NBA Online Picks - Upstart Teams Try To Keep The Pressure On In The NBA Playoffs
Sports betting fans are wondering if the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are lining themselves up to be swept in the semifinals round of the NBA playoffs. Just as the 2011 Kentucky Derby betting got a little more complicated with Uncle Mo dropping out of the race, so has the sportsbook promo odds on the NBA playoffs changed with the misfortunes of the top teams.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder – Game 4
Monday, May 9, 2011 – 9:30 pm EST
The Grizzlies have been right with the Thunder this entire series. Memphis lost game two by only nine points, and the Grizzlies still managed to put down over 100 points for the game. The defense for both teams has been non-existent, but the Thunder have the players to start clamping down on the Grizzlies if they choose to. In game four, look for the Thunder to start playing defense. The Grizzlies have had unlimited access to inside the paint under the Thunders’ basket for the entire series. Oklahoma City will start boxing out the Grizzlies and slowly start to take control of the series. It may be very difficult for the Grizzlies to score more than 100 points a game from here on out.Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics – Game 4
Monday, May 9, 2011 – 7:00 pm EST
This series still looks like the punk kids teasing the old men. The Heat came into the playoffs with a lot to prove, but you could never tell by looking at them that there was any pressure on them. Lebron James is as defiant as he ever was, and Dwayne Wade just looks confident. This will be the second game in a row where Shaquille O’Neal will be back for Boston. But he is unlikely to be a difference in this contest either. The Celtics lost this series at the trade deadline when they sent all of their youth to other cities. Now that the Heat is sufficiently under the skin of the Celtics, this could be the game that decides this series.Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls – Game 5
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 – 8:00 pm EST
The Chicago Bulls learned a lot in game two of this series. They learned that they cannot play the Atlanta Hawks toe-to-toe in a scoring battle because the Hawks’ shooters are just too accurate. In game two, the Bulls learned that they can shut those Atlanta shooters down and play a defensive style to win this series. Derrick Rose may be hobbled with a bad ankle, but he can still cover underneath. The Bulls do an excellent job of forcing the Hawks to shoot from the outside, and that can wind up being the difference in the series.Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers – Game 5
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 – 10:30 pm ESTIf this series gets to a fifth game, then it will just be the Lakers prolonging the inevitable. Is it any surprise that Ron Artest got suspended for game three? The Lakers’ universe revolves around Kobe Bryant. When you shut down Kobe, you shut down the Lakers. But more than that, the Dallas bench is outplaying the Lakers’ bench by a 2 to 1 margin in points. That will be the biggest difference in this series.
