NBA Preview

Western Conference Playoff – Grizzlies vs. Clippers (10:30 PM ET, May 7, 2012)

nbap_admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:18:31 +0000

In the Western Conference playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers (40-26, 24-9 home) are aware of the fact that they probably won’t get away with another inept performance against the Memphis Grizzlies (41-25, 15-18 away) in Game 4 (10:30 PM ET, May 7, 2012) of the seven game series at the STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA. the Clippers hope to take a 3-1 series lead on Monday night. The best NBA betting odds have Grizzlies (20/19) and Clippers (11/13).

Nick Young said that they just cannot let leads go like that. He added that they had everybody in here shooting free throws. In the final 23 seconds Saturday, the Clippers missed 17 of 30 free throws and almost squandered a six-point lead, beating the Grizzlies 87-86 only after Rudy Gay missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

Chris Paul was the only Clippers player to do well at the line. He had 24 points and 11 assists. He made seven of eight, which includes two with 23 seconds left for the six-point lead. The Clippers took six more free throws. He missed the last five. To keep the Grizzlies in it, Gay hit two 3-pointers.

Young said that especially with them being in the playoff atmosphere, some players have not been in that situation. When are at the free-throw line, you have really rather got like the game in your hands. He added that that can be a lot of pressure. He said that they need to make these free throws. He added that he just has to take care of home court and should not have that much pressure at home.

Coach Vinny Del Negro said that that the bottom line is you have to make the free throws and they struggled with that periodically throughout the season. He said that when you miss that many free throws, we were able to overcome it but you have to be very good in many other areas. The Grizzles made 30 of 39 free throws. Until Gay buried a 3 with 12.9 seconds left to pull to 86-83, they went nearly seven minutes without making a field goal.

Despite breaking his non-shooting left hand in Game 1, Del Negro said it has been a big boost mentally to have forward Caron Butler being able to play. Getting four points and three rebounds, Butler missed the second game but played Saturday with a split. On Sunday, the Grizzlies canceled their practice, opting to just watch film.

NBA Western Conference 2012 Playoff Preview

nbap_admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:59:22 +0000

The level of uncertainty is little bit more in the Western Conference playoff picture when compared to the Eastern Conference. Out of the eight-playoff teams, seven have been decided with Phoenix, Houston and Utah still battling for the last playoff spot. Utah has the inside track with a game and a half lead over Houston with two games to play and with a one game lead over Phoenix. Therefore, it looks as if the Jazz have the inside track when handicapping that eighth and final playoff spot.

While the seeding of the teams still need to be decided and could very well come down to the final game of the regular season, the other seven teams have already locked up their playoff berths. LA holds a half game lead over Memphis for home court advantage in round one, so the LA Clippers and Memphis are in a battle for the fourth seed. For the Pacific Division crown, the Clippers are also only a half game back of the Lakers and the three seed that will come with it. For the sixth seed, Denver and Dallas are neck and neck, with Denver holding a half game lead over Dallas.

Check out all the Spread, Moneyline, Totals and Prop bets offered by sportsbooks when looking to get in a bet or two during the year’s 2012 NBA playoff drive.

As it stands right now, the west would have very compelling first round matchups. Here is what the matchups would look like, if the playoffs started today.

1) San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz
2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 7) Dallas Mavericks
3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. 6) Denver Nuggets
4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5) Memphis Grizzles

The Oklahoma City Thunder against the defending champion Dallas Mavericks would have to be the best matchup of the first round. There were some very close games between the two teams, although the Thunder won the season series three games to one. It will be interesting to see how in the playoffs, the defending champions go about their business against a team many of the media is picking to win it all.
Also, the Clippers have not been to the playoffs in such a long time, therefore when they play against the Grizzles, it would be an interesting series to watch. This offseason, the Clippers made dramatic changes to their roster by acquiring Chris Paul. In the playoffs, it should be a good time watching the Clippers to see if their personnel moves will allow them to have continued success.

NBA Eastern Conference 2012 Playoff Preview

nbap_admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:12:47 +0000

With the NBA season wrapping up this week, the Eastern Conference playoff picture is starting to take shape and it appears this year’s playoffs will be one of the most exciting playoff races in recent memory. And trying to handicap this year’s playoffs will be especially difficult here in the East.

The eight-team Eastern Conference field has been set with New York and Philadelphia clinching the final two playoff spots this week. The only thing that needs to be decided is the seeding of the playoff teams.

Chicago, Miami and Indiana will win their divisions and hold the top three seeds. After that Boston appears to be settled into the four or five seed and will play Atlanta in the first round. Here are the current playoff matchups:

1) Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76’ers
2) Miami Heat vs. 7) New York Knicks
3) Indiana Pacers vs. 6) Orlando Magic
4) Boston Celtics vs. 5) Atlanta Hawks

The most compelling of all of the first round Eastern Conference matchups is the Miami Heat versus the New York Knicks. While this playoff series would be a lot more interesting if Jeremy Lin was not sidelined with an injury, there is still a lot of star power and intrigue between these two teams. LeBron James will set out again to win his first NBA title and try to prove his doubters wrong. Carmello Anthony and company will try to restore some pride in the New York Knicks by making a long run in the playoffs.

Looking to place a bet on any of these games, or prop bets, check out this sportsbook.

The Boston and Atlanta series also figures to be very intriguing as all of their games this season were decided by less than five points. Even though Boston has taken two of three from Atlanta this year, the Hawks have won seven of their last ten to make a push for the playoffs, and may give Boston all they can handle in the first round.

It will also be interesting to see how the Orlando Magic fare against the Indiana Pacers with star center Dwight Howard. Orlando had little trouble beating Indiana three times during the regular season but Orlando is a completely different team without Howard. While some fans may be pessimistic about their chances, the Magic may surprise some people and pull off a bit of a shocker by beating the Indiana Pacers.

76ers vs. Cavaliers @ Quicken Loans Arena (7:00 PM ET, April 18, 2012)

nbap_admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:05:36 +0000

The Philadelphia 76ers will face Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 on Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH (7:00 PM ET, April 18, 2012). The Philadelphia 76ers has not made it effortless on themselves to stay in playoff position in the Eastern Conference. In the final week of the season, things are likely to get tougher. The best NBA betting odds have Philadelphia 76ers (2/7), while Cleveland Cavaliers (33/10).

The 76ers hope to snap a three-game skid with a fifth consecutive victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night and they are set to play their final five games on the road. Philadelphia’s late-season fade continued with a 102-97 home loss to Indiana on Tuesday, playing the second of three games in three nights. On Feb. 13, the 76ers (31-30) had a four-game lead in the Atlantic Division but have gone 11-21 since. For the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, they own a 1 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee.

At the Wells Fargo Center, 76ers lost their fourth straight, where Andre Iguodala had 23 points, seven rebounds and six assist to finish 19-14 there. Philadelphia is 12-16 on the road, where it will be for the remainder of the season. Apart from the rest, one of the 76ers’ five remaining opponents has sub-.500 records.

The 76ers could get help by opening the stretch in Cleveland. The 76ers have won their last two visits to Quicken Loans Arena. on Feb. 11, Philadelphia won the previous two meetings this season by a combined 33 points, including 99-84 at Cleveland.

In the last six games against the Cavaliers, Sixers guard Jrue Holiday has averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 assists. Cleveland (20-40) looks to avoid a third straight defeat. They lost by 39 points for the second time this season, 116-77 at Detroit on Tuesday. on Jan. 20, the Cavaliers fell 114-75 at home to Chicago.

Manny Harris had 18 points off the bench and star rookie guard Kyrie Irving out a ninth consecutive game with a shoulder injury. the Cavaliers shot 34.6 percent and committed 19 turnovers that resulted in 29 points with Tristan Thompson adding 12 with 13 rebounds.

There is a chance Irving could return for this contest. He averages 18.8 points and 5.7 assists. in a 103-85 loss at Philadelphia on March 27, he was held to 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Cleveland’s Antawn Jamison finished with three points Tuesday by going 0 for 10 from the field.