Anything possible in Denver for Game 5

For a series that has been either as bland as guacamole or as fiery as 100 jalapeño peppers, this next game has caught the attention of sports fans, bloggers, those on Twitter and sports bettors. Nobody expects Dallas to emerge victorious after losing first three games to Denver, however this is kind of like discovering a television show that you’ve grown to like recently and just found out it is about to be cancelled.

The first two games in Denver were like old episodes of the Andy Griffith show on TV Land. Mildly entertaining, with an outcome you saw coming. When the venue changed to Dallas, all of the sudden it looked like an episode of American Chopper.

Without going over ALL the delicious details, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban loses cool and calls out Kenyon Martin’s mother. After seeing the commotion he caused, he later apologizes. Kind of like throwing confetti and realizing later somebody has to clean it up.

Kenyon Martin evidently bought the Rosetta Stone version of Al Pacino in “Scarface” after Game 3 and let those in attendance and to a lesser degree those on television, share his new language and was particularly fond of one word he used over and over again.

If you are a Dallas fan, you can take solace in the fact; your team avoided being swept. The Mavericks to a man showed guts and pride, seldom associated with teams down 3-0. Dirk Nowitzki looked exactly like the same player that led Dallas to NBA Finals a few years ago. Josh Howard is running like Yao Ming, without the broken bones and showed extreme courage. The Mavs laid it all on the line and is 14-5 ATS after a combined score of 215 points or more this season.

The Denver bettor and fan is far from disappointed, as the Nuggets covered the spread for a ninth consecutive time. Denver didn’t play A-Game or put forth much defensive effort, yet could look at the box score and see 12 missed free throws cost them a chance at victory.
Coach George Karl had his first off game of the postseason also, failing to have his team switch properly on high screen and rolls and not doubling Nowitzki more, as Martin was schooled like a high-schooler.

There is blood in the water for Game 5 and Denver knows it. They are 38-8 (28-17-1 ATS) at the Pepsi Center and 15-4 ATS after allowing 100 points or more three straight games this season. Chris Anderson should be back to add energy, after missing last contest and Nuggets fans in attendance will be able to share the same kind of joy Mavs fans did two nights ago.
No need to worry about Carmelo Anthony or Chauncey Billups, they will be fine, it’s K-Mart who needs to take his game from the discount aisle back to blue light special.

DiamondSportsbook.com is offering the Nuggets as 9.5-point favorites and they are 10-1 ATS as a home chalk of 6.5 to 9 points this season. The total will be the highest of the series at 213.5 and Denver has to crash the boards with more authority and is 14-3 OVER in home games after consecutive affairs being outrebounded by opponent by 10 or more.

Is Dallas really capable of another max effort game on the road? The Mavericks are 3-12 ATS on the road after failing to cover four of their last five contests and are 24-10 OVER in the second round of the playoffs.

It’s too bad this won’t be a seven game series, since it has certainly turned dramatic and nobody does drama like TNT, who has Game 5 at 9 Eastern. Still, difficult to not see Denver is 8-2 and 9-1 ATS at home versus Dallas, even if they serve Pepsi Throwback at the Pepsi Center.