2011 NBA Playoffs Picks Wednesday Night – Hornets at Lakers and Grizzlies at Spurs Free Picks, Odd and Preview: Entering the 2011 NBA playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers were the top two seeds in the Western Conference. However, both teams dropped their opening games of the respective series. Despite already giving up home court advantage, the Lakers and Spurs are both being considered prohibitive favorites by the oddsmakers. Bettors need to capitalize on a golden opportunity to make some money in both of these matchups.
GAME 2 PREVIEW: Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs 8:35 PM EST on NBA TV
Thanks to a disastrous fourth quarter the top-seed Spurs saw the Memphis Grizzlies come from behind to top them in their series opener. Despite being a No. 1 versus No. 8 matchup, the Memphis win wasn’t all that surprising. After all, the Grizzlies and Spurs split four games during the regular season, and the young athletic Grizzlies actually tanked a few games at the end of the year to face San Antonio in the opening round. Despite the confidence of the Grizzlies and their win in the opener, the oddsmakers are giving them 8 ½ points for game No. 2.
The first game of the series exposed exactly why Memphis wanted the Spurs as their opponent. The Grizzlies utilized their speed to push the tempo throughout the game, and it was no coincidence that the Spurs seemed sluggish in the final quarter. San Antonio’s answer when it comes to energy is Manu Ginobili, but he may be out once again nursing an elbow injury. Not to mention the fact that Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol abused Tim Duncan and company in the paint.
The Spurs desperately need to win Wednesday’s game in order to keep their title hopes alive, but that doesn’t mean they are going to suddenly blow out a team that just knocked them off in the opener. Picking the Grizzlies to win straight up would be a reasonable bet, and picking them with 8 ½ points(check latest NBA Odds at SBG Global Sportsbook) to work with is the type of spread bettors dream of. The Spurs may still end up winning the series, but there aren’t going to be any easy wins along the way.
Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies (+8 ½) Cover the Spread
| GAME 2 Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs Date: 4/20/2011 Time: 8:35 PM EST Televison: NBA TV 2011 NBA 1st Round Playoffs Series: Grizzlies Lead Series 1-0 Vegas Odds – Favorite: San Antonio -8.5(pointspread) Total: Over/Under 196 |
GAME 2 PREVIEW: New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers 10:35 PM EST on TNT
The Lakers can sympathize with the Spurs after the two-time defending champs lost their opening game against the New Orleans Hornets. Not only did the Lakers lose, they lost rather convincingly. The knock on Los Angeles all season has been the team’s inability to stay focused and to give maximum effort each and every game, and that was exactly the problem in Game 1. The Hornets are an inferior team, but the Lakers have been playing down to their opponents all season. Despite the well-known flaw, the oddsmakers have made the Lakers 11 ½ point favorites in Game 2.
In terms of matchups, the Hornets have only one advantage, but they exploited it. Point guard Chris Paul abused Derek Fisher, scoring at will and getting his teammates easy buckets throughout the game. The Hornets don’t really have any other stars, but with Paul serving up layups and open jumpers, it is easy for anyone on the court to look good.
While Paul poses a definite threat to Los Angeles, the Lakers have the edge at every other position. On paper, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are better than anyone that New Orleans can run out there. However, it is effort not talent that has been getting the team in trouble all year. The fact of the matter is that almost every player on the Lakers team has won a title, and the desire just isn’t the same. The effort should improve when their backs are truly against the wall, but even after the loss in Game 1, it isn’t desperation time yet.
The defeat should be enough to get the attention of the Lakers, but expecting maximum effort out of this team against a Hornets team they know they are better than just isn’t going to happen. Los Angeles can without question win Game 2, but burying the Hornets by more than 11 ½ points(check latest NBA Odds at BetUS Sportsbook) after the lackluster showing in the series opener is a reach at best. The current spread is huge for a playoff game, even a No. 2 versus No. 7 matchup. Bettors should take the ample amount of points being given in this one.
Prediction: New Orleans Hornets (+11 ½) Cover the Spread
| GAME 2 New Orleans Hornets @ Los Angeles Lakers Date: 4/20/2011 Time: 10:35 PM EST Televison: TNT 2011 NBA 1st Round Playoffs Series: Hornets Lead Series 1-0 Vegas Odds – Favorite: LA Lakers -11.5(pointspread) Total: Over/Under 188 |
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