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- Total Posts 17716
Five generally show the odd game, and I think I’ve seen it advertised on Setanta, but I’ve just invested in a ‘League Pass’ at NBA.com.
I think the online coverage of American sports is absolutely fantastic, and the amount of information made freely available is astounding.
- Total Posts 17716
I think that’s about as unlucky as unlucky gets.
Portland established a 15 point lead in the third quarter and looked set for a comfortable victory, but soon found themselves 8 points down and struggling. New York held a 6 point advantage with three minutes on the clock, but conceded a lay-up with less than four seconds of the game remaining when leading 108-107.
The handicap cover ensures a small profit on the night, but I can’t help but feel a tad deflated.
On the night:
Total stake:
3 points
Total return:
3.8 points
Profit:
0.8 points
Overall:
Recommended bets:
13
Winners:
8
Profit (to recommended stakes):
14.52 points
LSP:
£4.35
- Total Posts 17716
After the Knicks’ soul-destroying defeat at the buzzer on Sunday, retribution is sought. They face a trip to the Golden State Warriors tonight and again look to have been under-estimated by UK bookmakers.
The previous meeting between the pair resulted in the highest scoring (non-overtime) match in the league this year and both remain capable of hitting big numbers. New York have averaged 109.0 points in their last 11 games and can draw confidence from Andres Biedrins’s absence for the home side. The fact that they failed to hold on to a 13-point fourth quarter lead against Portland might give rise to some concern, but the Knicks did brilliantly to get themselves in that sort of position against a reliable home side.
Golden State have been in decent form at the ORACLE Arena (12-12) this season, but tight games against Indiana and Atlanta, and defeats to Oklahoma City and Sacramento, prove that they are beatable. They could struggle to contain an in-form New York offense, whose five-game statistics are massively skewed having faced off against the Lakers, Celtics and Cavaliers recently.
At around 8/5, they’re just far too big.
The only other game to really appeal tonight is Denver’s trip to Miami, where the visiting side look to atone for their annihilation at the hands of New Jersey last time. The Nuggets looked slow in every area against the Nets and it’s hard to believe a similar performance is on it’s way this evening.
Miami aren’t a free-flowing, high scoring team and they could struggle to contain a Nuggets offense which has averaged almost 9 points more (per game) across the season. When you consider that Miami also trail in both field goal percentages and rebounds (per game), they look to have it all to do.
Anything around 5/6 about Denver is worth taking.
NEW YORK KNICKS vs Golden State Warriors @ 8/5
DENVER NUGGETS vs Miami Heat @ 5/6 (3 points)- Total Posts 17716
New York, it would seem, just can’t get things right and are now the proud owners of the record for the most points conceded in one game this season. To their credit they scored 127 themselves, enhancing their average of the last 11 games, but their defensive effort was weak to say the least. Surprisingly so in fact, and a concerted effort of any kind would have seen them go close to beating the Warriors.
They face a hot San Antonio Spurs next week, which should make for interesting viewing.
Despite that disappointment, Denver recovered from their mauling at the hands of New Jersey to run out 99-82 winners in Miami. The Heat again showed that heavy scoring isn’t their forte and a resilient fourth quarter from the Nuggest saw them re-extend their lead.
On the night:
Total stake:
4 points
Total return:
5.5 points
Profit:
1.5 points
Overall:
Recommended bets:
15
Winners:
9
Profit (to recommended stakes):
16.02 points
LSP:
£4.18
- Total Posts 17716
Tonight’s fixtures generally have a very one-sided look to them, but there are two matches that stand out as potential betting propositions.
The first sees the Lakers travel to Utah, where they face a Jazz side with a home record of 20-6. At first glance such a statistic might have you racing to take the 10/11 about Utah, but the Lakers have beaten both Boston and Cleveland on the road in the last seven days and, despite struggling to overcome Oakland City yesterday evening, they couldn’t be in better shape. Kobe Bryant looks to be in full flow and support is being offered by Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and the improving Andrew Bynum.
The real worry I have about the Lakers is their tendency to drop points against lower class opposition – a category the Jazz certainly don’t fall into – and their 600 mile trip from Los Angeles to Utah. On balance I just fancy them to nick it, but common sense says that it’s a game to watch rather than invest in.
Still, 10/11 about the Lakers is tempting.
The second game again involves the Knicks. After a high-scoring game against Golden State last night, they travel 350 miles along the Californian coast to visit the Clippers. The home side’s form remains indifferent at best and whilst I’m sure they’ll take heart in the five game losing streak New York currently find themselves on, it’s difficult to envisage them having the firepower to cope with an otherwise rampant Knicks offense.
New York outrank the Clippers in every area and boast an on the road record of 7-18, compared to LA’s home record of 5-20. Across their last 12 games they have averaged over 110.0 points, a scoring run which would ordinarily have seen them destroying most teams in the league. Fatigue has to be a worry, especially given how poorly they (Knicks) defended against the Warriors, but everything points to an end to the losing sequence tonight.
The 7/4 is ludicrous, in spite of any doubts about the team’s physical condition.
NEW YORK KNICKS vs L A Clippers @ 7/4 (2 points)
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Thankfully I avoided backing a losing Lakers side, but I didn’t manage to distance myself from another agonising Knicks defeat. New York led, albeit by one point, going in to the fourth quarter but were unable to sustain their effort in going down 18-14 in overtime.
On the night:
Total stake:
2 points
Total return:
0 points
Profit:
-2 points
Overall:
Recommended bets:
16
Winners:
9
Profit (to recommended stakes):
14.02 points
LSP:
£3.18
- Total Posts 17716
Basketball betting can be a minefield, with any team capable of worrying the very best in each division on their day. Both the Celtics and the Lakers dominated last season’s competition and proceeded to take part in one of the most enthralling championship series you’re ever likely to see.
The pair are again suitably high in the outright market, though have shown signs that they may not be as ‘all powerful’ as they first appeared. Boston have only recently recovered from a four game losing streak which saw them fall to third in the Eastern Conference, and LA have dropped arguably clumsy points at home. Cleveland have a perfect home record for the season and have seen their odds of outright success cut to 5/1, but they’re essentially a one-man outfit. I wouldn’t be confident that LeBron James can maintain his level of form sufficiently well to carry the team to NBA glory.
The team that continues to impress is Orlando, who moved up to second (ahead of Boston) in the Eastern Conference yesterday after a demolition of Sacramento. Only they and Cleveland have percentages to match those of Boston and LA, and why they are currently priced at 20/1 is beyond me. They don’t have standout scorers of the likes of James, Pierce, Bryant or Wade, but are capable of performances inclusive of all their players. Progression to the playoffs looks certain (although it is some way off at the moment).
Orlando Magic outright @ 20/1 (3 points)
Boston Celtics outright @ 11/4 (1 point saver)
Orlando made their way to a Championship showdown with the L A Lakers yesterday evening, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-90 on the night and 4-2 (in the series) overall.
Each-way support has already been suitably rewarded, but with the Magic now a best-price 5/2 to topple their West Coast rivals any win-only money can be (sensibly) laid off.
I couldn’t resist having a cheeky, if not foolish £5 @10-1 on L.A. to win by 17-20 points. Come on you yellows…and the big slam dunkin’ fella.
Who is the guy with shoulders you could land a plane on and a pea for a head? He’d be the heavyweight champion of the world after a few weeks with Freddie Roach! He must have the reach of a full three meters for christ’s sake!
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He’s a freak of nature, OTS, plain and simple.
He won last year’s All Star Slam Dunk competition and, with a wide array of ridiculously impressive shots in his arsenal, he was widely expected to retain his ‘title’ in 2009. Nate Robinson, however, had different ideas, and stole the crown by jumping over Howard to land the winning shot – Robinson is 5′ 9", jumped from the floor over an upright Howard…who stands at 6′ 11".
Unbelievable stuff.
Orlando, unfortunately, looked to struggle against a Bryant-inspired Lakers side yesterday evening, perhaps feeling the effects of a well-contested series against Cleveland. They did win in Los Angeles during the regular season though, so redemption may not be far away.
He’s a freak of nature, OTS, plain and simple.
He won last year’s All Star Slam Dunk competition and, with a wide array of ridiculously impressive shots in his arsenal, he was widely expected to retain his ‘title’ in 2009. Nate Robinson, however, had different ideas, and stole the crown by jumping over Howard to land the winning shot – Robinson is 5′ 9", jumped from the floor over an upright Howard…who stands at 6′ 11".
Unbelievable stuff.
Orlando, unfortunately, looked to struggle against a Bryant-inspired Lakers side yesterday evening, perhaps feeling the effects of a well-contested series against Cleveland. They did win in Los Angeles during the regular season though, so redemption may not be far away.
I saw that slam dunk competition! I remember one of the guys using a miniature ball as well as a real one and dunked them both!! You’re right – Howard is a freak – there’s no doubt about it. Imagine how far he could throw the ball as a quarter back with shoulders like that?
If Orlando had hit the three pointer with 30 seconds to go I may well have collected, but there you go, and 10-1 was tight odds really in hindsight. Orlando’s shooting was too bad to be true on the night and I’m sure there’s more to come; their odds will be tasty next time too.
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