Announcement

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:51 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Sunday's Early Tips
By Chris David

Detroit at Cleveland (ABC, 3:05 p.m. ET)

The Cavaliers have been installed as the prohibitive favorites to win the Eastern Conference and not many pundits expect the Pistons to give them much of a fight in the first round either. Cleveland is listed as high as a minus-2500 favorite (Bet $100 to win $4) while Detroit is an 11/1 underdog to capture the series.

Cleveland opened as a 10-point home favorite in Game 1 and that number has jumped to 10 ½ at most betting shops as of Saturday evening. The opening total of 201 has been holding steady.

2015-16 Regular Season (Pistons 3-1)
Nov. 17 Cavaliers at Pistons (+4.5) 104-99 Over (195.5)
Jan. 29 Cavaliers (-4) at Pistons 114-106 Over (207.5)
Feb. 22 Cavaliers vs. Pistons (+9) 96-88 Under (207.5)
Apr. 13 Cavaliers vs. Pistons (+4) 112-110 Over (194)

During the regular season, the Pistons took three of four matchups but you can toss out last Wednesday’s results since both clubs rested their regulars.

In the first three meetings, Detroit’s best effort came in mid-February as it stifled Cleveland for a 96-88 victory. In the first two meetings, the Pistons couldn’t do anything to slow down the Cavaliers and they were fortunate to rally past them in the fourth quarter. They also outscored them late in January’s setback but make no mistake that Cleveland controlled that game from start to finish.

Fast forward to this Sunday and I believe the Pistons only shot to be competitive in this series is by trying to control the pace and make every game ugly. Fortunately for them, the club acquired some athletic big men at the trade deadline in Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris. These guys aren’t slouches and their size combined with center Andre Drummond should muck up the middle for Cleveland.

On the road, Detroit went 7-6 both straight up and against the spread while the ‘under’ produced a 9-4 record in those games. Beating Cleveland at Quickens Loan Arena (33-8 SU, 20-21 ATS) won’t be an easy task, but staying within the number is a completely different story.

Cleveland has been listed as a double-digit favorite 20 times this season and the club has gone 18-2 with both losses coming at home. More importantly, the club has only managed to go 7-12-1 against the spread (35%) in these games. While that could have you leaning to Detroit and the points, be aware that the Pistons have gone 0-6 SU and 2-4 ATS when catching 10-plus points this season. The ‘under’ went 5-1 in those games.

If there is an edge in this series for Detroit, it’s coaching and Stan Van Gundy. The veteran owns a 48-39 record in the playoffs and he’s facing Tyronn Lue, who’s never been in this role. A lot of pundits believe coaching doesn’t matter in the NBA and that argument was certainly solidified last summer when a pair of rookie coaches (Steve Kerr, David Blatt) met in the finals. For our purposes, make a note that Van Gundy has never been swept in a playoff series. One more tidbit for you – the Cavaliers were 27-14 under Lue this season and 30-11 under the aforementioned Blatt.

Albeit short, the three-day break could benefit Cleveland more in this spot. The Cavs went 4-1 both SU and ATS during the season when playing on at least three days rest or more and they blasted teams by an average of 14 points per game. Total bettors should note that the ‘under’ was a perfect 5-0 in those games. Detroit was 2-3 both SU and ATS in similar circumstances while the ‘under’ was 4-1.

I'm hesitant to back teams that don’t have a lot of scoring depth and that sums up Detroit but based on the expected style and total trends above, I’m leaning to the low side in Game 1.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday from Quicken Loans Arena.

Charlotte at Miami (TNT, 5:35 p.m. ET)

This matchup is as close as it gets with the Heat and Hornets entering the postseason with identical 48-34 records. The clubs met four times in the regular season and they split the series with each team winning once on the other’s homecourt.

2015-16 Regular Season (2-2)
Oct. 28 Heat (-6.5) vs. Hornets 104-94 Over (194)
Dec. 9 Heat at Hornets (+1) 99-81 Under (192)
Feb. 5 Heat (+4) at Hornets 98-95 Under (194.5)
Mar. 17 Heat vs. Hornets (+4.5) 109-106 Over (208)

The Heat are listed as minus-150 favorites (Bet $100 to win $67) to win the series, which is the shortest price of all eight opening round matchups. The takeback on Charlotte is plus-130 (Bet $100 to win $130).

If a big part of your handicapping depends on playoff history, Miami has had much more success as a franchise than Charlotte. Head coach Erik Spoelstra owns a 63-36 record in the postseason but there is a huge asterisk with that mark. He’s 4-8 without LeBron James and that includes a pair of first round exits.

Meanwhile, Charlotte hasn’t won a playoff series since 2002 and it’s been swept out of the postseason in their most recent trips. The club lost four straight to the Magic in 2010 and were dusted by the Heat in the 2014 playoffs. Current coach Steve Clifford has never won a NBA playoff game.

For the opener on Sunday, Miami has been installed as a 4 ½-point home favorite and it’s been good in this role. As a home favorite of five points or less, the Heat have gone 12-6 SU and 10-7-1 ATS this season. Within the same spread range (1-5 points), Charlotte is 6-7 SU and 8-5 ATS as a road underdog.

Inside the numbers, Miami has an edge in field goal percentage (47% to 43.9%) but Charlotte is much more efficient from 3-point land (36.2% to 33.6%) and the free throw stripe (79% to 74.4%).

Defensively, Miami is ranked fifth in the NBA with 98.4 points per game allowed and Charlotte (100.7 PPG) is not far behind. With that being said, the total for Game 1 opened at 202 ½ and has dropped down to 200 at most betting shops and I’d expect it to get lower.

The time off isn’t that big deal in my opinion and neither team has had many long breaks during the season. When playing on three days or more during the season, Miami (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS) has benefited more than Charlotte (1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS) but both have shown the ability to play faster too, producing 2-1 ‘over’ marks.

I don’t have a strong feel for Game 1 but I predicted Charlotte to win this series in six games, which means they’ll win at least one in Miami. I’m a little hesitant to go against Dwyane Wade but Miami isn’t a great shooting team and I like what Charlotte has done with center Al Jefferson coming off the bench now. The Hornets have played well down the stretch and have a sense of confidence that we haven’t seen from this team in previous seasons.

These teams will meet again Wednesday in Game 2 from American Airlines Arena and I’d expect the Zig-Zag theory to be in play for the next contest. Especially knowing that neither team has dropped back-to-back games since the All-Star break.

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:52 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Sunday's Top Action

DETROIT PISTONS (44-38) at CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (57-25)
Eastern Conference – Round 1
Time/TV: ABC, 3:35 p.m. ET
Line: Cleveland -10.5, Total: 201

The Pistons will be looking to steal a Game 1 victory when they face the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Sunday.

The Pistons were able to grab the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and they’ll now be hoping to upset the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit just might be feeling optimistic about its chances, as the team defeated Cleveland in three of the four meetings in this regular season head-to-head series. One of those games was the final game of the regular season for each team and most of the starters were resting for both the Cavaliers and Pistons. Detroit was 3-1 ATS in those four contests and the team will now look to win on a stage that actually matters.

For the Cavaliers, losing is really not an option. This is a championship or bust year for the team and the Cavaliers know that.

One interesting trend in this game is that Detroit is 23-7 ATS after a division game under Stan Van Gundy. Yet, the Cavaliers are 10-2 ATS when revenging a loss where an opponent scored 100 points or more this season. They’re also playing a Detroit team that is 5-14 ATS in road games after playing on the road this season.

PG Reggie Jackson (Abdominal) is a bit banged up heading into this one, but he will be on the court for the Pistons. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, could be without PG Mo Williams (Knee). He is listed as questionable for the team, but his absence wouldn’t necessarily hurt Cleveland’s chances in this contest.

The Pistons played well against the Cavaliers in the regular season, but the playoffs are a whole different animal. Cleveland is out for an NBA championship, so Detroit will be playing a team that is super locked in on Sunday.

One thing the Pistons have working in their favor is that they are much stronger at the center position. C Andre Drummond (16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.4 BPG) should really be able to have his way inside in this series. Nobody on Cleveland has the combination of size and athleticism that he possesses, so he’ll need to be extremely aggressive. In three meetings with the Cavs, Drummond averaged 20.3 PPG and 13.7 RPG in the regular season. He may need to do even more the rest of this series.

Another guy that should be in for a big series is PG Reggie Jackson (18.8 PPG, 6.6 APG). Kyrie Irving is not a very good defender, so Jackson should be able to find plenty of success in this one. He’s a good shooter from the outside and also gets himself to the rim with his ability to change speeds well. If he can hold his own defensively then it’d also be big for Detroit.

The x-factor for the Pistons will likely be SF Tobias Harris (14.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG). Harris is a very solid offensively player and knows how to score both inside and outside. His ability to score will not be questioned in this series, but he will need to defend at a high level. Harris will likely be matched up with LeBron James and the Pistons have no chance of winning on Sunday if Harris can’t hold his own defensively. It’s impossible to completely shut down James, but Harris would be doing his job if he can just slow him down a little.

SF LeBron James (25.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.4 SPG) and the Cavaliers coasted through the regular season and will now be looking to defeat the Pistons in the opening round of the playoffs. James had some trouble with this team during the year, averaging just 20.7 PPG on 41.8% shooting from the field in three meetings with Detroit this season. James must do his best to get to the basket in this one, as he needs to be efficient this series. He is at his best around the rim and can’t afford to just settle for jumpers on Sunday.

If the Cavs are going to ultimately go as far as they hope then PG Kyrie Irving (19.6 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG) and PF Kevin Love (16.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG) will need to bring their games to another level. Irving has a tough matchup with Reggie Jackson in this series, but he is a lot quicker than the Pistons’ guard and should be able to blow by him often. Irving is also a very good shooter from the outside and that will come in handy when James is looking to kick the ball out to his teammates.

Love is also an excellent shooter and he’ll need to be ready to make some shots in catch-and-shoot situations. He’s also, however, a very good player around the basket. The Pistons are not very good at defending the power forward position, so the Cavaliers would be wise to get Love some opportunities in the post this series.

One guy that could be a huge x-factor for the Cavaliers is SG J.R. Smith (12.4 PPG, 1.1 SPG). Smith is one of the best shooters in the NBA and he has the ability to get really hot from deep. He can swing any series if he is knocking down shots and there’s no reason to believe he won’t.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (44-38) at LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (53-29)

Western Conference – Round 1
Time/TV: TNT, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles -8, Total: 208.5

The Clippers will be looking to get themselves off to a quick series lead with a win at home over the Blazers in Game 1.

The Blazers shocked a lot of people by making the playoffs and they’ll now be hoping to upset a very good Clippers team. Both teams are entering this series after having finished the regular season off strong. Portland won seven of its final 10 games and Los Angeles won eight of its final 10.

The Clippers hold the edge in this head-to-head series recently, as they won three of the four meetings between these teams on the year. They are 7-4 SU versus the Blazers over the past three seasons, but Portland is 6-5 ATS in those contests. The Blazers also happen to be 4-1 ATS when playing at Staples Center in that span.

One trend worth noting when looking at this game is that Portland is 13-4 ATS when playing a team that has beaten it twice in a row this season. The Blazers know how to make adjustments and that will be crucial in this series.

C Meyers Leonard (Shoulder) is out for the year for the Blazers and SG J.J. Redick (Heel) is listed as questionable for the Clippers, but it’s hard to see him missing this one.

The Blazers are not being given a chance by many people, but that was also the case before the season started and here they are in the postseason. If Portland is going to steal Game 1 then the team will need a huge game from PG Damian Lillard (25.1 PPG, 6.8 APG, 4.0 RPG). Lillard has really struggled against the Clippers this season, averaging just 18.0 PPG on 32.4% shooting from the field in four meetings with the team. Lillard needs to be more efficient on Sunday, but he’ll also need to play solid defense. If Chris Paul torches him then Portland is going to get blown out.

While Lilllard could have trouble against Paul, SG C.J. McCollum (20.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG) should be able to play well in this series. The Clippers do not have many wing defenders that are capable of sticking with him, so he’ll need to be aggressive in this series. McCollum’s a very good shooter and he is also creative when he gets into the lane.

SF Al Farouq-Aminu (10.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG) will likely be the x-factor in this series, though. Portland needs him to really step it up in order to win a few games against Los Angeles. He could see some minutes as a small-ball power forward and if that’s the case then he’ll need to be tough. Blake Griffin is not an easy cover for anybody, so somebody will need to rise to the occasion and defend him well this series.

The Clippers finished off the year playing some impressive basketball, but they will really need PF Blake Griffin (21.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.9 APG) to return to form soon. Griffin is averaging just 14.0 PPG and 8.7 RPG over the past three contests. He has not looked like himself since returning from hand and quad injuries, but this is a fresh start for him. The Clippers need him to be a force around the basket and it’d be big if he can also knock down some jumpers in this series. The Blazers are weakest at the power forward position and Griffin can really give Los Angeles an advantage in this series.

PG Chris Paul (19.5 PPG, 10.0 APG, 4.2 RPG, 2.1 SPG) is still, however, the Clippers’ best player. Paul has owned Damian Lillard in the past and he will need to continue to do so beginning on Sunday. If Paul can contain Lillard defensively then the Blazers won’t have much of a shot to win this series. Paul should also be able to average a double-double on the offensive end. He is extremely tough to guard as a scorer and the Blazers don’t have much size inside, so Paul should average a ton of assists from finding his big guys.

C DeAndre Jordan (12.7 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 2.3 BPG) should be the beneficiary of a lot of Paul’s passes. Jordan will catch plenty of lobs in this series, but he’ll mostly be counted on to rebound and defend. If he can protect the rim then the Clippers will be in good shape moving forward.

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:52 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Clippers are bettors wager of choice for Sunday's quartette of NBA playoff games
By PATRICK EVERSON

It’s been all about the Golden State Warriors throughout the NBA season, and they showed why by posting a 73-9 record, then opening the playoffs with a 104-78 rout of Houston on Saturday.

But the Warriors are off Sunday, allowing another team to at least temporarily take the spotlight as four more first-round series get underway. By Saturday night, bettors seemed to indicate that team would be the Los Angeles Clippers, who as the No. 4 seed in the West have a 10:30 p.m. Eastern tipoff Sunday night against the No. 5 Portland Trail Blazers.

Terry Cox, director of race and sports for the Peppermill in Reno, said his shop opened the Clippers at -6.5 and by Saturday had them at 7.5.

“It looks like we’re getting quite a lot of play on the Clippers, so that might move to -8,” Cox said on Saturday. “They’ve got the most bets and the biggest parlay pool, so it’s definitely a public choice.”

Meanwhile, at CG Technology sportsbooks in Las Vegas, the most significant movement was on a total.

“The only thing of note is the under on the Hornets-Heat,” said Jason Simbal, vice president of risk management for CG, which runs books at the M, Hard Rock and the Venetian, among others. CG opened the total at 202.5 and saw it bet down to 200 by Friday night, and that’s where it stayed throughout the day Saturday.

Beyond that, there hadn’t been much movement anywhere on lines or totals. “Nothing’s been jumping around, that’s for sure,” said Jimmy Vaccaro, oddsmaker for the South Point in Vegas.

Cox said the lack of movement doesn’t surprise him.

“It’s been even play on the other games – moderate betting, not heavy. At least not yet,” Cox said. “What happens typically is that people will look at Game 1 and not jump in yet. It gives them a chance to see what the matchups look like and form an opinion on whether the spread is right or wrong.”

However, bettors are often surprised when Game 2 lines mirror that of Game 1, no matter the outcome of a series opener.

“In Game 2, we’ll make the same line, and people will get influenced by that. They say, ‘You can’t do that,’” Cox said. “But yeah, you can do that.”

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:53 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Preview: Pistons (44-38) at Cavaliers (57-25)

Date: April 17, 2016 3:00 PM EDT

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James is a perfect 10 in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

As he enters his 11th postseason in 13 years, James, who is seeking a sixth straight appearance in the Finals, has a spotless record in the opening round while playing for Cleveland and Miami. And the four-time league MVP figures to continue his streak of first-round knockouts when the Cavaliers take on the Detroit Pistons starting Sunday.

Although the top-seeded Cavs are heavily favored over the eighth-seeded Pistons, James isn't taking anything for granted.

'They got a well-coached, balanced team and they've fought their way into the playoffs and we have to respect them,' he said.

Returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, the young-and-talented Pistons won't be intimidated by the matchup after winning three of four - both teams rested their starters in the finale - against the Cavaliers in the regular season. Detroit's future is bright, but it's hard to imagine a team with little postseason experience taking down James.

Overall, James is 40-7 in the first round and only had one series extended to six games.

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy, who has faced James before in the playoffs, knows his squad has a tough task.

'It will be difficult,' Van Gundy said. 'They're the No. 1 seed in the East. They're a team that went to the Finals last year. They've got three All-Star-caliber guys, one probably the best player in the world. And their complementary guys are very good.'

Of course, the Pistons' primary objective will be to slow James, who had a fabulous finish to the regular season and is focused on returning to the Finals.

James, who has also won 13 straight first-round openers, can't be guarded by one player, which presents Van Gundy and the Pistons with the dilemma of how much help to bring when he has the ball.

Van Gundy, a baseball junkie, said it's like pitching to Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera.

'It's like major league hitters,' he said. 'If you have a hole somewhere and people find out about it and they can hit it, you're not going to be very good. If you're Miguel Cabrera and you don't have a hole - good luck. Pitch him the best you can, he's still going to hit the (snot) out of it.'

Here are other things to watch as the Cavs and Pistons meet in the postseason for the first time since 2008-09, when Cleveland won in four games.

WELCOMED BACK: Injuries derailed Cleveland's championship chase last year, when Kevin Love was knocked out in the first round with a shoulder injury and Kyrie Irving went down with a serious knee injury in the Finals. Love and Irving are eager for their second tastes of the postseason.

'I just feel like I'm in a good place,' Irving said. 'And last year, going through the playoffs injured, obviously it's still in my head. But I'm way past that point, which I'm happy about.'

Love and Irving are playing well lately, which should ease the burden on James, who can carry the Cavs by himself but is even more dangerous with a strong supporting cast.

LUE'S DEBUT: For the second straight year, the Cavs enter the playoffs with a first-year coach. Tyronn Lue has postseason experience as a player, but this is his first foray as the man in charge. Lue took over in January when David Blatt was fired and guided the Cavs to a 27-14 record and top seed in the conference.

James doesn't know if his coach's familiarity with playoff pressure will serve him, but he's confident in Lue.

'We're going to find out, but he's our coach and we love him,' James said. 'We trust the system that he's put in. We trust the process that he's put in, and the game plan going into Sunday we trust. So I think the fact that he's been a part of big playoff games as a player and as a coach benefits our team - for sure.'

ACTION JACKSON: Pistons starting point guard Reggie Jackson should be close to 100 percent after being kept out of the final two games with an abdominal strain. Jackson averages 18.8 points and Detroit's counting on him to provide offense to counter Cleveland's firepower.

Jackson scored 23 points in two of the Pistons' wins over the Cavs, and his matchup with Irving will be entertaining.

BOARD BATTLE: Lue's recent decision to move Tristan Thompson into the starting lineup ahead of Timofey Mozgov gets an immediate test as the Cavs try to keep Pistons big man Andre Drummond - the NBA's leading rebounder - from dominating the boards.

The 6-foot-11 Drummond averaged 14.8 rebounds, one more than DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers.

'We have to do our best to keep him off the boards and have it be a team effort,' Love said. 'He's a load down there.'

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:53 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Preview: Hornets (48-34) at Heat (48-34)

Date: April 17, 2016 5:30 PM EDT

MIAMI (AP) Finding separation between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets is a highly difficult task right now.

They finished with the same 48-34 record. They split their four matchups, each team winning once on the other's home floor. They both ranked among the top five NBA teams in winning percentage since the All-Star break. They even held opponents to identical shooting numbers, 44 percent from the floor and 35 percent from 3-point range.

Over the next couple weeks, separation will finally happen.

The third-seeded Heat and sixth-seeded Hornets are set to meet in an Eastern Conference first round series, Game 1 to be played in Miami on Sunday. It's the first postseason matchup between Miami and Charlotte since the Heat got an opening-round sweep in 2014, though both teams have changed mightily since.

'It's starting to kick in,' said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who's heading to the playoffs for the 11th time and searching for his fourth NBA title. 'I think guys are excited, as well as trying to get sharp, trying to get mentally sharp. ... It's not the regular season anymore. It's another level.'

The Hornets agree with that sentiment.

'We've had good games against them,' Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. 'The playoffs are different.'

Neither team made the playoffs last season, and both probably exceeded some expectations this year. Clifford and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra both figure to get at least some votes in coach of the year balloting, and Miami kept its season together after Chris Bosh saw his regular season end when a blood clot was found in his leg at the All-Star break for the second straight year.

'We feel like, if we do it all together and if we all chip in, and we're detailed in what we do and we play the right way, we feel like we have a chance to make some noise,' Charlotte guard Jeremy Lin said. 'And at the end of the day, I think that's what's gotten us to this point, is when we have five guys on the floor, we're all playing together and we're playing the right way.'

Here's some of what to know as the series gets set to begin:

---

ELITE HEAT: By returning to the postseason, the Heat are back in very familiar territory. Among the four major U.S. pro sports, the Heat are one of only five teams (out of 122) with at least 17 playoff appearances and at least three championships over the last 21 years. The others: the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. And since Miami became a four-sport town in 1993, the Heat have 18 playoff berths - three more than the Dolphins, Marlins and Panthers combined.

LIN FACTOR: After The New York Times wrote about a fan's video and letter that asked 'what the league has against' Lin and suggested opponents are allowed to be unfairly physical with him, the NBA responded on Friday and debunked the assertion. The league found Lin has made 1,537 drives in the last three seasons, which is less than Reggie Jackson (2,031), Tony Parker (1,974), Tyreke Evans (1,969), Ty Lawson (1,891), Kyrie Irving (1,649) or Victor Oladipo (1,544) - and not only have none of them been flagrantly fouled, but Lin has drawn more common fouls than any of them.

3 VERSUS 6: Both teams can find a good sign in how this matchup got seeded. Since the NBA went to a best-of-seven format for the opening round in 2003, No. 3 seeds have beaten No. 6 seeds 20 times in 26 series. (Advantage, Heat on that one.) But back in 2001, which the last time the Hornets and Heat met in a 3-6 series, Miami had the higher seed and got swept 3-0 anyway. (Advantage, Hornets on that one.)

DRAGIC'S WAIT: Finally, Heat point guard Goran Dragic will start a playoff game. 'I'm like a kid with a new toy,' Dragic said. He has been in the league for eight seasons, and played in the playoffs only once before - 2009-10 with Phoenix (with current Heat center Amare Stoudemire), coming off the bench behind Steve Nash in those 16 postseason games.

HOME IMPORTANCE: The Heat have won a road game in each of their last 16 playoff series, the longest streak in NBA history. That one will be put to the test in this matchup. Charlotte was one of three teams in the East to win 30 games at home this season (Cleveland and Toronto being the others), though Miami was one of the teams who beat the Hornets on their home floor

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:53 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Preview: Grizzlies (42-40) at Spurs (67-15)

Date: April 17, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Overshadowed by Golden State's historic run, the San Antonio Spurs put together their own season for the ages, too. Now that the postseason finally has arrived, they have no intention of easing up.

'We didn't play the way we did this season just to be on vacation after a few games,' Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. 'It's exciting. The pressure, the responsibility, the fact that we have another shot at making something big happen. We are very excited about that.'

The Spurs tied for the seventh-best record in NBA history at 67-15 only to earn the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference behind Golden State. Before their anticipated faceoff with the Warriors seeking their third berth in the NBA Finals in four seasons, the Spurs must start with their first-round series Sunday night against seventh-seeded Memphis.

Battered by injuries, the Grizzlies held the No. 5 spot until losing 10 of their final 11. They still have veterans Zach Randolph and Tony Allen making their sixth straight playoff appearance with Memphis with help from Vince Carter and Matt Barnes. Carter said San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has created a system that all the Spurs buy into no matter who's on the floor.

Still, Memphis isn't giving up without a fight.

'Everybody is beatable,' Carter said Saturday. 'You just have to have that, I don't want to say `perfect' night, but you have to have that special night.'

This is the first playoff series between these teams since 2013, when the Spurs swept Memphis in the Western Conference finals. San Antonio also swept Memphis out of the playoffs in the Grizzlies' first postseason berth in 2004, but Memphis upset the Spurs as a No. 8 seed in 2011. The Spurs won all four games in the regular season and leads the all-time series 63-20.

Tim Duncan, who could celebrate another Spurs' sweep of Memphis before turning 40 on April 25, anticipates a very physical series.

'They've got a lot of vets out there who have been in the playoffs, and they know what it takes to get over that hump,' Duncan said.

Here are some things to look for:

SPURS' DEFENSE: The 2015 NBA defensive player of the year, Kawhi Leonard is the odds-on favorite to win that award again after averaging 1.78 steals per game. San Antonio ranked first in the NBA holding opponents to 92.9 points per game and fourth in shooting at 43.6 percent.

HOME COURT: The Spurs went 40-1 on their own floor this season with the lone loss a week ago to yes, those Warriors. Memphis has won only seven games in San Antonio all-time, and the Grizzlies' lone playoff win came in Game 1 of that 2011 series.

MISSING GRIZZLIES: Allen is expected to play after missing the final three games of the regular season with a sore left hamstring. But Memphis will be without both center Marc Gasol (broken right foot) and point guard Mike Conley (left Achilles tendinitis) in this series. Forward Brandan Wright (sprained MCL in his right knee) and guard Jordan Adams (right knee surgery) also are out. Memphis played an NBA-record 28 players this season.

ALDRIDGE'S FINGER: Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge sure looks healthier despite dislocating his right pinkie finger April 7. Before talking to reporters, he hit a 25-footer. The Spurs trainer changed the way he taped Aldridge's finger to give him more flexibility, and the forward says he's just trying to become comfortable with the tape.

X-FACTOR: The Grizzlies' hopes in this series rest on the performance of guard Lance Stephenson, acquired by trade in February. He averaged 14.2 points per game with Memphis and scored a season-high 33 in a win over New Orleans in March. Memphis coach Dave Joerger put the ball in Stephenson's hands for the last shot in last week's 100-99 loss to Golden State.

'He can go get a shot. That's the thing. You look at the number of guys you have that can go create their own shot, he's one of those guys that can go get it.'

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:54 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Preview: Trail Blazers (44-38) at Clippers (53-29)

Date: April 17, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Blake Griffin is healthy just in time for the playoffs. The question now: How rusty is his game?

"I don't know the answer. We'll see," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said Saturday on the eve of his team's first-round series with the Portland Trail Blazers. "Blake's had not only five games, but some practice time as well. It's not the exact way you would have wanted it. But we got him back, and that's better than not getting him back."

Griffin missed 45 games because of a partially torn right quad and a fractured right hand from a fight with an assistant equipment manager. The Clippers won the first nine that he missed and were 30-15 overall during his absence, which included a four-game suspension from the team for the fight in Toronto.

"When you look at the stretch where Blake was out, it was like everyone had their days. That's how we had to play this year, and it was good for us in the long run," Rivers said. "It forced us to play small for 48 minutes a night, which I didn't think I would ever do, but it allowed is to get into a great rhythm."

The Clippers had the fourth-best record in the Western Conference and will host the first two games of this series. That should help Rivers gauge whether his club has the goods to get past the second round for the first time in the franchise's 47-year history.

MORE FUEL TO THE FIRE: Both of the Clippers' playoff series last year against San Antonio and Houston were decided in seven games. Griffin averaged 25.5 points during those games, but the Clips led three games to one before dropping the next three.

"I wouldn't use the word underachieving, but we expect to go farther this time," Griffin said. "I like where we're at from a mental standpoint. We have the reassurance that we've been here before, and that experience alone has helped us get in the right mindset going into the playoffs."

REDICK QUESTIONABLE: Forward J.J. Redick has a bruised left heel. If he can't play, two-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford will start in his place.

"You don't know what you are really until you're tested, but these guys have been tested all year," Rivers said. "Every team and every year is different when you go to the playoffs, so you don't have any of those answers until the playoffs."

Rivers, who guided Boston to an NBA title in 2008, is second among active coaches in playoff wins with 77 - second behind Gregg Popovich's 152 with the five-time champion Spurs.

BLAZER BEATERS: The Clippers won the last three meetings with Portland during the regular season after losing the first. This is the first time these two teams will be meeting in the playoffs since the rivalry began in 1970-71, the season both franchises entered the NBA.

"It's different in the playoffs because it's a different environment," center DeAndre Jordan said. "But I feel like when we're a healthy team, we can beat anybody. And we have so much depth now."

BACKCOURT CHALLENGE: Point guard Damien Lillard led the Blazers with a 25.1 average and backcourt mate C.J. McCollum was right behind at 20.8. Portland has two former Clippers in small forward Al-Farouq Aminu and backup center Chris Kaman.

"The game that they won, they outrebounded us by a considerable margin, so the rebounding battle is important because they play hard and their bigs crash the boards," Griffin said. "Corralling C.J. and Damien is on us as a team, not just on the guards. So it's going to have to be a team effort from top to bottom."

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:54 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

NBA Odds: Sunday, April 17, 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

This is likely a franchise-altering postseason for the Los Angeles Clippers. The former laughingstock franchise is in the playoffs for the fifth year in a row but has never reached the Western Conference Finals in team history. The Clippers had that in their grasp last season in a potential series clinching Game 6 against Houston. But they gagged away a 19-point third-quarter lead and lost that game and Game 7. Another playoff disappointment and I believe this core has to be broken up. That probably means Blake Griffin is traded as the Clippers showed they could win without him for a large chunk of the regular season.

No. 8 Pistons at No. 1 Cavaliers (-10.5, 201)

The Pistons are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and had a chance to perhaps avoid Cleveland in the first round. But Detroit lost at home to Miami on Tuesday to hand the No. 7 seed and an easier matchup against No. 2 Toronto to Indiana. The Pistons and Cavaliers closed the regular season against one another in Ohio on Wednesday and Detroit won 112-110 in overtime. Take absolutely nothing from that as Detroit sat its starters and the Cavaliers played just one starter: Tristan Thompson. He is the team's starting center going forward with Timofey Mozgov, who played so well in last year's playoffs, now relegated to a bench role. Plus Thompson allows the Cavs to go to more of a small-ball role, basically in preparation for the Warriors in June's NBA Finals. There are two injury concerns here. Detroit's Reggie Jackson missed the final two games with a strained abdominal muscle but there's no way he sits here. Cavs guard Iman Shumpert missed the final three games with a knee injury but I'm sure he's playing here. The Pistons won three of the four meetings during the season. So what? The Bulls used to beat LeBron James' teams in the regular season and then lose to them in the postseason. The only way the Pistons have a chance in this series is if Andre Drummond totally dominates down low and suddenly becomes a 75 percent free-throw shooter.

Key trends: The Pistons are 8-2 against the spread in the past 10 meetings in Cleveland. The "over/under" is 6-2 in the past eight there.

Early lean: Cavaliers and over.

No. 6 Hornets at No. 3 Heat (-4.5, 201.5)

Miami blew a 26-point lead in Boston on Wednesday and lost 98-88 yet still was a big winner as it came out on top of a four-way tiebreaker of teams at 48-34 and got the No. 3 seed by virtue of being a division champion (winning that tiebreaker over Atlanta). I haven't heard any recent updates on Chris Bosh potentially playing in the playoffs with his blood clot condition, but that would be a minor miracle. Too bad as a full-strength Heat team with the addition of Joe Johnson, who never played with Bosh, could win the East. When Charlotte made the playoffs two seasons ago, it was a pretty lousy offensive team but great on defense. Coach Steve Clifford remade the team a bit this season and it's now pretty solid offensively, relying a lot on the 3-pointer along with a Top 10 defense. Charlotte has gone 21-8 since the All-Star break, with only the Warriors and Spurs boasting more wins. Miami swept the Hornets in the first round two years ago but the Heat obviously had LeBron then. The Hornets and Heat split four regular-season meetings. Aside from the Warriors, Charlotte was the only other team to beat the Heat at home after the All-Star break, taking a 109-106 decision on March 17.

Key trends: The road team has covered seven of the past 11 meetings. The over is 8-0 in the past eight meetings in Miami.

Early lean: Heat and over.

No. 7 Grizzlies at No. 2 Spurs (-15.5, 189.5)

This appears to be the biggest Round 1 mismatch and in fact the Spurs are the biggest series favorites on the board at -10000. The Warriors are -9000 against the Rockets if wondering. San Antonio is also the largest Game 1 favorite. I fully expect a sweep here as Memphis is without stars Mike Conley and Marc Gasol due to injury and Tony Allen, one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, is banged up. Because of so many injuries, Memphis used 28 players in the regular season, an NBA record. The Grizz, who lost 14 of their final 17, became the first team in league history to make the playoffs using at least 24 players during the season. Only New Orleans lost more total games to injury and the Pelicans finished well under .500. So kudos to Coach Dave Joerger for even getting this team to the playoffs -- he actually might be allowed to walk after the season if Minnesota wants to hire him as has been rumored. San Antonio had a chance to be the only team in league history to finish unbeaten at home but of course lost there last Sunday to the Warriors, which essentially allowed Golden State to set the NBA record with 73 wins. The Spurs had to settle for a record-tying 40-1 at home. They are in the playoffs for a 19th straight year, easily the longest active streak in the NBA. I'm presuming it's the final postseason for Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. San Antonio won the season series 4-0.

Key trends: The Grizzlies are 1-4 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 7-3 in the Spurs' past 10.

Early lean: Spurs and under.

No. 5 Trail Blazers at No. 4 Clippers (-8, 209)

This is the only West series I much care about because I think it's the only one that has a chance to be competitive. The favorites in the other three West series all swept their opponents in the regular season. The Clippers won three of four against Portland but the most recent, on March 24 in Los Angeles, took a J.J. Redick buzzer-beater. I'm stunned that Portland made the playoffs after all it lost from last year's team. In fact, the Blazers are the first team in NBA history to make the playoffs despite returning only two or fewer players who logged at least 1,000 minutes with the team in the previous season. Those two are Damian Lillard and Chris Kaman. Lillard, who became a superstar this season, and backcourt mate C.J. McCollum, possibly the NBA's Most Improved Player Award winner, have to dominate here because the Blazers are completely overmatched in the frontcourt. But Lillard averaged only 18 points on 32 percent shooting vs. L.A. this season. That won't cut it. This is the first time these franchises have met in the playoffs.

Key trends: The Blazers are 1-5 ATS in their past six vs. the West. The Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their past six at home. The over is 8-1 in Portland's past nine on the road vs. teams with a winning record.

Early lean: Clippers and over.

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:54 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

NBA

Sunday's games

Detroit-Cleveland (0-0)
Pistons won three of last four games with Cleveland, winning last two by 8-2 points, both in Cleveland; four of last five series games went over total. Detroit won three of last four games; they're 3-2 vs spread in last five games as a dog. Cavaliers lost three of last four games; they covered three of last four at home. Five of last seven Cleveland games went over total. Cleveland is 6-0 in first round series with James. Detroit made the playoffs for first time since 2009.

Charlotte-Miami (0-0)
Hornets lost three of last four visits to Miami (over 4-0); they're 4-6 in their last 10 games overall vs Miami. Charlotte won four of its last five games (over 5-0); they're 4-3 SU in last seven road games. Miami won four of its last six games; five of their last seven stayed under. Heat won, covered its last four home games. Miami missed playoffs LY, its first post-Lebron season, after making Finals all four years they had him- last time they won a first round series without James was 2006. Charlotte has not won a playoff series (0-2) since 2002.

Memphis-San Antonio (0-0)
Grizzlies lost nine of last 10 games, covering one of last four road tilts; Memphis lost its last five games with Spurs (1-4 vs spread), going 2-3 vs spread in last five visits to Alamo. San Antonio is just 4-3 in its last seven first round series, after going 8-1 in first round series from '96-'08. Memphis is in playoffs for sixth year in row, having gone 3-2 in the first round last five years. Over is 3-2 in last five series games played here. San Antonio is 2-8 vs spread in its last ten games overall.

Portland-LA Clippers (0-0)
Since 2000, Trailblazers are 1-7 in first round series, beating Houston in six games in 2014; Portland lost six of last eight with Clippers, going 4-1 vs spread (1-4 SU) in last five played here. Clippers are in playoffs for 5th year in row after making it seven times in 41 years before that; LA is 3-1 in first round series last four years, under Rivers/Del Negro. Portland won seven of last nine games overall; four of its last six stayed under the total. Clippers won their last five home games, covering four of them.

Playoff tally: Favorites vs spread: 2-2, Over: 0-4

**TheGame** · 04-17-2016, 07:54 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Previews, Streaks, Tips, Notes

Pistons Provide Cleveland's First Playoff Hurdle

The Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25, 37-42-3 ATS) will host the Detroit Pistons (44-38, 42-38-2 ATS) this weekend in Game 1 of their first-round series. Detroit took three out of four SU/ATS vs. Cleveland this season including Wednesday night's 112-110 OT win at Quicken Loans Arena as 4.0-point road dogs. However, Cavaliers sat LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith for the home finale.

Detroit is in postseason for the first time since 2008-09, when they were swept in the opening round by Cleveland dropping the cash in each contest. Pistons could be in for another quick exit, Lebron James is 13-0 (10-3 ATS) in his last thirteen Conference Quarterfinals games with Cleveland and Miami.

Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs April 17, 8:00 EST

Spurs have the best defense in the league allowing a lowly 96.6 points per opponent 100 possessions. Spurs also feature the third-best shooting team in the league netting 108.4 points per 100 possessions. In a nut shell, Spurs score a lot of points and don't let opponent score many. A deadly mix against this injury plagued Memphis team without Marc Gasol (16.6), Mike Conley (15.3) and a team a dreadful 1-10 (4-7 ATS) down the stretch.

Those facts in hand, oddsmakers have placed a -15.5 point premium on San Antonio. A hefty price, but home-court is something Spurs can tap into (40-1 SU, 22-18-1 ATS). Additionally, Spurs swept the season series (4-0 SU , 3-1 ATS) and have dominating the past sixteen meetings (14-2 SU, 11-5 ATS) including a sweep in the 2013 Conference Finals (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS). Spurs hand Grizzlies a serious beat-down in the opener.

**Satch** · 04-17-2016, 10:14 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

NBA Basketball Betting Trends – Sun – April, 17
Detroit at Cleveland, 3:05 ET
Detroit: 5-14 ATS in road games after playing a road game
Cleveland: 10-2 ATS revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more
Charlotte at Miami, 5:35 ET
Charlotte: 14-4 ATS after scoring 60 points or more in the first half last game
Miami: 25-40 ATS after covering 2 of their last 3 against the spread
Memphis at San Antonio, 8:05 ET
Memphis: 4-8 ATS in the 1st game of a playoff series
San Antonio: 29-17 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders
Portland at LA Clippers, 10:35 ET
Portland: 23-14 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread
LA Clippers: 72-109 ATS after allowing 60 points or more in the first half last game

**Satch** · 04-17-2016, 10:16 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat (-4.5, 200)
The Miami Heat escaped from the tiebreaker scenario in the Eastern Conference at the top of the pack and will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The third-seeded Heat ended up with the Southeast Division title and will host Game 1 on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets, who finished with an identical record but got the sixth seed based on the tiebreakers.
Miami, Atlanta, Boston and Charlotte all finished with the same record after the Celtics overcame a 24-point halftime deficit to defeat the Heat on the final day of the regular season. Miami is shaking off that loss and is ready to face the playoffs without All-Star Chris Bosh, who has been out since the All-Star break and will miss the postseason due to a medical condition. The Heat added veteran Joe Johnson when it became clear that Bosh would not be coming back anytime soon, and Johnson averaged 13.4 points in 24 games while helping the team go 16-8 in that span. The Hornets surged with an 18-6 mark over the final 24 games to pull into the four-way tie behind Kemba Walker’s average of 21.6 points in that span.
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, TNT, FSN Sun (Miami)
LINE HISTORY:
The Heat opened as 4.5-point home favorites and have yet to move off that number. The total opened at 202.5 and has been bet down a whole 2.5-points to sit at its current number of 200. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (48-34, 42-39-1 ATS, 40-40-2 O/U):
Walker is at his best when Nicolas Batum is alongside in the backcourt, and Batum plans to be ready for Game 1 despite missing Wednesday’s finale with a sprained left ankle. “Unless we get a setback, I think he’ll be fine,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford told reporters. “We’re going to do more contact (Saturday), but we did some defensive drills and stuff (Friday) and he was fine. So I think he’ll be good.” The 27-year-old Frenchman averaged career highs of 14.9 points and 5.8 assists in his first season with Charlotte and posted 14.8 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in four games against Miami.
ABOUT THE HEAT (48-34, 43-38-1 ATS, 34-47-1 O/U):
Miami ended up losing 98-88 at Boston on Wednesday but quickly brushed aside what could have been a demoralizing loss and focused on the positives. The Heat are back in the playoffs after missing out last season and come in with some momentum after a surprising surge without Bosh following the break. “We’ve had a lot of adversity in that locker room, and I really commend those guys for coming together and not making excuses,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. “It looked pretty bleak after the All-Star break. You look at it now and say, ‘Oh, this is what was expected, to go 19-10.’ That’s not what people were thinking. But guys really banded together and got out of their comfort zones and we put together a pretty good run finishing it out.”
TRENDS:
* Underdog is 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Heat are 6-0 ATS in their last six home games.
* Over is 5-0 in Hornets last five overall.
* Over is 8-0 in the last eight meetings in Miami.

**Satch** · 04-17-2016, 10:17 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs (-15.5, 190)
The host San Antonio Spurs set a franchise record with 67 victories and begin what they hope is a deep postseason run when they open the playoffs against the seventh-seeded Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The second-seeded Spurs are expected to cruise past the Grizzlies, who lost 10 of their final 11 regular-season games and also went winless in four games against San Antonio this season.
The Spurs added power forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the offseason to beef up their championship hopes and the All-Star will be playing with a dislocated right pinky finger. Aldridge meshed well with All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard and became a more potent offensive force over the second half of the season. Memphis has been decimated by injuries – most notably the losses of center Marc Gasol (foot) and point guard Mike Conley (Achilles) – and faces long odds in a seven-game series. “If we do what they say, we’ve got what – a two percent chance of advancing?” shooting guard Tony Allen said of the forecasts to reporters. “We’ve just got to go out there and play hard and play for each other. Hopefully, we can beat the odds.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, FSN Southeast (Memphis), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
LINE HISTORY:
The Spurs opened as large 15.5-point home favorites against the injury riddled Grizzlies and have yet to move off that number. The total also hasn’t moved off its opening number of 190. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (42-40, 42-39-1 ATS, 45-35-2 O/U):
Memphis lost its final two games of the regular season by an average of 23.5 points and the players are well aware it will take a supreme effort to win the series. “We know our margin of error is non-existent,” Grizzlies small forward Matt Barnes told reporters. “We pretty much have to be perfect every single game but crazier things have happened.” Players like Barnes and swingman Lance Stephenson will need to complement power forward Zach Randolph, who returned to the go-to player role after the injuries to Gasol and Conley.
ABOUT THE SPURS (67-15, 44-38 ATS, 35-45-2 O/U):
Aldridge averaged 19.9 points in 25 games after the All-Star break and thrived once he figured out how to fit in with a veteran group fully acclimated to the San Antonio system. “I think it took him longer to adjust to us that it did us to get used to him,” veteran Tim Duncan told reporters. “He continued to try to defer to us for a long time while we were trying to push him to take over.” Leonard emerged as the club’s top option even with Aldridge on board and averaged a career-high 21.2 points and scored 20 or more points in 15 of his last 20 games.
TRENDS:
* Grizzlies are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.
* Spurs are 0-5 ATS in their last five home games.
* Over is 5-1 in Grizzlies last six road games.
* Under is 5-1 in Spurs last six versus Southwest Division opponents.

**Satch** · 04-17-2016, 10:17 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers (-8, 209)
The Los Angeles Clippers breezed their way to the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference despite operating without All-Star forward Blake Griffin for over three months. Griffin is back in the fold for the playoffs and will try to help the Clippers slip past the fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who visit for Game 1 on Sunday.
Griffin returned to the lineup on April 3 after missing extended time due to quad, hand and suspension issues and played in five of the final seven games, averaging 10.4 points on 40 percent shooting in 24.6 minutes. “We still have to get Blake even better, but I think he has looked great,” Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “I think his pace is back, his speed, and more important, I think his confidence that he can play is back.” The Clippers could have their hands full against the Trail Blazers, who were not even expected to make the postseason but instead surged all the way to the No. 5 spot and clinched it on the final day of the regular season. “It’s going to be tough,” Portland guard Damian Lillard told reporters of the matchup with Los Angeles. “They’re a really good team. but we know that we have a chance. We have to go out there and be ourselves, lock in and be ready.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, KGW (Portland), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
LINE HISTORY:
The Clippers opened as 7.5-point home favorites and have been bet up to -8. The total opened a 207.5 and have since been bet up a point and a half to the current number of 209. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (44-38, 44-38 ATS, 44-38 O/U):
Portland’s low preseason prognostications drove the team throughout the campaign and inspired the players to drive for the highest playoff seed possible. “When everybody came out with the expectations and all their expertise about what we were going to do this season, I feel like that was the biggest thing that, not only just me, but everybody remembered,” guard Allen Crabbe told reporters. “One person picked us as what, 15 out of 15 in the West? The list goes on, man. Everybody felt disrespected, and that’s not what our season is gonna be. It was everybody’s goal since training camp that we were gonna play hard.” The Trail Blazers were 15-24 after a loss on Jan. 8 but went 29-14 the rest of the way.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (53-29, 40-39-3 ATS, 34-48 O/U):
The big challenge might be avoiding looking ahead to a potential second-round meeting with Golden State, and Los Angeles is comfortable being overlooked in the West behind historically great teams like the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. “I don’t think anybody really gives us any kind of chance of winning (it all),” Griffin told reporters. “We’re not favored by any means, so that (underdog mentality) should be our mindset.” Los Angeles is hoping guard J.J. Redick, who suffered a bruised heel Tuesday against the Grizzlies and sat out practice on Friday, is ready to go on Sunday.
TRENDS:
* Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Clippers are 4-0 ATS in their last four versus Northwest Division opponents.
* Over is 8-2 in Trail Blazers last 10 road games.
* Under is 4-1 in Clippers last five games following a ATS loss.

Announcement

NBA Betting Info. 4/17

NBA Betting Info. 4/17

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment