout on Monday at Pittsburgh, the Cubs made made a single unearned run stand up in Tuesday's 1-0 victory, Chicago's first win without an RBI since July 2011. The Cubs have now won six of seven to reach 12-8 on the season and will look to complete a three-game sweep of the Pirates Wednesday night. Pittsburgh's hard-luck 1-0 loss came just hours after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred revealed that Pirates star center fielder Starling Marte declined to appeal last week's 80-game suspension. Since a three-game sweep of the Cubs in Chicago, Pittsburgh has dropped six of its last eight games and now sit at 8-12. The pitching matchup: Jon Lester (0-0 & 2.66 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago and will be opposed by the Pirates' Tyler Glasnow (0-1 & 7.94 ERA). Lester looks to bounce back from his worst outing of 2017, after he surrendered five runs on a season-high nine hits over 5 2/3 innings at Cincinnati last Friday. He had permitted only two runs on 14 hits over his first three starts but with Chicago scoring only seven runs in that span, he had yet to earn a decision. Lester was 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts against Pittsburgh last season and is 4-3 with a 2.35 ERA in nine career starts against the Pirates (teams are 4-5). Glasnow will be making his 11th career appearance and eighth start and is still looking for his first career win. He lasted only 4 2/3 innings at the New York Mets on Friday, giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits, after allowing four first-inning runs and six overall at Chicago in his previous outing. The Pirates won his start against the Cubs 8-7 back on April 15 but no thanks to his 7.20 ERA. The pick: Lester looks for his first win of 2017 (this is his fifth start) but as noted, Glasnow is making his eighth start and is still looking for that initial MLB win, However, he has yet to pitch beyond 5 1/3 innings in his career and comes into this game with a 7.94 ERA and 2.29 WHIP, along with a .315 BAA in three previous 2017 starts. Make the Cubs an 8* play. |
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04-26-17 | Hawks v. Wizards OVER 211.5 | Top | 99-103 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: John Wall led the Wizards with 32 points in Games 1 and 2, as Washington took a 2-0 lead in this series. However, the Hawks rebounded at home with wins of 116-98 and 111-101, meaning this is now a best-of-three series as the teams return to Washington for Game 5. The Wizards still own home-court advantage but after watching the previous two games in Atlanta, it is fair to say that momentum lies with the Hawks. Atlanta dominated Game 3 and then placed seven players in double figures in Game 4's win, while Washington's offense remained too top-heavy. Bradley Beal scored 32 points and John Wall, who played 40 minutes, had 22 points and 10 assists. Atlanta: Paul Millsap had 19 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals in Game 3 and PG Schroder scored 18, despite three fouls in the first quarter. Millsap leads the Hawks this postseason with 23.5 PPG (8.8 RPG), while Schroder averages 23.3 & 6.3 APG . However, a welcome sight in Game 4 was the play of Dwight Howard, who through the first three games was averaging just 6.0 PPG (had taken a total of only 15 shots), scoring 16 points while adding 15 rebounds. "Obviously, it was his best game," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters of Howard. "We needed that extra boost. He certainly brought it. I thought his defense, his activity on the boards, his second- and third-efforts getting rebounds. We need more of that every night, every possession. When he’s like that, I think it can help carry his teammates and move us forward." It's also noteworthy for Atlanta that SF Taurean Prince is averaging 13.3 points on 63.9 percent shooting in the series after posting 5.7 points on 40 percent shooting in the regular season. Washington: The Wizards are searching for answers after getting beaten on the interior and relying too heavily on guards John Wall and Bradley Beal for offense in Games 3 and 4. "Basically, what I see is two very good basketball teams, evenly matched, fighting for their playoff lives," Washington hesad coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "We’re the fourth and fifth seed. The series is tied. It’s basically the first to two now." Washington was outscored in the paint by a combined 104-64 in Games 3 and 4. Washington center Marcin Gortat (8.0 & 11.8 for the series) has measured up fairly well against Howard but while he grabbed 18 rebounds in Game 4, he managed just two points. That can't happen again. Also, starting forwards Porter and Morris must play better, after the two combined to average 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds for the two games in Atlanta.The pick: The Wizards controlled the first two games at home but it was a different story in Atlanta, with the Hawks emerging as the more aggressive team and rolling to a pair of wins by an average of 14 points. Washington was one of the top three-point shooting teams during the regular season but the Wizards are hitting a playoff-low 29.7 percent from long range after four games. They were also outscored in fast-break points in Game 4, despite Wall's up-tempo presence. However, there is no place like home. Expect Washington to be back "on its game" here at the Verizon Center which means a high scoring game. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-25-17 | Jazz +3 v. Clippers | Top | 96-92 | Win | 100 | 35 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: The Jazz and Clippers were each 51-31 during the regular season but LA earned the home court edge in this first round series due to a tiebreaker. After four games, the series is tied at two-all, with each team winning once on its opponents' home court. However, the series has been overshadowed by key injuries to both Utah center Rudy Gobert and LA power forward Blake Griffin. Gobert went down in the first minute of Game 1 but returned in Game 4 to score 15 points and grab 13 rebounds. Griffin was lost in Game 3, when the Clippers won in Utah but he's now out for the rest of the playoffs. Utah: Gobert's return was huge boost for the Jazz but the team's best player, SF Gordon Hayward, was limited to just nine minutes in Utah's Game 4 win, due to food poisoning. He took IV fluids prior to the game but to no avail. Hayward scored a career-high 40 points in Game 3 and is expected to give it a go tonight at Staples Center. Swingman Joe Johnson came up again big in the Game 4 win, scoring 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting. He also nailed the game-winner in Game 1 at the buzzer and heads into tonight's game averaging 19.3 PPG in the series.
LA Clippers: Will the Clippers' luck ever change? Griffin's absence inside during LA's fourth-quarter collapse in Game 4 was noticeable and magnified by Marreese Speights' poor effort (five points on 2-of-8 shooting). Los Angeles will likely be relying on the backcourt play of Paul (27 points in Game 4), Jamal Crawford (25 points) and J.J. Redick for the remainder of the series. However, while Crawford made 5-of-7 three-pointers on Sunday, he had missed all 11 he attempted during the first three games. As for Redick, he's averaged only 7.8 PPG in thed series (down from averaging 15.0 PPG during the regular season!), making only 34.5% from the floor, including 26.7% on threes. The pick: I believe the Clippers are headed for another playoff disappointment. Why wait until the second round to get blown out by the Warriors? Take the points and make the Jazz a 10* play. |
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04-25-17 | Grizzlies v. Spurs OVER 186.5 | Top | 103-116 | Win | 100 | 33 h 15 m | Show |
The set-up: The Spurs completely shut down the Grizzlies in Games 1 and 2 of this series, holding Memphis to exactly 82 points in each of those first two games, winning by margins of 29 and 14 points. However, the Grizzlies returned home knowing it had beaten the Spurs in both games this past season played in Memphis. The Spurs looked lethargic in a Game 3 Memphis win and then the teams played an excellent Game 4, with the Grizzlies edging the Spurs 110-108 in OT. Kawhi Leonard scored the Spurs' final 16 points in regulation to force overtime (had 43 points, overall) but Memphis center Marc Gasol buried the game-winner in the final second. Memphis: Gasol made the game winner but it was PG Mike Conley who went toe-to-toe with Leonard in keeping the Grizzlies in the game. Conley set a franchise postseason record with 35 points in the Game 4 triumph and is averaging 24 points and 7.8 assists in the series. Don't dismiss Gasol though, as added 37 points and 18 rebounds in the two Memphis wins or the play of Randolph, inserted in the starting lineup for Games 3 and 4, while scoring 33 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. However, depth is an issue for Memphis, as the 40-year-old Vince Carter is the team's fourth-leading scorer at just 8.3 PPG in this series. San Antonio: Some think that Leonard, not Westbrook or Harden, is the league MVP and he's surely made a strong case for that honor in this series. It's not just that he set a career playoff-high 43 points in Game 4 but that it was the third time in the series that he had either matched or exceeded a previous personal best. Tony Parker, who looked washed up for most of the regular season, added 22 points in Game 4, two nights after he didn't score and wasn't credited with an assist in San Antonio's Game 3 loss. Leonard doesn't get enough credit for basically carrying this team, which is not the same multi-talented group of past San Antonio editions. The pick: The first two games of the series went under and then the last two went over. With the series returning to San Antonio one could conclude we are back on the under 'train' but it's my belief that the Grizzlies "found themselves" in these last two games and will not be an 82-point team in Game 5. The total is again very low and the Over is a 10* play. |
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04-25-17 | Thunder v. Rockets OVER 223 | Top | 99-105 | Loss | -107 | 32 h 15 m | Show |
The set-up: The OKC/Hou Series was billed as a showdown between Westbrook and Harden. However, Harden has a much better supporting cast and as such, the Rockets host Game 5 with a chance to close out the Thunder 4-1. Westbrook was not very sharp in Game 1 (shot 6 of 23 , including 3 of 11 ion threes), as the Rockets won 1118-87. He has recorded three consecutive triple-doubles since but while all three games have been close (decided by 4, 2 and 4 points), the Rockets have manged to take two of those three. Harden was slowed by an ankle issue in Game 4 (16 points on 5 of 16 shooting, including 0-7 on threes!) but reserve big man Nene made 12 of 12 from the floor to lead the Rockets to a 113-109 win on Sunday (Nene had 28 & 10). Westbrook had 35-14-14 on Sunday but in the nine minutes he was on the bench, Houston outscored OKC by 18 points! Oklahoma City: Westbrook was all testy when a reporter asked center Steven Adams about just that fact in the postgame conference. "I don't want nobody to try and split us up," he interjected. "We all one team. Regardless if I go to the bench, or Steven's on the floor, or if I'm off the floor, we in this together. Don't split us up. Don't try to make us go against each other -- try to make it Russell and the rest of the guys, or Russell against Houston. I don't want to hear that." However, subpar series performances from shooting guard Victor Oladipo (11-point average on 38.6 percent shooting), Adams (8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds) and backup center Enes Kanter (six points, 2.3 rebounds), speaks for itself. Houston: Nene was not just 12 of 12 from the floor on Sunday but is an amazing 23-of-25 from the floor in the series. Nene is a veteran of 620 regular-season starts and survived a bout with testicular cancer in 2008. "He is my mentor, believe it or not," Harden told reporters. "I watch him every single day do some work. He's in the weight room. He's doing a lot of the right things to get his body and mind right to go out there to compete at a high level every single night." Harden is averaging 33.0-6.0-7.8 in the series but has gotten solid play from fellow starting guard Beverley in the first two games (scored 36 points) and then after he's fallen off in the two games at OKC, backup SG Lou Williams has averaged 20.3 points with a low of 18 over the past three contests. The pick: Plain and simple. OKC is little more than a one-man show. The center duo of Adams and Kanter plus SG Oladipo have been flat-out flops this series plus note that SF Andre Roberson was an embarrassing 2-of-12 from the free-throw line in Game 4 and is 2-for-17 in the series. Expect Harden to play better in Game 5 and Houston has three other perimeter players also contributing, as Eric Gordon (15.0 PPG) joins Beverley and Williams in that Houston backcourt. That said, expect Westbrook to go down swinging. Make the Over an 8* play. |
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04-25-17 | Reds v. Brewers UNDER 9 | Top | 1-9 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The Brewers won 11-7 last night in the series opener against Reds, as Eric Thames hit two HRs. Thames now has 10 HRs, matching the team record for April, and the Brewers still have five games left this month. Seven of his HRs have come against Cincinnati, which has lost four of five meetings with Milwaukee. The Reds fell to 10-10 with the loss and the Brewers pulled within one game of .500 with the win (10-11). The pitching matchup: Scott Feldman (1-1 & 2.38 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds on Tuesday, opposed by the Brewers' Zach Davies (1-2 & 8.24 ERA). Feldman pitched mostly but this marks his fifth start of 2017 and while the team is just 1-3 in his four starts, he's pitched reasonably well (1.19 WHIP along with that 2.38 ERA). He has made five career starts versus the Brewers, going 2-2 with a 3.46 ERA (teams are 2-3). Davies lost his first three starts a year ago but finished 11-7 with a 3.97 ERA. However, he's off to another slow (or should I say, brutal?) start here in 2017. He's allowed 18 ERs over 19 2/3 innings through his first four starts, giving him not only an awful 8.24 ERA but a 1.98 WHIP, with opponents batting .345 against him. He's 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA in six career starts vs. the Reds (team is 2-4). The pick: It was an 11-7 slug-fest on Monday (teams combined for 18 hits and there were five errors in the game, as well) but as noted, Feldman has acquitted himself well in this year's starting rotation. As for Davies, there is no way to go but up and as also noted earlier, he recovered from last year's poor start to pitch well, as the team was 15-9 over his final 24 starts, after Milwaukee lost his first four. The Under is an 8* play. |
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04-25-17 | Mariners -124 v. Tigers | Top | 9-19 | Loss | -124 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: The Tigers return to Detroit to open a 10-game homestand, coming off a a 4-5 road trip. Making life difficult is that fact that the Tigers had to place shortstop Jose Iglesias, first baseman Miguel Cabrera and center fielder JaCoby Jones on the disabled list. Right fielder J.D. Martinez has yet to make his season debut, which leaves the Tigers with a makeshift lineup as they get set to host the Seattle Mariners for three games. Seattle on Tuesday night. The Mariners are on a 10-game road trip and after losing three in a row at Oakland, salvaged the series finale with an 11-1 victory on Sunday, exploding for a season high in runs. Seattle is just 8-12 but after opening 2-8, can't be too unhappy. The pitching matchup: Felix Hernandez (2-1 & 3.65 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season on Tueday night, and will be opposed by Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann (1-1 & 5.94 ERA). The Mariners lost King Felix's first two starts of 2017 but have won his last two. Hernandez has 20 Ks and only one walk in 24 2/3 innings but it strange to see opponents hitting .330 against him, as his lifetime BAA is .240. Hernandez is 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 15 career starts versus Detroit (Mariners are 10-5). Zimmermann appeared in only 19 games last season, his first with Detroit after leaving Washington, because of a neck injury. He recorded a quality start in his 2017 season opener, a 4-1 victory over Boston on April 8, but struggled in two starts since. Calling it "struggling" is being kind. Zimmermann has lasted just 10 2/3 innings, allowing 14 hits and six walks, giving up five ERs in each outing (that's an 8.44 ERA). Zimmermann won his only start against the Mariners, an 8-3 victory in 2014 while pitching for the Nats. The pick: Detroit returns for a 10-game homestand with nearly half of its lineup ailing and must face Felix Hernandez. He hasn't quite pitched like 'royalty' as of late but he's handled Detroit well in the past (see above). Meanwhile, Zimmermann hasn't come close to performing as hoped, since signed as a free agent. Make Seattle a 10* play. |
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04-24-17 | Warriors v. Blazers OVER 219.5 | Top | 128-103 | Win | 100 | 16 h 31 m | Show |
The set-up: The Warriors are going to make sure Kevin Durant is 100 percent healthy before putting him back on the floor now that the team owns a 3-0 lead in this first round series with the Blazers. However, it's not just KD, as Golden State is working through injuries to Shaun Livingston (finger) and Matt Barnes (foot) plus is without head coach Steve Kerr. After falling behind 2-0, the Trail Blazers looked energized by playing in front of their home fans on Saturday night. They built up a 17-point lead but the Warriors used a 19-1 second-half run to get the crowd out of the game. "They took it up another level," Portland headcoach Terry Stotts told reporters of Golden State. "They defended very well, created turnovers. Our offense kind of stagnated a little bit, they pushed it out in transition as well as they have so far in this series. I think they made three threes during the stretch. It’s what that do, they put a run on you." Golden State: Curry's 34 points led the way in Golden State's 119-113 win on Saturday, with Thompson chipping in 24. Green had a quiet Game 3 but he's averaging almost a triple-double for the series (11.3-10.7-8.7). Then there is reserve center JaVale McGee, who scored 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in Game 3, while grabbing four rebounds, all in just 16 minutes. McGee has made 16 of 19 shots in the series and is averaging 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 13 minutes a game! Portland: Center Jusuf Nurkic (leg fracture) missed the first two games but Portland received a noticeable boost from the big man when he returned for Game 3. However, he's nowhere near 100 percent and his effectiveness diminished the longer he stayed on the floor. "Obviously (Nurkic) had a big impact on the game," Stotts told reporters. "We got off to a good start. Obviously, when he was on the floor he made a difference with his passing, his rebounding. He didn’t necessarily look to score but I thought he complemented everybody out there very well." Nurkic reported soreness in the leg after the contest and is not expected to play in Game 4. The pick: The Blazers were competitive in Games 1 and 3, when Lillard and McCollum combined to score 75 points (Game 1) and 63 points (Game 3). However, when they combined to score just 23 points in Game 2 (on 9 of 38 shooting), the result was a 110-81 Golden State blowout. The Warriors are facing more than just injuries to important players. Kerr sat out Game 3 due to chronic back pain and he will not coach tonight. He is consulting with doctors but told reporters he could miss the remainder of the postseason if his back does not improve. That said, the Warriors are used to being without Kerr after he sat out half of the 2015-16 campaign while dealing with complications and pain following back surgery. Through everything, the Warriors have averaged 116.7 PPG in opening a 3-0 lead and Portland's only chance is to outscore them in Game 4. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-24-17 | Padres v. Diamondbacks -172 | Top | 6-7 | Win | 100 | 14 h 30 m | Show |
The set-up: The Arizona Diamondbacks were 69-93 in 2016, finishing one game better than the 68-94 San Diego Padres.However, the D'backs have opened the 2017 season by winning 12 of 20 games, while the Padres have started by losing 12 of their first 20. The two NL West rivals open a four-game series tonight at Chase Field and with Arizona going 8-2 so far this season at home, the Padres could be in trouble considering that they are just 3-8 to open the season away from Petco Field. Arizona is MLB's highest-scoring team to this point (5.25 RPG) and will face a San Diego staff which owns a 4.53 ERA, ranking 28th of 30 MLB teams. In contrast, Arizona's so-so pitching staff will face a San Diego lineup which ranks 29th in runs scored at 3.15 per game. The pitching matchup: The Padres will send Jhoulys Chacin (2-2 & 4.70 ERA) to the mound Monday night and the Diamondbacks will counter with Zack Greinke (1-2 & 3.28 ERA). This represents a quick "re-hook," as Chacin pitched eight scoreless innings for the Padres to outduel Greinke this past Wednesday in a 1-0 Padres victory in San Diego. The pick: Love Greinke is the quick turnaround pitching matchup plus remember Arizona is 8-2 at home, outscoring oppopnents 7.40-to-4.50 RPG . The Diamondbacks not only lead all MLB teams in runs per game at home this season but also in batting average (.316) and on-base percentage (.376). In stark contrast, the Padres are 3-8 on the road, getting outscored 5.09-to-3.00 RPG. Make Arizona an 8* play. |
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04-24-17 | Nationals v. Rockies UNDER 12 | Top | 4-8 | Push | 0 | 10 h 34 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Nationals beat the Mets 6-3 last night art Citi Field on ESPN, giving them a sweep of that three-game series. The sweep extended the team's winning streak to seven straight. Washington began its winning streak with a home victory over Philadelphia before registering three-game sweeps on the road against Atlanta and the New York Mets. At 13-6 and in first-place in the NL East, the Nats now head to Colorado on Monday for a four-game series in Coors Field against the Rockies, who are also a first-place team, leading the NL West at 13-5. The Rockies have won six of their last seven contests and are coming off their first three-game home sweep of San Francisco since May 2002. Colorado outscored the Giants 20-3 over the final two contests and improved to 6-3 at Coors Field to open the 2017 season. The pitching matchup: Jacob Turner (1-2, 6.57 ERA in 2016) will make his 2017 debut for Washington and will be opposed by Colorado's Tyler Anderson (1-3 & 7.32 ERA) who is not exactly off to a great start this season. Turner was drafted ninth overall by Detroit in 2009 but has not lived up expectations. He's 12-27 with a 5.09 ERA in the majors with four different teams, spending the 2016 season with the White Sox. He signed a minor-league contract during the offseason with Washington and is being called up from Triple-A Syracuse to make his Washington debut (he owns a 2.61 ERA in three starts for Syracuse). Anderson has had all sorts of early-season struggles, as he has surrendered four or more runs in each of his first four starts, losing the last three. He has yet to complete six innings and lasted five on Wednesday, when he yielded four runs (two ERs) on six hits in a setback against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The pick: At first blush, this may look like an over with two shaky starters. After all, Washington is MLB's second-highest scoring team at 5.17 RPG (is also averaging 5.11 RPG on the road) and as always, Colorado puts runs on the board at home, averaging 4.89 RPG in its nine home games so far. However, a closer look reveals that the Rockies had averaged a modest 3.00 RPG in their first six home games, prior to scoring 26 runs in sweeping the Giants at Coors this past weekend. As for Colorado's Anderson, he's found Coors to be a friendly park, posting a 3.36 ERA in 13 home starts during his brief career. Let's add that the Colorado bullpen which finished the 2016 season with a MLB-high ERA of 5.13, opens the week with the NL's lowest ERA, at 2.76. Make the Under a 10* play. |
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04-24-17 | Wizards +2.5 v. Hawks | Top | 101-111 | Loss | -107 | 13 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: The Hawks did not play particularly well at home during the regular season but came up with a huge home effort in Game 3, beating the Wizards 116-98. Atlanta couldn't control Wall in Games 1 and 2 (the PG had 32 points in each contest) and while the Hawks did shut him down in Game 3 either (Wall had 29), Atlanta did do a much better against the remainder of Washington's team. Also, the Hawks did a much better job of matching Washington's physicality here at home, led by Millsap's 29 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. PG Dennis Schroder continued his fine play as well, with 27 points and nine assists (he's averaging 25 points and eight assists after three games). Washington: Wall was 10 of 12 from the floor and 8 of 10 from the FT line in Game 3 but his teammates shot a combined 27 of 77 (35.1%). Washington SG Bradley Beal appeared to break out of his own slump with a big fourth quarter in Game 2 but fell off again in Game 3 while totaling 12 points on 6-of-20 shooting, including 0-of-6 from three-point range. Markieff Morris accused Millsap of being soft after the Hawks forward complained about the physical nature of the first game but Morris may want to shut up and just play better. He's totaled just 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting in the last two games. Atlanta: Millsap and Schroder have been Atlanta's key players but center Dwight Howard has failed to score in double figures in any of the first three games, averaging a woeful 6.0 PG, He is averaging RPG but one wonders if Atlanta can win this series with Howard providing no offense. Prince has averaged 14.0 PPG on 62.1% shooting but Atlanta's only other double digit scorer in this series is Hardaway (11.3), and he's shooting 29.4% from the floor, including under 20 percent on threes. The pick: Regarding the Morris/Millsap yapping, "It definitely got personal now," Millsap said. "I don't care. So what? Take this loss and go back to the hotel and be ready for the next game." As noted, the Hawks have been a mediocre home team all season and with Gortat outplaying Howard in the middle, the Washington center is averaging 10.0 & 9.7, I'm on the side of the Wizards to take control of this series by winning Game 4. Make Washington a 10* play. |
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04-23-17 | Nationals -148 v. Mets | Top | 6-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Nationals look to sweep this three-game series from the Mets tonight on ESPN. The Nats won 4-3 (11 innings) on Friday and four pitchers allowed just two hits for a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s contest. Surging Washington has now won six in a row to sport a 12-5 record, while the slumping Mets have lost seven of eight games to fall to 8-10. More bad news comes New York's way with the Mets placing infielders Lucas Duda (elbow) and Wilmer Flores (knee) on the disabled list Friday and New York will likely still be without Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) for a least a few more days. The pitching matchup: The Nationals send Max Scherzer (2-1 & 1.37 ERA) to the mouynd tonight up against New York's Zack Wheeler (1-1 & 5.52 ERA). Scherzer takes the mound Sunday after his best start of the season, limiting Atlanta to two hits over seven scoreless innings last Tuesday with seven strikeouts and three walks in a 3-1 victory. He has yielded three ERs over 12 2/3 innings in his first two starts of the 2017 season and has yet to surrender a home run in three outings. Scherzer owns 1.88 ERA in 10 career career against the Mets, going 5-3, although his teams are just 5-5. Wheeler looked good his last time out in a no-decision, when he allowed just one run on four hits over five innings with seven strikeouts and two walks against Philadelphia. However, he had given up eight runs on 10 hits over 9 2/3 innings in his first two starts of the season after missing two years due to Tommy John surgery. Wheeler is 2-6 with a 4.69 ERA in eight career starts against the Nats. The pick: No reason to step in front of the Nats in this one. Scherzer was 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA versus the Mets in 2016, while Wheeler was 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA in five outings against Washington back in 2014, the last time he faced them. Make the Nats an 8* play. |
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04-23-17 | Celtics -2.5 v. Bulls | Top | 104-95 | Win | 100 | 31 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The 41-41 Bulls were able to sneak into the playoff field as the East's No. 8 seed, getting the nod over the 41-41 Heat by virtue of a tiebreaker. The Bulls then went into the tD Garden and won Game 1 106-102 over the top-seeded Celtics (53-29 on the season), before rolling over the Celtics in Game 2, by a score of 111-97. However, with Chicago PG Rajon Rondo ( in the 1st two games) out with a broken thumb in Game 3, the Celtics coasted to a 104-87 victory on Friday night. The series continues in Chicago on Sunday with Rondo out indefinitely with a fractured right thumb, Boston: Four of Boston's five starters scored in double digits in Game 3 with Boston connecting on 17 three-pointers, after making just 18 of 59 (30.5%) in the first two games. PG Thomas scored 16 points in Game 3, nearly 13 below his season average, but handed out nine assists. However, others around him became more involved offensively, namely fellow guard Avery Bradley (15 points, 4-of-6 from three-point range), who had shot 10 of 28 (35.7%) in the first two games. Bradley also had seven rebounds, seven assists and spent much of the game shutting down Butler and Wade on the defensive end. Backup PG Terry Rozier, a non-factor in the games in Boston, emerged in Game 3 to provide 11 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Chicago: Swingman Jimmy Butler averaged 26 points in the two wins at Boston but was held to 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting in Friday's loss. The Bulls shot just 39.3% as a team, including 6 of 21 on threes. Rondo's backups, Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams, combined for eight points, three assists and seven turnovers. Head coach Fred Hoiberg may just want to run the offense more through Butler and Dwyane Wade. Center Robin Lopez has been a real surprise for Chicago, averaging 14.7 points on 70.4 percent shooting, while adding 8.3 RPG (he has 16 offensive rebounds in the series!) The pick: Falling behind 3-1 may be a hill too high to climb for Boston, so Game 4 could be considered a "must win." The Celtics have been a decent road team this season (24-18 SU and 24-16-2 ATS including Game 3 of this series) and the bottom line is, Chicago is every bit a .500 team. Yes, Boston may be the weakest No. 1 seed in a long time (ever?) but as we saw in Game 3, they are a better team than the Bulls. Make Boston an 8* play. |
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04-23-17 | Senators v. Bruins -155 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -155 | 8 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: History tells us that the Boston Bruins have never come back from a 3-1 postseason series deficit but Sean Kuraly's double-overtime goal enabled the Bruins to stave off elimination on Friday and force a Game 6 in their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. Boston overcame a two-goal deficit and had to withstand an apparent game-winning goal in overtime being overturned by video before beating Ottawa. For their part, the Senators have won all eight series in which they've held 3-1 leads and still have the comfort of knowing a potential deciding Game 7 would be played on their home ice. The pick: Boston now gets a chance to earn a win at home and send this series back to Ottawa for a Game 7. The Bruins shut down the Senators on all five of their power-play chances on Friday and Ottawa is now 0-for-8 with a man advantage these last two games. Yes, Ottawa has won seven of nine against Boston this season but seven of the nine have been decided by one goal (one of the two two-goal decisions included an empty-netter. Four of the nine have required extra time. Gut feeling here says the series is headed for a Game 7. Make Boston a 10* play. |
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04-23-17 | Yankees v. Pirates UNDER 7.5 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 105 | 6 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: The Yankees exploded for 11 runs in the final four innings to earn an 11-5 win on Saturday at Pittsburgh. The Pirates won 6-3 on Friday night, so the teams get set for the rubber match of this three-game IL series on Sunday afternoon from PNC Park. The Yankees are off to a solid 11-6 start, while the Pirates have yet to get going, sitting at 7-10. The pitching matchup: Jordan Montgomery (1-0 & 4.22 ERA) makes his first career start against the Pirates while Ivan Nova (1-2 & 2.25 ERA), the ex-Yankee, will face his former team for the first time. Montgomery picked up his first career win in his second career start on Monday, when he held the Chicago White Sox to three runs and seven hits in six innings. Montgomery struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings in his debut on April 12 but had just four last Monday, while inducing eight groundouts on Monday. Nova struggled for the Yankees in 2015 and the first half of 2016 before coming over to Pittsburgh. He had made 118 starts with the Yankees but was having trouble sticking in the rotation with a 5.07 ERA at the time of the trade. However, with the Pirates, he posted a 3.06 ERA in 11 starts, going 5-2 (team won seven of his first eight starts, before losing his last three). He gave up fewer home runs, fewer walks and in general seemed to much more closely resemble the pitcher he had been early in his career, when he won 16 games for the Yankees in 2011. The pick: Montgomery will face a Pittsburgh lineup that has totaled 11 runs in the first two games of the series but that's after managing just three in the previous three games. I wouldn't be surprised if Nova was sharp against his ex-teammates and will make the Under |
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04-23-17 | Cavs v. Pacers OVER 212.5 | Top | 106-102 | Loss | -105 | 25 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cavs overcame the largest halftime deficit (25 points) in postseason history in Game 3 to take a 3-0 in their first round series against the Pacers. Indiana built a 26-point, third-quarter lead in Game 3, before the Cavaliers rallied to deliver the third-largest comeback victory in postseason history. After suffering one of the worst collapses in NBA playoff history, the Pacers take the court on Sunday looking to avoid a four-game sweep. Cleveland: LBJ scored 41 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out 12 assists in leading the way for the Cavs. "LeBron willed us home, 41, 12 and 13, played the whole second half," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters. "That's what playoff basketball is all about. You got to be willing to sacrifice and lay it on the line to win a game, and that's what he did for us." No one should really be surprised, as LBJ has done this before. LBJ moved into third place on the NBA's postseason scoring list (5,669) -- passing Kobe Bryant -- with his latest outing and is averaging 32.7-9.7-10.7 in the series. He connected on six three pointers, as Cleveland went 21-of-44 from three-point range (47.7%) and now have made 45 three-pointers through three games. Indiana: Paul George had 36 points and a postseason career-best 15 rebounds in Game 3 and is now averaging 32.3 PPG in teh series. However, Turner and Miles are both averaging only 7.7 PPG and have been the targets of George's criticism. It's now or never for the Pacers, who at best, can send this series back to Cleveland for a Game 5. The pick: The Pacers were stunned after the 119-114 loss as they went from being on the verge of making it a series to basically having no chance "'Do you want to go home or not?' That's the mentality," Indiana swingman C.J. Miles told reporters. "That's how you get over it. 'Do you want to keep playing?' That's pretty much the only thing you can take into the next game." Point guard Jeff Teague is among the players talking the good fight, saying "we're playing for pride now. We're all competitors in here and we all believe in one another. We're not getting swept." Indiana is averaging 111.0 PPG in the series (averaged 105.1 during the season) but has allowed Cleveland to average 111.0 PPG (allowed 105.3 in the regular season) on 51.0 percent shooting, not to mention averaging making 15 three-pointers per game. Can (will) the Pacers live to fight another day? Maybe bu the Over is a 10* play. |
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04-22-17 | Canadiens v. Rangers OVER 5 | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 23 m | Show |
The pick: Only one of the first five games have ended with my than five goals and that was Montreal's 4-3 OT win in Game 2. Just a feeling here but I expect Montreal to go down swinging and maybe send this back to Montreal for a Game 7. The Canadiens had 118 shots over the first three games of the series but were held to 24 shots in Game 4 and had just 20 over the final 54 minutes of Game 5. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-22-17 | Spurs -3.5 v. Grizzlies | Top | 108-110 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The Memphis Grizzlies were beaten badly in San Antonio, getting held to 82 points in each loss. Head coach David Fizdale's postgame rant about the officiating cost him some money but it may have also given the Grizzlies a spark. The Grizzlies led by a modest four points at the half but outscored the Spurs 31-17 in the third quarter and won 105-94. PG Conley had 24 points and Gasol and Randolph (now starting) each had 21. The Spurs shot 47.2 percent for the game but played uninspired basketball. San Antonio: Here's how Manu Ginobili told it. "Pop got upset with the guys starting the quarter, sat them, and the whole momentum changed," he told reporters. "In playoff games, especially on the road, a two-minute mental "something" can become a 10-point deficit. That's what happened. We were in good shape at the half. Not playing well, not shooting great, down four on the road, and it was a good situation. It was OK for us. We had that moment there in which the whole game changed." In the end, none of San Antonio's starters ended up playing more than 30 minutes in the loss. Memphis: The Grizzlies shot 50.6 percent from the floor and made 9 of 22 three-pointers last time out. Fizdale made just one lineup change for Game 3, inserting veteran forward Zach Randolph into the starting lineup to add a stronger interior presence. Randolph responded by scoring 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds. "It felt good out there to start and get a rhythm and get in a rhythm out there faster," Randolph told reporters. "It felt good out there." Fizdale complained about the officiating but he also knew this. "The Spurs were punking us. Let’s be real about it," Fizdale told reporters. "Those first, probably out of the first eight quarters, they just bullied us for like five and a half of those and you’re not going to beat the Spurs letting them dictate everything. We had to match it. Otherwise we were going to get pummeled and I was just really proud of how the way we stepped up and took the challenge."
The pick: Memphis should be confident for Game 4, as the Grizzlies did win both home games over the Spurs in the regular season by 15 and eight points. However, Thursday's win snapped a a 10-game postseason losing streak for Memphis! The Spurs surely don't want this series going back to San Antonio tied at two-all. Make San Antonio a 10* play. |
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04-22-17 | Blues +1.5 v. Wild | Top | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 8 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The Minnesota Wild avoided a sweep of their Western Conference first-round series against the Blues by winning 2-0 in Game 4. The teams are back in Minnesota for Game 5 on Saturday afternoon. The Wild had only managed three goals in losing the first three games of the series but their two goals on Wednesday were good enough, as Devan Dubnyk turned aside all 28 shots he faced. St Louis: The Blues appeared to take their foot off the gas in Game 4 and the Wild limited their quality chances. Some good news may be on the way, though. Paul Stastny (foot) skated with the top line at practice on Friday and could be in the lineup for the first time since March 21. St. Louis also needs leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko to get things going. He leads the team with 16 shots in the series but has yet to score, managing only two assists in four games. Minnesota: “We just said coming into the game, we need to win one game and this is the only thing that matters,” Dubnyk told reporters. “This was our Stanley Cup. And it’s gonna be the same thing on Saturday, because if not, it’s over, and we’re not gonna think any further ahead than that.” Charlie Coyle has stepped up with a goal in each of the last two games and Martin Hanzal netted his first of the postseason in the Game 4 victory. Zach Parise leads the team with three points while Jason Zucker, who scored a career-best 22 goals in the regular season, has yet to notch a point despite pacing the Wild with 18 shots. The pick: After going 27-11-3 on home ice during the regular season, the Wild lost the first two of this series in OT. Can (will?) Minnesota win here at home and send the series back to St. Louis? I Maybe so but St. Louis goalie Jake Allen has stopped 140 of the 145 shots he has faced in the series. Take the 1 1/2 goals and make the Blues an 8* play |
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04-22-17 | Raptors v. Bucks OVER 191 | Top | 87-76 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: Most felt that the Milwaukee Bucks would fall out of the East's playoff field after losing Jabarai Parker to an injury. Instead, a late-season surge allowed them to earn the No. 6 seed and now in their first rouns series against the favored Raptors (No. 3 seed), the Bucks have a chance to take a 3-1 lead in today's Game 4. The Bucks last won a playoff series in 2001 but won Game 1 in Toronto by 14 points and then routed the Raptors 104-77 back in Milwaukee in Game 3. "They ambushed us," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "There was no aspect of our game that we executed whatsoever." Toronto's leading scorer, All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (27.3 in the regular season), missed all eight of his field-goal attempts! |
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04-22-17 | Cubs -172 v. Reds | Top | 12-8 | Win | 100 | 6 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cubs have responded to a four-game losing streak by winning their last three, all in comeback fashion.The Cubs rallied for another thrilling victory last night in Cincinnati. Anthony Rizzo’s three-run HR with two outs in the ninth forced extra innings and Kris Bryant’s sacrifice fly in the 11th gave Chicago to a 6-5 win. That's three straight comeback wins for Chicago, with five of their last eight victories being of the come-from-behind variety. As for the Reds, the loss in the opener of this three-game set makes it three straight defeats and after opening 2017 at 7-2, the Reds are now just 9-8 and on a 2-6 skid. |
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04-21-17 | Clippers v. Jazz +1.5 | Top | 111-106 | Loss | -105 | 31 h 34 m | Show |
The set-up: The Clippers and Jazz each finished the regular season at 51-31 and after two games of their first round playoff series, they are tied at one game apiece. However, the edge resides with the Jazz, who won Game 1 at Staples Center to steal away the home court advantage. However, before losing 114-108 in Salt Lake City on March 13, the Clippers had won nine in a row at Utah. The Jazz remain without center Rudy Gobert, who is still recovering from hyperextending his knee on the first possession of the series opener. It could take a while before he is game-ready again. LA Clippers: Losing Game 1 at home with the Jazz playing without Gobert just added to the Clippers' playoff lore of disappointment followed by disappointment. "We had a couple of days being pretty pissed off," PF Blake Griffin told reporters after scoring 24 points in the Game 2 win. "Our spirit [tonight] was great." Griffin helped fuel the interior dominance that led to a 60-38 scoring advantage in the paint and a 47-39 edge on the glass as the Clippers exploited the absence of Gobert. Center DeAndre Jordan had his share of issues with Gobert and the Jazz during the regular season but took control of the shorthanded Jazz in Game 2, recording 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 15 rebounds. PG Chris Paul figures to be successful regardless of who is on the court and he is averaging 23 points, 10.5 assists and three steals while shooting 55.9 percent from the floor in the series. Utah: The Jazz fell behind early in Game 1 and were outscored 29-18 in the first quarter in Tuesday's loss, a trend they need to reverse at home. "The first quarter is what really got us, and they hit us a little bit, set us back in Game 1, as well," forward Gordon Hayward told reporters following a 20-point effort. "We definitely have to be better in the first quarter, but besides the first quarter we played them pretty even." Veteran swingman Joe Johnson, who hit the game-winner in Game 1 while scoring a team-high 21 points, added 13 points off the bench and forward Derrick Favors also finished with 13 points and seven rebounds while starting in place of Gobert. The pick: The Clippers' three main stars all had strong performances in Game 2 (see above). However, through two games, shooting guards J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford have combined to go 12-for-37 from the floor (32.4%), including 1-for-14 from three-point range. The Jazz were able to win in LA without Gobert, so it's no stretch for them to win here at home without him, where they were 29-12 SU on the season. Make Utah a 10* play. |
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04-21-17 | Rockets v. Thunder OVER 224 | Top | 113-115 | Win | 100 | 30 h 5 m | Show |
The set-up: Russell Westbrook keeps saying that winning is all that matters but a third straight loss to the Rockets in Game 3 will all but end OKC's chances in this series with Houston. Westbrook payed poorly in Game 1 and the OKC big men were dominated by Houston's frontcourt, getting outrebounded 56-41 in a 118-87 Houston blowout. Then in Game 2, Westbrook produced the highest-scoring triple-double in playoff history with 51 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds but he wilted in the fourth quarter and the Thunder fell 115-111. Westbrook was just 4-of-18 shooting while playing the entire final quarter and it equated to a major missed opportunity as Oklahoma City let a 15-point, first-half lead slip away. Houston: Harden is averaging 36 points, 5.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists so far, with the biggest stat being Houston's 2-0 lead in the series. The Rockets received 93 of their 115 points in Game 2 from the backcourt quartet of Harden, Eric Gordon (22 points), Lou Williams (21) and Patrick Beverley (15). Primarily known for his defensive prowess, Beverley is averaging 18 points on 14-of-22 in the first two games. A worry for Houston is Ryan Anderson, who is averaging four points on 2-of-14 shooting, including 11 straight misses from three-point range. Oklahoma City: Head coach Billy Donovan questioned his decision not to have Westbrook take his customary break on the bench to start the fourth quarter of Game 2 but Westbrook is not OKC's problem. The supporting class has just not stepped up, starting with SG Victor Oladipo (15.9 PPG), who has been awful. He's averaging 8.5 points on 5-of-26 shooting. The center duo of Steven Adams (5.5 & 6.0) and Enes Kanter (6.0 & 2.0) have been "no-shows" as well. During the regular season, Kanter averaged 14.3 & 6.7 and Adams 11.3 & 7.7. The pick: It's now or never for OKC and there's clearly plenty of room for improvement for each player other than Westbrook. Houston allowed 110.8 PPG on the road during the regular season (so OKC should score) but remember, only Golden State is averaging more points than Houston's 115.3 per. Make the Over an 8* play. |
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04-21-17 | Maple Leafs +1.5 v. Capitals | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 28 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: The Caps delivered a four-goal first period in Game 4 and hung on for a 5-4 win to even this first round series at one apiece. It's now the always pivotal Game 5, when a seven-game series is tied at two-all. The Capitals had an NHL-high 118 points in the regular season, while the Maple Leafs' 95 points made them the "last team into the playoff field." Toronto: Head coach Mike Babcock feels his team should be optimistic heading into Friday's Game 5. "If you'd told our guys at the start of the series it would be 2-2, they'd all do a cartwheel if they knew how. I couldn't do it, I'd hurt my back," Babcock said on Thursday. Toronto was not ready to play at the start of both Games 3 and 4. The Maple leafs were able to overcome Game 3's sluggish start (won 4-3 in OT) but that four-goal first period in Game 4 proved too much of an obstacle to overcome. Youth is being served by the Maple Leafs, as Toronto has five rookie goal-scorers thi series to join the 2007-08 New York Rangers as the only teams over the last 25 years of the playoffs to accomplish that feat. Washington: The Caps, the President's Trophy winners, have had their hands full with the upstart Leafs, in part because the Capitals feel Toronto has gotten most of the favorable bounces in the series, leaving them feeling helpless at times. "We're becoming really mentally tough in this series," Washington coach Barry Trotz said Thursday. "They've got some strange goals, and that sometimes can play on your mind a little bit." T.J. Oshie has been 'killing' Toronto, highlighted by him recording his third career postseason multi-goal performance on Wednesday. Oshie is riding a six-game playoff point streak (four goals, five assists) dating to last year while fellow forwards Nicklas Backstrom (two goals, three assists) and captain Alex Ovechkin are enjoying three-game point and goal streaks, respectively. The pick: Here's the rub. Washington is best-known for its past playoff failures and now it's a best-of-three series. It sure doesn't help that Braden Holtby is hardly playing like a reigning Vezina Trophy winner, having allowed 12 goals allowed, a 3.37 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage, in the last three contests. Washington's two wins in the series have each come by just one goal, a 3-2 OT win in Game 1 and Game 4's 5-4 win. Take the 1 1/2 goals with Toronto and make teh Maple Leafs an 8* play. |
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04-21-17 | Cubs -172 v. Reds | Top | 6-5 | Win | 100 | 11 h 1 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cincinnati Reds got off to a quick starts in 2017, opening 7-2. Hopes that they could be a be a surprise challenger to the World Series champion Chicago Cubs in the NL Central have taken a hit though, as the Reds have lost five of their last seven. The 9-7 Reds lead the 8-7 Cubs by a half-game entering this weekend three-game home series with Chicago. The Cubs ended a four-game slide with consecutive comeback wins over Milwaukee, 9-7 on Tuesday and 7-4 on Wednesday. The Cubs used Thursday’s day off to reconfigure their pitching rotation, flip-flopping the top of the lineup. The pitching matchup: Left-hander Jon Lester (0-0 & 1.00 ERA) will now get Friday's start for Chicago, matched up against Cincy's Tim Adleman (0-0 & 2.25 ERA). Lester is still looking for his first win of 2017, entering his fourth start. He's got three no-decisions and the Cubs are just 1-2 in those starts, despite him allowing only two ERs on 14 hits with a 17-5 KW ratio over 18 innings. He's got a 1.00 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .222 BA. A lack of run support has been the main culprit but Lester should be full of confidence here, as he's 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA in nine starts against the Reds (teams are 8-1!). The 29-year-old Adelman made one start at Triple-A Louisville before being called up to pitch four innings in long relief Sunday against Milwaukee. He allowed one run and two hits with five strikeouts in his first big-league outing of the season. He made 13 starts in 2016, going 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA (team was 6-7). He made two starts against the Cubs last season, going 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA (Reds were 1-1). The pick: Lester is overdue for a win and has an impressive LT record against the Reds, including posting a 2.94 ERA in five outings at Cincinnati. Lester hasn't had much support in his first three starts but note that the Cubs have won 18 of their past 22 games vs. Cincinnati and six of the past seven series. Chicago hit 42 HRs against Reds pitching in 2016, the most in a single season against Cincinnati, while going 15-4 last season against the Reds, including 8-2 at Great American Ball Park. Make the Cubs a 10* play |
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04-20-17 | Sharks v. Oilers OVER 5 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 111 | 15 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The San Jose Sharks made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last year (lost to Pittsburgh) but after overcoming a 2-0 deficit in Game 1 of this series with the Oilers to win 3-2 in OT, were shut out in Games 2 and 3. However, the Sharks rebounded with a resounding 7-0 home win in Game 4, setting up Thursday's pivotal Game 5 in Edmonton. San Jose: The Sharks tied the franchise record for goals in a postseason game and set the mark for most power-play tallies (four) in Game 4 7-0 thrashing. They also received contributions from two players who recently returned from injuries as Logan Couture scored a pair of goals while Joe Thornton notched an assist. San Jose also received a big effort from its captain in Game 4 as Joe Pavelski scored his first two goals of the series, including one just 15 seconds into the contest, and added an assist. "We were just ready," Pavelski told reporters. "Everyone was ready. ... There weren't really any lapses in our game." Defenseman Brent Burns, who led the team in scoring during the regular season with a career-high 76 points, was another member of the team to break out, registering three assists for his first points of the series. Edmonton: The Oilers continue to play undisciplined hockey, as they were short-handed eight times, including a five-minute major during which San Jose cashed in once. That's 22 penalties in the series, so far. Captain Connor McDavid has gone two games without a point, his longest drought since being kept off the scoresheet in back-to-back contests on Jan. 31 and Feb. 2. The reigning Art Ross Trophy winner ended the regular season with a 14-game point streak and extended it over the first two games of the series. The pick: San Jose had its 'explosion' in Game 4 but Edmonton has yet to have one of its own, as the Oilers have scored 2, 1, 1 and zero goals in the four games. This from a team which was one of the league's higher-scoring teams, averaging 2.88 GPG. There's much riding on this all-important Game 5 but with Edmonton giving San Jose too many power play opportunities, the Oilers had better put a few pucks behind San Jose's Martin Jones in this one. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-20-17 | Mariners -157 v. A's | Top | 6-9 | Loss | -157 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The Seattle Mariners opened 2-8 but have won five of six after Wednesday's 10-5 victory over the Miami Marlins. Seattle now travels to Oakland, off to a 7-8 start, for a four-game series which begins tonight. Oakland, like Seattle did on Wednesday, produced a season best for runs in Wednesday's 9-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. LF Khris Davis hit his seventh HR of 2017 to tie for the major-league lead. Davis had career-high 42-homer campaign in 2016. |
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04-20-17 | Spurs v. Grizzlies OVER 184.5 | Top | 94-105 | Win | 100 | 14 h 48 m | Show |
The set-up: This series hasn't been close so far, with the Spurs winning 111-82 in Game 1 and then 96-82 in Game 2. Memphis head coach David Fizdale was fined $30,000 on Wednesday for unleashing a memorable rant about the officiating after Game 2 and one of his points was that Kawhi Leonard attempted more free throws (19) than his entire team (15). Memphis has been unable to control Leonard, who is averaging 34.5 points on 20-of-28 shooting from the floor while making all 28 free-throw attempts.As for Memphis, the team is shooting a combined 38.5% (29.8% on threes), while averaging 80.5 PPG. Simply put, that has to change! San Antonio: Leonard just gets better and better offensively (he's already arguably the NBA's best defender) and appears ready to obliterate his previous best scoring postseason of his six-year career of 22.5 set last season. I'm not sure most people realize just how much the Spurs rely on Leonard. Parker has been a big surprise, averaging 16.5 PPG on 53.8% shooting so far but other than PF Aldridge (15.5 & 5.0), no other Spur is averaging more than 8.0 PPG for San Antonio in the first two games. Memphis: The Grizzlies must get a bounce-back effort from All-Star center Marc Gasol, who scored 32 points in Game 1 but then shot 4-of-15 in Game 2 for 12 points. PG Conley is averaging 18.5 & 7.5 APG but shooting on 40.6% and PF Randolph is the only other contributor, averaging modest totals of 12.0 & 6.5 while shooting poorly, as well (38.7%). The pick: Conley understood his coach's frustration but said the Spurs' long history of winning is a factor. "The Spurs are champions. They've won many times. They've done a lot of great things," Conley told reporters. "We haven't earned that yet. We have to get to that mountaintop, and we understand that. I understand that. That's why I'm not going to complain about it. I'm just going to keep my head down, keep focused, try to play through it the best I can and keep my teammates from letting it affect them mentally." I believe Conley's attitude, not that of his coach, is what the Grizzlies have to concentrate on. The Grizzlies are without defensive stalwart Tony Allen (calf) and have thrown a variety of defenders at Leonard with no success. I'm not sure Memphis can stop Leonard. However, Memphis can play significantly better on the offensive end and should remember that it was 2-0 at home against the Spurs in the regular season, winning by an average of 11.5 PPG. Make the Over a 10* play |
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04-20-17 | Raptors +1.5 v. Bucks | Top | 77-104 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors saw the Bucks come into Air Canada Centre for Game 1 of this series and win by 14 points. That was not exactly something new, as the Raptors are now 0-9 in opening games of first-round playoff series (also just 1-11 in Game 1s of any series). However, the Raptors did bounce back to win their first two playoff series last postseason after losing Game 1 and Toronto was able to even this series in Game 2 by winning 106-100 (non-cover). The series now shifts to Milwaukee for the next two games and the pressure is now on the Bucks to 'hold serve.' Toronto: After an 'ugly' Game 1 (2 of 11 for four points), PG Kyle Lowry scored 22 points and backcourt mate Demar DeRozan has averaged 25 points and 7.5 rebounds in the first two games. However, the 'star' of Game 2 for Toronto was its pressure-packed defense which held Giannis Antetokounmpo to shoot 9-of-24 from the floor, despite scoring 24 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. "The Greek Freak" made 13-of-18 shots in Game 1! The Raptors rely heavily on their two All Star guards but let's not forget Serge Ibaka, the trade deadline pickup from Orlando, who has averaged 17.5 & 10.5 in the first two games, while shooting a team-best 48.3% from the floor. Milwaukee: Antetokounmpo knows he will need to make adjustments to deal with Toronto's change in defensive tactics. "They didn't allow me to go in the paint," he told reporters. "Every time I drove the ball, everybody was sucking into the paint. They were more physical. I still have to make the right plays and try to find my teammates." While Antetokounmpo struggled in Game 2, it was good news that SG Khris Middleton scored 20 points, after struggling to 10 on 4-of-15 shooting in the opener. Head coach Jason Kidd's rotation changed slightly down the stretch in Game 2 as he left Tony Snell on the bench while using PGs Malcolm Brogdon and Matthew Dellavedova in tandem. The move raised some eyebrows, but Kidd insisted that it was just a matter of matchups and rhythm and nothing against Snell, who played only 21 minutes. The pick: Could it be as simple as this? The Raptors shot 5-of-23 in the opener from three-point range and lost by 14. They were 14-of-29 from three-point range in Game 2 and won by five. The Bucks are hoping to capitalize on a raucous home-court advantage to pull ahead in the series, but Kidd has been urging his young squad to not get too comfortable in front of its home crowd. "You can't think about having two games at home," Kidd said. "You have to stay in the moment. We're all excited to be home. For us, we had an opportunity in Game 2. We had some good looks at the end, but the ball didn't fall for us. We're focused on the first possession of Game 3 and trying to find a way to win." The Milwaukee Bucks haven't won a playoff series since the 2000-01 season and I'm backing the more playoff-tested Raptors in this one. Make Toronto a 10* play. |
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04-20-17 | Phillies v. Mets -183 | Top | 6-4 | Loss | -183 | 11 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The Phillies and Mets have split the first two of this three-game series in New York and will play the rubber match tonight. Philadelphia won 6-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday with New York winning 5-4 last night.The Phillies come into this contest 5-9 overall and have lost six of their last eight. Meanwhile, the Mets' win last night ended a four-game slide (New York is now 8-7), but the Mets will be looking to make it five win in six outings versus the Phillies this season. |
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04-20-17 | Blue Jackets v. Penguins -194 | Top | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The Columbus Blue Jackets have produced a franchise-best season in 2016-17 and surely don't want to see it come to an end here in Pittsburgh, tonight. Columbus avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the defending champs with a 5-4 home win in Game 5, after losing a 3-1 lead in Game 3, before losing 5-4 (OT) in Game 3. The Penguins hope to polish off the Blue Jackets in Game 5 Thursday at PPG Paints Arena and they could make it easier on themselves if they could play better in the first period. The Blue Jackets have enjoyed the better start in every game, for the first part of or all of the first period. Columbus: The Blue Jackets built a 16-3 shot advantage in the first period of Game 1 but it ended scoreless. Columbus led in shots 12-7 after one period in Game 2, although Sidney Crosby was able to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. Then in Game 3, Columbus stormed to a 3-1 lead after one period only to lose 5-4 in OT. Finally in Game 4, the Blue Jackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead and hung on for a 5-4 win. "We have nothing to lose," Cam Atkinson told the Columbus Dispatch on the heels of Tuesday's victory. "We're still down. We're still crawling back into this. But it's huge for us to get momentum. A lot of guys contributed, so feel good about this, get ready to work and we'll head to Pitt. Just play our game and we'll have success." Pittsburgh: The Penguins have 16 goals in the series' four games. Rookie Jake Guentzel continued his successful run by scoring on Wednesday to increase his point total to six (five goals, one assist) in the last three games while his goal total is the most in the first four career postseason contests since Montreal's Maurice "Rocket" Richard in 1944. His six points are tied with Phil Kessel but trail Evgeni Malkin, who notched two assists to record his third multi-point game of the series and push his point total to an NHL-best eight (two goals, six assists). The pick: Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan is thrilled to be up 3-1 and is pleased with how his team has finished games. However, he would love a fast start in Game 5. "It's about being ready from the drop of the puck. It's a mindset. It's not a wait-and-see approach," Sullivan said following Wednesday's practice. "We've got to be ready to dictate the terms from the very first puck drop." With its two wins in Games 1 and 2, Pittsburgh is 33-6-4 at home this season, while averaging a whopping 3.79 goals. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play as the Pens send the Blue Jackets back to Columbus a loser. |
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04-19-17 | Wild v. Blues UNDER 5 | Top | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 15 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The Minnesota Wild were second in the league in scoring during the regular season (3.21 goals per game) but find themselves in an 0-3 'hole' in their opening round series with the St. Louis Blues, after scoring just three goals in three games! Minnesota has outshot St. Louis 117-79 in the first three games but has gone 1-for-10 on the power play and its top four goal scorers in the regular season have yet to tally in the series. Yes, the Blues have scored just seven goals (one an empty-netter) but Jake Allen has turned away 114 of the 117 shots he's faced! Minnesota: “We’re not playing bad,” defenseman Ryan Suter told reporters. “We just can’t score. If we can find a way to score a goal, it’s a different game.” Head coach Bruce Boudreau reportedly made changes to his forward lines at practice Tuesday, moving Eric Staal between Coyle and leading scorer Mikael Granlund while captain Mikko Koivu centered Nino Niederreiter and Zach Parise. However, the Wild are now tasked with winning four straight games against a St. Louis team which has won six consecutive games overall and is 18-2-2 in its last 22 contests. St. Louis: Jake Allen came into the series 3-5 all-time in the postseason but his brilliant postseason play is just a continuation of his play down the stretch of the regular season. He has now allowed fewer than three goals in 15 of his last 19 starts, after stopping 40 of 41 shots in Game 3's 3-1 victory. Jaden Schwartz has a goal in each of the last two games and a point in all three contests. Patrik Berglund has registered three assists along with a plus-3 rating and Alex Steen also has produced three points after netting an empty-net tally to clinch Game 3. Leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko (two assists) has unleashed 12 shots in the series. The pick: No reason to over-think this one. Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk had an outstanding regular season (2.25 GAA & .923 SP) and has surrendered just six goals in the first three games. However, his counterpart Allen has just been better (see above!). Goals will be at a premium again, making the Under a 10* play. |
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04-19-17 | Thunder v. Rockets OVER 223 | Top | 111-115 | Win | 100 | 13 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up: The OKC/Houston series has been billed as the "Battle of Two MVP Candidates," the Thunder's Westbrook against the Rockets' Harden. Game 1 went to Harden (37-7-9) and the Rockets 118-87, as Westbrook scored 22 points on just 6-of-23 shooting and had more turnovers (nine) than assists (seven). However, the real surprise was Houston's domination of OKC's bigger frontcourt, as the Rockets outrebounderd the Thunder 56-41! That said, Houston head coach Mike D'Antoni cautioned reporters, "All we did is defend our home court, and that's what we're supposed to do. It's nice to play well and get the win because you have to, but this is just one little step ... in the big scheme of things. I'm sure they'll (Thunder) bounce back, and we've got to be ready to go." Oklahoma City: Along with Westbrook's off-shooting outing in Game 1, SG Victor Oladipo was an awful 1-of-12 from the floor, while the frontcourt trio of Steven Adams, Taj Gibson and Enes Kanter combined for just 19 points and were the prime reason why Oklahoma City was outrebounded 56-41. The Thunder pressed Houston shooters on the perimeter, limiting the Rockets into 10-of-33 shooting on three-pointers but the downside was that the strategy was parlayed into a layup line for Houston. Houston: It wasn't all Harden in Game 1, as his backcourt mate Patrick Beverley had 21 points and 10 rebounds plus challenged Westbrook defensively all game. Post players Nene (15 points on 7-of-8 shooting) and Clint Capela (14 points on 7-of-9) operated at will against the Thunder in Game 1. The pick: No way OKC's big men don't play better in Game 2, while Westbrook almost assuredly will bounce back. Also, is it possible for Oladipo (made 44.2% from the floor this season) to shoot worse? That said, the Rockets also figure to be much better from the three-point line, as well. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-19-17 | Hawks v. Wizards -5 | Top | 101-109 | Win | 100 | 12 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up: The Wizards own a strong starting-five and all reached double digits in the team's 114-107 Game 1 win over the Hawks. All-Star PG John Wall scored a playoff career-high 32 points to go with 14 assists and while SG Bradley Beal went 2-of-11 from three-point range, he added 22 points. Washington was able to pull off the seven-point win despite sending the Hawks to the free-throw line 39 times (Atlanta made 32). "The difference in the game was we were playing basketball and they were playing MMA," Atlanta forward Paul Millsap told reporters. "They were physical. When the game is like that, we have to match their physicality. But again, we've got to go get some moves and bring them back to the court." Washington likely has no intention of letting up after watching its aggression lead to 69 second-half points in the Game 1 win. Atlanta: Head coach Mike Budenholzer knows his team can't commit 21 turnovers again, or allow 25 fast-break points! "Transition. Same since day one. If we do not get back, it is going to be hard for us to win games, so they took advantage of that," Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said. "John Wall is a blur out there, and when you have (Beal) and Otto Porter out there ... when he is in transition, those are his outlets. You know he puts so much pressure whenever he has those outlets and he knocks those shots down, it is kind of hard to (cover him)." The Hawks have spent the past two days of practice focusing on correcting just that. We'll see. Also, the Hawks are going to need more than seven points from center Dwight Howard, who had finished the regular season with a streak of 13 straight double-digit scoring efforts. Washington: The Wizards trailed 48-45 at halftime in Game 1 but with Wall in control, the Wizards outscored Atlanta 38-28 in the third quarter and led by as many as 15 points in the fourth. Help came in the form of 22 points from Beal and 21 from Morris, who also had four blocked shots. The Wizards could always use some extra help off the bench and they anticipate having center Jason Smith (knee) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) available for Game 2, as both returned to practice Tuesday after sitting out Monday's session. The pick: Washington's Game 1 win lifted them to 31-11 SU at home this season and that's after opening the season 5-6 SU at home. Atlanta lost Game 1 to Washington in the 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals before recovering to win the series on six games. However, that Atlanta team was the East's No. 1 seed, while this year's edition is a No. 5 seed, which ended the regular season on a 6-10 run. Make Washington an 8* play. |
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04-19-17 | Brewers v. Cubs -207 | Top | 4-7 | Win | 100 | 8 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The Brewers won In Wrigley 6-3 on Monday but the Cubs rallied for a 9-7 win on Tuesday, snapping a four-game losing streak. Chicago’s bullpen has been a concern early on but five relievers combined to allow one run over 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday and retire 15 of Milwaukee's last 16 batters. The loss was just the second of the Brewers’ nine-game road trip which concludes Wednesday afternoon, before Milwaukee begins a 10-game homestand on Thursday. The 8-7 Brewers and 7-7 Cubs play the rubber match of this series today. |
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04-18-17 | Jazz +9 v. Clippers | Top | 91-99 | Win | 100 | 15 h 34 m | Show |
The set-up: Utah center Rudy Gobert (14.0 & 12.8) had a breakout season in 2016-17 and was a huge reason the Jazz returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. However, he suffered a knee injury on the opening possession Saturday's Game 1 against the Clippers. The game was an emotional roller coaster for the Jazz but all's well that ends well and veteran reserve Joe Johnson's buzzer-beater lifted the Jazz to a 97-95 victory in the opener of this best-of-seven series. Meanwhile, the Clippers are left to wonder just how they lost the homecourt advantage in the series by falling to a Utah team in Game 1 at Staples Center playing without its starting center? "The series doesn’t start until somebody loses at home," guard Chris Paul told reporters after producing 25 points and 11 assists. "I guess that [loss] started it. … Now we've got to see what we're made of." Utah: Gobert's status for the rest of the series is in doubt. "I don't think we're ready to say today, tomorrow, a week, two weeks," head coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "I think it's literally that wide open." Johnson led all Utah scorers with 21 points plus Favors added 15 points off the bench, as well. Utah's best player, SF Gordon Hayward (21.9 & 5.4), had 19 & 10, and the team's new PG, George Hill (16.9 & 4.2 APG), added 16 points. Utah's reserves outscored LA's 47-20! LA Clippers: The Clippers are insisting that there is no need to panic following the Game 1 loss."A lot of guys have played enough playoff games to know it's truly a series," forward Blake Griffin told the Los Angeles Times. "Everybody says that. But we've been up 2-0 several times and lost a series [to Portland]. We've been up 3-1 and lost a series [to Houston]. We've lost a first game and won a series. So it doesn't really matter, you know?" Griifin must be in denial. The Clippers' playoff history is filled with nothing but failure and as for Chris Paul, who so many think so much of, he's never even played on a team which has won a second round playoff series. Let that sink in! Griffin (26 & 7), Paul (25 & 11 assists) and Jordan (10 & 15) all had good stats but the Clippers struggled to free up their shooters, as guards J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford combined for 15 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including 1-of-7 from three-point range. Then there was LA's bench getting pummeled by Utah's, 47-20! The pick: Should LA bounce back and take Game 2? The Clippers should but I'll take the points and make Utah an 8* play. |
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04-18-17 | Oilers v. Sharks -118 | Top | 0-7 | Win | 100 | 14 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The Edmonton Oilers lost Game 1 at home (blew a 2-0 lead and lost 3-3 in OT), playing in their first postseason since 2006. However, the Oilers have rebounded with a 2-0 home win in Game 2 and then a 1-0 win at San Jose in Game 3. Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot has turned aside all 39 shots he has faced in registering back-to-back shutouts. Edmonton: The Oilers had six penalties in each of the first two games but showed much more discipline in Game 3, taking only two penalties. Despite being short-handed a league-high 14 times through three games, the Oilers have allowed just one power play goal (92.8 percent). "It feels great but, I mean, the job's not done yet," Talbot said after his second straight shutout. "We came in, got home-ice advantage back, but it'd be nice to come in and play another game like that on Tuesday." San Jose: The Sharks finally have both of their top injured forwards back in the lineup but their returns have done nothing to improve the team's offense. Logan Couture was back in the Sharks' lineup for the series opener after missing the final seven regular-season games with a facial injury and Joe Thornton returned for Game 3 after sitting out a total of five contests with a knee ailment. However, Game 3 ended in a second straight shutout for the Sharks. The pick: Connor David, the next big thing in the NHL, has a goal and an assist in his first playoff series. However, two players who had breakout seasons in Leon Draisaitl (29 goals, 48 assists) and Patrick Maroon (27 goals), have failed to record a point. Talk about a "must win?" The Sharks have played 2,192 games, including the postseason, and they have have never been blanked three times in a row. It won't happen here either and teh team with all the experience edge (and teh one which was in last yera's Stanley Cup Finals), comes away with the win tonight. Make San Jose a 10* play. |
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04-18-17 | Giants v. Royals UNDER 9 | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 12 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: The San Francisco Giants are off to a slow start to the 2017 season (just 5-9), as they visit Kansas City to take on the 6-6 Royals in this two-game IL series. However, the Giants are getting some good news, as four-time All-Star catcher Buster Posey is expected to be activated from the DL on Tuesday. Posey was beaned by a fastball in a game against Arizona on April 10 and will likely serve as the team's DH as he eases his way back into action. "It gives him three more extra days (counting Thursday's off day)," manager Bruce Bochy told The San Jose Mercury News of Posey (team-leading .333 batting average). Kansas City has been streaky in the early going of 2017, and comes in on a four-game winning streak, following a three-game slide, which was the second such skid of the season for the Royals. This marks the Giants' first return to Kansas City since the 2014 World Series. The pitching matchup: Matt Cain (1-0 & 4.82 ERA) gets the nod tonight for San Francisco and Kansas City hands the ball to Jason Hammel (0-1 & 6.52 ERA). Cain had a shaky 2017 debut (allows six hits and four ERs over 4 1/3 innings against the Padres) but earned a 6-2 win against Arizona on Wednesday. He allowed just one run on five hits in as many innings. The Giants are hoping Cain can be the team's fifth-starter, coming off a two-year span in which his ERA is 5.77 and WHIP is 1.52. Cain is 1-0 with a 3.28 ERA in his lone start against the Royals. It's early but Jason Hammel has stumbled out of the box after signing a two-year, $16 million deal in offseason, a move designed to shore up KC's starting rotation after the death of Yordano Ventura. Hammel's allowed 13 hits and seven ERs over 9 2/3 innings, with a 6.52 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and .333 opponents BA! However, despite going winless in 11 career appearances against San Francisco (10 starts / teams are 4-6), he has pitched reasonably well against them with a 3.17 ERA. The pick: KC's starting pitchers have a 0.63 ERA, allowing two runs and 13 hits over 28 2/3 innings during the team's four-game winning streak and now it's Hammel's turn to start "pulling his own weight." He faces a San Francisco lineup which has been very mediocre, batting .237 (17th). As for that KC lineup, it ranks 29th in BA (.210) and runs scored (3.17 per). Make the Under a 10* play. |
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04-18-17 | Nationals -172 v. Braves | Top | 3-1 | Win | 100 | 11 h 25 m | Show |
The pitching matchup: Max Scherzer (1-1 & 2.13 ERA) will get the ball in the series opener for the Nats, opposed by Atlanta's Mike Foltynewicz (0-1 & 6.35 ERA). Scherzer was slowed in spring training by a knuckle injury on his right ring finger but has pitched well in his first two outings of 2017. He took the loss Wednesday against St. Louis despite allowing only one ER in six innings with 10 strikeouts but he struck out seven while giving up two runs in a win at Philadelphia back on April 7. He won his second career Cy Young Award last season and had no trouble vs. the Braves, going 4-0 while striking out 32 in 33 1/3 innings in five starts (Nats were 4-1). The Braves had multiple off-days during their season-opening road trip and that resulted in Foltynewicz being temporarily moved to the bullpen. He gave up two runs and three hits in two innings of relief last Tuesday at Miami, striking out four without issuing a walk. Foltynewicz's only start of the year came ion April 7th, when he allowed two runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings en route to a 5-4 loss at Pittsburgh. He was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Washington in 2016 (team was 1-1). The pick: Washington won the NL East last season with a 95-67 record, thanks in part to dominating Atlanta by taking 15 of the 19 meetings between the two rivals (?), while averaging 5.7 runs per contest. Setting aside Washington's dominance over Atlanta, we also have a Scherzer-Foltynewicz 'duel,' which seems like a total mismatch. Make the Nationals an 8* play. |
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04-18-17 | Penguins v. Blue Jackets UNDER 5.5 | Top | 4-5 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The defending champs have played up to their pedigree, opening with home wins of 3-1 and 4-1, then overcoming a 3-1 deficit at Columbus for a 5-4 OT win in Game 3. 22-year-old rookie Jake Guentzel completed a hat trick at 13:10 of overtime to give the Penguins a 3-0 series lead. One more win and the Pittsburgh Penguins sweep their way into the second round and one more loss for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the best season in franchise history comes to an abrupt end. Pittsburgh: Guentzel recorded his second straight game-winning goal on Sunday's and has 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in his last 14 contests overall. He had 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 40 games with the club this season. Bryan Rust scored twice in Game 3 to give him seven goals in his past 11 playoff games. Fellow forward Evgeni Malkin recorded his 14th career three-point performance by scoring in his second straight game and adding two assists to increase his point total to six (two goals, four assists) in the series. Not to be outdone, captain Sidney Crosby has set up two goals in back-to-back contests after being held off the scoresheet in the series opener. Columbus: Zach Werenski, who was first in NHL scoring among rookie defensemen with 47 points (11 goals, 36 assists, saw his season came to a close after he sustained a ghastly facial fracture, taking a puck under his right eye on Sunday. His loss makes the Blue Jackets' uphill climb even steeper against the defending Stanley Cup champions. The pick: Columbus is facing a huge challenge but veteran forward Scott Hartnell reminded his teammates Monday that the deficit is not insurmountable, as he played a role in the Philadelphia Flyers' comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the Boston Bruins to win a first-round series back in 2010. "We're still in this thing," Hartnell said. "We've still got another game to play. I don't think any of us envisioned this. I thought we deserved a better fate. We're playing good enough to win. There is a belief in (the locker room). There were good vibes that were positive. We'll still here and putting on our skates." I expect Columbus to come with its "A game" and that makes the Under a 10* play. |
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04-18-17 | Bucks v. Raptors OVER 193 | Top | 100-106 | Win | 100 | 11 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The Toronto Raptors reached the Eastern Conference finals last year but not before losing each one of the three Game 1s the team played during three separate series. Well, nothing has changed for the Raptors in the 2017 postseason, as they were held to 32 second-half points on Saturday by the Bucks, as Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in its opening round series against Toronto, 97-83. Milwaukee: Since losing in the Eastern Conference finals back in 200-01 season to the 76ers and Allen Iverson, the Bucks had made the playoffs just six times before this season, while losing each time in the first round. One game does not a series make but let's note that the Bucks sure didn't look like a team that had lost 13 of its past 15 regular-season games to the Raptors when it rode the coattails of All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's 28-point effort to a 14-point victory. The "Greek Freak" averaged 22.9-8.8-5.4 on the season and noted, "It's big for us, but now we have to focus on Game 2," he told reporters. "We know they're going to be more desperate." Antetokounmpo wasn't alone on Saturday, as rookie PG Malcolm Brogdon contributed 16 points, center Greg Monroe contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds off the bench plus while SG Middleton made just 4 of 15 FG attempts for 10 points, he handed out nine assists. Toronto: The Raptors were outscored 51-32 in the second half with All-Star PG Kyle Lowry scoring only two points in the second half and four points for the game on 2-for-11 shooting (0 of 6 on threes). DeRozan, who averaged 27.3 PPG on 46.7% shooting this season, made only 7 of 21 shots, as 13 of his 27 points came from the FT line. "It sounds like a yearly song we sing but we're going to go as (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan) go and he's got to be aggressive no matter what the defense is doing," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Serge Ibaka was the best Raptor on the court, scoring 19 points adding 14 rebounds but was the only starter to make a three-pointer in the game (Toronto was 5-of-23 from long range). The pick: Toronto's been in this position before, as the Raptors are now 0-9 in opening games of first-round playoff series and just 1-11 in Game 1s, overall. Quite frankly, how pathetic is that? However, Toronto did average 106.9 PPG (10th) on the season and even if we include Saturday's awful 83-point effort, the Raptors have averaged 110.2 PPG at Air Canada Centre this season. Maybe Toronto loses again but it will go down 'swinging.' Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-17-17 | Ducks v. Flames OVER 5 | Top | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 22 h 42 m | Show |
The set-up: The Ducks extended their home dominance over the Flames in taking a 2-0 lead in this opening round series, although both wins came by 3-2 finals. Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf has collected a goal and an assist in both contests so far and the Ducks have hardly been dominant. "Lucky" is how Getzlaf described his pinball, go-ahead goal that caromed off the right skate of Flames forward Lance Bouma and into the net with 3:46 left in regulation of Saturday's 3-2 win. Still, the two one-goal victories give Anaheim a 13-0-3 run over its last 16 games. Calgary now finds itself in the ominous position of trailing after two games in a best-of-seven series. "It was just a (bad) bounce. That's the way it happens sometimes," Flames forward Kris Versteeg told the Orange County Register. "I don’t really believe in curses. It was just for whatever reason a bad-luck bounce. You can't blame anyone on that. It’s just something that happens." Anaheim: Right winger Patrick Eaves drew an assist on Getzlaf's game winner and admitted the Ducks got a fortunate bounce to win Saturday's game. "We'll take it and run," Eaves told CBC during a post-game interview. "You always want to win your games at home, but we know we have a big test ahead of us. They play really well in their building also. We'll be ready." The trio of Getzlaf, Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg have each scored once in the opener and then duplicated that feat in Game 2. "I'm sure that they're happy that they're scoring and we're real happy they're scoring, but there's other guys that are going to score in this series, for sure," said Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle. Anaheim goalie John Gibson has a .952 save percentage in his last 10 games overall and has turned aside 65 of 69 shots in this series. Calgary: Mikael Backlund followed up his career-high goal total (22) this season by scoring a short-handed goal in Game 2. Fellow forward Sean Monahan (team-leading 27 goals) has scored in back-to-back contests after being held off the scoresheet in each of the previous four and linemate Johnny Gaudreau (team-leading 43 assists and 61 points) notched an assist after a four-game point drought. The pick: A change of scenery might be just what the doctor ordered for Calgary, which is leaving its house of horrors at the Honda Center in favor of Scotiabank Saddledome. "Obviously it's going to be fun to play at home," defenseman Dougie Hamilton said. "We can't quit. We haven't quit all season. We’re going to come out hard at home and turn the series around." The Flames averaged 3.15 GPG at home this season and the play here is Over (10*s). |
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04-17-17 | Grizzlies +11 v. Spurs | Top | 82-96 | Loss | -108 | 21 h 20 m | Show |
The set-up: The Spurs allowed the Grizzlies to score 30 points in the first quarter of their Game 1 series but Memphis never had more than 19 points in any of the final three quarters, with An Antonio pulling away for a 111-82 win. "They just took over the game," Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph told reporters. "They started to hit shots and put pressure on us. We couldn’t get the ball where we wanted to get it. We just couldn’t get shots." A 19-0 run over a five-minute span bridging the third and fourth quarters turned the reasonably tight contest into a rout.Kawhi Leonard (25.5 & 5.8) not surprisingly led all Spurs with 32 points plus Popovich had to like Parker (just 10.1 PPG on the season) looking 'young again" with 18 points in minutes. Memphis: The key to San Antonio disrupting Memphis was getting PG Mike Conley out of his rhythm. Parker helped in that regard, as Conley (20.5 & 6.3 APG) managed just 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting. "They forced other guys to handle the ball," Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale told reporters. "We went over it, we expected it, but we just didn't respond well to it. I thought Mike missed some chippies in there in the paint. But give them credit; they really turned the game around defensively against us." In an overall poor offensive effort by Memphis, the bright spot was center Marc Gasol (19.5 & 6.2), who scored 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting. San Antonio: Leonard and PF LaMarcus Aldridge (20 points / six rebounds) were the only players to log more than 25 minutes for San Antonio on Saturday, so "Pop's" team will be well rested. "The best part was the team keeping its composure, not going off in different directions and just trying to do what he planned execution-wise on both ends of the floor," Popovich said. "I thought we got better as the game went on." The pick: The Spurs rested their starters for the entire fourth quarter, which could be a huge advantage in a series that is expected to be a physical one between grind-it-out teams. Still, Memphis was awful after the first quarter, yet trailed just 74-64 with 1:53 to play in the third quarter. Memphis scored only 33 points in the second half and missed nine of its 10 three-point attempts after halftime. Memphis will be better in Game 2. The Spurs were just 19-22 ATS at home during the regular season and I'll take the points here with The Grizz. Make Memphis an 8* play. |
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04-17-17 | Indians -145 v. Twins | Top | 3-1 | Win | 100 | 20 h 48 m | Show |
The set-up: The Indians were AL champs last year and had the Cubs down 3-1 in the 2016 World Series, before losing the final three games of the Fall Classic (Games 6 & 7 at home). Cleveland then opened the 2017 season in Texas against the Rangers, a team which has been to the postseason in five of the last seven years. The Indians swept that three-game series in Arlington, 8-5, 4-3 and 9-6. Terry Francona's club was off and running, or so we thought. However, just the opposite has been the case, as the Indians limp into Minnesota on Monday, losers of seven of their last nine. As for the Twins, they were coming off a 103-loss season, owners of MLB's worst record in 2016. However, they opened 4-0 and 5-1, before losing four of their next six. The pitching matchup: Danny Salazar (0-1 & 4.63 ERA) will open this four-game series for the Indians, opposed by Minnesota's Kyle Gibson (0-1 & 8.00 ERA). Salazar limited the White Sox to two runs on four hits and a pair of walks over six innings last Wednesday, but suffered the loss in a 2-1 decision despite matching a career high with 11 strikeouts. Salazar had a great first half for the Indians in 2016 (10-3 with a 2.75 ERA before the All-Star break) but injuries limited him to eight starts after the break (he was 1-3 with a 7.44 ERA / team was 5-3 in his starts). In the postseason, he made just two relief appearances. Salazar went 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in three starts against the Twins in 2016 and is 3-3 in 10 appearances (all starts) with 4.80 ERA against Minnesota (Indians are 6-4). Gibson has allowed eight runs on nine hits (including three HRs) over nine innings with seven strikeouts and three walks to open the 2017 season. This comes on the heels of him going 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA in starts last year. Gibson was 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in two starts versus Cleveland last year and is 2-3 with a 6.40 ERA in nine career starts against the Indians (4-5). The pick: The Indians scored 21 runs in sweeping the Rangers to open the season but have scored three or fewer runs in six of their last nine games. However, Gibson was just brutal at home last season, going 1-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 13 starts. Make Cleveland a YUGE 10* play. |
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04-17-17 | Senators v. Bruins -165 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -165 | 19 h 47 m | Show |
The Ottawa Senators were able to erase a two-goal deficit in the third period of Game 2 against the Bruins on Saturday. They were then able to even their series against Boston with an overtime goal by defenseman Dion Phaneuf, avoiding falling behind 0-2 in the series by dropping both home games. “The resilience we showed through the last portion of the year came out again,” Senators head coach Guy Boucher said following Saturday's 4-3 victory. “We’ve talked about the fact that adversity builds you or destroys you, and we prefer to see it as a builder." However, the Bruins have accomplished prying the home ice edge away from Ottawa as the teams get set to play the next two games in Boston. Ottawa: The Senators came into the playoffs dealing with Erik Karlsson's foot injury and Marc Methot's finger, which was almost severed at the tip by a Sidney Crosby slash. Defensemen Karlsson and Methot are both playing in the playoffs but especially in Methot's case, it's been a struggle. However, Mark Borowiecki (another defenseman) went down with a lower-body injury on Saturday. The Senators skated in Boston on Sunday with head coach Guy Boucher saying "we'll see" on Borowiecki's status. Boston: The Bruins also know all about dealing with injuries. Boston is minus center David Krejci plus defensemen Torey Krug, Brandon Carlo and Colin Miller. Then, Boston absorbed another blow when blue-liner Adam McQuaid was hurt in Game 2. While all continue to be listed as day-to-day, there was some positive news on the injury front: Miller skated at Sunday's practice and has a shot to return while forward Noel Acciari is expected to be available and take his place on the fourth line alongside Dominic Moore and Riley Nash. "He was playing good hockey when he got hurt, so there's a good chance that he'll draw back into the lineup," head coach Bruce Cassidy said. The pick: The Senators should have a certain level of confidence in knowing that they have won on each of their past three visits to Boston, including two this season. However, since winning 3-2 in Boston back on March 21, the Senators have won just one of their last seven road games. Make Boston an 8* play. |
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04-17-17 | Pacers v. Cavs OVER 210 | Top | 111-117 | Win | 100 | 19 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers are up 1-0 in their series with the Pacers (East's No. 7 seed with a 42-40 record, including 13-28 on the road, the worst of any of this year's playoff qualifiers). However, the Cavs, just 10-14 since March 1, needed to withstand a late comeback by Indiana to earn a one-point win (109-108). Cleveland let a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter slip away and was a missed shot at the buzzer away from losing Game 1. However, All-Star PG Kyrie Irving does not feel the team is vulnerable. "Feel vulnerable? Hell no," Irving told reporters. "Not going into any game with the group that we have. I understand there's some mistakes that happen throughout the game, and the regular season didn't end the way we wanted it to, but like I said, it's just a step in the right direction. Game 1, just taking care of home floor and have to come out for Game 2 with an even higher focus and even better level of intensity, limit our mistakes, and we will be good." That's brave talk from a player who went 1-of-9 from three-point range in Game 1! Indiana: C.J. Miles missed a mid-range jumper at the buzzer in Saturday's loss but Indiana just confirmed its belief that it could hang with the defending champions. "We knew we could go toe-to-toe with them," Pacers All-Star forward Paul George told the media. "We challenged them the last time we were here. We knew we had a chance coming in to win a game here. It sucks that we're down 0-1, but it's encouraging." George (23.7 & 6.6) has led the Pacers all season and did so again in Game 1, scoring 29 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Stephenson signed as a free agent deal in late in March with Indiana and has been a solid reserve. However, he played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter and scored eight of his 16 points in that final period. He shot 8-of-13 in Game 1, his highest output since making his team debut on Apr. 2. Cleveland: LBJ let everyone know he's read for another run at the Finals (and another title?) on Saturday. He scored 32 points and handed out 13 assists in 43 minutes (also had six rebounds). However, Kyrie shot poorly (11 of 27 overall) and Kevin Love scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half and finished with just four rebounds. Also, Cleveland shot just 14 of 27 from the foul line and Kyle Korver, the league's top three-point shooter this season, made the only shot he took on Saturday and it wasn't even a three-pointer. The pick: I noted the following in playing the Over in Game 1..."The Cavs have work to do on defense, ranking 20th in scoring defense overall and just 29th since the All-Star break!" The Pacers scored 108 points on the Cavs in Game 1, making 49.4 percent, including 11 of 24 on threes. Meanwhile, the Cavs scored 109 points, despite making only 14 of 27 FTs. Second verse, same as the first, Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-16-17 | Thunder +7 v. Rockets | Top | 87-118 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 41 m | Show |
The set: The OKC Thunder against the Houston Rockets (Westbrook vs. Harden) is one of two excellent opening round series in the West. The Jazz and Clippers is the other and that one didn't disappoint Saturday night, with the Jazz edging the Clippers 97-95 on a game-winning buzzer beater! Westbrook and Harden are the two leading MVP candidates (Kawhi seems left out and I'm not sure why?) and for that reason alone, this has to be the first round's most appealing. The Thunder went 47-36 (No. 6 seed) and the Rockets had a 55-27 regular season mark, giving them the West's No. 3 seed but also note that Houston also owns a better record than any team in the East, as well Oklahoma City: Westbrook led the NBA in scoring (31.6), ranked third in assists (10.4) and was 10th in rebounding (10.7) to join Oscar Robertson (1961-62) as the lone players to average a triple-double over an entire season. He also had 42 triple-doubles during the season to break the Big O's single-season record of 41. OKC was 33-9 in his triple-double games but head coach Billy Donovan is well aware that OKC will need more than Westbrook to advance in the playoffs. There is no doubt that Oklahoma City is armed to the teeth with bigs in Steven Adams, Enes Kanter, Taj Gibson and Domantas Sabonis. Houston. The Rockets were just 41-41 last season with Harden and the unhappy Howard not meshing. With Howard gone to Atlanta, Harden made this "his team" and Houston won 14 more games this season. Harden finished second in scoring (29.1), led the NBA in assists (11.2) and averaged 8.1 rebounds during the regular season and he is eager to compete with the tenacious Westbrook. Houston set an NBA record with 1,181 three-point FGs, an average of 14.4 per game. Harden (262) led the way, while backup SG Eric Gordon (246) and forward Ryan Anderson (205) all over 200. SF Trevor Ariza (190), just missed that mark. The pick: Here's the rub. While the Rockets "fill the air" with three-point attempts, they finished just 15th in three-point percentage (35.7). The Thunder led the NBA in rebound percentage (53.4) but managed only a plus-1.8 rebounding margin against the Rocket, losing three of four. Obviously, OKC.was unable to overwhelm the Rockets with its advantage in size and bulk during the regular season. However, Houston was unable to stop Westbrook, who averaged 36.3 points, 9.3 assists and nine rebounds against Houston. Meanwhile, Harden experienced some struggles against OKC, averaging just 20.5 points on 34.3 percent shooting. Like with the Jazz/Clippers, the points could be YUGE. Make OKC a 10* play in Game 1. |
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04-16-17 | Penguins v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5 | Top | 5-4 | Win | 132 | 20 h 29 m | Show |
The Pittsburgh Penguins (defending champs) have opened a 2-0 series lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets, winning Games 1 and 2 in Pittsburgh, 3-1 and 4-1. The Penguins ranked first in goal scored (3.39) during the regular season, while Columbus wasn't too far behind at 2.96 GPG, to rank 6th. However, Columbus has scored just one goal in each of the first two games, with Pittsburgh's Fluery turning away 70 of 72 shots. Pittsburgh: The "HBK Line" was all the rage last spring as Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel catapulted Pittsburgh on its way to its fourth Stanley Cup title in franchise history. This time, it's the tentatively titled line of "Sid and the Kids" consisting of Crosby, rookie Jake Guentzel and second-year forward Conor Sheary that has captured the hearts of the Steel City following a six-point performance (two goals, four assists) and 10 shots on goal Friday. Crosby has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in his last 17 games overall. He's the 57th player in NHL history to reach 50 postseason goals and has 140 points in 126 playoff contests. Columbus: The Blue Jackets have not had much luck denting Fluery plus Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has seen his late-season swoon continue. He's now 0-5-0 with an .879 save percentage in April. It's a "must win" for Columbus in Game 3. The Blue Jackets beat the Penguins there twice here in Nationwide Arena during the regular season but they don't look like the the same team that won 16 consecutive games from Nov. 29th through Jan. 3rd, on the way to the fourth-best record in the NHL during the regular season. The pick: However, there seems to be no panic in the Blue Jackets. Captain Nick Foligno said, "I can say it was probably the weirdest ride home, only that we're down 2-0 and obviously not really enjoying the situation we're in, but the optimism in our room is incredible and how we feel about our game," talking to NHL.com. "That's a great team over there and I'm not discrediting what they're doing, but there's so much good we're doing that it's going to break for us eventually." Hard to argue with that. The Blue Jackets have attacked the Penguins in the offensive zone and often controlled play but their shots have just simply not found the back of the net. I expect that to change here on home ice but keeping Crosby and Co. off the scoreboard is another thing. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-16-17 | Diamondbacks v. Dodgers -180 | Top | 3-1 | Loss | -180 | 19 h 35 m | Show |
The set-up: The Arizona Diamondbacks were just 69-93 in 2016 (22 games behind the division-winning Dodgers) but opened this season 7-2. However, consecutive losses here in Dodger Stadium (7-1 on Friday and 8-4 on Saturday), gives the D'backs three straight losses overall and a record of 7-5. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have improved to 5-1 at home on the 2017 season and to 7-5 for the season (a half-game back of the first-place Rockies). The pitching matchup: Taijuan Walker (1-1 & 4.91 ERA) will get the nod for Arizona and Rich Hill (1-0 & 1.80 ERA) for the Dodgers. Walker allowed three runs (two earned) over five innings in Monday's 4-1 loss to San Francisco. He was acquired from Seattle in November but has struggled with his control early, as he has issued five walks in his first two starts over 11 innings. Walker took the loss in his only career start against the Dodgers on April 15, 2015, when he allowed five runs and walked four in four innings (11.25 ERA!). The Dodgers acquired Hill from the A's during last season and he will be activated from the 10-day disabled list to make this start, after missing one outing with a blister on his left middle finger. He spent six weeks on the DL with a blister after being acquired from Oakland in August. He was cleared to pitch following a strong throwing session on Friday. Hill struggled in his one outing versus Arizona last season and owns a 1-3 record and 5.01 ERA in six career starts against the Diamondbacks (teams are 1-5).The pick: After that quick start (6-1), Arizona has lost four of its last five games. Looking at the team's early schedule, its 6-1 start was greatly helped by all games being contested at Chase Field. Away from home, the D'backs are now 1-4, getting outscored 5.60-to-2.40 RPG. Conversely, the Dodgers are 5-1 at home, outscoring opponents 7.00-to-2.50 RPG. Let's not overthink. Make the Dodgers an 8* play. |
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