May 8-10: NBA and NHL playoffs
Favorites have been red-hot in the NBA playoffs, winning (and covering) 7 of the first 8 games since the conference semifinals started last Saturday and 9 of 10 games overall with Utah and Boston closing out their first-round series with point-spread covers.
So, it's a good thing that I haven't been posting plays here as I certainly would have been taking it on the chin (though I did give out the lone covering dog -- the Cavaliers -- in the ViewFromVegas Forums on Tuesday . . . in the interest of full disclosure, I also had a loss with the Jazz in Game 2 on Wednesday, so I'm certainly not claiming any profits with those unofficial plays).
Anyway, I feel it's time to jump in with the underdogs and certainly wanted to go on the record here.
THURSDAY
Cavaliers +8.5 vs. Celtics: We're not getting the juicy +10 we saw in Game 1 (partly because the Cavs covered and a small tip of the oddsmakers' cap to the old zig-zag theory), but I'll take the points here. As of this writing on Thursday morning, the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas and the Leroy's chain of books had the Cavs +9. I certainly know the Celtics won 76-72 on Tuesday night despite Paul Pierce and Ray Allen going a combined 2-for-18 from the field, but LeBron James was also 2-for-18 and the Cavs were right there. I'm more confident in King James bouncing back than both Pierce and Allen returning to form. There are other factors as well . . . I think the Cavs' run to the finals last year has them well-prepared for these playoffs, plus the Celtics certainly can run hot and cold as we saw in the series with Atlanta.
FRIDAY
Lakers +4 vs. Jazz: The Lakers won and covered both games at home and now travel to Utah, where the Jazz were 37-4 on the season. Things will be tougher for the Lakers, but you have to be impressed with how this team has come together around Kobe. Everyone contributes -- on both ends of the floor -- and I have to throw in that I think that's largely attributed to coach Phil Jackson. Yes, I'm a born-and-bred Bulls fans, so I'm a little biased with Da Coach II, but he gets results, and I'm not betting against the Lakers again until they lose a game.
NHL
I'm still gun-shy about betting the Stanley Cup playoffs, especially against the Flyers who have burned me multiple times. So, I'm laying off the start of Philly's series with Pittsburgh until the Penguins go on the road. However, I am going to take the Dallas Stars in Detroit, starting Thursday night at +180. If the Stars win, I'll pocket my profits and not bet Game 2. If the Red Wings take the opener, I'll wheel back with the Stars on Saturday as a split will still show a tidy profit.
So, it's a good thing that I haven't been posting plays here as I certainly would have been taking it on the chin (though I did give out the lone covering dog -- the Cavaliers -- in the ViewFromVegas Forums on Tuesday . . . in the interest of full disclosure, I also had a loss with the Jazz in Game 2 on Wednesday, so I'm certainly not claiming any profits with those unofficial plays).
Anyway, I feel it's time to jump in with the underdogs and certainly wanted to go on the record here.
THURSDAY
Cavaliers +8.5 vs. Celtics: We're not getting the juicy +10 we saw in Game 1 (partly because the Cavs covered and a small tip of the oddsmakers' cap to the old zig-zag theory), but I'll take the points here. As of this writing on Thursday morning, the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas and the Leroy's chain of books had the Cavs +9. I certainly know the Celtics won 76-72 on Tuesday night despite Paul Pierce and Ray Allen going a combined 2-for-18 from the field, but LeBron James was also 2-for-18 and the Cavs were right there. I'm more confident in King James bouncing back than both Pierce and Allen returning to form. There are other factors as well . . . I think the Cavs' run to the finals last year has them well-prepared for these playoffs, plus the Celtics certainly can run hot and cold as we saw in the series with Atlanta.
FRIDAY
Lakers +4 vs. Jazz: The Lakers won and covered both games at home and now travel to Utah, where the Jazz were 37-4 on the season. Things will be tougher for the Lakers, but you have to be impressed with how this team has come together around Kobe. Everyone contributes -- on both ends of the floor -- and I have to throw in that I think that's largely attributed to coach Phil Jackson. Yes, I'm a born-and-bred Bulls fans, so I'm a little biased with Da Coach II, but he gets results, and I'm not betting against the Lakers again until they lose a game.
NHL
I'm still gun-shy about betting the Stanley Cup playoffs, especially against the Flyers who have burned me multiple times. So, I'm laying off the start of Philly's series with Pittsburgh until the Penguins go on the road. However, I am going to take the Dallas Stars in Detroit, starting Thursday night at +180. If the Stars win, I'll pocket my profits and not bet Game 2. If the Red Wings take the opener, I'll wheel back with the Stars on Saturday as a split will still show a tidy profit.
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