NBA Handicapping Predictions – Celtics vs Heat
The Boston Celtics had a chance to finish out this series at home in Game Six, but LeBron James and the Heat absolutely dismantled the Celtics from the opening tip.
The Boston Celtics had a chance to finish out this series at home in Game Six, but LeBron James and the Heat absolutely dismantled the Celtics from the opening tip.
The Philadelphia 76ers evened up this series with a win Wednesday night. The eighth seeded 76ers have pushed this game to the brink.
NBA Basketball Matchup: #8 Philadelphia 76ers (3-3) vs. #4 Boston Celtics (3-3)
Date/Time: May 26, 8:00 PM EST on ABC
NBA Gambling Odds from BetDSI
NBA Betting Favorite: Celtics -5.5
Over/Under: 170.5
Can the young Sixers upend the heavily favored Celtics in Game Seven? The oddsmakers have the veteran Celtics favored by 5.5.
Let’s take a closer look at this critical Game Seven in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Doug Collins’ team has shown that they are extremely scrappy, but this will be a major test for them on the road in a deciding Game Seven. Boston knows how to win Game Seven’s, so the 76ers will have to play their best.
When Philadelphia has won in this series it has been largely due to their terrific defense. The 76ers were ranked in the top five in defense in the NBA all year, and most people don’t realize how solid this group is on the defensive end. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
They have controlled the boards in most of the games, and they are getting out and running whenever they have the opportunity. Philadelphia needs big games out of their point-forwards Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner.
Both of these guys have unique skill sets and they are tough matchups for the Celtics.
Boston led 36-33 at halftime in Game Six, but they looked terrible in the second half. The Celtics looked tired and slow against the young Sixers. The two days of rest before Game Seven will certainly help the Celtics, but they must come out focused and ready to go.
Boston shot a miserable 33.3% from the floor in Game Six. Brandon Bass was the hero in Game Five, but he was just 4 for 14 from the floor in Game Six. Rajon Rondo was 4 for 14, and he only had six assists. Only Kevin Garnett has consistently produced on the offensive end throughout this series.
Rondo must be fully engaged, and Paul Pierce needs to be aggressive getting to the rim if the Celtics are going to win this one.
The Celtics know this is one of their last chances to win with the current group, and I expect them to pull out a close win. Still, the best value is likely the under in what I expect to be a tight game.
Free NBA Pick: Under 170.5
THE STORY: The Memphis Grizzlies barely edged the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage, putting them in position to host Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 7.
The New Jersey Devils and the Florida Panthers square off in Game 7 of what has been a most intriguing series on Thursday night, with both looking to end long playoff droughts. How close has this series been?
The New York Rangers were anticipating a tough first round series versus the Ottawa Senators but there is no way that they could have envisioned having to win Games 6 and 7 just to move on. That is the case as the top Eastern seed hosts the pesky #8 seed in the deciding Game 7 on Thursday night.
#1 Seed in the East Rangers Hopes to Avoid Upset at the Hands of #8 Ottawa
Ottawa Senators at NY Rangers
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 26, 2012
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Broadcast: CBC,RDS,NBCSN,CSN-DC,NESN (HD)
Series tied 3-3
Sens vs. Rangers Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Rangers -1 ½ (+175)
Moneyline: Senators +150: Rangers -165
Over/Under: 5 goals
The Ottawa Senators, it could be argued, deserve a better fate than the one that faces them – Game 7 on the road in one of the most iconic buildings in the world. But an average effort in Game 6 is the reason that they are here. Jason Spezza was benched, team Captain Daniel Alfredsson snapped and even the coach was critical of their effort.
Chances are that Ottawa will be better on Thursday night. They have brought the intensity all series long – there is no reason to think that they won’t rekindle the hate and the emotion for Game 7.
Offense hasn’t exactly been Ottawa’s strong suit in the series so far but key players are conspicuously absent at the moment. Eric Karlsson is inexplicably pointless in his last four games and Milan Michalek hasn’t been nearly the player that he was during the regular season. But it is up to the veteran on the team to get it going. Daniel Alfredsson showed plenty of emotion in Game 6 but they will need his to show up on the score sheet. Jason Spezza has three points in two games but has been prone to lapses that could cost his team in game 7.
Make no mistake about it – Craig Anderson has been the story of the series so far! He has been sensational and owns a 1.70 goals against average in the series and a save percentage hovering around .950 – amazing!
The New York Rangers are in a tough spot. Why? One could point to the poor play of Marion Gaborik in the series so far – no goals since Game 1! Although there is not a whole lot to love about the Rangers offensively they can take solace in the fact that the previously pointless Derek Stepan woke up and registered one goal and two assists in Game 6 and Brad Richards chipped in with a goal and two assists. However with the good, there is some bad. [ad-4437448]
The Rangers haven’t scored an even strength goal in over three games and in a Game 7 that will likely be short on power play chances (hopefully the referees let them play), New York will need some better five-on-five play.
No worries about Henrik Lundqvist – he has been stellar as per usual. However an interesting stat – Lundqvist is 2-5 in elimination games and has never won back-to-back elimination contests.
Betting Prediction: Ottawa is 23-7 in the last 30 meetings in New York and the road team is 21-7 in the last 28 meetings.
The road team has won four of the last six Game 7s in the playoffs. The Rangers have won the last three Game 7s at MSG but are just 3-5 all-time in deciding games while the Senators are -0-4 in Game 7s.
The New York Rangers will likely be forced to play without Brian Boyle once again on Thursday and that could be a factor. Ottawa has been the better team in the series and deserve to go through – don’t you think? Karma catches up to the Rangers and the Senators send the remaining #1 seed home Thursday.
Pick: The Underdog Senators +150
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NHL news: Vancouver Loses The Cup – Hooligans Start Riots
It was quite an end to the NHL season last night. Following the Boston Bruins’ Game-7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks to capture the Stanley Cup Final in Vancouver, the city erupted into riots and violence.
NHL news: Daniel Sedin guarantees Game-7 victory
It all comes down to one game between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks tonight, with the winner taking the Stanley Cup.
The ultimate culmination of a superb NHL Betting season goes down Wednesday night – one game to decide whose boyhood dreams will come true. In what has been one of the more bizarre Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory, the Vancouver Canucks, after getting outscored 17-3 in their three losses in the series have a chance to close it out on home ice where they have been decidedly better.
NHL news: Mason Raymond fractures vertebrae
The Vancouver Canucks got some really bad news on top of losing Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final to the Boston Bruins last night. Forward Mason Raymond fell awkwardly into the boards when he was tangled with Johnny Boychuk. He lay face down on the ice for several minutes before his teammates helped him off the ice. He didn’t appear to be moving his legs.
It’s NHL hockey betting season once again. Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
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It’s NHL hockey betting season once again. Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
It’s Stanley Cup Playoff betting season once again. Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl hockey predictions we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
It’s NHL hockey betting season once again. Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
It’s NHL hockey betting season once again. Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.