Ala Hann Sport picks

Archive for May, 2010

If you’re betting on World Cup odds, you don’t really have to worry about homefield advantage as it would take a miracle for South Africa to get through to the next round.  Boston and Orlando must not feel like they have that much of a homecourt advantage as the road team has won three of the first games so far in their Eastern Conference finals showdown.  The Magic will try to keep that trend going in Game 6 on Friday, ironically so they can play the seventh and deciding game at home.

Bet Celtics Magic – Friday, May 28, 8:30 PM ET

The Celtics surprisingly managed to stay in the game for most of their 113-92 loss in Game 5 in Orlando, but it all fell apart in the fourth quarter when they were outscored by 12 points.  Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce netted 18 points each for the Celtics, who managed just four offensive rebounds, and were outrebounded 43-26 in total.  A lot of that may be down to their missing big men: Kendrick Perkins was ejected after his second technical foul of the first half after tangling with Dwight Howard, while Glen “Big Baby” Davis was knocked into next week by a Howard elbow and suffered a concussion.  NBA playoff betting players know that Boston can’t afford to lose their big men against Howard.

“Superman” had 21 points, 10 boards and five blocks, while Jameer Nelson notched a game-high 24 points for the Magic, who looked like they were on a mission.  Orlando hit 52.2% of their shots, and they were outlandish from long range, going 13-of-25.  Nelson and Matt Barnes combined to hit seven of those three-pointers, which really stretched the Boston defense out and allowed Howard to have his way in the post.  The Magic also got big minutes from J.J. Redick, who dropped 14 points in 22 minutes.

NBA betting odds have the Magic as a 3-point underdog in Boston in Game 6, and the Celtics will have Perkins in the lineup after his second technical was rescinded on Thursday, which is good news as Davis almost certainly won’t play on Friday night.  The Celtics looked a mess in the second half of Game 5, especially in the fourth quarter, and Boston has struggled in the final 12 minutes during this entire series.  Kevin Garnett hasn’t looked that good over the last couple of games, and you have to wonder if his knee injury is flaring up again, and Rondo and Ray Allen have been inconsistent.  You’re also seeing the Orlando team that finished second to Cleveland in the East, and was arguably the best team in the league after the All-Star break.  We’re going to lay an online sports bet with the Magic to extend this series to a seventh game.

Before making a World Cup bet on Germany, players should know that the Germans have a host of injuries to some pretty important members of the squad.  The same situation is raising its head in the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs this year as Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers have a couple of injury worries that could have an effect on the series.

The Lakers have had a close eye on the status of Andrew Bynum’s knee, which has gotten worse throughout the playoffs.  The young center averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in 65 games, and he averaged 30.4 minutes during the regular season, but all of his numbers are down ahead of the Lakers’ Game 4 meeting with the Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix as Bynum has put up 9.4 points and 7.8 boards in the playoffs, and his minutes have gone down to 24.8.  Over the first three games of the Phoenix series, Bynum has 6.3 points and 4.3 boards in 15.0 minutes of play, and he was limited to only eight minutes in Game 3.  The Lakers’ big advantage in this NBA betting matchup is their size, and even though they have enough with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, their job would be a lot easier if Bynum was at 100%.

World Cup Group D betting players will liken Germany losing captain Michael Ballack to Phoenix losing Steve Nash, but at least the Suns will get to go through the playoffs with their star.  Nash had his nose broken when he collided with Derek Fisher in Game 3, and he will have surgery before Game 4.  This is the second blow that Nash has suffered in this postseason as he was elbowed above the eye by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in the last round, but Nash came back in that game to score 10 points in the fourth quarter of a win.  Nash is the unquestioned leader of the Suns, and his loss to Phoenix would be far greater than that of Bynum and Los Angeles.  The two-time MVP has averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 assists in the playoffs, and his ability to drive and dish opens up the floor for the rest of the Suns, especially for Amare Stoudamire.  The power forward had 42 points in the Suns’ 118-109 win in Game 3, and a lot of those came off of running the pick-and-roll with Nash, something that the whole league has had trouble stopping all season.  The Suns are already behind the eight-ball going against the defending NBA champions, but they have a great chance to tie the series at two games apiece on Tuesday night, and their online sports betting odds are much better with Nash in the lineup.

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NBA championship betting players took time away from their playoff odds for a minute to check out the draft lottery on Tuesday night, as the NBA’s worst teams were looking for a little luck to change their fate.  Washington ended up getting the right bounces, and they kick off our mock draft of the top five picks.

Washington – John Wall, Kentucky

They may need Turner more, but there’s no way the Wizards will pass on Wall, the point guard who blazed through the SEC in his only year in Lexington.  With Wall in town, they could very well buy out Gilbert Arenas’ ridiculous contract and let him go, because we don’t think Arenas and Rose could work in the same backcourt….just ask Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry over in Golden State.

Philadelphia – Evan Turner, Ohio State

If you’re doing Blackhawks Sharks betting, Turner can be compared to Jonathan Toews, a player who can do everything with room to grow.  Toews turned into a captain within two years, and the 76ers will hope that Turner can do the same with his vast skill-set.  His passing and ball-handling abilities will allow Andre Igoudala to play off the ball more often.

New Jersey – DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

The Nets were the big losers in the lottery as they had the most balls in the draw, so instead of Wall, they’ll take his teammate, Cousins, a battering ram of a power forward who will form an excellent inside duo with Brook Lopez, the best young big man in the league.  Cousins has great footwork and post moves for his age and size, but he’s been known to have problems with his temper.  Cousins is an emotional player, but he’s going to have to learn to harness it in the NBA.

Minnesota – Wes Johnson, Syracuse

The Orangemen’s football team will never be a major NCAA football betting option, but they do know hoops at Syracuse, and they showed a lot of faith in Johnson’s potential after he transferred from Iowa State.  Johnson rewarded them by being named Big East Player of the Year.  The Timberwolves already have power forwards and point guards, and Johnson’s shooting stroke will be much appreciated at the No.3 spot.  He can play power forward in a pinch, but he’ll probably be overmatched physically.

Sacramento – Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech

The Kings need an interior presence badly, and they’ll take Favors, unless he’s gone and Cousins is available.  Favors never really got a proper chance to show what he could do as the Yellow Jackets had terrible guards, but he is an athletic freak with good technique in the post already, and his length is a major factor on defense.  The Kings’ online betting odds won’t jump too much, but Favors is a step in the right direction.

Any World Cup betting option that gets a performance from their star like the Los Angeles Lakers got from Kobe Bryant in the opening game of their Western Conference final, and they can prepare themselves for a title celebration as the Lakers’ star shredded Phoenix on Monday night.  The series resumes on Wednesday night, and the Suns have to find a way to contain Bryant.

Suns Lakers Betting – Wednesday, May 19, 9:00 PM ET

Bryant hit 13 of his 23 field-goal attempts en route to 40 points in a 128-107 win over the Suns, and he added five rebounds and five assists as well.  Pau Gasol was 10-of-13 from the field for 21 points, while Lamar Odom added 19 points and 19 boards for the Lakers, who shot an outlandish 58% from the field.  The Lakers also used their length to outrebound the Suns 42-34, and they took excellent care of the ball with only nine turnovers.  Sure, the Lakers gave up 107 points, but that comes with the territory when you play the Suns.  The Lakers kept the Suns from getting to their spots on the floor, and they were especially good in preventing Phoenix from getting out in the open floor.

The Suns were led by 23 points from Amare Stoudamire, but he had just three rebounds on the night.  Jason Richardson had 15 points, while Steve Nash added 13 points and 13 boards for the Suns, who missed 17 of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc.  The Suns tried to be aggressive, getting to the foul line 10 more times than the Lakers, and this kept it from being a total rout, but Phoenix looked overmatched in this contest.

The Lakers should be favored by NBA betting odds in this contest, as they have now won five in a row at the Staples Center over the Suns, and seven of the last 10 home games overall.  The Suns got Robin Lopez back, but he alone can’t stop the Lakers from getting into the post.  Gasol and Odom were able to do whatever they wanted in the interior, which created space for Bryant on the perimeter, and it just so happened that Bryant was feeling it from the outside on Monday night.  The Suns are going to have to ratchet up their intensity on the defensive end of the floor, or else this is going to be a short, short series.  The Lakers didn’t even need to get Andrew Bynum going, and that’s a sign of the Lakers’ superiority in this series.  It’s not looking good for the Suns to even go home tied at one game each.
Sports betting pick: Los Angeles Lakers

Those who are betting Preakness Stakes this weekend are well aware of the importance of having a good thoroughbred, and the teams in the Western Conference finals are led by a pair of horses that you would even say are MVP or Hall-of-Fame caliber.

Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Lakers – Game 1 on Monday, May 17, 9:00 PM ET

The Suns finally got rid of their playoff nemesis, taking care of San Antonio in a hard-fought sweep that was personified by Steve Nash, who averaged 22.0 points and 7.8 assists against the Spurs, and played the fourth quarter of their Game 4 clinching win with a swollen eye due to a Tim Duncan elbow.  They even played a little bit of defense in the series, holding the Spurs to 100.2 points, more than five points below their regular-season average of 105.3 points.  Amare Stoudamire led the way against the Lakers in four games this year, averaging 20.3 points and 8.8 boards, while the Suns are going to need Nash to look for his own shot more with 13.8 points and 9.0 assists against the Lakers this season.  Those who bet on NBA playoffs will feel more confident if Nash comes out aggressive like he did against the Spurs.  The Suns may also get Robin Lopez back from an ailing back, which will help against the Lakers’ post players.

The Lakers are coming off their own sweep of Utah, but like the Spurs pushed the Suns, the Jazz didn’t roll over for the defending NBA champions.  Kobe Bryant bounced back from a rough opening series against Oklahoma City in which he looked like he was in pain the entire time, to blast the Jazz for 32.0 points per game, shooting 52.3% from the field and looking like the guy who led the Lakers to the promised land last year.  Bryant averaged 27.5 points against the Suns this season, while Andrew Bynum was next with 17.8 points and 9.8 boards, and he’ll be essential to the Lakers after a poor series against the Jazz.

The Lakers are favored at -325 to win this series if you’re going to bet NBA, and they’ll have revenge on their minds, like the Suns had with the Spurs in the last round.  The Suns eliminated the Lakers in the first round in both the 2006 and 2007 playoffs, and you can bet that Bryant has that in the back of his mind.  The Lakers are going to have an immense advantage in the post, and they should look to get Stoudamire in foul trouble.  Lopez isn’t up to game shape just yet, which means Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom should be able to get inside at will.  We’re taking the Lakers in six games in our betting picks.

Inter Milan Bayern Munich betting features a pair of teams that aren’t that familiar with each other, but in the NBA’s Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns are very familiar with each other, both in the regular season and the playoffs.  The two will meet once again, this time in the conference finals, which tips off next Monday night in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.

The Suns swept San Antonio, a team that had taken the Suns out of the playoffs on four separate occasions in the past.  Steve Nash was the ringleader, averaging 22.0 points and 7.8 assists, and his performance in the clinching game is the stuff stories are made of.  Nash caught an errant elbow from Tim Duncan which essentially shut his right eye, then he scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter of a 107-101 win in San Antonio.  You could see that there was no way that Nash was going to let this team lose to the Spurs again, and it showed a toughness than many thought the Suns were lacking.

The Lakers also swept their opponent in the last series when they got rid of Utah in four games, and Kobe Bryant shook off his numerous injuries to average 32.5 points against the Jazz, which was 8.5 points more than he averaged against Oklahoma City in the first round.  Bryant also shot 52.3% from the field, up from 40.8% against the Jazz, and if he’s on, it keeps the opposition from doubling in the post.  NBA championship odds have had the Lakers near the top of the list all season, but some were counting out Bryant and his team after the Oklahoma City series.  They showed why they’re champions against the Jazz.

Basketball betting odds have the Lakers as a -300 favorite in this series, but it was the Suns who eliminated the Lakers in a pair of first-round matchups in 2006 and 2007.  The Lakers won three of four against the Suns this season, and they’ll have a big advantage at home where they have beaten the Suns in seven of their last 10 meetings.  On the other hand, the Lakers have won four of their last six in Phoenix.  The Suns will have to find a way to deal with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the post, as Phoenix isn’t known as a very physical team defensively, although they have improved.  The Lakers have had some problems with point guards so far, and now they’re dealing with a two-time MVP, but Nash averaged just 13.8 points and 9.0 assists against the Lakers this year.  We’re also going with the Lakers on the bench, as Phil Jackson’s ten rings earns him the edge over Alvin Gentry.

Sports betting pick: Lakers -300

Preakness betting players know that without your main thoroughbred, you’re in trouble.  Cleveland is in that position as LeBron James is less than 100% with his elbow injury, but that’s still no excuse for the way they were blown out at home in Game 2.  Now, the Celtics have the upper hand as the series heads to Boston for Game 3 on Friday.

Celtics Cavaliers Betting – Friday, May 7, 7:00 PM ET

The Celtics showed they weren’t impressed by James’ MVP award as they watched the trophy presentation, and then went out and laid a 104-86 whipping on the Cavaliers.  The Celtics shot 51.3% from the field, including 9-of-19 from the three-point line, and they had 30 assist on their 40 field goals.  Ray Allen led six Celtics in double figures with 22 points, while Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 10 assists for Boston, who even got 17 points off the bench from Rasheed Wallace in what was probably his best game as a Celtic.  Rajon Rondo tied the franchise playoff record for assists with 19 dimes, to go with 13 points.

The Cavaliers, normally a force in the third quarter at home, were outscored 31-12 by the Celtics, and that was pretty much it for Cleveland, who shot 40% from the floor and were outrebounded 43-32.  James le the way with 24 points, going 10-of-15 from the foul line, where the Cavaliers shot 26-of-38 as a team.  Antawn Jamison had 16 points and six boards, but Mo Williams was terrible, going 1-of-9 from the field for a total of six points on the night, although he did chip in with seven assists.  The Cavaliers shot 4-of-21 from beyond the arc, and once they got down, it turned into “isolate James” time, which led to only 17 assists for the game.

The Cavaliers are favored by one point according to NBA betting odds, but they haven’t fared too well against the Celtics on the road, losing nine of their last 10 in Boston.  James’ elbow may be bothering him, but that wasn’t the problem in Game 2, it was the performance of the supporting cast, who looked like they were dazed after the MVP presentation, and again after halftime.  Jamison held up his end of the bargain, but Williams is going to have to play much better than he did in Game 2.  The Cavaliers can take some confidence from a 108-88 rout of the Celtics in Boston on February 25^th, but the Celtics were without Paul Pierce in that game, and they got a great showing from Williams.  This game will be a test of mental strength, and we’re not sure if the Cavaliers are there yet.

Sports betting pick: Boston +1

NBA playoff betting players should have renewed faith in Phoenix during this postseason, as this edition of the run-and-gun Suns is far improved from years past, and San Antonio got their first taste of the Suns on Monday.  Game 2 goes on Wednesday night.

Spurs Suns Betting – Wednesday, May 5, 9:00 PM ET

Steve Nash scored 21 of his 33 points in the first half of a 112-101 win over the Spurs, and he added 10 assists as the Suns shot 51.9% from the floor.   Jason Richardson was next with 27 points, while Amare Stoudamire notched 23 points and 13 rebounds.  Nash was bothered by a hip problem in the first-round series against Portland, but he looked completely healthy against the Spurs as he was +18 on the night and he did an excellent job of dictating the pace of the game.  The Suns did turn the ball over 16 times, but they also outrebounded the Spurs 44-38.

The San Antonio “Big Three” of Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan led the way with 27, 26, and 20 points respectively, but the rest of the team combined for 29 points.  If it wasn’t for Parker coming off the bench, their second-unit would have been awful.  The Spurs shot 45.8% from the field, but only 4-of-19 from the three-point line.  If the Spurs are going to win this series, they’re going to have to impose their will on the Suns physically, on the boards and on defense because they have a significant mental advantage, given their elimination of the Suns in four straight playoff series.

The Suns are favored by NBA odds by 2.5 points, and they’ve now beaten the Spurs in three straight games at home in Phoenix, although overall, the two have split their last 10 meetings at US Airways Arena.  The Suns got out to a fast start and didn’t look bad, powered by Nash, who must be sick of losing to the Spurs in the playoffs at this point.  The Spurs may have to go to Parker off the bench over George Hill, who was torched by Nash.  Parker is a much better fit against Nash, as he can offset Nash’s offense by attacking himself.  The Spurs also have to find a way to slow down Richardson, and if he does well, the Suns usually win: with Monday’s game, the Suns have now won 11 in a row when Richardson goes for 20 or more points.  But ultimately, the Spurs are going to have to choke off Nash if they want to beat the Suns, and Nash looked about 10 years younger on Monday.  We’re taking the Suns in our online betting picks on Wednesday.