The Betting Corner: NBA Round 1, Day 1

Welcome! To the NBA Playoffs Betting Corner.

Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks

Series 0-0

Golden State Warriors @ Denver Nuggets

Series 0-0

Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets

Series 0-0

Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers

Series 0-0

At 3pm the 2^nd seed New York Knicks will take on the injured riddled 7^th Seed Boston Celtics. The Knicks are 31-10 at home this season while the Celtics are 14-27 away on the road.

1/7/13 Boston @ New York 102-96

1/24/13 New York @ Boston 89-86

3/26/13 New York @ Boston 100-85

3/31/13 Boston @ New York 89-108

This game is about emotion. With the chaos happening in Boston, the Red Sox took it upon themselves to completed a series sweep of the Cleveland Indians. In a similar situations, the Knicks opened their season at home after superstorm Sandy devastated the New York Area; they routed the defending champions Miami Heat 104-84. I see emotions running high inside the Celtics heart and they will come out with ready to play for their home town. Both these teams have similar stats in free throw % and 3pt % and whoever can dominate in both categories will win the game.

New York Knicks FT% .759 3PT% .376

Boston Celtics FT% .776 3PT% .358

Key(s) to winning- FT% & 3PT%

1 Unit (Celtics +7)

Moving onto game 2 of the day at 5.30PM ET we have 6^th seed Golden State Warriors on the road in the Mile High City taking on 3^rd seed Denver Nuggets. Nuggets are 38-3 at home this season while the warriors are 19-22 away on the road.

11/10/12 Denver @ Golden State 107-101 OT

11/23/12 Golden State @ Denver 91-102

11/29/12 Denver @ Golden State 105-106

1/13/13 Golden State @ Denver 105-116

Playoffs are about defense. Despite having the 1^st and 7^th highest scoring teams in this matchup, don’t expect TOO much offense between these 2 teams. Basketball is a team sport and the Nuggets understand George Karl’s system of sharing the ball. The Nuggets rank 3^rd in assist per game while the Warriors rank 15^th. This game is going to come down to guard play matchup of Curry vs. Lawson, whoever can get their team more involved is going to win the game.

Key(s) to winning-Assist & Guard Play

.5 Unit (Total under 210.5)

In the Evening 3^rd game of the day at 8PM ET we have 5^th seed Chicago Bulls in Brooklyn taking on the 4^th seed Nets. Nets are 26-15 at home and the Bulls are 21-20 on the road.

12/15/12 Brooklyn @ Chicago 82-83

2/1/13 Chicago @ Brooklyn 89-93

3/2/13 Brooklyn @ Chicago 85-96

4/4/13 Chicago @ Brooklyn 92-90

This is going to be a defensive matchup with 2 VERY defensive minded coaches. Despite not having Derrick Rose all season, the Bulls have exceeded everyone’s expectations. The Bulls rank 8^th in rebounding while the Nets rank 10^th and the Bulls rank 3^rd in points allowed while the Nets rank 6^th.

If the Bulls can make the Nets play their game of basketball (grind it out/tough half-court set) the Bulls can surprise the Nets.

Key(s) to winning-Rebounds

1 Unit (Chicago +5)

The last and final game of the night at 10.30PM ET 4^th seed Los Angeles Clippers 32-9 at home host the 5^th seed Memphis Grizzlies 24-17 on the road, let the DUNKING Begin…

10/31/12 Memphis @ Los Angeles 92-101

1/14/13 Los Angeles @ Memphis 99-73

3/13/13 Memphis @ Los Angeles 96-85

4/13/13 Los Angeles @ Memphis 91-87

This is the only matchup we have that’s a repeat of last year’s round 1 matchup. The Clippers look to move on once again while the Grizzlies look for payback for last year’s disappointment. Both teams have trouble taking care of the ball at times with the Clippers 13.8 turnovers per game and the Grizzlies 13.2 per game. But with all said, the Clippers have the most productive bench in the league and I just don’t see Memphis matching up with the bench production that Clippers have.

Key(s) to winning-Bench Production & Turnovers

1 Unit (Total over 179)

Season YTD 0-0

Good Luck to all the betters and most importantly enjoy the games.

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Chin Tan
Guest Sports Activist for The Cover 4
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