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The Betting Corner: NBA Playoffs May 18, 2013

May 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

New York @ Indiana 8PM (ET) ESPN

(Pacers 3-2 Knicks Series)

Presentation1

Well in game 5 I thought Indiana would close it out on the road being the better team overall in this series. However, the Knicks fought back at home and kept the series going. With the Injury to George Hill proving to be a bigger lose than expected for the Pacers in game 5, he may be available to return tonight close out the Knicks at home tonight. If he doesn’t I see the Pacers home playoff win streak in this series in jeopardy.

Play:

If Hill returns Pacers -5.5

If no Hill Knicks +5.5

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Round 2-NBA Playoffs-Eastern Conference

May 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Eastern_Conference_NBA_logo

Two matchups are left in each conference to determine the two finalists going to the NBA Finals.

Chicago Bulls Vs Miami Heat

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  • Game 1- May 6 Chicago @ Miami 93-86
  • Game 2-May 8Chicago @ Miami 7 p.m. (EST) TNT
  • Game 3-May 10 Miami @ Chicago 8 p.m. (EST) ESPN
  • Game 4-May 13 Miami @ Chicago 7 p.m. (EST) TNT
  • Game 5-May 15 Chicago @ Miami TBA TNT
  • Game 6-May 17 Miami @ Chicago TBA ESPN
  • Game 7-May 19 Chicago @ Miami TBA TNT

2013 Regular Season Matchups

  • January 2 Chicago @ Miami 96-89
  • February 21 Miami @ Chicago 86-67
  • March 27 Miami @ Chicago 97-101
  • April 14  Chicago @ Miami 93-105

Chicago Bulls’ Locker Room

Both teams have proven they can win at home and on the road. But what a shocker it was when the Bulls stunned the Heat Monday night on the road. While we still don’t have news on whether  Derrick Rose will play, the Bulls might have some other issues they might want to deal with. Sixth man Nate Robinson carried the Bulls to the second round despite being ill and throwing up courtside. Luol Deng has also been dealing with the flu and a spinal tap and missed the last two games in the series against the Brooklyn Nets. Veteran guard Kirk Hinrich is also dealing with a calf injury, and if he returns,  he won’t be at 100 percent.  The Bulls surprised many in knocking out the Nets on the road in seven games with their stingy, tough defense.

Miami Heat Locker Room

The defending champions swept the Milwaukee Bucks in Round 1 and have been off for 10 days. This will help them in the long run. The Heat have no serious injuries as Dwayne Wade has gotten better during this break and will be cleared to  play come game time. The Heat didn’t have a hard time moving past the Bucks, winning by an average of 14 points. The Heat is arguably toe-to-toe with the Bulls defensively, both coaches stress  sharing the ball and defensive pressure on the ball. With a solid supporting cast in Chris “The Bird-Man” Anderson, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mike Miller and  Norris Cole, this Heat bench can bring it when their starters are resting. And LeBron James just won his fourth MVP in the last five years. They were simply stunned by the intensity the Bulls brought to Miami in game 1. But the defending champions know how to bounce back. Just count on Lebron James.

Final Predictions

Chicago might steal a game or two, but when the dust settles Miami continues its quest for two in a row.

Heat in 6

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New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers

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Remember the “choke artist” in Reggie Miller scoring eight points in 8.9 seconds and later staring down at Spike Lee while using one hand to choke himself and the other holding down on his crotch? Yeah those were the great days of the Knicks/Pacers Series, and now it is finally BACK!

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  • Game 1- May 5 Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks 102-95
  • Game 2-May 7 Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks 7 p.m. (EST) TNT
  • Game 3- May 11 New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers 8 p.m. (EST) ABC
  • Game 4-May 15 New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers TBA (EST) TNT
  • Game 5-May 16 Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks 8 p.m. (EST) TNT
  • Game 6-May 18 New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers TBA (EST) ESPN
  • Game 7- May 20 Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks 8 p.m. (EST) TNT

2013 Regular Season Matchups

  • November 18  Indiana @ New York 76-88
  • January 10 New York @ Indiana 76-81
  • February 20 New York @ Indiana 91-125
  • April 14 Indiana  @ New York 80-90

Indian Pacers’ Locker Room

The Pacers did what neither team could do during the regular season, win on the road. After stealing game one, this Pacers team now really has the edge to move on to the Eastern Conference finals with its undefeated home playoff streak. The Pacers had their moments in round one against the Atlanta Hawks but they overcame it in game six to eliminate the Hawks. The Pacers led the league with 45.9 rebounds per game and they showed it in their first round match-up, dominating the boards and points in the paint which has caused a HUGE  problem for the Knicks. In game one the Pacers won the rebounding edge 44-30 and points in the paint 46-32.  The Pacers will have to continue to play this type of ball in hopes of knocking off the Knicks and moving on to possibly face the defending champion Miami Heat.

New York Knicks’ Locker Room 

Home court is what they need to focus on, now having only three home games left, the Knicks need to secure all 3 games at home and steal one at Indiana where the Pacers are 30-11 and currently undefeated in the playoffs. The Knicks will hope to get a low-post boost in Amare Stoudemire possibly returning in game three and hopefully Marcus Camby can be more productive as they will be outsized against David West, Roy Hibbert and Paul George. Quote from Charles Barkley on TNT, “You don’t live by the threes,  you die by it.” The Knicks have been this way all season, they average over 24 attempts but in game one the Pacers beat them in that category and if they want to have any chance of making this a series, they have to make it rain.

Final Predictions

New York didn’t come this far without some success and recognition. We’ll hope for a great seven-game series but when it’s all said and done  Reggie Miller will be smiling after game seven.

Pacers in 7

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Bennett Tops Bazz, McLemore as Nation’s Best Freshman

January 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Anthony Bennett is a man amongst boys!

Anthony Bennett is a man amongst boys!

Every year college basketball programs try to attract top recruits who can make an immediate impact on the team. Everyone wants the next Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, or Carmelo Anthony to play for their program and carry them into the NCAA tourney. An incoming freshman with exceptional talent can benefit a program immensely, even if it is “one and done.” Just ask John Calipari how useful a freshman can be. He owes much of his success to freshmen like Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall and Anthony Davis. Although early, the 2013 freshman class has some studs making their names known and opposing teams praying they’re one and dones.

Forward Anthony Bennett of UNLV is without question the best freshman at this point. The first McDonald’s All-American to join the Runnin’ Rebels in decades has created a new show in a city known for its entertainment. The freshman already has NBA size standing at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, and his play makes him a consideration as an early lottery pick if he chooses to leave for the NBA after this season. Bennett uses every bit of his size to bully defenders in the paint on his way to 19.9 points per game while shooting 56.1 percent and collecting nine rebounds a game. While Bennett seems capable of getting to the basket at will, his game is far more versatile. His seven-foot wingspan gives him the ability to match-up against any opponent and his 1.5 blocks per game demonstrates his ability to protect the paint. While it would seem his game has to be lacking in some facet, the guy even shoots the three-ball at 38 percent. Bennett’s far more than your typical college player, hell he’s even more than two collegiate players at times (see video below).

Bennett’s 19-plus points per game and 9-plus rebound average have him in the company of Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Michael Beasley, so it’s safe to say he should be on the National Player of the Year watch. With a player of Bennett’s caliber to watch, UNLV fans should pack the Thomas & Mack Center all season long. While currently ranked 24 in the AP and 19 in the USA Today, the return of 2012 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year Mike Moser and the sure development of Bennett will make this team scary in March. Bennett may be the savior of Sin City and the Runnin’ Rebels have the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA tourney.

ben

While Bennett is far above anyone other freshman this year, consideration must be given to guard Ben McLemore. It’s a pretty big deal when a freshman leads No. 6 Kansas in scoring. McLemore is averaging a team-leading 15.8 points per game with 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per game.  All it takes to recognize his talent is to watch his clutch performance against Iowa State. The freshman put up 33 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the 3-point line. He stepped up big by knocking down the game-tying three with only a second left. Whenever you have a freshman step up in such big moments, it can’t go unnoticed. From highlight plays that show his ability to elevate higher than kids at a Wiz Khalifa concert, to his ability to come up big during big games, McLemore can’t be ignored. If the freshman can successfully carry his team to a top seed in the NCAA tourney and continue at the pace he’s going, he will overtake Bennett for top freshman honors and further improve his draft stock.
smart

Another top freshman guard is Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart. The young point guard averages 14.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. The Cowboys have lost two of their last three games and need to snap out of the funk they’re in. As a major contributor to their offense, Smart’s stats show his importance to the team. The guy fills up a stat sheet like a young Jason Kidd. He’s a top two contributor in assists, points, and rebounds. While certainly a top freshman, I have a hard time comparing him to the level of Bennett and McLemore. With the college basketball only half-way through, anything can change. While I don’t see Smart capable of overcoming Bennett for top freshman honors, he definitely must be considered in the top-3 freshman.

bazz

The last freshman consideration is UCLA’s forward Shabazz Muhammad. While Muhammad began with a rocky start due to potential NCAA violations of amateurism, he seems to be trying to live up to the preseason hype. Post #FreeShabazz, is averaging 19.6 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. With UCLA about to hit the road in the Pac-12, Shabazz better be ready to be heckled by fans for his possible violations and lead UCLA to match the early expectations everyone had for it. If Shabazz can stay on the court and continue to play at the level he’s been at the past couple games, he’ll move up in these rankings (he’s averaged 19.5 points and 8 rebounds over his past two). Shabazz has some big shoes to step into (probably Adidas), and if he fails match the hype, his status as the number one pick may slip. The potential to go either way is there, it will just be up to him to determine which direction he goes in.

Other Considerations:

Jahaii Carson, Arizona State (16.7ppg, 3.1rpg, 5.4apg)

Nerlens Noel, Kentucky (10.3ppg, 9.3rpg, 3.5bpg)

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Big Expectations in the Big Apple

January 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

melo

They say there is nothing louder than a New Yorker, so if you haven’t heard about the success of the New York Knicks this year, consider yourself one of the few. The Knicks have been making a lot of noise in the early part of this season turning it around from last season. The Knicks have rocketed off to a 22-10 start and are leading the “who can possibly beat the Heat” race in the Eastern Conference. The MVP-caliber play of Carmelo Anthony, Coach of the Year candidate Mike Woodson, and player acquisitions have turned the New York Knicks into a contender.

Carmelo Anthony is playing out of his mind right now. He’s second in the league right now to Kobe Bryant (aka Benjamin Button) in scoring. Carmelo is averaging 28.9 points per game with shooting averages of 47% from the field and a career best 43% from 3-point range. Although he has missed a few games with injury this season, he is having one of the best seasons of his career. During the offseason, coach Mike Woodson was quoted saying, “Anthony’s going to have to raise his game” and that he would have “to push him to be in better shape.” Anthony seems to have taken his coach’s words to heart as he has propelled the Knicks to one of their best starts in decades.

Mike Woodson has brought in a culture that holds even his star players accountable, and their response can be seen throughout their play. Under D’Antoni, the Knicks forgot what it meant to play defense, Woodson seems to have been able to remind them what it means. He has brought in a focus on defense, and when you have the former Defensive Player of the Year, you’re going to see some positive results. By demanding accountability from his players, Woodson and the Knicks have experienced a major reduction in turnovers. Under Woodson, the Knicks are averaging a league-low 10.8 turnovers per game. This same team averaged 16 turnovers per game last year. Woodson’s system demands ball control, something far different from the run and gun offense that existed during the D’Antoni era. This doesn’t mean that the offense has slowed down though. Woodson has put out a powerful offense that has been living and dying with the 3-ball. The Knicks put up a league high 28.9 3-pointers per game and are making them at a 39% rate. This three point shooting has allowed the Knicks to average a very respectable 102.1 points per game. By getting his veterans to buy in and operate within the system, Woodson has the Knicks looking like contenders.

Woodson’s veteran team added multiple players during this offseason that have been crucial to the Knicks thriving. During the offseason, the Knicks refused to match Jeremy Lin’s offer sheet, allowing the point guard to go to Houston. They brought in veteran point guards Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton who have been able to successfully run the offense that Woodson wants. Raymond Felton seems to have been revitalized in New York, and Jason Kidd seems to have slapped Father Time in the face. Kidd’s poised play and veteran leadership have created almost a second coach on the court. While he may not be lighting up the stat sheet, every player on the Knicks commends Kidd for consistently making play after play and efficiently running the offense on the floor. The Knicks have found themselves two point guards more than capable of producing and running the Knicks efficient offense.

Much must be said about the emergence of J.R. Smith. The self-proclaimed partier has “given up on drinking and the clubs” to focus more on basketball this year. It looks as though it is really helping as Smith is one of the best bench players in the league and averaging a career high 16.6 points per game.

The Knicks look like one of the best teams in the league even though they are just introducing one of their top players back to the lineup. While some individuals believe that the return of Amare Stoudemire to the Knicks lineup is a disruption to their rhythm, coach Mike Woodson has more than proved himself able to adapt to his roster. With Stoudemire coming off the bench, Woodson would be able to keep Anthony at the power forward position that he has been thriving at all year. The Knicks could rotate Anthony or Chandler out when inserting Stoudemire, giving them additional rest on the bench. Also, having Stoudemire available gives the Knicks the ability to match the size of any front-court in the league. Mike Woodson has turned this team around and his success will get the players to buy into however he decides to handle the situation. Even though we are only a little over a third into the season, the Knicks are facing some big expectations in the Big Apple.

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Tye Masters
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