NBA Playoff Betting Preview
New Orleans Hornets at San Antonio Spurs (Hornets lead 3-2)
Thursday, 9:05 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Spurs – 7.5 , Total  184.5

The San Antonio Spurs will hope that the trend of home teams winning in the playoffs continues for at least one more game on Thursday as they host the New Orleans Hornets.  The Spurs trail three games to two and must win to send the series back to New Orleans for a Game Seven. The Hornets know that they have a chance to end the series on Thursday. “The best opportunity for us is really tomorrow (Thursday). We’ve got to look at it that way,” Hornets coach Byron Scott said. “We’ve got a chance to close out the defending champions. Obviously we know it’s going to be a very, very tough game to do that, especially in San Antonio.” SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Spurs at Home.

The series has been dominated by the home team.  The Hornets routed the Spurs in the first two games in New Orleans, were blown out at San Antonio in Games 3 and 4 and then routed the Spurs in Game Five back in New Orleans.  If the trend continues in this series then the Spurs should play well on Thursday. “The bottom line is that the better team wins in a seven-game series,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I’ve always said that. So whoever wins the series it will be because they’re the better team.”

The Hornets will try and reverse the trend in this series and take the momentum of the Game Five win into Thursday’s game.  “That’s something we’re going to talk about probably all day and before the game tomorrow,” New Orleans guard Chris Paul said. “When you make shots and stuff like that, it helps a lot, but we just got to find some way somehow.” It was David West that led the Hornets in Game 5.  He had 38 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots.  The Hornets are not relaxing knowing that Game 7 would be back in New Orleans. “We can’t relax and say, ‘All right, we’ll wait to beat them when we come back here,”‘ Paul said. “We need to win tomorrow (Thursday).”

SBG Global Current Line: Spurs - 7, Total  184

None of the games in this series have been close.  The home team has won by blowout margins each time.  The Spurs will try and use that home court advantage to extend the series. “We know their backs are against the wall and they’re going to come at us with everything they got,” Scott said.

The Spurs have never won back-to-back NBA titles.  They could already be considered a dynasty though with four titles in the last 10 years.  To continue their quest for a title this season they must win on Thursday.

Here are the NBA betting stats for Thursday’s game.  The Hornets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Hornets are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 vs. the Western Conference. The Hornets are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 playoff games as an underdog. The Hornets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog. The Hornets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Hornets are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 Thursday games.

The Spurs are 15-3-2 ATS in their last 20 playoff games as a favorite. The
Spurs are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite. The Spurs are 7-15-1 ATS in their last 23 vs. the Southwest. The Spurs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games. The Spurs are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Spurs are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings between the two teams and the home team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

The Under is 6-1 in the Hornets last 7 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Over is 6-1 in the Hornets last 7 Thursday games. The Under is 5-1-1 in the Hornets last 7 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 8-2-1 in the Hornets last 11 Conference Semifinals games. The Over is 8-3 in the Hornets last 11 games as a road underdog.

The Over is 4-1 in the Spurs last 5 games as a home favorite. The Over is 4-1 in the Spurs last 5 Thursday games. The Over is 7-2 in the Spurs last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Over is 8-3-1 in the Spurs last 12 overall. The Over is 13-6-1 in the Spurs last 20 Conference Semifinals games. The Under is 17-8-1 in the Spurs last 26 vs. the Southwest. The Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in San Antonio between the two teams.

Pick: Despite the trend of Home teams winning and covering, Look for the Hornets to buck the trend and win outright or keep it very close. Hornets +7.5 4units

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers (Series tied 2-2)
Wednesday, 10:35 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Lakers  - 8.5, Total  214

The Los Angeles Lakers have hit a roadblock in their quest to reach the NBA finals as the Utah Jazz decided it won’t be a cakewalk for the Lakers.  Utah won both of their home games to even the best of seven series at two games each.  They now head to Los Angeles to face a Lakers team that may not have league MVP Kobe Bryant at full strength.  He injured his back in Game Four and was still sore. “Quite a bit (of pain), but it’s a lot better than it was yesterday,” Bryant said, “It’ll be fine.”  Kobe had 33 points in the Game Five overtime loss. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Jazz on the Road.

The Lakers head home where they have owned the Jazz in the past. “We know we have homecourt advantage. We earned it,” Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson said. “We feel very confident in our building.” Los Angeles is 16-3 at home against the Jazz since Staples Center opened in 1999. “To win the series, we have to win on the road,” Utah’s Matt Harpring said, “So we haven’t gotten anywhere yet. The series is basically 0-0 and now it’s the best two-out-of-three.”  Teams in the 2008 NBA playoffs just haven’t been able to win on the road.  Entering Tuesday night the home teams were 15-1 in the playoffs.  The Jazz know they must win a game on the road and they want it to be on Wednesday.  They know they can’t start out slow and expect to recover. “This is a big game. It’s a momentum game and it puts a lot of pressure on whoever doesn’t win,” Utah’s Deron Williams said. “You can always expect a couple guys to be the same at home and away. I think I have to be one of those guys. You’ve got to be maybe even more aggressive on the road and try to pick up some of the slack. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

SBG Global Current Line: Lakers  - 8.5, Total  213.5

Here are the NBA betting stats for Wednesday’s game. The Jazz are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as an underdog. The Jazz are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Jazz are 0-6 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Los Angeles

The Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite. The Lakers are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Lakers are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 Conference Semifinals games. The home team is 6-1-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings between the two teams.

The Over is 4-0 in Utah’s last 4 Wednesday games. The Under is 4-1 in Utah’s last 5 games as a road underdog. The Over is 22-8 in Utah’s last 30 vs. the Pacific.

The Under is 5-2 in the Lakers last 7 overall. The Under is 7-3 in the Lakers last 10 Wednesday games. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles between the two teams.

Pick: Jazz +8.5 4units - Kobe is banged up without him 100% the Jazz will keep it close!

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (Series tied 2-2)
Wednesday, 8:05 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Celtics – 8.5, Total  176.5

The Boston Celtics had the NBA’s best regular season record but in the playoffs they have looked very beatable.  After winning the first two games at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics lost both road games and now the series is tied 2-2.  The Celtics are now 0-5 on the road in the playoffs and it has many of the players concerned. “There is some frustration,” center P.J. Brown said “But up to this point, it hasn’t gotten under our skin.”  The Celtics went an NBA-best 31-10 on the road in the regular season but have looked terrible on the road in the playoffs including the last two games in Cleveland. “The key is winning the series. Whether it’s at home or on the road, you just try to win it,” Paul Pierce said. “It’s a three-game series, with two of them at home.” SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Celtics at Home.

The good news for Boston is that they still have home-court advantage and they are unbeaten at home in the playoffs. “We earned that right to have home-court advantage,” Boston head coach Doc Rivers said. “I don’t think it has anything to do with why we haven’t won a road game. We haven’t played well on the road, and we have to do better.”  The Celtics also know they must win Game Five because they sure can’t count on winning a Game Six at Cleveland. “I’m not even thinking about a Game 7. That’s definitely the idea: Get a win (Wednesday) night and try to close it out in Game 6,” Pierce said. “We definitely have to play well (in Game 5), because we haven’t been playing well on the road. You kind of want to treat it like a Game 7, because you can’t count on winning Game 6.”

SBG Global Current Line: Celtics – 8.5, Total  176.5

The Cavaliers are not in any better shape than the Celtics considering they haven’t won on the road in this series either. They at least have a road win the playoffs though, at Washington in Game 6 of that series. “It just shows how strong you are as a team to be able to go into a hostile environment and stick together and come out with a win,” Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson said, “Once you’ve experienced an environment, going back to it is kind of like, ‘We’ve been here before.’ And we felt like we were right there to win a game. So we know what we’re capable of doing on their floor and we’re going into it with a lot of confidence.”

The Cavaliers nearly won Game 1 in Boston but LeBron James missed a layup that would have tied the game. “You can win all your home games and get a championship that way. I don’t think that has ever been done,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “You’ve got to get some road wins to be a champion, at least that’s the history of the game. I tell our guys, if you expect to win in the playoffs, you’ve got to know how to defend and you’ve got to know how to win on the road.”

Here are the NBA betting stats for Wednesday’s game. The Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. the Atlantic. The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games. The Cavaliers are 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Cavaliers are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 playoff games as an underdog. The Cavaliers are 5-2-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings in Boston. The underdog is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings between the two teams.

The Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Wednesday games. The Celtics are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games as a home favorite. The Celtics are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 vs. the Central. The Celtics are 24-11 ATS in their last 35 games overall. The Celtics are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Conference Semifinals games.

The Under is 7-1 in the Cavaliers last 8 vs. the Atlantic. The Under is 13-3 in the Cavaliers last 16 Conference Semifinals games. The Under is 7-2 in the Cavaliers last 9 games as an underdog. The Under is 16-5 in the Cavaliers last 21 playoff games as an underdog. The Under is 12-4 in the Cavaliers last 16 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Under is 6-2 in the Cavaliers last 8 games as a road underdog. The Under is 12-4 in the Cavaliers last 16 overall.

The Under is 5-1 in the Celtics last 6 games as a home favorite. The Under is 4-1 in the Celtics last 5 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Under is 4-1 in the Celtics last 5 overall. The Under is 9-4 in the Celtics last 13 playoff games as a favorite. The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Boston between the two teams.

Pick: Stick with the home teams as they have been red hot! Celtics 5 units

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers (Celtics lead 2-1)
Monday, 8:05 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Cavaliers  - 2.5, Total  182

The Boston Celtics haven’t been able to win on the road in the playoffs and if that continues on Monday night their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers will be tied.  The Celtics lost game three 108-84 on Saturday as they were blown out early and never recovered. “We can’t spot a team 15-20 points and try to dig ourselves out of it,” Boston’s Kevin Garnett said. “We talked about that in the locker room that we need to play with the same urgency like we have at home. We can definitely play better, and we will.” SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Cavaliers at Home.

The Celtics were the NBA’s best road team in the regular season so it is somewhat of a mystery as to why they are struggling in the playoffs.  The Celtics were the NBA’s best defensive team in the regular season but have had trouble on the road in the playoffs.  They gave up an average of 101 points per game to the Hawks on the road and then gave up 108 points to Cleveland on Saturday.  The Celtics shut down LeBron James again but couldn’t stop the rest of the Cavaliers on Saturday.  Joe Smith and Delonte West had big games as did most of the rest of the Cavaliers.  They picked up the slack for James who has struggled in this series. “That’s why it’s a team game,” West said. “That’s why you have teammates you trust. … We’re a unit. In this locker room we don’t separate ourselves and put that separation between LeBron and ourselves as a team. I think y’all more so do that. But here in this locker room, he brings the attitude. He brings the attitude like we’re all in this together. And I think it’s good to have his back for a change since he has ours so many nights.”

SBG Global Current Line: Cavaliers  - 2,  Total  181

Here are the NBA betting stats for Monday’s game.  The Celtics are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 Monday games. The Celtics are 40-15 ATS in their last 55 games as a road underdog. The Celtics are 24-10 ATS in their last 34 games overall. The Celtics are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 playoff games as an underdog. The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Conference Semifinals games. The Celtics are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Cleveland. The underdog is 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

The Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 playoff games as a favorite. The Cavaliers are 25-10 ATS in their last 35 Monday games.

The Over is 4-0 in the Celtics last 4 road games. The Under is 15-5 in the Celtics last 20 Monday games. The Over is 7-3 in the Celtics last 10 playoff games as an underdog.

The Under is 12-2 in the Cavaliers last 14 Conference Semifinals games.
The Under is 13-4 in the Cavaliers last 17 games as a home favorite. The Under is 11-4 in the Cavaliers last 15 overall.

Pick: Cavs -2 3units. Hard to back a team that hasnt won on the road yet in the playoffs.

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
 Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (Celtics lead 1-0)
 Thursday, 7:05 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Celtics  - 8.5, Total  178

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics will both try and play better than they did in game one as the teams meet in Boston on Thursday for game two.  It was an ugly game one that the Celtics won 76-72.  Both teams shot the ball poorly and Cleveland’s LeBron James was a disgrace going 2 of 18 from the field. James missed an easy layup with 9 second left in the game that would have tied it.  “I can’t play no worse than I did last night,” James said Wednesday, “You don’t expect those guys to have off nights like that. I don’t expect myself to have an off night like I did.”  SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Cavaliers on the Road.

Boston was not much better than Cleveland except for Kevin Garnett.  The other two players in the big three, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined to go 2 for 18 and Allen didn’t even score.  Garnett carried the Celtics with 28 points. “Offensively, we were a terrible-looking group,” Pierce said. “We turned the ball over 23 times, shot 40 percent from the field. We did just about everything wrong you could do offensively, and what happens, the defense comes and saves the day.”

SBG Global Current Line: Celtics  - 8.5, Total  177.5

Both teams will look to improve their offense on Thursday.  “I don’t expect Paul and Ray to have the struggles, and I don’t expect LeBron to have struggles either,” Celtics center Kendrick Perkins said. “So I think we’re in for a good Game 2.”

Here are the NBA betting stats for Thursday’s game.  The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog. The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Cavaliers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 Conference Semifinals games. The Cavaliers are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 games as a road underdog. The Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games. The Cavaliers are 5-1-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Boston. The underdog is 7-0-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings between the two teams and the road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings

The Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games. The Celtics are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite. The Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Conference Semifinals games.

The Under is 11-1 in the Cavaliers last 12 Conference Semifinals games. The Under is 10-3 in the Cavaliers last 13 overall. The Under is 6-2 in the Cavaliers last 8 games as an underdog.

The Under is 5-1 in the Celtics last 6 vs. the Central. The Under is 4-1 in the Celtics last 5 games as a home favorite.

Take the Celtics -8.5 3units

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
New Orleans Hornets at San Antonio Spurs (Hornets lead 2-0)
Thursday, 9:35 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Spurs  - 6.5, Total  183

The San Antonio Spurs face what is probably a must win game on Thursday against the New Orleans Hornets.  The Spurs were dominated in the first two games at New Orleans and now the series goes to San Antonio.  “They say you’re supposed to win all your home games. The series doesn’t start until the home team loses,” New Orleans’ Chris Paul said, “We understand their backs are against the wall right now but we’ve got to go in there and understand we really need to steal a game.” SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Spurs at Home.

The Hornets have shown they can beat the defending NBA Champs and now they will try and take a game in San Antonio.  The Spurs must take care of the ball better and get Tim Duncan more involved if they are to turn things around. “It sounds, like, easy, but we just have to play better,” Tony Parker said. “They just outplayed us the first two games and now we’re playing at home and we have to make more shots and play better defense.” The Spurs will need to play smarter and show that they are hungry to defend their title. So far in this series that has not happened.

SBG Global Current Line: Spurs  - 6.5, Total  183.5

Here are the NBA betting stats for Thursday’s game. The Hornets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Southwest. The Hornets are 43-20-1 ATS in their last 64 games overall. The Hornets are 21-10 ATS in their last 31 games as an underdog. The Hornets are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games.

The Spurs are 14-3-2 ATS in their last 19 playoff games as a favorite. The Spurs are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games as a home favorite. The Spurs are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall. The Spurs are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Thursday games. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings between the two teams and the favorite is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.

The Under is 5-0-1 in the Hornets last 6 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 7-1-1 in the Hornets last 9 Conference Semifinals games. The Over is 5-1 in the Hornets last 6 Thursday games. The Under is 4-1 in the Hornets last 5 road games. The Over is 7-3 in the Hornets last 10 games as a road underdog.

The Over is 4-1 in the Spurs last 5 games as a favorite. The Over is 7-2-1 in the Spurs last 10 overall. The Under is 10-4 in the Spurs last 14 Thursday games. The Over is 12-5-1 in the Spurs last 18 Conference Semifinals games. The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in San Antonio between the two teams.

Pick: 6.5 is just too many to give the Hornets. Hornets +6.5 3units

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers
Wednesday, 10:35 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Lakers  - 7, Total  209

The Los Angeles Lakers will look to continue their perfect record in the 2008 NBA playoffs as they host the Utah Jazz in game two of their best of seven series on Wednesday. The Lakers dispatched of the Denver Nuggets in round one in a four game sweep and took the first game against the Jazz in this series.  The key for the Lakers was their 16-point advantage at the free throw line in the 109-98 game one victory. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Lakers at Home.

The Lakers actually blew most of a 19 point lead before hitting their last eight free throws to win by 11 points.  The Lakers went 38-46 from the line while the Jazz went 20-32.  The Jazz were physical in game one and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, who won the league MVP award on Tuesday, said he expects that to continue. “I’m sure it will; it’s playoff basketball,” he said. “Utah plays physical anyway. Those guys, they play hard. They’re not talking, they just play hard. We’ve just got to do a better job getting to their bodies.”  The referees called a lot of fouls in game one and that definitely helped Los Angeles.  “They play a very physical game, let the referees make a decision on what’s a foul and what isn’t,” Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson said. “They scrum, they get in the lane, they’re after the ball, they’re pushing and shoving. It’s not our style. We are going to play the kind of game we have to play. Just be more resilient, that’s all.” Kobe hit 21 of 23 free throws in the series opener.

SBG Global Current Line: Lakers  - 6.5, Total  209.5

Utah will try and do a better job of getting the ball inside. “I think we can do a good job of getting the ball inside a little bit more,” Utah’s Carlos Boozer said, “I think we settled for jump shots at times. We’re stronger than them. They’re longer than we are, but we have some guys that like to get in there and bang around a little big and move some bodies and try to get the ball, which is going to be the key for us in this series. We need to continue to go inside and make them work inside.”

The Jazz may have been a bit weary in game one on Sunday but now will have had the same rest as the Lakers for game two on Wednesday. The Lakers are the only unbeaten team in the playoffs. “Every game is Game 7. That’s been our approach,” Kobe Bryant said. “I think with each win, we get more confident. Utah is a much bigger challenge for us than the first round. I think Game 3 in Denver, we played well. Other than that, we’ve been playing in spurts. We haven’t put together a complete game. I think that’s good news.”

The Jazz don’t intend to panic after one loss. “It’s a seven-game series,” Utah’s Deron Williams said. “We’ve lost one game. We’ve just got to stay poised and try to get this next one. We want to try to get back to where we were. We don’t want to go back to Salt Lake down 0-2. We’ve been in that situation before and it’s not pretty.”

Here are the NBA betting stats for Wednesday’s game. The Jazz are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Wednesday games. The Jazz are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 games playing on 2 days of rest. The Jazz are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 playoff games as an underdog. The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Jazz are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.

The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games. The Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite. The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Northwest. The Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite. The Lakers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite. The Lakers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 2 days of rest. The home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings between the two teams and the favorite is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

The Under is 4-0 in Utah’s last 4 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 4-1 in Utah’s last 5 Wednesday games. The Over is 20-7 in Utah’s last 27 vs. the  Pacific. The Under is 5-2 in Utah’s last 7 overall.

The Under is 4-0 in the Lakers last 4 vs. the Northwest. The Under is 7-0 in the Lakers last 7 games playing on 2 days of rest. The Under is 4-0 in the Lakers last 4 overall. The Under is 7-2 in the Lakers last 9 Wednesday games. The Under is 5-2 in the Lakers last 7 playoff games as a favorite. The Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Los Angeles between the two teams.

Pick: Jazz +7 3units.. To many points here.

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic (Pistons lead 2-0)
Wednesday, 8:05 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Magic  - 3.5, Total  185.5

The Orlando Magic couldn’t quite pull off the upset in game two against the Detroit Pistons on Monday but they know it can be done.  They just need to avoid making mistakes and not panic.  They had their moments in Monday’s 100-93 loss at Detroit but could not handle the pressure late in the game. “We made some bad decisions and some tough shots down the stretch, and got away from playing the way that we had played when things were going well,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.  The Magic head home knowing they must win game #3 to get back in the series. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Magic at Home.

The Magic just could not avoid turning the ball over in game two and it cost them the game.  They had 19 turnovers on Monday. “When you turn the ball over you aren’t giving yourself a chance, and we just have to do the little things like that, as well as not letting them get the offensive rebounds,” Orlando guard Jameer Nelson said. “There are just some things that we need to take care of. We have great competitors in this locker room that compete really hard, and we just turned the ball over.”  The Magic has lost nine straight playoff games to Detroit going back to 2003. Magic All-Star Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds on Monday but it wasn’t enough.

The Pistons are happy they won their two home games but believe they can play better. “I thought we could have played a lot better. I thought that when had them down, we had a big lead, we didn’t kind of step on them,” Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said, “We went away from what got us there. I think we’ll do better next game.”

SBG Global Current Line: Magic  - 3.5, Total  186

Here are the NBA betting stats for Wednesday’s game.  The Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. the Southeast. The Pistons are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Pistons are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Conference Semifinals games. The Pistons are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 playoff games as an underdog. The Pistons are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Wednesday games. The

Pistons are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog. The Pistons are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Orlando.

The Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games. The Magic are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 games as a home favorite. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

The Under is 4-0 in the Pistons last 4 road games. The Under is 6-1 in the Pistons last 7 vs. the Southeast. The Under is 20-8-1 in the Pistons last 29 playoff games as an underdog. The Under is 9-4 in the Pistons last 13 Conference Semifinals games.

The Under is 6-1 in Orlando’s last 7 vs. the Central. The Over is 4-1 in Orlando’s last 5 playoff games as a favorite. The Under is 7-3 in Orlando’s last 10 games as a favorite. The Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings between the two teams.

Pick: Pistons +3.5 3units.

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Hornets (Game One)
Saturday, 10:00 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Hornets  - 3.5 , Total  183.5

The New Orleans Hornets will face the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in game one of the best of seven Western Conference semifinals on Saturday night.  The Hornets took out the Dallas Mavericks easily in the first round while the Spurs dispatched of the Phoenix Suns in five games in their opening series. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Spurs on the Road.

The matchup in this series should be intriguing as the Spurs are the league’s oldest and most experienced team with 11 players in their 30s. They have star players in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.  New Orleans has eight players who are under the age of 30.  Their stars are league MVP candidate Chris Paul and David West.  The two teams look very evenly matched in this series.  They finished the season with identical 56-26 records and they split their four head-to-head meetings.  The reason New Orleans got the higher seed was based on their superior conference record but that was only by one game.

SBG Global Current Line: Hornets  - 3, Total  183.5

The matchups in this series should be excellent.  It will be Chris Paul against Tony Parker in the backcourt.  At the small forward it is Peja Stojakovic against Bruce Bowen and at power forward it is David West against Tim Duncan. Those three matchups are the key to the series.  The one advantage New Orleans may have is off the bench. Jannero Pargo was excellent in the first round against Dallas and Julian Wright also played well.  Technically Ginobili comes off the bench for San Antonio but that is only for appearance.  He is a starter and one of the Spurs most important players.

Here are the NBA betting stats for Saturday’s game.  The Spurs are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games playing on 3 or more days of rest. The Spurs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as an underdog. The Spurs are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games as a road underdog. The Spurs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games. The Spurs are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in New Orleans. The road team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings between the two teams.

The Hornets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 playoff games as a favorite. The
Hornets are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 home games. The Hornets are 44-16-2 ATS in their last 62 Saturday games. The Hornets are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Conference Semifinals games.

The Over is 6-2 in the Spurs last 8 overall. The Under is 16-6 in the Spurs last 22 vs. the Southwest. The Over is 8-3 in the Spurs last 11 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 11-5 in the Spurs last 16 Conference Semifinals games.

The Over is 6-1 in the Hornets last 7 Conference Semifinals games. The Over is 17-7-2 in the Hornets last 26 games as a home favorite. The Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

Pick: Hornets -3.5 4units

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards (Cavs lead 3-2)
Friday, 7:05 pm Eastern – ESPN 2

SBG Global Opening Line: Wizards  - 4, Total  187.5

The Washington Wizards finally stopped talking and started playing on Wednesday and it resulted in a win on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  If Washington can win at home on Friday they would force a game 7 back in Cleveland on Sunday. “We just said, ‘It’s time to stop all the talking.’ A lot of guys were trying to defend themselves as far as this and that. But it wasn’t working,” Washington’s Antawn Jamison said, “We said: ‘the ultimate change around is for us to just be quiet and find a way to come back from 3-1 and win the series.’ I think they finally got it.”
SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Cavaliers on the Road.

The Wizards were without guard Gilbert Arenas on Wednesday but they may be better off without him.  They played more as a team and Caron Butler ended up hitting the winning shot in the 88-87 win. “Caron wants an opportunity to lead a team,” guard Roger Mason Jr. said. “He willed us to that victory yesterday. His personality was on the floor, and I think it’s good for us.”  Butler had 32 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the Game five victory.  Butler outplayed Cleveland’s LeBron James on Wednesday as James missed what would have been the winning shot. The Cavaliers will try and get some help for LeBron on Friday.  James is averaging 30.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists in the series.

SBG Global Current Line: Wizards  - 4, Total  187.5

Here are the NBA betting stats for Friday’s game.  The Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Cavaliers are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 playoff games as an underdog. The Cavaliers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.

The Wizards are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. The Wizards are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 Friday games. The Wizards are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games.

The Under is 4-0 in the Cavaliers last 4 Friday games. The Under is 5-1 in the Cavaliers last 6 games as an underdog. The Under is 9-2 in the Cavaliers last 11 overall. The Under is 14-4 in the Cavaliers last 18 playoff games as an underdog.

The Over is 14-3 in the Wizards last 17 home games. The Over is 4-1 in the Wizards last 5 Friday games. The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Washington between the two teams.

Pick: Should be another close game, be safe and take the over 3 units