NBA Championship Betting: Celtics vs. Lakers

With a tip of the hat to Yogi Berra, it’s “deja vu all over again” as the 2010 NBA Championship is set to tip off.

Just as they did two seasons ago, the storied Boston Celtics and LA Lakers will represent their respective conferences in this year’s NBA Final. LA is looking serve a cold dish of revenge, as they were dumped 4-2 in that 2008 Final.

This time around, online sportsbooks have the Lakers as the series favorites, listed at -175 while the Celtics are +155 underdogs.

So where’s the money going and is there any good value in betting on the series.

Let’s look at some the NBA Betting numbers of note for this matchup:

Boston has been a healthy play for the sports betting public the last few weeks, posting a 7-2 mark against the spread in their last nine starts.
They’ve also been covering at an impressive clip on home court, going 7-2 ATS the last nine times they’ve played in front of the hometown faithful.

Over/Under bettors might want to jot down that in the Celtics last 11 games overall, they have recorded 3 Overs, 7 Unders and 1 Push.

As for the Lakers, they are 10-2 SU in their last 12 overall, but for bettors, keep in mind they have not paid off very well at the STAPLES Center in their last 20 games, only going 7-12-1 ATS (but they are 17-3 straight up in those 20 starts).

The Celtics owned the Lakers the last time they met in the finals, going 4-2 SU but they were even more dominant when it came to against the spread numbers as Boston covered in every single game of that 2008 championship (6-0 ATS).

Celtics’ Injuries:
Despite the few days off that both teams have enjoyed prior to the start of the championship series, both teams are less than 100 percent.

Most notable amongst the banged up Celtics is starting point guard Rajon Rondo.

Rondo is suffering from muscle spasms in his back but he expects to be ready for opening tip-off on Thursday.

“I'm about 67 percent today,” quipped Rondo to ESPN.

“I won't be 100 percent by Thursday, but I'll be like 94.7.”

While Rondo says he will be somewhere close to 100 percent for the opener, the same probably can’t be said of Lakers center Andrew Bynum.

Lakers’ Injuries:
Bynum has been playing for a bulk of the postseason with slightly torn meniscus in his right knee and had the problem area drained on Tuesday according to reports.

Bynum will have to undergo offseason surgery and despite having the area drained, he told ESPN that it doesn’t feel any better.

“I think I just need to fight through it until we get the surgery done,” he said.

“This is the last hurrah; this is the last show, so I'm ready to give everything.”

Going into Game 1, SPORTSBETTING.com has the Lakers as a 5.5-point home favorite and the Total is set at 192.

In Boston’s last nine games when listed as an underdog of 6-points or less, there have been 6 Overs and 3 Unders.

The Lakers are only 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 when favored by 6-points or less.

Early betting action has been pretty even, with 57% of the volume coming in on the Lakers.

I’ve made a small series wager on the Lakers at -175, as I think with the additions, the commitment to being tougher defensively (something that caused them issues in the 2008 loss) and a nicked up Celtic roster gives a nice edge to the Lakers.

Look for them to get some revenge and hoist the Championship trophy.

Enjoy the NBA Betting championship series.

Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Trends and Odds

Three teams are sitting pretty, waiting for the next round, while friends of Cleveland Cavalier fans are keeping them away from sharp objects and rooftops. And many bettors can relate, as online sportsbooks and Vegas shops alike, took in a lot of betting action on King James and the Cavs to not only win this series, but win the Eastern Conference and the Championship.
So while the Phoenix Suns prepare to battle the LA Lakers in the Western Conference final (after sweeping their respective semifinal series), the Orlando Magic (who also swept their series) are waiting to see who comes out of the Cavs-Celtics series.

Boston currently holds a 3-2 series lead — the Celtics took Game 5 by a final of 120-88, winning straight up as a +7.5 underdog.

The sports betting public took a hit in that game, as online sportsbooks reported heavy action coming in on the Cavs.

While LeBron James has been playing with an injured elbow, he says that’s not the reason for the Game 5 ass-kicking.

“I missed a lot of open shots that I normally make,” he told the Associated Press after the loss.

“You don’t see that out of me a lot so when it happens, it’s a big surprise.”

Game 6 will go in Beantown on Thursday and many are wondering aloud if they’ve seen the last of James in a Cleveland jersey.

Bettors take note: the Cavaliers have not been kind in their last 20 games overall, going a money-sucking 6-14 against the spread…and in their last eight road games, they are only 2-6 straight up. Cleveland is only 2-10 SU in their last 12 games in Boston.

Looking at betting the Total in this one? Here’s a quick trend worth noting. In the Cavs’ last nine games overall vs. Boston Celtics, there have been 7 Overs and only 2 Unders.

Obviously the Celtics want to end the series on Thursday and get ready for their date in the Eastern Conference final, and possibly another NBA championship.

“We cannot come back [to Cleveland],” said Kevin Garnett after Game 5.

“We have to think this is our Game 7 coming up and we cannot afford to have the best team in the league have a Game 7 on their floor. Just not possible.”

In their last 10 games overall, the Celtics are 7-3 SU and ATS.

This should be one of the best games of the 2010 NBA playoffs…you can check all the updated NBA Odds.

Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic Odd and Preview

The NBA match between Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic will kick off on May 6, 2010 at 8:00 PM ET. The venue for this match is Amway Arena, Orlando, FL.

Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson woke up Wednesday and watched a movie.

It was a horror film with a predictable plot, a super villain and plenty of heart-wrenching moments. Hawks were ripped apart in nearly every scene before the painful-to-watch finish.

Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson woke up Wednesday and watched a movie.

It was a horror film with a predictable plot, a super villain and plenty of heart-wrenching moments. Hawks were ripped apart in nearly every scene before the painful-to-watch finish.

The Magic led by as many as 46 points in the fourth, even with Howard and the rest of their starters on the bench. It was the largest margin of defeat in the playoffs since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1968, and the second-largest playoff victory in the Magic's history.

Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic Schedule

Match: Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic

Time: 8:00 PM ET

Date: May 6, 2010

Venue: Amway Arena, Orlando, FL

You can check all the updated NBA Odds.

NBA Playoff Picks 2010 NBA Odds and Predictions

Everything seems to be back to normal in La-La Land, at least for the time being.

While many were beginning to jump off the Los Angeles Lakers’ bandwagon prior to Tuesday’s Game 5, Kobe Bryant didn’t seem concerned about blowing a 2-0 series lead to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“Who said our backs are against the wall?” Bryant asked when questioned by the Los Angeles Times before Game 5.

“It’s a 2-2 series. What the hell is going on around here?”

Although the momentum seemed to be swinging in the Thunder’s direction, the Lakers showed the new kids on the playoff block who was in charge.

While Kobe did have a solid game, he had modest point totals, going 4 of 9 from the field for 13 points but his teammates were there to contribute as well.

Power forward Pau Gasol led the Lake Show with 25 points, center Andrew Bynum was close behind with 21 and the Lakers came away with a 111-87 win, covering as 6-point home favorites.

The momentum seems to have swung again but who will be the victor when the two meet in Oklahoma City on Friday?

Online sportsbooks have the Lakers as 1.5-point road ‘dogs with the Total is set at 195.

Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Trends:

The Lakers are a study of opposites in their last nine overall games against the Thunder, going 6-3 straight up but going 3-6 against the spread at the same time.

In the Lakers’ last nine road games, they aren’t impressive either way, going 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS and six of their last eight road games have gone Over while two have gone Under the Total.

In the Purple and Gold’s last 20 games when listed as an underdog of 2-points or less, they are 14-6 both SU and ATS.

SPORTSBETTING.com’s manager, Brian Taylor, said the betting action in Game 5 favored the Lakers about 60-40, but so far the early action on Game 6 is tilted to the home team Thunder, with 63% of all the volume on the small favorite.

Dallas vs. San Antonio

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban hasn’t been shy when expressing his hatred for the San Antonio Spurs and he must’ve been fuming prior to Game 5 of the series.

The Mavs were down 3-1 in the series but managed to stay alive with a 103-81 victory on Tuesday night — covering as 5-point home faves.

The Dallas Mavericks could take the series the distance with a win Thursday in San Antone; the Spurs are 3.5-point faves for that game and the Over/Under is at 191.

In the Mavericks’ last 14 games on the road, they are 10-4 SU and 10-3-1 ATS.

The Spurs are only 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 games when hosting the Dallas Mavericks.

The Spurs are also 10-2 SU and 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 home games.

Enjoy all the b-ball playoff action and check out NBA Odds

2010 NBA Playoff Picks and Odds – NBA Playoff Predictions

Friday night serves up three more big NBA matchups, including the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.

Prior to Game 2, Mavs owner Mark Cuban talked about the hate he felt towards his team’s first-round opponent.

"I have a hard time being civil to [Spurs owner] Peter Holt at the board of governors meetings and he has a hard time being civil to me even though we both like each other," Cuban is quoted as saying by ESPN.

"We can both be 0-80 and if those last two games are Spurs-Mavericks, it's going to be like a playoff game because we dislike each other that much."

The Spurs responded by blowing out the Mavs 102-88 in Game 2, covering as 3.5-point underdogs.

Now tied at 1-1 going into Game 3, online sportsbooks have the Spurs as 3-point road ‘dogs with the Total at 193.5.

In their last 16 games in San Antonio, the Dallas Mavericks are a very impressive 12-4 against the spread.

The Mavs have also been kind to bettors in their last 12 road games, with records of 10-2 SU and ATS.

The Spurs, for their part, are 12-3 SU and 11-4 ATS in their last 15 home games.

Looking at the Over/Under numbers of note, San Antonio has produced 7 Overs and only 1 Under in their last eight home games.

Sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com is reporting early action coming in on the underdog Mavericks, with 63% of all the betting volume in this one so far tilted to the visitor.

Two big matches  Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics. Enjoy all the action.

Check the updated NBA Odds

Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers Live Stream – NBA Predictions

Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers Live Stream @ Sportsbook: The match-up between Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers will kick off on April 02, 2010 at 7 pm.  The countdown to the playoffs is on and with just 7 games remaining on the Heat's schedule, tonight's game in Indiana could end up being their most difficult.

The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers both enter April playing their best basketball of the season.

While the Heat will try to carry their strong play deep into the playoffs, the Pacers' sudden surge is too little, too late.

Miami looks to extend its season-high winning streak to seven and move closer to a postseason berth Friday night when it visits an already-eliminated Indiana team seeking its seventh victory in eight games.

Despite trailing 8th place Toronto by 9½ games, the Pacers are playing some very good basketball of late.  They have won 6 of their last 7 games against mostly poor teams, but they do have wins over Utah and Charlotte in the last couple weeks.

The Miami Heat are slight 50.2 percent favorites over the Indiana Pacers. The Heat are shooting 44.1 percent from the field and the Pacers are forecasted to shoot 42 percent. The Heat have the rebounding advantage at 46.5 to 41.3. Turnovers are pretty even with the Heat projected for 13.3 turnovers vs. 12.6 for the Pacers. The Heat are making 4.8 three pointers on 34.4 percent from three point range. The Pacers are making 8.1 three pointers on 36.7 percent.

Watch Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers Live Stream @ Sportsbook Online

Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards NBA Live Streaming & Preview

Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards Live Streaming @ Sportsbook: The match-up between Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards will kick off on April 02, 2010 at Verizon Center Stadium, USA.

The Chicago Bulls have taken advantage of a lighter stretch in their schedule to stay alive for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Confidence.

Eastern Conference rivals that are trying to make some headway towards the future duke it out at the Verizon Center on Monday night. That's where the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls will engage in a battle.

Before the slate becomes more challenging, the Bulls on Friday night visit the last-place Washington Wizards, who look to record back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-February.

Chicago (35-39) is two games behind Toronto for the final postseason berth. The Raptors, who are idle Friday, own the tiebreaker and will host the Bulls on April 11.         

Following a 10-game losing streak, the Bulls have won four of their last six to stay close to Toronto in the standings. The victories all came against teams with records at or below .500.

However, Chicago has split two games against Washington (22-52) this season with each team victorious at home. The Bulls are looking to avoid another setback in the nation's capital especially since this is one of two remaining games against opponents with losing records.

Chicago has had to contend with injuries recently, although that situation seems to be getting better. Joakim Noah continues to improve after being limited over the last month because of plantar fasciitis, and Luol Deng - out the last 11 games with a calf strain - is expected to return either Friday or Saturday against Charlotte, according to the Bulls' official Web site.

Chicago is also optimistic that Kirk Hinrich, who sat out the second half of the Bulls' 111-105 loss to Phoenix on Tuesday with a sprained ankle, will be available to face Washington.

Derrick Rose and Flip Murray each scored 23 points in the loss as Chicago gave up 14 3-pointers.

Watch Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards Live Streaming @ Sportsbook Online