2014 NBA Playoffs Odds and Picks: Sunday’s Game 7 Predictions – Nets @ Raptors and Mavs @ Spurs

2014 NBA Playoffs Odds and Picks: Sunday’s Game 7 Predictions – Nets @ Raptors and Mavs @ Spurs: The Miami heat and Washington Wizards have been sitting at home for a while now, but just about every other team in the NBA playoffs has been locked in a tightly contested series. In fact, a record-tying five first-round series have gone to a Game 7, and if not for a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-point by Portland’s Damian Lillard, the Trail Blazers’ series with the Houston Rockets would have gone to seven games, as well. After a trio of Game 7s Saturday night, the first-round will come to a close Sunday with series-deciding games between the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors and between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. Here is a closer look at each of Sunday’s matchups.

Brooklyn Nets @ Toronto Raptors

This has been a back-and-forth series with both teams winning on the opponent’s home court, and with the exception of Brooklyn’s Game 6 victory, every game of the series has been close. The Raptors’ backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan has enjoyed an impressive series, and the two have combined to lead all players in scoring in five of the six games. In fact, the matchups on the perimeter have gone a long way to deciding the outcome of almost every game thus far. When Deron Williams and Joe Johnson have outperformed or at least held their own against Toronto’s guards, the Nets have won. When Williams and Johnson have struggled, Toronto has thrived.

Heading into a pivotal Game 7, it’s tough to ignore the decidedly different makeups of these two rosters. Toronto is a young team, and this playoff appearance is really the first postseason experience for a majority of the players. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is loaded with veterans, including battle-tested leaders like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Granted, the experience difference hasn’t played a huge role up to this point, but it was evident in Brooklyn’s comfortable Game 6 victory that the Nets were not bothered by the pressure that comes with an elimination game. Meanwhile the Raptors struggled to handle the atmosphere of a close-out game. Now, Toronto has to try to handle elimination game pressure, and even at home, I don’t see the young Raptors being able to match the poise of this veteran-laden Brooklyn team. I would take the Nets straight up, and the fact that they are getting points is icing on the cake.

Prediction: Brooklyn Nets (+3) Cover the Spread

Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs

This has been without a doubt the most surprising series so far in the 2014 NBA playoffs. After all, San Antonio had owned Dallas in recent years and was 4-0 against the Mavericks during the regular season. However, things have changed dramatically in this series, and after thumping the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 2 and getting a buzzer-beating 3-point from Vince Carter to win Game 3, the battle was on. Despite average play from Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks offense has given a solid San Antonio defense fits, and the Spurs have seen several large leads slip away. Monta Ellis has repeatedly gashed the Spurs’ perimeter defense, and role players like DeJuan Blair and Devin Harris have all had their moments.

Nearly every game in this series has been close, and for the most part, the games have been offensive battles. Since Dallas hasn’t been able to stop the San Antonio from scoring all year and the Spurs suddenly can’t contain the Mavericks’ offense either, I expect other back-and-forth, high-scoring affair in Game 7. Both these teams are loaded with veterans so I don’t see either side caving under the pressure. In the end, I like the Spurs to survive on their home court, but from a betting standpoint, I’m taking the Mavericks to hang within the spread.

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks (+6.5) Cover the Spread

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