NBA Playoff Betting Window Open

The first day of the professional basketball postseason marathon is ready to commence. By the time a champion is crowned, a fairly serious golfer could lower his handicap by a few strokes. The weekend is designed to answer questions in each series, thus we’ll stick with the simple theme of following Saturday games. Without Kevin Garnett, will Boston be able to cover spreads and hold off sizzling Chicago? Will Cleveland be thinking about Boston and overlook Detroit as double digit favorites? Can San Antonio go from terrific trio to dynamic duo and hold off Dallas and is a young Portland club ready to blaze a trail and knock off Houston? The answers start formulating today.

Chicago at Boston 12:35 E ESPN

Chicago arrives in Beantown having won 12 of 16 (9-7 ATS) to finish .500. The Bulls have outstanding guards like Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon and John Salmons can be special as wing player. Chicago played their best against the best with 12-3 ATS record against teams with a winning record in the second half of the season. A number of people like Chicago to take this series deep because Garnett won’t be available and the Bulls can shoot the three-ball effectively. Though Chicago drops 38.1 percent from deep, Boston was the best in the NBA at 39.7 percent, effectively negating that edge. The Celtics are 8.5-point favorite with total of 196.5 at Bookmaker.com and are 5-12 ATS in last 17 home games. Boston has averaged 112 points per game against Bulls in last six games and is 6-1 SU and ATS roll in this matchup.

Detroit at Cleveland 3:05 E ABC

Cleveland’s a 12-point favorite over Detroit, which appears to be right against a lamentable squad that finished the season 6-12 (7-11 ATS). Detroit can wipe the slate clean if they reignite the pilot light and play with a semblance of passion. Maybe a couple days of rest will fuel the Pistons who are 16-4 ATS in road games when playing with two days off. Cleveland has to catch itself from looking too far ahead and LeBron James should take care of that. If the Cavs play with the same desire they should most of the year, they should lock up limited Detroit offense and push the ball to force the Pistons to run. If that happens, Cleveland cruises and favorites move to 9-1 ATS in this series.

Dallas at San Antonio 8:05 E ESPN

At least from the start, this is the craziest series to put your hands around. They may as well play these games in Houston because being a favorite in this Texas tussle means virtually nothing. Since the beginning of the 2005-06 season, the favorite is 11-12 and unfathomable 6-17 ATS. San Antonio can still play defense and has won five of six, showing 26-15 ATS record against teams who permit 99 or more points like Dallas. The Mavericks won seven of last nine contests to move all the way up to sixth seed and are four-point underdogs to the Spurs. Dallas has covered seven of last eight with two days rest and takes on Tim Duncan team that is 5-13 ATS in a home game where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points (current line 185.5). The Spurs are in familiar spot and are 14-4 ATS as three-seed.

Houston at Portland 10:35 E ESPN

Thinking about is 4 vs 5 matchup, this figures to be close series, with loads of ways to view it. Yao Ming should have his way in the pivot for Houston, however Portland will keep rotating fresh bodies from their plentiful array and can Ming keep from wearing down? Look for Ron Artest and Shane Battier to tag along with Brandon Roy. With the size and strength those two possess, does Roy have the legs in the last four minutes to make critical baskets? The Trailblazers were teeming at home with 34-7 (26-14-1 ATS) mark and come in on six-game winning streak. At the Rose Garden the Blazers are 9-1 ATS off four or more straight wins. The Rockets might be a bit testy, losing last game to give away home court in this series and are 28-12 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread this season.