Posts Tagged ‘NBA’

2014 NBA Finals Odds & Picks – Odds to win the NBA Finals

October 28th, 2013 by Travis Edwards (Bankroll Sports Contributor) | Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on 2014 NBA Finals Odds & Picks – Odds to win the NBA Finals
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More Lists of NBA Finals Odds & NBA Finals Picks Can Be Found Below

NBA ChampionshipWith so much football action on the docket, many people forget that the 2014 NBA Basketball season is just a few short days away.  Here at Bankroll Sports, we are very excited for the upcoming season and look forward to bringing you lots of free NBA picks and basketball handicapping advice.

Listed at the bottom of this article/page you will find the current odds to win the NBA finals in 2014 from some of the best sportsbooks on the web.  As sports betting enthusiasts who get to speak with very sharp handicapping wiseguys daily, such as the Bankroll Sports expert, we wouldn’t feel like we were doing our part if we didn’t offer you some sensible advise before displaying the full list of NBA Championship odds for 2014.

It’s obvious that the Miami Heat are the obvious and clear cut favorites this year, the casual bettor may look at the list of teams and assume there isn’t any value anywhere else.  Some squares may actually assume that the three-peat is inevitable and may actually take the Miami Heat’s NBA finals odds at 2 to 1 (Diamond Sportsbook).

The truth is that the 2 to 1 price on the Miami Heat is basically the sportsbooks sending a message that says; “We took a bath on the Heat last year & we’re not letting that happen again”.

Last season, the heat went off at 6 to 1 to win the NBA Finals and the Vegas sportsbooks tried to lure the sports betting public into playing them.  They paid the price for it.  This year, they aren’t feeling so generous after LeBron James & Dwyane Wade made a mockery of the entire league last season.  While the Heat’s chances of winning the NBA finals look extremely high, they aren’t without some flaws and a 50% chance (which is what 2 to 1 truly is) is a little higher than it should be.  When you account for possible freak injuries and unforeseen circumstances, the 2 to 1 number starts to appear a bit ridiculous.  Therefore, if you are going to make a future bet for someone to win the NBA 2014 NBA Championship, we advise you to look for value elsewhere.

Our advice is look at the teams that were almost there last year and might push themselves over the hump in 2014. Always remember when betting futures that if the favorite is absurdly high, you can usually find a lot more value down the board.  There are a some other contenders that we feel have some value.

We feel that the Los Angeles Clippers are worth taking a serious look at.  You’ll find the Clippers at a very lofty 10 to 1 or higher at a lot of books.  The Clips re-inked their superstar point guard in Chris Paul and look to be trying to add more experienced role players rather than star power.  There were some rumors that that Clippers were looking to trade Blake Griffin, but we believe the team was just doing their due-diligence and testing the market to see what they could get in return.  It goes without saying that Blake Griffin along with DeAndre Jordon currently make up one of the best front-courts in the league.  They also needed a bit more experience out of the guards in 2013 and want to add a solid three-point shooter.  They got just that in guards, JJ Reddick and Jared Dudley. When you add in their acquisition of Doc Rivers, who is no stranger to playoff success, we feel that 2014 may be the year that the Clipper find their groove and make a run at a Championship.  If the Clippers get hot early, those 10 to 1 odds could seem like a gift.

There was no NBA team more exciting than the Golden State Warriors who rallied their fan base last season.  They showed that they might have the best guards in the NBA.  Stephon Curry may be the best shooter in the game and his side-kick, Klay Thompson makes them a matchup nightmare.   Their post players in Andrew Bogut along with David Lee aren’t the league’s best, but they compliment the guards well.  They showed a lack of defense in 2014, but if you factor in their off-season signing of Andre Iguodla & new head coach Mark Jackson, sports fans in the Bay area may have reason to be excited for the NBA basketball playoffs again in 2013.  At around 30 to 1 to win the NBA Finals next year, the Warriors offer a very lofty price and may be worth a small play.

Current Odds To Win The 2014 NBA Finals @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 10/22/13)
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PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: 725 to 1
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: 1000 to 1
MILWAUKEE BUCKS: 450 to 1
CHICAGO BULLS: 9 to 1
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: 80 to 1
BOSTON CELTICS: 175 to 1
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: 13 to 1
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: 33 to 1
ATLANTA HAWKS: 215 to 1
MIAMI HEAT: 2 to 1
UTAH JAZZ: 175 to 1
SACRAMENTO KINGS: 180 to 1
NEW YORK KNICKS: 27 to 1
LOS ANGELES LAKERS: 60 to 1
ORLANDO MAGIC: 950 to 1
DALLAS MAVERICKS: 75 to 1
NEW JERSEY NETS: 13 to 1
DENVER NUGGETS: 55 to 1
INDIANA PACERS: 10 to 1
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: 130 to 1
DETROIT PISTONS: 130 to 1
TORONTO RAPTORS: 450 to 1
HOUSTON ROCKETS: 12 to 1
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: 11 to 1
PHOENIX SUNS: 650 to 1
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: 6 to 1
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: 150 to 1
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: 85 to 1
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: 23 to 1
WASHINGTON WIZARDS: 125 to 1

We aren’t exactly firm believers that the San Antonio Spurs are going to be in the thick of things once again next season. There are a bunch of teams in the Southwest Division that could overtake them, and that could leave the door open once again for the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA Finals Odds: 6 to 1 @ JustBet Sportsbook). F Kevin Durant wasn’t able to get to the NBA Finals for the second straight season, but the fact of the matter is that he challenged one of the best teams in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies essentially all by himself. G Russell Westbrook will be back in the saddle after getting hurt in the playoffs.

List Of Past NBA Finals Champions
2013 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2012 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2011 NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks
2010 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2009 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2008 NBA Champions: Boston Celtics
2007 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2006 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2005 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2004 NBA Champions: Detroit Pistons
2003 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2002 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2001 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2000 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers

As for the longshots, some may think it may be worth it to put a small play on Cleveland Cavaliers (Odds To Win 2014 NBA Championship: 120 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook). Kyrie Irving is one of the best young guards in the NBA.  The Cavs are building a core of players that can compete in the Eastern Conference. While it’s clear there aren’t that many great teams in the Eastern conference, a good young team like the Cavs could surprise some people and make a run. If the Pacers were able to get the job done in the Central Division this past year, Cleveland could easily do it in 2013. Obviously we’re not saying that we actually believe Cleveland is going to win the NBA title in 2012. However, this is a team a we feel offers great value in their 2014 futures odds.

Up To Date List of 2014 NBA Finals Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 10/22/13)
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Miami Heat – 1.75 to 1
Oklahoma City Thunder – 6 to 1
Chicago Bulls – 8 to 1
Brooklyn Nets – 11 to 1
Los Angeles Clippers – 12 to 1
Indiana Pacers – 13 to 1
San Antonio Spurs – 13 to 1
Houston Rockets – 14 to 1
Golden State Warriors – 23 to 1
New York Knicks – 29 to 1
Memphis Grizzlies – 32 to 1
Los Angeles Lakers – 44 to 1
Denver Nuggets – 58 to 1
Dallas Mavericks – 70 to 1
Cleveland Cavaliers – 120 to 1
Atlanta Hawks – 175 to 1
Minnesota Timberwolves – 175 to 1
Utah Jazz – 200 to 1
Detroit Pistons – 200 to 1
Portland Trail Blazers – 205 to 1
Boston Celtics – 210 to 1
New Orleans Pelicans – 210 to 1
Washington Wizards – 210 to 1
Milwaukee Bucks – 350 to 1
Sacramento Kings – 350 to 1
Toronto Raptors – 475 to 1
Philadelphia 76ers – 575 to 1
Phoenix Suns – 575 to 1
Charlotte Bobcats – 600 to 1
Orlando Magic – 600 to 1

NBA Playoffs On TV: NBA TV Broadcasts & NBA Playoff Schedule

June 13th, 2013 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on NBA Playoffs On TV: NBA TV Broadcasts & NBA Playoff Schedule
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NBA PlayoffsThe NBA Finals comes down to this! The San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat are going to be squaring off on the game’s biggest stage starting this week, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are going to feature the live television schedule for the NBA Finals. Don’t miss where you can find the NBA Finals on TV!

NBA Playoffs on TV for Thursday, June 13th
9:00 p.m. ET Miami Heat @ San Antonio Spurs (Game 4) (ABC)

NBA TV Schedule for Sunday, June 16th
8:00 p.m. ET Miami Heat @ San Antonio Spurs (Game 5) (ABC)

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NBA Playoffs TV Schedule for Tuesday, June 18th
9:00 p.m. ET San Antonio Spurs @ Miami Heat (Game 6, If Necessary) (ABC)

NBA Playoff Games on TV for Thursday, June 20th
9:00 p.m. ET San Antonio Spurs @ Miami Heat (Game 7, If Necessary) (ABC)

Odds To Win 2013 NBA MVP: MVP Picks and Predictions

February 3rd, 2013 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on Odds To Win 2013 NBA MVP: MVP Picks and Predictions
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Full List of Odds To Win The NBA MVP Below

MVP OddsThis year more than most, the odds to win the MVP award are going to be tight in the NBA. There are a number of candidates that could ultimately go on to win the award, and here at Bankroll Sports, we’re taking a look at some of the top contenders right now and where they currently stand in the chase for the most illustrious individual honor in the NBA.

The new favorite to win the MVP award this year is Kevin Durant (Current NBA MVP Odds: 1 to 1.40 at BetDSI Sportsbook). Durant is the league’s leading scorer at 29.6 points per game this year, a solid point ahead of the field. He is a fantastic shooter that is likely to win the NBA’s scoring title once again, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is going to win the MVP award. Durant has won the scoring title before, but he has never been the league’s MVP. However, with G Russell Westbrook hanging around as really his only helper on his own team, the writers might give Durant the benefit of the doubt this year now that G James Harden is gone.

It still goes without saying though, that LeBron James (Odds To Win 2012-13 NBA MVP Award: 1.20 to 1 at BetDSI Sportsbook) is capable of winning the MVP award this year. It’s not new news for LeBron to be a contender for the MVP, knowing that he has been the MVP three times already in his career. James is still the leader of the Miami Heat, and there isn’t a player in the league that is more dynamic than he is. King James is averaging 26.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, and he is playing almost 39 minutes per game as well. If this were purely a statistical competition, James would be the winner of the MVP award just about every year. We think that LBJ clearly has the best price of all of the MVP contenders this year.

Aside from these two men, there really isn’t a lot to back in terms of MVP candidates this year. This is the first time in quite some time that we don’t think that Kobe Bryant is truly a contender for the award, though he is still listed at 30 to 1 to take the honor. Instead, the only other legit contender right now is the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (NBA MVP Lines: 10 to 1 at BetDSI Sportsbook). Melo is second in the league in scoring at 28.5 pooints per game, and he is really putting the Knicks on his back and carrying them to the Atlantic Division title in all likelihood. Every time that New York plays a big game, it seems like Anthony is the man right in the thick of it all. We would like to see Anthony put together some more double-doubles, knowing that he is only averaging 6.2 boards per game, but we know that he has done a great job as a clutch performer this year. If there were ever a season that Melo was going to win the MVP award, this would be the year for that to happen.

NBA MVP Odds @ Diamond Sportsbook (as of 2/3/13):
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Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) 10 to 1
Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers) 20 to 1
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) 1 to 1.40
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) 30 to 1
LeBron James (Miami Heat) 1.20 to 1
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) 50 to 1
Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) 50 to 1

2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds, Picks, & Predictions

October 28th, 2012 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds, Picks, & Predictions
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Full List of Odds To Win The NBA Rookie of the Year Below

NBA Rookie of the YearA fresh crop of rookies are here in the NBA, and this was considered to be one of the deepest classes that we have seen in quite some time. The depth is great for the league, but it makes it tough here for us to handicap the odds to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. However, here at Bankroll Sports, we are going to be picking out the top rookies this year, and making our 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year picks!

There clearly is nowhere else to start than with the man who was the top pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Hornets’ Anthony Davis (Current Rookie of the Year Odds: 1.55 to 1 at BetOnline Sportsbook). The problem that Davis has this year is that he is going to be a defensive stopper, not necessarily an offensive star. Davis prides himself on his defense, and that is what the media is going to take into consideration quite a bit. The good news is that New Orleans is badly going to need to get itself some more offensive firepower, and the truth of the matter is that Davis isn’t exactly inept. In the event that Davis can pull down a dozen boards per game and can block four shots or so per game, the possibility is there that he can get into double digits in scoring as well. If he does that, Davis is probably going to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

The key this year is going to be which rookies are going to get enough playing time to put up some big time stats. After a great summer, the man that is going to be running the point this year the Portland Trail Blazers is Damian Lillard (NBA Rookie of the Year Lines: 5.50 to 1 at BetOnline Sportsbook). The Weber State standout was a Top 10 pick in the NBA Draft for a reason this year, and there really isn’t a heck of a lot standing in the way of him and a ton of minutes this year, knowing that Raymond Felton is gone and there isn’t much to keep him from being the starting point guard for a team that wants to run up and down the court. Over the course of four games in the Summer League, Lillard averaged 26.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. It would be unrealistic to think that he can do that against the big boys this year, but in the end, he really could average over a dozen points and five or six assists per game, and if he ultimately does that, he is going to be a star for sure.

We’re also willing to take a bit of a shot with the Golden State Warriors’ Harrison Barnes (Current NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: 10 to 1 at BetOnline Sportsbook). Barnes is going to find scoring to be tough in Golden State if he doesn’t end up getting past the likes of Klay Thompson and Richard Jefferson on the depth chart, but he has made himself a great case for some big time playing time with a team that is going to score a ton of points this year. Barnes is an athetic freak, and he is going to be able to do a whole heck of a lot when push comes to shove in his NBA career. Built a bit like LeBron James, Barnes is able to shoot from the outside, rebound the basketball, and be a real pain defensively. Whether he starts the year as a sixth man or as a starter, it is only a matter of time until the North Carolina Tar Heel gets a ton of playing time as Jefferson gets phased out. Barnes averaged over 10 points per game and really looked sharp as he got more accustomed to the speed of the game in the preseason. If he can keep this up in the regular season, Barnes definitely has at least a 1 in 10 chance to claim Rookie of the Year honors.

NBA Rookie of the Year Odds @ BetOnline Sportsbook (as of 10/28/12):
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Andre Drummond 18 to 1
Andrew Nicholson 25 to 1
Anthony Davis 1.55 to 1
Arnett Moultrie 80 to 1
Austin Rivers 25 to 1
Bernard James 125 to 1
Bradley Beal 6.50 to 1
Damian Lillard 5.50 to 1
Darius Millers 50 to 1
Dion Waiters 13 to 1
Doron Lamb 65 to 1
Draymond Green 100 to 1
Even Fournier 100 to 1
Fab Melo 75 to 1
Festus Ezeli 125 to 1
Harrison Barnes 10 to 1
Izzet Turkyilmaz 100 to 1
Jae Crowder 100 to 1
Jared Cunningham 100 to 1
Jared Sullinger 20 to 1
Jeffrey Taylor 100 to 1
Jeremy Lamb 12 to 1
Joel Freeland 125 to 1
John Henson 15 to 1
John Jenkins 20 to 1
Justin Hamilton 150 to 1
Kendall Marshall 15 to 1
Kevin Murphy 125 to 1
Khris Middleton 150 to 1
Kim English 100 to 1
Kostas Papanikolaou 100 to 1
Kyle O’Quinn 100 to 1
Marquis Teague 15 to 1
Maurice Harkless 25 to 1
Meyers Leonard 28 to 1
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 6 to 1
Mike Scott 65 to 1
Miles Plumlee 125 to 1
Orlando Johnson 100 to 1
Perry Jones III 30 to 1
Quincy Acy 80 to 1
Quincy Miller 100 to 1
Royce White 15 to 1
Terrence Jones 25 to 1
Terrence Ross 20 to 1
Thomas Robinson 7.50 to 1
Tomas Satoransky 150 to 1
Tony Wroten 65 to 1
Tyler Zeller 30 to 1
Tyshawn Taylor 100 to 1
Victor Claver 125 to 1
Will Barton 80 to 1

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat Preview, Eastern Conference Finals Odds

May 27th, 2012 by Jason Richards | Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat Preview, Eastern Conference Finals Odds
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The NBA Finals odds are getting hot and heavy, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are taking a look at the odds to win the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics series gets underway this week!

Click Here For All Of The NBA Finals Odds

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Boston @ Miami (Monday 5/28, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 2: Boston @ Miami (Wednesday 5/30, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 3: Miami @ Boston (Friday 6/1, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 4: Miami @ Boston (Sunday 6/3, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 5: Boston @ Miami (Tuesday 6/5, 8:30 PM, ESPN) (If Necessary)
Game 6: Miami @ Boston (Thursday 6/7, 8:30 PM, ESPN) (If Necessary)
Game 7: Boston @ Miami (Saturday 6/9, 8:30 PM, ESPN) (If Necessary)

Key #1: Rajon Rondo has to be the best quarterback on the court
When the “Boston Three Party” first came together, all eyes were pointed at Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. Everyone knew that the C’s were going to need a fourth player – some sort of a role player to try to get everything to come together. That man turned out to be the fourth man in the “Big Four” in Rondo. All of a sudden, the man from Kentucky that no one seemed to want on their team at the beginning of the year has nine triple-doubles in his playoff career, including two here in this postseason. Rondo has the ability to take over a game at the point guard spot as a slasher or a passer, and in the end, he might be the most dynamic player on the court. Rondo is really the only one that has young enough legs for the Celtics to keep up with the Heat when they are running up and down the floor as well, and that might be a big time difference making factor in this series.

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat Series Odds at
Wager Web Sportsbook

Boston Celtics +415
Miami Heat -525
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Key #2: Boston has to exploit any Miami weakness in the paint
When the Celtics were busy winning championships, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis were doing the job in the paint. They weren’t always good for the biggest numbers in the world, but those two were pulling down the important rebounds and altering shots that opponents were taking in the middle of the court all game long. Now though, both are gone, and the bigs for Boston just aren’t as good as they once were. Brandon Bass really isn’t your prototypical center, and there isn’t one that is going to be on the court for either side. Chris Bosh is still hurting for the Heat, and he might end up being out of this entire series with that abdomen injury. If that’s the case, it is up to really just Udonis Haslem for the first two games of this series, and Dexter Pittman as well after that when he returns from his suspension. Whether it be Bass, Garnett, or one of the other big men that the Celtics have to bring off of the bench, someone is going to have to find a way to dominate in the paint the way that Roy Hibbert did at times for the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs against Miami.

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Key #3: The Super Friends have to continue to be super
It seems to go without saying that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are going to have to be the two best players on the court for the Heat to win this series. Miami has had its wakeup call, though. The team was pushed just a bit by Indiana, but in the face of adversity, D-Wade and LeBron both game up with huge games down the stretch of the series to make that series look ultimately like Secretariat pulling away from the rest of the field at the Belmont Stakes. This Miami team was assembled specifically to beat Boston, and LeBron knows that he has already had his NBA Finals dreams shattered by these Celtics once before. Not only could the Super Friends figure out how to get their first NBA title together if they can get past Boston, but they might be able to end the legacy in Beantown once and for all. That being said, if LeBron and Wade go back to what they were doing at the end of last year, alternating which one has the ball at the most important junctures of the game instead of playing the best matchups that are on the court, all of a sudden, Miami might find itself to be in a lot of trouble for the second straight series against a clearly inferior team.

Click Here to get the best NBA picks that you’ll find on the internet, including our Boston vs. Miami picks and the NBA playoffs picks for the rest of the postseason odds.

2012 NBA Playoffs: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs

May 27th, 2012 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on 2012 NBA Playoffs: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
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Of all of the great games that we have seen on the 2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule, the best of the bunch may have yet to get started. The top two teams in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, are set to get it on in the Western Conference Finals, and the winner will move on to play for all of the marbles on the 2012 NBA Finals odds! Don’t miss our 2012 Western Conference Finals preview and series picks!

Click Here For All Of The NBA Finals Odds

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Sunday 5/27, 8:30 PM, TNT)
Game 2: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Tuesday 5/29, 9:00 PM, TNT)
Game 3: San Antonio @ Oklahoma City (Thursday 5/31, 9:00 PM, TNT)
Game 4: San Antonio @ Oklahoma City (Saturday 6/2, 8:30 PM, TNT)
Game 5: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Monday 6/4, 9:00 PM, TNT, If Necessary)
Game 6: San Antonio @ Oklahoma City (Wednesday 6/6, 9:00 PM, TNT, If Necessary)
Game 7: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Friday 6/8, 9:00 PM, TNT, If Necessary)

Key #1: The post defenders for the Thunder have to stay strong
This could really be the key to the whole series. The Spurs are going to be using their depth for sure to consistently give the Thunder everything that they could ever want, and that means a heck of a lot of driving into the paint and trying to control the low block. Battling it out in the paint, there just hasn’t been a team that has been able to body with San Antonio yet. That being said, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, and Nazr Mohammad are going to be waiting in the lane this time around for the slashing guards and the bigs for the Spurs, and we think that this is going to be a remarkable matchup. It isn’t about the stats for the big men for the Thunder. They just need to play well defensively, clean up the glass, and alter (or block) a ton of shots to make the Spurs uncomfortable. If they don’t and San Antonio can slash into the lane freely, this series is going to be a one-sided romp.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs Series Odds at
5Dimes Sportsbook

Oklahoma City Thunder +175
San Antonio Spurs -210
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Key #2: The Spurs have to be careful with the pace of this series
Depth has been the key for the Spurs over the course of the first two rounds of the playoffs. They clearly had more bodies to throw at both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Utah Jazz, and they were able to just keep running up and down the court to take care of those teams without all that much in the way of problems. Save for Tony Parker and Tim Duncan though, no one averaged more than 26 minutes per game. The good news is that it kept legs fresh. The bad news in this series though, is that the Thunder are ready, willing, and certainly able to keep up at this type of a pace with the Spurs. San Antonio has to be careful to say the least. Yes, this is a team that has the experience of winning NBA Finals, but those wins all came in situations where defense won championships. Now, the Spurs are going to try to run their way to a title. When it ran into a younger team that was willing to run last year in the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio was in some trouble and eventually got knocked out of the playoffs. We know that this is what got the Spurs to this point, but the possibility is there that the Thunder could force this tempo even faster, and that could make things very uncomfortable for the flow of the Spurs.

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Key #3: The Spurs cannot commit too many fouls and send the Thunder to the foul line
If the Spurs are going to lose this series, there is a good chance that they do it at the charity stripe. For all of the good things that they do, the Spurs really don’t shoot foul shots that well. Tim Duncan is a liability from the foul line for sure, and though the guards are usually all good shooters, there are too many on the court that could be fouled and sent to the line for crucial free throws that might be nervy. The argument could be made that Oklahoma City had that issue last year when it was deep into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history (since moving from Seattle), but this year, with the experience that the team has, there should be no jitters. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden are all great free throw shooters, and these are the men that are going to have the ball in their hands. We have seen this team knock down foul shots all postseason, making teams pay for trying to get too physical with them, and the Thunder are going to continue to do that in this series. The Spurs have to find ways to stay out of foul trouble, not so much for their depth, but just to keep Oklahoma City off of the charity stripe.

Click Here to get the best NBA picks that you’ll find on the internet, including our Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio picks and the NBA playoffs picks for the rest of the postseason odds.

NBA Playoffs Prediction: Clippers vs. Spurs Series Preview, Analysis

May 15th, 2012 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on NBA Playoffs Prediction: Clippers vs. Spurs Series Preview, Analysis
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The San Antonio Spurs are going to be back in action against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are going to make our NBA playoff predictions and our Spurs vs. Clippers series picks for what could be quite the entertaining series!

Click Here For All Of The NBA Finals Odds

Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Tuesday 5/15, 9:30 PM, TNT)
Game 2: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Thursday 5/17, 9:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 3: San Antonio @ Los Angeles (Saturday 5/19, 3:30 PM, ABC)
Game 4: San Antonio @ Los Angeles (Sunday 5/20, 10:30 PM, TNT)
Game 5: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Tuesday 5/22, TBD, If Necessary)
Game 6: San Antonio @ Los Angeles (Friday 5/25, TBD, If Necessary)
Game 7: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Sunday 5/27, TBD, If Necessary)

Key #1: CP3 has no choice but to take over
The Clippers are just tremendous underdogs in this series, and for good reason. If there is any chance to pull off the upset though, Chris Paul needs to be the man of the hour. CP3 went off for 36 points when these two teams last met at the AT&T Center, and it took all 36 of those points to be able to get out of Dodge with a ‘W’. Of course, Mo Williams also put together 33 points off of the bench that day to help out, and that made all of the difference in the world. Still, it is going to come down to what CP3 can do. He is still hurting with a hip pointer, and it is clear that that is going to hamper him for as long as the Clippers are in the playoffs. Still, this is why Paul was brought to Tinseltown, and he is going to have to be the man that does everything for the Clippers if they want to stand any chance.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs Series Odds at
5Dimes Sportsbook

Los Angeles Clippers +1350
San Antonio Spurs -2200
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Key #2: Gregg Popovich has to continue to rotate his players
Well, at least we know that that shouldn’t be all that much of a problem. The Spurs use at least 11 players seemingly every single night, and Popovich is known to use all 13 that he has available to him regardless of whether the game is close or not. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker can’t all play 40 minutes per game like they used to, and that means that the likes of Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Gary Neal, etc. have no choice but to step it up. None of them really need to contribute more than perhaps about 20 minutes on the court, but those 20 minutes are key, especially the ones that come without the big time scorers on the hardwood.

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Key #3: The Clippers absolutely cannot get killed on the glass
Even dating back to 2010, it is quite easy to see the key to winning games in this series. The team that controls the glass is the one that is going to have the best chance to win. The Clippers outrebounded the Spurs 41-35 in the 120-108 win back in March at the AT&T Center, and they held the 53-42 edge in a 103-100 loss at Staples Center in overtime in February. The Spurs were +13 in a 115-90 win right at the outset of the season in December, while the Clippers won the battle on the boards 50-43 in the last meeting of last season, a 90-85 win. That means that Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and the likes really need to make sure that they are sure-handed on the glass and don’t let a somewhat undersized San Antonio team have its way. If the Spurs win the rebounding battle every night, the Clippers are going to be in a heck of a lot of trouble.

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