Saturday's Line up

I wish I could keep up with this daily with how we are going but doing a lot of football writing recently which cuts into time. Anyway we are on 59-26 run and have an outstanding 85.4 percent system ready to ignite. The Top Trend is reverse perfect and not surprising involves the Pirates. The guys from the Left Coast Connection have been awesome when they think like-minded and have another Free consensus play. Good Luck

What I’ll thought today – I love conspiracy theorists, if Orlando would have won last night they would say the NBA is fixed and they wanted a seventh game, but since that didn’t happen they move on to “well David Stern wanted Boston in the finals”. Amazing!!!!

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Free Baseball System -1) Play Against all underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher like the Astros, being outscored by opponents by 0.5 or more runs a game on the season, after allowing 15 runs or more. Since 2006 this system is 41-7, 85.4 percent.

Free Baseball Trend -2) Brian Burres of Pittsburgh is 0-11 on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 in his career. (Team record)

Free Baseball Pick -3) The LCC consensus plays have been amazing and they are 10-0 on the Red Sox tonight.

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Suns seek to avoid bring burned by Lakers

You have to give Ron-Ron credit, of the 10 players on the floor watching Kobe Bryant’s shot attempt to win another game, he was the only that realized it was going to land short of its destination, ran towards the ball, grabbed it and put in the basket to set off wild celebration by the ultra-cool movie and TV stars who realized this wasn’t scripted.

Ron Artest saved the day despite faulty vision, “I thought Kobe got fouled on the shot, so I figured it was going to be short,” Artest said. “And it was a little short.”

The series moves to its first elimination matchup and Phoenix made be down, but they certainly are not out.

As the new Philadelphia 76ers coach and analyst Doug Collins correctly pointed out, it felt like the Lakers were ahead by 15 points when they led by just eight midway thru the fourth quarter.

Coach Phil Jackson made a series of key adjustments before Game 5, running unbalanced overload against the Phoenix zone and running cutters weakside once the ball was passed into the lane area. The Suns tried a 1-3-1 changeup, but players and coaches at this level crave up a cheap gimmick like that in no time.

Lamar Odom returned to being aggressive and he and Derek Fisher drove thru the Phoenix zone like “CHIPS” with traffic stopped. All this led to a procession of layups and easy buckets.
Coach Alvin Gentry’s zone isn’t designed to disable the Los Angeles, rather to hopefully force up bad shot attempts along with normal misses. The Lakers will head to the sun drenched desert 13-4 ATS after two straight games committing 11 or less turnovers this season.

The final minutes of Game 5 spoke loudly about both teams. Phoenix was unwilling to quit, especially Steve Nash. The Lakers had taken away aspects of the Canadien’s ability to use the screen and roll effectively, by jumping big men at him and setting up “wall” with Derek Fisher going underneath. Upon his return in the final minutes, Nash took matters into his own hands by taking and making shots, which caused vacillation by the Lakers bigs and gave him just enough room to operate.

Overall Los Angeles may be taller, but lack the lateral quickness to rotate back if Nash goes into the Lakers forest of tall timber. L.A. also showed a common flaw of this team, similar to the one that cost them to lose to Boston in the finals two years ago, a killer instinct. Artest’s ridiculous three-point attempt and other less the precise offensive sets enabled the more determined team late in the contest to almost steal one.

The Suns are 11-3 ATS at home off a road loss and need a few elements to occur to force a Memorial Day matchup.

Amare Stoudemire needs another bust-out effort like Game 3. A total of 40+ points isn’t required, however that same type of aggressiveness and rebounding desire is. Phoenix is going to shoot three-pointers regardless, thus the number made isn’t as important as the percentage, which has to be above 30 percent.

Channing Frye and Jared Dudley have found a comfortable rhythm in the West Finals; however Leandro Barbosa and Goran Dragic cannot be outscored by Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic like they were in the last contest (7-5).

The Suns are 1.5-point pick and are 9-1 ATS at U.S. Airways Arena after a loss by six points or less. The last game saw the first total go below the number in the series and the home team fail to cover. The oddsmakers have adjusted the total downward to 216, nevertheless Los Angeles is 7-0 OVER in the purple uniforms after allowing 100 points or more in exactly two straight tilts and Phoenix is 15-5 OVER at Planet Orange versus good shooting teams making 46 or more of their shots since the midpoint of the season the previous two years.

Game Six has been moved up to 8:30 Eastern on TNT as the Lakers try to close out the series. They are away 17-6 ATS away from home having lost two of their last three games.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

(2) Chicago vs (7) Philadelphia

The routes the two teams took to reach the Stanley Cup are very different, however not the methods. This doesn’t apply to just this season either, it goes back in time.

The Chicago Blackhawks last appeared in the Finals in 1992 and the Wirtz family had a long history of, how do you put this charitably, being frugal. In the late 1950’s and most of 60’s, Chicago was a lot like the Atlanta Braves under Bobby Cox, a great team with Hall of Fame players, but secured just one championship, that in 1961.

Once Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita moved on, the Blackhawks became just another team. After mostly years of ineptitude, Chicago put the resources into building a foundation with extremely young, talented players who moved so well it appeared they could lace them up with Apolo Ohno.

Last year the diligence and patience paid off as Chicago made it to the conference finals and this year their increased maturity and skill has them as the favorites to be Stanley Cup champions.

Though Philadelphia was not an Original Six team, being one of six expansion teams in 1969, they quickly became a league fascination. In 1974 the Flyers rocked the NHL establishment being the first non-Original Six squad to capture the Stanley Cup. With the likes of Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach, Dave Schultz and Bernie Parent, the “Broad Street Bullies” were born and they captured another championship the following season.

Unlike the Chicago, Philadelphia has always been good, having the NHL’s second best winning percentage over the length of time of any franchise. The year after the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season, the rule changes reshaped the game and the Flyers were ill-prepared. Though they were still talented enough to be playoff team, Philadelphia was so slow looked like they were skating in puddles of water compared to their competitors.

Like the Blackhawks, Philadelphia drafted and acquired players that could skate, score and defend and the last two months have been magical, making it to the Finals for the first time since 1997.

As speed has overtaken hockey, a further premium is being placed on blueliners who can skate and be physical to disrupt offenses. Both teams rank high in this department with Philadelphia having the likes of Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen and Matt Carle as its top defenders and Chicago countering with Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

The Hawks have been getting superior goaltending from rookie Antti Niemi, while netminder Michael Leighton (actually drafted by Chicago in 1999) is the perfect person to have between the pipes for this fairy tale playoff run for the Flyers. Niemi has permitted two or less goals in seven of last nine starts, while Leighton has hung four zeros since taking over for injured Brian Boucher.

Offensively, the Blackhawks have been lighting the lamp like a traffic corner, scoring 3.8 goals per game since Game 5 against Nashville. The line of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Dustin Byfuglien has been virtually unstoppable. Kane has everyone on the edge of their seats when he has the puck. Captain Toews is a Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) candidate with 26 points in 16 contests and Byfuglien has eight goals in his last eight games, with his 257-pound frame making him a human bridge - you can run into him but you suffer the damage to this immovable object.

Philadelphia has an ample supply of scoring power with Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne and Danny Briere. As Boston found out late and Montreal throughout the series, the Flyers had scoring depth over three lines, with youngsters Claude Giroux and Ville Leino making important contributions to keep the pressure on opposing defenses.

On paper this looks like mismatch. Chicago was one of the best teams from day one of the season, while Philadelphia underachieved most of the regular season before making late run to sneak into the playoffs on the final day.

The Blackhawks biggest edge appears to be in the net and starts the Finals 8-0 at the Madison Street Madhouse after allowing two goals or less in three straight games this season. It’s would seem foolish to sell the Flyers short, as an awful lot of events fell a certain way and they have taken advantage of every single one and are 11-4 in road games off a home win.

Do not foresee an upset for two reasons, Chicago is the better team and is on 7-0 roll as playoff visitor. Nonetheless, this series goes longer than expected with Philly’s dogged determination.

Pick- Chicago (-260) in six Philadelphia (+220)

Boston needs a little magic(?)

No way, come on, it’s impossible, not a chance in you know where, but yet…

The Boston Celtics have gone into some weird time warp machine, going from looking old and downtrodden, to younger and hotter than Justin Bieber and back again.

The Celtics by the end of Game 5’s 113-92 beat down looked like they had just rode on nearby Space Mountain at Disney World backwards, without seat belts.

For those that love the city of Boston and their sports teams, this series is taking on a theme a little too familiar, with the Bruins coughing up a 3-0 series lead to Philadelphia earlier this month.

The Celtics are 23-11 ATS when playing with double revenge and might need Lance Burton to put an end to Orlando’s magic. The single greatest denominator in this series is confidence. Boston stole it in Game 1 and Orlando has taken it back with two victories.

How else can you explain Boston being flawless on both ends of the floor, finding the open shooter to make baskets and closing out on Orlando shooters at just the right instant to make them miss.

Yet, in the space of less than two playoff games, Doc River’s team can’t find an open makeable shot and looks hesitant and half step slow on offense and is running towards Magic shooters, instead of having them guarded.

And what about Stan Van Gundy’s squad? For three games Orlando couldn’t hit the water with a shot at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park and Jameer Nelson vs. Rajon Rondo looked like the biggest mismatch since Floyd Mayweather Jr. hammered Arturo Gatti.

However, a great coaching adjustment by Van Gundy has Nelson finding freedom off screens and the Boston big men are uncertain of Jameer’s next move and he’s put them in a full Nelson, whether he’s decided to drive, shoot or dish. The Magic might have unleashed another weapon as Rashard Lewis stopped thinking and has started just playing basketball.

Orlando is 11-3 ATS in road games off a home win by 10 points or more this season and their increased intensity and execution has Rivers team reeling.

Glen Davis is a maybe after suffering concussion, leaving a frustrated Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace to do battle with Dwight Howard in the paint, who is invoking performances from yesteryear. (From Elias Sports - Dwight Howard registered 21 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to help Orlando avoid playoff elimination in Game Five on Wednesday night. Howard had 32 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots to help Orlando avoid a series sweep in Game Four. Only one other player has recorded 20-or-more points, 10-or-more rebounds and at least four blocked shots in consecutive games with his team facing elimination in both games: Elvin Hayes in 1979.)

Boston is a 3.5-point favorite according to most sportsbooks, with total of 187.5. Can a battered and bruised white-clad club muster Celtic pride and close out this series? Yes they can, but they have to make adjustments.

Orlando has raised the ante on physical play and the Celtics have been retaliating with foolish fouls instead of matching grit for grit. Bang with the Magic just enough to not be whistled for fouls and don’t get out-muscled and out-worked on the glass, otherwise they fall to 13-30 ATS at home after being outrebounded by opponent by 15 or more. Passive won’t work and neither will overly aggressive, take the fight to them.

On the high screens Nelson is running off of, attack him with big man, with arms spread to reduce Jameer’s line of sight. Nelson has never been accused of being a Steve Nash-type passer. Force him make immediate decisions with ball, not his strength under duress.

Boston players also have to stay with their own man. In the first three contests the Magic converted 20 three-pointers, in the last two wins; Orlando long distance shooters have ripped the nets for 23 from “downtown”.

Superman and friends are 24-13 ATS as an underdog over the last two years and they know as well as Boston, for all intents and purposes this is an elimination game for both teams. Though 93 teams have tried and failed in the NBA playoffs being down 3-0, if Boston were to lose, most would bet against history.

ESPN has Game 6 at 8:30 Eastern and one can only imagine what people from Bean-Town are thinking.

MLB Series Wagering - Dodgers at Rockies

With the Memorial Day holiday weekend about to go into full swing, the race in the National League West starts to heat up also. The unofficial beginning of summer marks when television and radio announcers can no longer say “it’s still early”, with a third of the season soon to be completed. The Dodgers and Rockies meet for a second time in 2010, this time in Colorado.

Both clubs are chasing confounding San Diego, with Los Angeles (26-21, -1.2 units) two games back in the standings and Colorado (25-22, +0.7) three behind.

The Rockies have been ravaged by injuries to their pitching staff, but have started to overcome them riding a five-game winning streak. The Colorado offense has started to hit its stride in winning six of seven, scoring 5.4 runs per game and moving up to sixth overall in the National League. In their last four games the Rocks have launched 11 home runs.

The Dodgers offense has been feast or famine this season. Los Angeles is fourth in the NL at 4.9 RPG, but they were shut out twice at Wrigley Field this week, giving them seven zeros already, after being held scoreless just nine times in 2009.

As per usual Colorado is enjoying the benefits of Coors Field and are 14-7 (+4.8) at home and will start Jeff Francis (1-0, 0.68 ERA), who missed all of 2009 with shoulder surgery. In his two starts this year, Francis looks very much like the pitcher that won 17 games and led Rockies to World Series. Sportsbooks have Francis and teammates as -152 money line favorites and they are 18-3 as a home chalk of -150 to -175 over the last two seasons.

The Dodgers are still looking for another starting pitcher and give the ball to Carlos Monasterios (1-0, 1.90) for a second time. Monasterios has 10 other relief appearances but is excited about another opportunity. “I like starting,” said the rookie right-hander. With the total at 9.5, Monasterios will attempt to do his part and improve L.A.’s 40-20 record when the total is 9 to 9.5.

Game 1 Edge: Colorado

Colorado is feeling really good about their recent play coming into the series. “We’re definitely playing better,” said Troy Tulowitzki, who’s homered four times in five games. “We’re playing defense, pitching a little better and getting some timely hitting, mixed in with some power.”
Since last season the Rockies are 41-16 at home after three or more consecutive Coors contests and will have Aaron Cook (1-3. 5.40) on the hill. Cook’s strength as a pitcher is nibbling on the corners and keeping his heavy fastball low in the strike zone. To date he has lacked his usual efficiency and has as many walks as strikeouts (25). He’s going to need more control to extend his team’s 5-0 record when he starts at home.

The Dodgers have certainly held the upper hand against Colorado recently. Los Angeles is 17-5 against the Rocks since the beginning of last year and has won eight consecutive series dating back to Sept. 2008. Joe Torre’s club has also emerged victorious nine of previous 12 at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Hiroki Kuroda (5-2, 3.03) has been most effective this season, pitching at least into the sixth inning in all his starts and allowing more than three runs just once. Manager Torre moved Kuroda back a day in the rotation and he and his blue-capped team are 11-3 when he pitches with five days of rest.

Game 2 Edge: L.A. Dodgers

The series finale is a solid pitching matchup featuring lefty Clayton Kershaw (4-3, 2.90) against Jhoulys Chacin (3-2, 3.09). Kershaw has been living up to all the potential heaped on him the last few years and has 0.64 ERA in his last four starts with 27 K’s in 28 1/3 innings. Coors Field hasn’t been his favorite place to pitch with 2-2 record and 6.92 ERA. The Dodgers are 7-8 in day games and Kershaw has to command the strike zone with his 91-95 mph fastball to set up his “Uncle Charley” curve.

Like Kershaw, Chacin is also 22 years old and has a five pitch arsenal that can baffle hitters. He’s harnessed his control (13 W, 30 K) and only permitted 22 hits over 32 innings with opposing batters nicking him for .188 batting average. He'll be facing the Dodgers for the second time, having pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings against Los Angeles on May 8. Colorado is much better in day games with 12-7 record and with these two young starters, the Rockies might add another UNDER to 13-5-1 mark in day baseball.

Game 3 Edge: L.A. Dodgers

Haven’t been very good in picking series winners thus far and instead will follow a little football logic of never better against a strong trend. The Dodgers have owned Colorado the last few seasons and not have to face Ubaldo Jimenez has me leaning with Torre’s troops.

Series odds: Los Angeles +115, Colorado -145

3Daily Winners Pick: L.A. Dodgers

2010 Record – 2-5

Thursday's Top Material

We’re back after a 1-1 Tuesday and have three plays on tap to supports 56-26 record. The Best System and Best Bet are from the same game and have extremely impressive figures. Talk about impressive one AL team has an 18-0 angle going tonight. Good Luck

What I’ll learned today – Dwight Howard registered 21 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to help Orlando avoid playoff elimination in Game Five on Wednesday night. Howard had 32 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots to help Orlando avoid a series sweep in Game Four. Only one other player has recorded 20-or-more points, 10-or-more rebounds and at least four blocked shots in consecutive games with his team facing elimination in both games: Elvin Hayes in 1979. (Thanks Elias)

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Baseball System -1) Play On home favorites with a money line of -125 to -175 like Cincy, batting .290 or better over their last 20 games, in May. Over the past three seasons this system is electrifying 27-6.

Free Baseball Trend -2) Tampa Bay is 18-0 in home tilts after scoring four runs or less three straight games over the last three seasons.

Free Baseball Pick -3) The LCC consensus plays continue to deliver wins and profits and are backing the Reds 14-0 this evening. WOW!

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Lakers attempt to regain upper hand

What’s the old saying, “When mama’s not happy, nobody’s happy”. A form of that saying is taking place in the Los Angeles Lakers locker room, with Kobe Bryant taking the place of mama.

“We have to play with a sense of urgency,” Bryant said after his team lost in the desert for second time, “and understand this team can beat us.”

Kobe, when asked what was wrong, didn’t mince words and tersely stated his feelings. “We lost the game,” Bryant said, “because our defense sucked.

“Our focus was on the other side of the floor, which doesn’t win championships. So we need to get back to ground zero when it comes to that.”

That’s the conundrum with the 2009-10 Lakers squad, every good stretch of basketball means “Margaritaville” and the passion and intensity necessary dwindles with prosperity.

Bryant had 74 points, 21 assists and 16 rebounds in two games in downtown Phoenix, but didn’t get enough assistance from his supporting cast.

“Kobe had a great game,” Lamar Odom said about Game 4. “Too bad we weren’t able to come along with him.”

Los Angeles returns to the Staples Center where they are 41-7 (21-26-1 ATS) this season and needs to reestablish control of the series which is tied at 2-2.

The Lakers are 12-3 ATS after three or more consecutive Over’s this year and while Kobe is complaining about the defensive effort, other wonder if the Suns zone defense has gotten into the heads of L.A. players.

"It's the zone," Lakers center Andrew Bynum admitted. "We're settling for outside jump shots. They were out there moving that ball, they were confident playing at home and they really just shot the ball well. They had everybody spaced out so everybody's running around."

Though, as coach Phil Jackson pointed out, his team has shot 48.3 and 49.5 percent in the last two losses while averaging 107.5 points per game, but does some of the hesitation on the Lakers offense carry over unto the defensive end, causing lapses in concentration for a club not known for “Terminator” single-mindedness.

What the Lakers zone offense has also lacked is getting the ball into high post consistently, with cutters running baseline or weakside cutters slashing to the rim. While Ron Artest is still a fine defensive player, the loss of Trevor Ariza hurts the Lakers in this situation, since he has greater quickness, understands how to cut more effectively to the basket and is a more consistent three-point shooter than Artest.

Phoenix is bubbling with confidence and is 14-6 ATS in road encounters after a combined score of 205 points or more in a trio of tilts this season. Channing Frye found his misplaced jump shot and the Suns reserves lambasted the Lakers bench 54-20 after being mildly ineffective for the first three games. "The bench played fantastic," the Suns' Steve Nash said.

Coach Alvin Gentry is earning his coaching “onions” as he left his bench players in the game for almost nine minutes of the final quarter, since they had produced 18-3 run, essentially putting Los Angeles away.

"We believe in those guys and they really believe in themselves," Gentry said. "I thought they were much better defensively than they were offensively, and they were great offensively."

Though no Phoenix player would publicly admit this, they know a Game 5 upset gives them best chance to win the series with Saturday’s conflict back at Planet Orange. A Game 7 win in L.A. would a monumental task to pull off for Phoenix.

Sportsbooks have the Lakers as 7.5-point pick, with total of 218. Pau Gasol and the rest of his teammates have to play like they did during eight-game postseason winning streak (7-1 ATS) and they are 18-5 ATS when tied in a playoff series since 1996. The Suns are 33-14 ATS after allowing 105 points or more and will have to solve the Los Angeles team in the yellow uniforms since they are 1-7 and 2-6 ATS in L.A.

TNT continues with the series at 9:00 Eastern and the Lake Show is 8-0 OVER after two straight games where both teams scored 100 points or more this season.

Rays bust mini-slump according to MLB System

It was bound to happen; Tampa Bay (32-15, +9.2 units) is officially in their first slump of the year, having been swept at home by Boston in three games. The Rays “Sox” homestand continues and they will look for much better outcomes against the team from Chicago.

The Rays offense has been the culprit of their failures, touching home plate just four times against the Red Sox and have scored more than four runs only once in their last six tries.

Tampa Bay has fallen to third in the American League in runs scored in part because their team batting average is now seventh (.256), with players like B.J. Upton slumping (batting .146 in his last 23 games).

Starting pitcher Jeff Niemann (4-0, 2.54 ERA) would certainly appreciate an offensive lift since he has yet to register a win at Tropicana Field this season despite 2.95 ERA in his four starts. Though Tampa Bay has scored 19 runs in Niemann’s starting assignments at the Trop, 14 of those runs have come after he’s been taken out of the game, giving him no decisions. At least the Rays bullpen continues to excel with 3.41 ERA and 82.4 percent save percentage.

Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox (20-26, -9.6 units) wish they had the kind of problems Tampa Bay has. Guillen’s club has not hit all season as evidenced by .240 batting average (13th) and ranking 10th in the AL in runs scored (4.2) and on-base percentage (.316).

Guillen might be a little testy coming into this four-game series having been tossed from yesterday’s win in Cleveland. The Sox skipper is also tired of witnessing tonight starting pitcher Gavin Floyd (2-4, 6.31) not pitching up to capabilities.

“He is not a kid any more (referring to Floyd), he’s not a guy we need to teach or be careful what he is going to do, how many pitches he’s going to throw,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. He has stuff to win 20 games; it’s about making him believe that.”

Floyd does have good numbers in a couple areas with a better than 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio (43-19) and has only been taken deep four times in nine starts. His downfall has been a combination of leaving the ball up in the zone and catching too much of the plate, being tagged for 66 hits in 51 1/3 innings.

The Rays opened as -165 money line favorites and the morning line has them up to -177 at most online sports betting outlets. Has the word on this superb system gotten out?

Play Against road underdogs with a money line of +125 to +175, with a mediocre AL team batting average of .260 or less, against a club with a good bullpen (ERA <=3.75), whose starting pitcher gives up one home run or less every other start.

Betting against teams like the Pale Hose in this spot has been profitable with 43-9, 82.7 percent record the previous five seasons. Tampa Bay usually responds well to poor pitching performances like yesterday with 13-2 mark in home games after allowing nine runs or more over the last three seasons.

Rays’ pitcher Niemann has enjoyed excellent success against below average competition and is 18-4 pitching against a team with a losing record since last year. (Rays Record)

For the skeptical sports betting participant, this should be the knockout punch –Manager Joe Maddon’s squad is 18-0 at home after scoring four runs or less three straight games since 2008.

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Can Orlando make series compelling?

While waiting for the lines to come out on Game 5 between Boston and Orlando, did some perusing to see what the common man was thinking about this series after the Magic upset the Celtics 96-92 in overtime. Some were hilarious, other thoughts were insights into what Joe Average has running around in his dome, even if he still is allowed to drive and place online sports betting wagers.

The most common theme was this is all fixed by David Stern and Orlando was going to come back and tie the series at 3-3, with opinions varying who wins the deciding seventh game. This subject of fixed games will show up later this week in another article.

Many praised Orlando for not emailing it in and wondered aloud if this is the sign of the Magic finally playing up to capabilities or if it was a one night stand and reality comes a callin’ back at home. Most thought it was a gift to take Orlando at +7 seeing that was a two touchdown turnaround (14-point swing) in less than week, regardless of the location.

Equal numbers lambasted Boston for not bringing the necessary determination to close out opponent who had been all but willing to be beaten for large expanses of the series and questioned the Celtics commitment to excellence. What was read into this was they had the C’s minus the seven.

For those that see Stern as the reason the series was extended at least one more contest, it turns out the real culprit was Stan Van Gundy, the Magic coach.

Van Gundy may look like Ron Jeremy’s brother more than his own sibling Jeff; however he made two wise moves before Game 4 even started.

He had witnessed three games and broken down tape and determined Rajon Rondo was too disruptive as defender, especially against Jameer Nelson. Instead of setting single screens which Rondo routinely beat, he set up staggered screens.

This created more room for Nelson to operate, who is a shooter first and passer second as a point guard. Rondo couldn’t use his quickness to jump thru or around two Orlando players and Boston seemed puzzled as to what to do with Nelson in more open areas.

This placed different Celtics big men in no-man’s land and Dwight Howard for the first time had room to work with and the Magic’s offense had continuity, sending them home 16-5 ATS after failing to cover two of their last three against the spread this season.

While it’s impossible to gauge the impact, Orlando played more ready from the start. Van Gundy had told his squad no team had EVER come back from 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs (93-0), because they had not placed enough value on winning the fourth game in the series. Most of the Orlando players showed more passion and they own a diabolical angle moving ahead - 13-0 ATS after a win by six points or less this season, with average margin of victory 16 points.

Boston deserves plenty of blame for this series extension. The first aspect is the Celtics play after the third quarter in this East Finals. Most of the time Doc Rivers squad has enjoyed big leads going into the final 12 minutes and NBA contests have a natural ebb and flow, nonetheless after awhile you wonder about a team being outscored 105-78 in the last quarter and beyond. (Outscored all four games)

What has gotten the Celtics to this juncture is team basketball, yet in the last segments of game, a much larger volume of isolation plays are called or run, which is why Boston had such an awful spread record during the regular season by blowing leads for losses or non-covers. Despite the defense, it makes more sense why they are 5-17 ATS after two or more consecutive Under’s this year.

Oddsmakers have Orlando as four-point favorites, but they are only 2-6 ATS when doling out 4.5 or less points at home. Boston right now is not in scurrying mode from one loss –“There's definitely no need to panic. We like the position we're in," Ray Allen said. The Celtics are 15-5-1 ATS as postseason underdogs.

The Magic face a second match point trying to force a sixth conflict and build further momentum. ESPN will be on hand at 8:30 Eastern, with KG and company 11-2 UNDER revenging a straight up loss as a home favorite.

MLB Systems that hit all bases

The weather is heating up across most of the country, which makes going a baseball a very comfortable experience. On the topic of hot, this Wednesday we have four smokin’ systems in the big leagues that begging to be considered for online sports betting.

Oakland at Baltimore 7:05E MASN

After smacking the ball around the yard for 31 hits in two games early last week, the Athletics offense has gone nearly dormant with more than seven base hits once in last six outings. Oakland is 12th in runs scored in the American League at 3.8 per game and will face Baltimore’s Brian Matusz (2-4, 5.26 ERA), whose last three outings have been like the stock market. (3 2/3, six runs allowed -seven shutout innings – 2 1/3, seven runs allowed)

Sportsbooks have total on this tilt of Ov8.5, but history shows AL teams that score 4.5 or less runs a contest after three consecutive games of seven hits or fewer, against a starting pitcher with ERA in 4.70 to 5.70 range, have a strong tendency to play UNDER with 39-13 record since 1997.

Boston at Tampa Bay 7:10 E NESN

For the last several years the Red Sox have scuffled in Tampa Bay with 6-16 record coming into the series. They are starting to turn that around with a pair of wins to begin three-game set. Boston will go for the sweep of the AL East division leaders having won four in a row and eight of nine.

The Red Sox have been swinging hot bats and are now second to Toronto in home runs in the big leagues with 62 and they’ve received excellent pitching, holding the Rays to one run in the first two games. John Lackey (4-3, 5.07) continues to struggle with his new club and will take on Matt Garza (5-2, 2.37) who is 8-2 against the BoSox.

Oddsmakers have made Boston +144 road underdogs and teams averaging 1.25 or more home runs game after allowing two runs or less and are visiting dogs of +125 to +175, are 26-86 the last five seasons.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 7:10E

While San Diego and Tampa Bay have garnered most of the attention for their early season exploits, one team has quietly gone about their business, yet is surprisingly tied for a division lead. The Cincinnati Reds are 26-20 (+6.5), with seven wins in their last 11 contests. The Reds strength has been their offense, averaging 5.6 RPG since May 4.

Tonight, Cincy is a -166 ML choice and home favorites of -125 to -175, batting .290 or better over their last 20 games, in May, are 45-13 since 2006.

Arizona at Colorado 8:40E

On the baseball card for Hump Day, one of the biggest presumed mismatches is this NL West battle. The reason is simplistic, National League Cy Young Award candidate, Ubaldo Jimenez (8-1, 0.99) is pitching, leading baseball in wins and earned run average.

How dominant has Jimenez been; he’s the second major league starter in the past 90 years to begin a season with nine starts of six or more innings while giving up three or fewer runs.
The Rockies are -240 ML faves against Arizona’s up and down offense and road underdogs of +175 to +250, batting .250 or worse over their last 20 games, against opponent with a hot starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.000 or less over his last five starts are beggarly 3-47. Ouch!

All systems from the Foxsheets.

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Top Tuesday Action

I wish I was personally 55-25 in my last 80 plays, but I’m not, however that is the record here at 3Daily Winners. Check out the varied Top Trends in posted article. The Left Coast Connection is mad good and has another Free Play. The Best System is 80.5 percent out in Coffee Town. Good Luck

What I’ll say today – I know some of you are long suffering Chicago Blackhawks fans, I’m happy for you and think your team has heck of chance to be champions. I’ll be rooting for your team. If anyone likes the Flyers, sorry, they made Boston infamous.

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Free Baseball System -1) Play Against all underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher like Seattle, a gruesome AL offensive team scoring 4.2 or less runs per game, against a team with a very good bullpen (ERA<=3.33), with a starting pitcher whose gives up 5.5 or less hits a start. This system is confidence building 62-15 since 1997.

Free Baseball Trend -2) Many great choices in below article. See that A’s angle, its nuts.

Free Baseball Pick -3) The LCC consensus plays continue to be steam action and they are 7-0 on Florida tonight.

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Home Rules in NBA West Finals

People tend to hear and then add their own personal twist to what they just listened to, which ultimately tends to change or exaggerate the original topic. The Phoenix Suns had gone from a terrible defense team to one that was competent after the All-Star break this season. The more games Phoenix won and their players and coaches talked about improved defense being the difference, the more the media and public bought into it.

After holding Portland and San Antonio to 95.9 points per game in their first two series triumphs, the mantra was viewed as the new and improved Phoenix Suns.

The Los Angeles Lakers being more talented, with better offensive weapons, quickly put Alan Gentry’s team more into proper perspective, averaging 126 points in the first two games against the Suns.

Gentry is an affable coach, quick to give praise to his team and at least publicly, measures his disappointment when he sees a lack of effort or execution.

For Game 3, Gentry knew a couple of areas that needed immediate improvement.

He started with realizing his club was no match to play the Lakers straight-up defensively and that doubling different L.A. players was failing as badly as British Petroleum’s attempt to solve the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Gentry knew his team was still below average defensively, but was capable of making SOME stops, which might be enough to knock off the Lakers if the offense continued to be productive.
The head coach and assistant coaches went to a zone defense, which took Kobe Bryant and his teammates out of the triangle offense. Gentry and his staff hoped Los Angeles might become content to fire away from long range and kept his fingers crossed they wouldn’t bury too many. Though the Lakers made nine three-point baskets, it took them 32 attempts to reach that level, lowering their record to 7-3 ATS as road underdogs.

Offensively, Phoenix got aggressive taking the ball to the basket. Forget the talk the Lakers being Lemuel Gulliver from the book “Gulliver’s Travels”, where he washed ashore after a shipwreck and was captured by the people Lilliput (the Suns were bring characterized as the same size as Lilliputians), being one-twelfth the size of a normal human being.

The Suns went at their “giant” foes with abandon and ended up shooting 42 free throws (37 made) to their counterpart’s smallish total of 20. The 118-109 victory brought Phoenix back into the series and gave them hope for the next contest where they are 37-10 and 29-16-2 ATS.
Two main players on the floor changed the direction of the series. Amare Stoudemire was virtually unstoppable with 42 points and 11 rebounds and Lamar Odom returned to the planet earth, with 10 points on 4-14 shooting and had as many fouls as rebounds (6).

Though it probably won’t show in Game 4, Los Angeles has had ample rest, however another loss in the desert could make the series a far greater challenge, forced to play every other day, where they are 4-12 ATS with one day off.

The money is mostly riding on the Lakers, now a one-point favorite after being a 1.5-point underdog to open, with the total higher yet again at 222 after three straight Over’s.

Kobe and company are 18-7 ATS in road games after scoring 105 points or more in three consecutive contests and 23-12 OVER having won two of their last three games this season. Phoenix will try and square up the series and is 22-8 ATS after a tilt where both teams scored 105 points or more. The team with shaggy-haired point guard and fractured nose is 41-22 OVER when both teams score 98 or more points in a game this season.

TNT will against provide this West Finals conflict starting at 9:00 Eastern with coaching adjustments very important. The home team is on 8-1 ATS run between these Pacific Division competitors.

Let's follow MLB Trendy Talk

Baseball like any sport is about how teams matchup. Often, little secrets emerge when two teams face off and they can be frequently found in baseball trends. Those participating in sports betting can grab an edge they might otherwise not have with a couple of key points about any given contest on a typical slate of 15 games. Take the time to peruse baseball’s top trends for tonight.

In the National League the Cincinnati Reds host Pittsburgh being tied with the St. Louis atop the Central Division. The Reds are a -170 money line favorite at sportsbooks and have feasted on rotten teams. Cincy is 12-2 playing against a bad club with 38-46 win percentage and is 11-2 if a NL team has an on-base percentage .315 or worse this season.

Philadelphia visits the New York Mets and is 10-2 on the road after seven or more consecutive home games the last three seasons. Tonight, the Phillies starter is Jamie Moyer and he and the Phils are 14-3 in road encounters against division opponents since 2008.

Atlanta heads to south Florida with the total at nine. This might be setting up as Under play since the Braves are 14-3 UNDER in road games when playing with a day off over the last three years and Florida starter Anibal Sanchez is 11-1 UNDER when the ML is +125 to -125.

The Houston at Milwaukee matchup is like picking your own poison. The Brewers are 4-14 at Miller Park and 2-7 as a home favorite of -110 or higher this season. The Astros on the other hand are 15-29 and 7-21 coming of a loss. Houston will start Felipe Paulino who is 0-6 this year and he and the ‘Stros are 2-15 as an underdog of +100 or higher over the last two seasons.

Over in the American League, two scuffling Central Division partners do battle in Cleveland. The Chicago White Sox are underachieving 19-25 and cannot formulate any momentum with 4-14 record after a win in 2010. The Indians have hitting and pitching woes are 4-17 after scoring four runs or less in five straight games since 2008. The Pale Hose are -132 ML favorites because of starter Jake Peavy.

Oakland has won three in a row and five of seven to climb back over .500 at 23-22 and has owned Baltimore with 13-2 mark. The A’s are -111 ML road faves behind Dallas “Mr. Perfect” Braden; however an inkling of doubt arises. The Athletics are feeble 0-13 in road games vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.100 or better.

Minnesota like a lot of AL clubs has problems with the New York Yankees. The Twins are 5-18 vs. New York and 4-7 at home the last couple of years. The simplest explanation is 16-32 record vs. an AL team with an on-base percentage of .345 or better. Minnesota will try to change their luck in new Target Field against the Bronx Bombers, but are 12-30 versus AL squads scoring 5.2 or more runs a game.

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to mash, leading baseball with 76 dingers and are 12-4 in road encounters when playing against a team with a losing record after last night’s impressive 6-0 white-washing of the L.A. Angels. The Halos are presently listed as a Pick with a great deal of line movement. This evening they give the ball to Ervin Santana who is 22-8 throwing at the Big A vs. teams outscoring opponents by 0.5 or more runs game. (Team's Record)

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No Monday plays but great info

No great systems, trends or otherwise today, so we’ll let today go.

What I found today – Will this be the year the National League finally ends the American League’s six year reign of terror? Though just 42 of the 252 official interleague games have been played in 2010, the numbers are evenly divided at 21-21.

Some of the usual suspects performed up to their high standards (see article below), as Boston and Minnesota both won series over the National League. However, even traditionally dreadful clubs like San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers came thru and won two of three.

Get out the cell phone to take a picture of this.

Tampa Bay is the first team to get 20 games over .500 and they are the best bet in baseball at +13.3 units, think about that being possible after the 2007 season.

Next is two very unlikely candidates, San Diego (+10.1) and Washington (+10.1).

The Padres are still in first place in the NL West despite a batting order that does not raise the blood pressure of opposing pitchers, but they have pitching staff that leads the National League in ERA at 2.98. While some will say this is a by-product of playing at cavernous Petco Park, San Diego is 14-9 on the road and their ERA is third in the big leagues at 3.8.

Washington being over .500 at 23-22 at this stage of the season is remarkable for them. The reason the Nationals have been successful to this point is improved defense and pitching. Instead of ranking in the lower 25 percent of virtually every category, they are now average, which has them as more competitive club.

At the beginning of the year Seattle was considered a serious threat to knock the L.A. Angels off the throne as AL West champs. The question was why?

Last year Seattle was 85-77 after a hideous 61-101 2008 campaign. Because they lacked offensive firepower, the Mariners front office built the team around pitching and defensive in particular. The move paid off with surprising season.

In the offseason, Seattle added Chone Figgins trying to get another player on base for the middle of the lineup and thought Milton Bradley would find the Puget Sound a more calming area than Chicago. Seattle was 28th last season in runs scored and without changing the main part of the heart of the order, the M’s remain 28th in scoring at 3.5 runs per game, lacking any offensive punch.

With every team placing a greater emphasis on defense, the Mariners edge is negated and Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee can’t pitch shutouts on every start, which helps explain why Seattle is 16-28, -13.9 units.

Sharp sports bettors knew this before the season started. The 2009 Mariners were the 13th team since 1900 to post a winning record after losing 100 or more games. The very next year these teams have a .487 win percentage or roughly 79 wins. (From Bill James 2010 Gold Mine)

What does the home court mean in the NBA Playoffs?

Favored teams thus far in the postseason are 36-13, 31-17-1 ATS when playing in their own building.

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Boston on the brink

Talk about anti-climatic; this is exactly the situation the online sports betting world is facing in tonight’s Orlando and Boston Game 4 matchup. Only four times in the history of major sports has a team comeback from a 3-0 deficit (the city of Boston teams has been involved in half of them, one good one bad) and it has never happened on the hardwood.

The Celtics are headed to the NBA Finals whether it be tonight or later this week, but how did the veteran team come so far so fast after playing .500 basketball for 3 ½ months and being a near calamity for backers against the spread?

In hindsight, Boston had variables that were not present to the naked eye, but were just below the surface.

The Celtics have several players that had been thru every imaginable NBA condition. Two years ago they were able to finally taste a championship and thou they failed a year ago, Boston had far less expectations placed on them this season.

While many ranted (including the person that wrote this article) this was just an old team that needed to start refocusing with a different cast, their coach Doc Rivers saw something else.

“This being an older group, it’s probably easier for me to get their focus in the playoffs,” Rivers said. “The goal is right in front of them.”

Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen might not be able to bring an outstanding performance night after night like in the past, but as their confidence grew in the postseason, each has had spurts of greatness and played true team basketball, with Boston 11-3 SU and ATS in the playoffs.

Boston has been constructed in way that promotes team play and that has the ability to stifle opponents that are not mentally strong.

Beyond Dwayne Wade, Miami lacked the physical and mental toughness to compete with Boston and fell 4-1. Cleveland was believed to be on their way to being crowned the kings of the NBA, instead they still lacked the scoring power beyond LeBron James, with outside shooters that could drain shots all day against inferior competition, but not under pressure by a defensive team that gave no quarter.

Orlando, the defending Eastern champions, had marched thru the first two rounds of the playoffs like Heidi Montag adding car miles to plastic surgeon.

The Magic thwarted the Celtics a year ago in the East semis, but Garnett wasn’t there. The 2010 version of Rajon Rondo is superior to the one Orlando faced a year ago and Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen and Glen Davis are all better players one season later, as witnessed by their complete thrashing of the blue-clad squad 94-71. Boston is 20-7 ATS off a home blowout win by 20 points or more since the “Big 3” and others were assembled.

This reporter admits to picking Orlando to win the series, but one nagging question was still out there. With Hedo Turkoglu and to a lesser degree Courtney Lee no longer part of Magic contingent, who was going to make big shots at crunch time?

Vince Carter has long been known for being less than clutch in the final five minutes of a contest. Dwight Howard needs to be setup to score and let’s be totally frank, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, Matt Barnes and others would never be accused of blood doping, since it would have to go thru their hearts, which they have not shown in this series to date. Orlando might be 17-4 ATS off a road loss by 10 points or more, however they look much closer to the team that is 0-4 as visiting underdogs.

Sportsbooks have Boston as seven-point favorite with total of 187.

When Celtics players were asked about their hockey counterparts blowing 3-0 playoff lead this spring and if outside influences could make them less mentally strong, Paul Pierce said this.
“This team is not complacent,” Pierce said. “We’re too close to our goals. You’ve got a team that’s won the championship so we understand what it takes. We understand the mental toughness that you’ve got to have at this point in the season. So I don’t see any slippage from us and, hopefully, we can close this thing out on Monday.”

The total is at a series low and Boston is 12-2 UNDER after allowing 35 points or less in the first half last game (second time in the series), while Orlando is 11-3 UNDER after failing to cover the spread in two or more consecutive games.

Game 4 is set for 8:30 Eastern on ESPN.

Flyers have Montreal under the gun

Going into Monday’s potential Eastern Finals clincher, the Philadelphia Flyers know a couple of different things. The first is with a win, they will be playing for the Stanley Cup championship and second, who their opponent will be, the Chicago Blackhawks.

However, before thinking too far ahead, Philadelphia has to take down the peskiest team in the tournament, Montreal.

“With each series, it obviously gets harder and harder, but I don’t think you can look past that next game and that next win,” Philadelphia defenseman Chris Pronger said. “You’ve got to focus on closing out a team and being closers. We’ve got a team now down 3-1. We’ve got to get that fourth win.

“We’ve got to understand what it’s going to take, because they’re obviously a team that’s had their backs against the wall throughout the course of this playoff, through Washington and Pittsburgh, and they’ve been able to rally and come back. We obviously want to stymie that and make sure we’re putting our foot on the throat.”

The Flyers have won 21 of their last 28 home games and can advance to the Cups Finals for the first time in 13 years with a fourth and deciding victory over the Canadiens. Philadelphia is well aware the danger Montreal presents, having seen them come from behind against the Capitals and Penguins to win series and their 5-0 record in elimination games.

“We have to be careful,” Flyers forward Danny Briere said. “If there’s a team that would know that, it’s us, with what we were able to do in the previous round to the Bruins, and also what Montreal did to Washington and Pittsburgh. We’re definitely not going to take them for granted. There’s still one big win.

“We always say the fourth one or the last one is always the toughest to get against a team. We expect them to come out with a lot of desperation in Game 5, but at the same time, yes, we know we’re getting closer.” The Flyers know a thing or two about desperation, having trailed 3-0 to Boston before winning the next four.

Philadelphia has now won seven of last eight and shutout Montreal three times in the series with domineering defense and the fine goaltending of Michael Leighton, who only had to face 17 shots in last contest (one in the second period).

“One of our main goals was to play better defensively and I don't know how many times they came down the wing trying to fire pucks at me, and we had our 'D' men who stuck their stick out and it went up in the crowds," Leighton said. "We talked right before the game and said we want to block as many shots and stop them charging the net and we did. We definitely showed up to play."

For the Habs, the situation certainly appears bleak, but it is far from over as far as they are concerned, with their 9-4 record off a home loss by three or more goals. “We put ourselves in this hole and it is what it is. We’ve got to go and win a game,” Montreal defenseman Hal Gill said.

Sportsbooks have Philly as a -190 money line favorite with total Ov5 and they are 20-7 as home ice favorites. They will arrive at Game Five 10-4 UNDER in home games after a win by two goals or more this season. Montreal will try and manufacture one more miracle and is 11-5 after being defeated by three or more goals and is 10-3 UNDER on the road after scoring one goal or less this campaign.

The East Final has a 7:00 Eastern start on VERSUS and CBC and if Philadelphia does emerge victorious, one person who deserves a lot of credit is Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette.

It took him until the last few weeks of the regular season to convince this team how good it can be and he never let them get down on themselves in the Bruins series. After tonight, Philadelphia might be thinking about bringing home first Stanley Cup title since 1975.

We're back with Sunday selections

Our last day of posting plays has left us at 52-24, 68.4 percent. No doubt that is going to be a challenge to improve; nevertheless you have to try right? Let’s start with a delectable 93.3 percent system in baseball and follow that up with perfect reverse trend. The guys from the Left Coast Connection like two plays equally and they are Free! Good Luck

What I have to say today – I’m sorry about the lack of pick information lately, been very busy with a number of outside influences.

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Free Baseball System -1) Play Against all underdogs with a money line of +175 to +250 like Houston, batting .250 or worse over their last 20 games, against opponent with a sparkling starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.000 or less over his last five starts. Since 2006, this bubbly system is 56-4, 93.3 percent.

Free Baseball Trend -2) The Cleveland Indians are revolting 0-13 after scoring four runs or less in six straight games over the last three seasons.

Free Baseball Pick -3) LCC Consensus is 6-0 on Rays and Blue Jays.

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Suns need to play D-Fence

Arizona has been in the news quite a bit lately and various government agencies have been under attack. In response to this, they have become downright defensive, which is something Suns fans are looking for from their team playing at home trailing the Los Angeles Lakers 2-0.

Phoenix has willing approved 128 and 124 points to the Lakers in the first two supposed conflicts with Los Angeles in the Western Finals, which might be considered passable if this was an old-school ABA contest or an All-Star clash. The problem is that neither is true, and the Lakers have scored more than George Clooney and Brad Pitt in their younger days.
Nothing has worked on the defensive end for the Suns that even coach Alvin Gentry let his guard down after Game 2.

"I'm open for suggestions," Gentry said on his way out of the interview room late Wednesday night.

"Even from the media."

A better place to start is with his players. With all the talk of who is or is not legal in the Grand Canyon state, Gentry has to convince his players that getting up and guarding your man is perfectly legal, but it doesn’t do much good to let the player you are supposed to be guarding to around you like a bull and matador confrontation, in which the outcome is you are gored for another basket.

"Every time we tried to make an adjustment to slow them down," Gentry said, "they go somewhere else."

Phoenix has tried to double Kobe Bryant; he passes to open man, while still scoring enough points himself. The Suns put two players on Pau Gasol on the paint, yet at 7’0 holding the ball over his head looking for open teammate, he looks like an eighth grader playing keep away from a group of first graders. Gasol has found Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and others effortlessly.
Things have gotten so bad for Phoenix even Jordan Farmar (13.5 points per game) and Shannon Brown (10.0 PPG) have looked like they could start for any of lottery teams the way they have scored in this series.

“Well, what can you say?" Gentry said. "We are just having a hard time. We can't slow them down. I thought we played well offensively, but every time we tried to make an adjustment to slow them down, they go somewhere else.

“And, you know, you do a great job on Kobe, and I thought we did. Then they go to Pau and we double-team Pau and there's Lamar, and we get it out of Lamar's hand and Jordan Farmar makes shots. And there's a reason they're the world champs. There's a good reason they're the world champs."

The Suns return home where they are 36-10, 28-16-2 ATS and have to find answers quickly. Maybe its wear Amare Stoudemire glasses that are far-sighted so they have to get closer to guard the players in purple.

What Phoenix has to do more than anything is play team defense. It’s obvious the Suns are not very sound doubling players on continual basis; instead each player has to make it his responsibility to guard his own man. If Kobe scores 50 or even 60 so be it, you guard your man and box-out on the boards.

Make the Lakers uncomfortable, they’ve played like a bunch of guys having a having a good time walking along Santa Monica beach. Throw live snakes on the floor before the game to get their attention, prove you mean business and make them understand from the start this isn’t going to be a vacation in the desert.

"You saw what the Thunder (Oklahoma City) did," Jared Dudley said. "That's our mindset."

Oddsmakers have Phoenix as 1.5-point favorites and has to take advantage of the crowd and make shots to make L.A. unsettled. They are 1-8 ATS in road games when their opponents make 39 to 45 percent of their three-pointers. The Suns have to make the Lakers pay for their limited defensive pressure and are 24-7 ATS vs. defensive teams forcing 14 or less turnovers a game the second half of this season.

Those doing sports betting presently anticipate there is almost no ceiling on the total that has sky-rocketed to 219 and Steve Nash’s pals need a lower scoring contest and they are 20-10 UNDER after allowing 100 points or more three straight games. Kobe and company have the ability to shift gears and are 7-0 UNDER on the road after covering the spread in two or more consecutive times.

TNT has what is basically a do-or-die tilt for the Suns at 8:30 Eastern and they are 15-5 ATS at Planet Orange having lost two of their last three games.

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