Service Plays Sunday 4/25/10

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

New Addition to Service Play Forum..Specifically for posting additional topics.

The Rx.com Mod Team has created this Service Play sub-forum in order to supply an area for Rx Service Play Posters to expand upon their posting topics without creating a logjam in the main forum where the three principle threads are maintained..

Posters can track services here if they care to but we will need any trackers to do so in an accurate and civil manner. We did not create this area for posters to ridicule or bash any services..

You can also discuss who is hot and who is not. The general state of the pay for plays industry and any other subject or topic related to service plays.

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I will leave this thread open for a month to take questions and do my best to answer them. I will check in daily but am off on Wednesday and Thursday.

I hope this additional Service Play Forum will satisfy those posters that would like to widen the scope of topics relating to service plays and the industry in general to have their own threads. Mods will be liberal as possible regarding topics but this forum was specifically created to allow you more freedom to express your ideas regarding service plays and related subject matter. No off topic threads will be allowed.

Thank you, wilheim




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Thank you, wilheim.......

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[ugk]

NBA NEWS AND NOTES
GAME OF THE DAY
Mavericks At Spurs Betting Preview
By Steve Merril

Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs (-2.5, 193)

Series Notes

San Antonio took a 2-1 series lead after a 94-90 win in Game 3 on Friday night. The Spurs trailed by four points heading into the fourth quarter, but they outscored Dallas 28-20 to snag the win. San Antonio still won the game despite going scoreless from 3-point land (0-7).
Dallas has dropped its last two games after winning the series opener 100-94. The Mavericks back-to-back losses are somewhat of a surprise considering they had won seven of the previous eight meetings against San Antonio.

Bad Officiating

You can make an argument that this has been the worst officiated series in the playoffs. Even though the crews change on a game-to-game basis, bad officiating seems to be the theme in this Texas rivalry.
The whistle was all in favor of Dallas in Game 1. The Mavs shot 20 more free throws (34-14) than San Antonio. Things were fair and square in Game 2, but the refs were at it again on Friday night. This time San Antonio got all of the favorable calls. The Spurs had 11 more attempts (26-15) over the Mavs.

3-Point Shooting

Dallas has out-shot San Antonio from 3-point land in the three games played so far. The Mavericks have taken 53 attempts from beyond the arc which is 20 more than the 33 attempted by the Spurs. Dallas is shooting 37.7 percent (20-53) from long-range while San Antonio is shooting 36.4 percent (12-33).
With shooting numbers like that, you’d expect Dallas to have better results than a six-point win and two losses by 14 and four points. In Game 3, the Mavericks hit eight 3’s while the Spurs didn't hit any. That’s a 24-point edge yet Dallas still lost the game.

No "D" In Dallas

Dallas has not brought playoff-style defense to any of the three games yet. The Mavericks have allowed San Antonio to shoot better than 48 percent from the field in all three games. The Spurs are averaging 96.7 points per game in this series. They’ve shot 48.9 percent (116-237) from the field.
There is hope though. Head coach Rick Carlisle switched to a 2-3 zone in the third quarter of Game 3. Dallas went on a 17-0 run during that time, and it will be interesting to see if the Mavs play more zone in Game 4.

Pop Goes The Offense

San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich has a history of frustrating opposing offenses with his defensive schemes in the playoffs. And through three games, ‘Pop’ is doing exactly that to Dallas. The Spurs are not allowing the Mavs to get out in transition, which prevents Dallas from scoring easy buckets.
The Mavs averaging less than 93 points per game in this series, and the one time they eclipsed the century mark, they won. Jason Kidd has been stymied on offense so far. He’s scored just 25 points on a dismal 28 percent (7-25) shooting in the first three games.

 

[ugk]

PICK 'N' ROLL

Sunday's Best NBA Bets

Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls (+5.5, 194)

Cleveland’s loss in Game 3 against the Bulls was a setback but it could be a positive step for the Cavs. Coach Mike Brown tried a smaller lineup to keep up with Chicago younger, quicker players.
The Cavaliers were able to erase a 20-point lead using the unique five and Brown hinted he might use the unit again.
''We'll go small if we need to,'' Brown told Cleveland Beacon Journal. ''We may go to it sooner.''
Maybe the most important adjustment was putting LeBron James on Derrick Rose. The King was able to slow down Rose’s quick paths to the paint. Still, Cleveland knows James can’t stick on Rose for the entire game.
''We don't want him guarding him throughout the game,'' Mo Williams said to reporters. ''It would exert too much energy for him. I'll fight with him the first few quarters, and [Delonte West] will get on him when I'm not in the game.
''When it comes down to the stretch, LeBron will [be on him].''
Sounds like a winning formula.

Pick: Cleveland Cavs


Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz (-2, 212)

Is the window of opportunity closing on the Nuggets? Last year and for most of this season, the Nuggets were the best team outside of the Lakers in the Western Conference.
Now Denver is just two games away from being bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
The team’s Achilles’ tendon is defense. Before, the team could get defense stops when it needed it.
"I won't say too much before I see the tape," Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups told the Denver Post, "but a lot of times defense is about effort. And we have to do that for 48 minutes."
Utah’s bench, led by Paul Millsap, chipped in with 30 points. And while the Jazz reserves were pushing Denver down, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer were kicking them when the Nuggets while they were down.
"Millsap got going and that was big for them," Carmelo Anthony said. "And then when we made the adjustment to Millsap, Boozer and Williams went off."
Williams is averaging 27.7 points and 11.7 assists in the series first three games. Expect more of the same on Sunday.

Pick: Utah Jazz

 

[ugk]

NEW AND NOTES
Bettor's Best Friend (BBF)
Sunday's Wagering Tips

Lines To Keep An Eye On

The Heat are down 3-0 in the playoff series versus Boston and Game 4 opened as a pick ‘em. Bettors believing Miami won’t get swept have increased the spread to -1.5 in favor of the home team. The total in the game has also elevated a point to 186.
The total in the Orioles-Red Sox game has jumped a half run from its opener and now stands at 10. Baltimore had played to three consecutive unders heading into Saturday.
An opening total of 9 in the Indians-A’s game has been bet down to 8.5. McAfee Stadium in Oakland is a pitcher’s ballpark and six of the last nine games there have gone under.

Weather Report

Wind will be whipping around the Windy City from 18-20 mph during the Mariners-White Sox game Sunday. Gusts will be coming in from left field and there is also a 60 percent chance of rain.
A 70 percent chance of rain is expected in the Braves-Mets matchup. Wind will blow out to left at 11 mph.
The forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms in the Marlins-Rockies game. A light 12 mph wind will be blowing straight in from center field.
A strong 20 mph wind will blow in from center and right-center field during the Padres-Reds game in Cincinnati. There is also a 30 percent chance of precipitation.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying and Nationwide series race were postponed Saturday due to severe approaching weather around Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. The weather is expected to clear Sunday, opening up time slots for both events. The Sprint Cup will order the field for Sunday's race based on the points standings, putting leader and four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson on the pole. The race is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

Who’s Hot

The Mavs are 6-2 ATS over an eight-game stretch.
Vancouver has netted 18 goals in its last three games, producing three straight overs.
San Diego has won eight straight, earning 8.33 units on the moneyline.

Who’s Not

Cleveland is 1-5 ATS in its last six and 3-7 ATS in the last 10 games.
The Coyotes have not covered the puckline in three playoff losses against Detroit.
The Braves are on a four-game slide (-5.00 units) heading into Sunday.

Key Stat

33-17 – Jazz record this season when Wesley Matthews is in the starting lineup.

Injury That Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones left Saturday’s game in the third inning after he heard his hip “pop”. The 38-year-old slugger is constantly plagued by various ailments and don’t expect Jones to be in the lineup on Sunday and possibly even more games. Martin Prado replaced him at third in the game.

Notable Quotable

"There were things he told me I needed to do as a football player versus the actions he took and who he took as a safety. I understand it's a business, but with it being a business, honesty is all I'm asking for.”
-- San Francisco recent draftee Taylor Mays said about his former coach Pete Carroll who now is the head man in Seattle and passed up Mays in the NFL Draft.

Tips And Notes

- LeBron James felt there was something lacking with Shaq on the court Thursday and requested to see more of J.J. Hickson. James said after the game that they need to play small ball if Shaq isn’t going to dominate the paint. Hickson is a big man who can get out and run but he’s played less than two minutes the entire series. The Cavs went 13-5 over/under when Hickson played more than 25 minutes this season. Coach Mike Brown may be committed to Shaq but if Hickson gets more time expect a faster pace Sunday.
- Sine mid-June of last year, Chad Billingsley is 4-8 with a 5.43 ERA, and he’s been awful for the Dodgers this season. Manager Joe Torre said he will stick with the 24-year-old and his problems are stemming from a lack of confidence. But Billingsley said that wasn’t the case and he feels he is “throwing quality pitches” this season. Billingsley will take the hill on Sunday with L.A. listed as -150 favorites but this pitcher can’t be trusted when he is clearly delusional about the way he’s performed.
- Going into Friday’s game, the Mets were hitting .229 as a team and .196 with RISP. Jerry Manuel decided to alter the batting order in an attempt to spark his offense. The lineup experiment produced dividends on Friday as the Mets scored five runs on nine hits. Jose Reyes was moved to the three-hole and went 2-for-4 on Friday and David Wright slid down to the No. 5 spot and had two RBIs. Manuel is also hoping the move will allow Jason Bay to see more fastballs with speed hitting in front of him. Bay went 3-for-4 on Saturday.

 

[ugk]

ICE PICKS

Sunday's Best NHL Bets

Phoenix Coyotes at Detroit Red Wings (-215, 5)

The Coyotes’ offense has gone quiet. They’ve scored just one goal in the last two games against the Wings (both losses) and haven’t scored a power play in any of their last 18 tries.
The man earning all the praise is Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. The Calder Trophy nominee raised his game after surrendering 11 goals in the first three contests in the series.
Howard came up with numerous big saves in a Game 5 win at Phoenix, including two early in the third period which could have changed the outlook of the game.
"I'm having fun out there," Howard told the Associated Press after the win. "This is the time of the year it's fun. You leave everything out there on the ice every single night, and it's been a blast. I sort of cherish it out there."
Phoenix’s attack hasn’t been nearly as energetic since captain Shane Doan went down with a lower body injury. Look for the Wings to finish off the Coyotes at home on Sunday.

Pick: Detroit Red Wings


Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings (+113, 5.5)

The Canucks delivered their best performance of the postseason with a 7-2 win over the Kings in Game 5 of their first round series. The victory was huge for the Canucks who weren’t playing at the same level they displayed in the regular season.
L.A. goalie Jonathan Quick got yanked and after the game Kings coach Terry Murray didn’t pull any punches.
"You can't sugarcoat that. The goaltending wasn't good enough," Murray told the Los Angeles Daily News.
And while Murray still defended Quick and said he would still be the starter moving forward, the young netminder didn’t take all the blame for the setback.
“It just wasn't a great team effort,” said Quick. “We didn't put our best game out on the ice tonight. It's one of those games where we have to win two more. It's one game. We just have to win two in a row. We know what we have to do. We've done it before.”
The over looks like the best play in this game. Dating back to the regular season, the over is 8-1-1 in Vancouver’s last 10 games.

Pick: Over

 

[ugk]

MLB NEWS AND NOTES
Sunday Night Baseball: Braves at Mets
By MARC LAWRENCE

The Mets and Braves conclude their three-game series at Citi Field Stadium in New York under the Sunday night ESPN lights. Let’s take a look at how these clubs match up.

Hey Fever

Braves manager Bobby Cox insists the team's chemistry is really good and cited rookie RF Jason Heyward as the main reason.

With four home runs and 16 RBIs through the first 16 games, the likeable Heyward has sparked Atlanta’s sluggish offense during the opening month of the campaign.

“J-Hey is a young kid, 20 years old, full of energy and talent," Cox said. "It really is energizing to have somebody like that for the veterans, to have someone come along and help immediately."

Down And Out

As pleasant a surprise as Heyward has been for the Braves, rest of the lineup continues to struggle.

Through the first 15 games of the season, Atlanta's lead-off hitters were batting a combined .130. Center fielder Nate McLouth (2-for-26, .071) outfielder Melky Cabrera (1-for-15, .063 and LF Matt Diaz (3-for-23, .089) have been the main culprits.

Making matters worse, newly acquired 3B Troy Glaus, who is trying to prove that shoulder surgery in January of 2009 didn't sap his power, has failed to hit his weight.

"The fans have a right to boo," Glaus said. "All I can do is keep doing my work. Everybody in here has been booed at some point. Everybody has ups and downs."

Five Atlanta hitters took batting averages under .200 into this weekend series.

"Yeah, it's worrisome," said third baseman Chipper Jones. "We've got certain guys that are swinging the bat well and others are just really struggling right now. We've got to stand by them and try to help them through this period.

"They're' not going to hit under .200 for the whole season. They've just got to get some confidence."

Not So Chipper

And speaking of Jones, the future Hall of Famer is beginning to show signs that the finish line is quickly approaching.

Jones is the only switch hitter in the history of the game with a career average above .300 and over 300 career home runs. With numbers like those he is certainly one of the top switch hitters of all time, joining a group that includes the likes of Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, and Pete Rose.

A natural righty, his recent struggles from the left side make him a liability in the Braves lineup.

Nonetheless, with one of the sweetest swings in baseball from the left side, he still makes opposing pitchers and managers uneasy.

Met Makeover

Each of the Mets starters had an ERA above 6.00 in spring training. As expected, they have settled in with only John Maine continuing to struggle. Word is Maine is headed to the DL with an injury to his non-throwing arm.

Like Atlanta, it’s the New York offense that’s become a concern. With star CF Carlos Beltran still sidelined from arthroscopic right knee surgery in January, no regular in the lineup is hitting .300.

A revamped lineup produced results in the series opener on Friday when SS Jose Reyes batted third for the Mets and delivered a double and then a triple to start a two-run rally in the sixth inning.

Reyes had not batted out of the leadoff spot to start a game since July 2, 2005.

Arms Race

The Mets send Mike Pelfrey (3-0, 0.86) up against Tommy Hanson (1-1, 2.89) in a battle of big, promising right-handers this evening. (Pelfrey is 6-foot-7 and Hanson is 6-6).

Pelfrey followed up a rare save in last Saturday's 20-inning victory over St. Louis with seven scoreless innings Tuesday night, leading the Mets to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six.

Behind Pelfrey, the Mets are 3-6 against the Braves and 8-5 during the month of April. Pelfrey has cashed in each of his last four April starts with a 1.41 ERA.

Hanson worked 4 and 2/3 innings in a 4-3 no-decision home win over the Phillies on Tuesday. He allowed six hits and two earned runs while walking one before leaving the game after 102 pitches.

Despite going 2-3 in his last five road team starts, Hanson has allowed one or less earned runs in four of those efforts. In his only career start against the Mets, Hanson blanked New York in seven innings of work in a 6-0 victory last year.

Strange Stat Of The Week

The Mets proudly boast they have the best opening day record of any team in the majors.

What they don't tell you is they have one of the worst records in big-league history on all those other days of the year.

On opening day: a .646 winning percentage. On all other days: a .478 winning percentage.

 

[ugk]

HOT LINES

Sunday's Best MLB Bets

San Diego Padres at Cincinnati Reds (-105, 9)

With nearly a month of the season complete, guess who’s leading the NL West.
It’s not the favored Dodgers, the hard-hitting Rockies or the strong staff of the Giants, but instead the San Diego Padres who were picked to finish dead-last in the division.
"It starts with the pitching; they've done a great job," Will Venable told the team's official website. "You put up a couple of runs, play some defense and you don't need much more."
Diego’s staff has produced a 2.73 ERA this season – the best in baseball.
The Pads have won eight straight and will send lefty Clayton Richard to the mound on Sunday and he’s been much better than his 0-2 record.
Richard hasn’t given up more than three runs in his three starts while his counterpart, Homer Bailey, has surrendered five earned runs in each of his last two outings.
San Diego has won five straight and 8-of-9 at Cincinnati.

Pick: San Diego Padres


Seattle Mariners at Chicago White Sox (-160, 7.5)

It’s amazing Ozzie Guillen hasn’t lost completely lost his head yet this season.
Through Saturday’s games, the White Sox are hitting .219 as a team and have scored 66 total runs – the fifth fewest in the league.
The only thing keeping Guillen from checking in at the insane asylum is starting pitcher John Danks. The righty is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP this season.
Chicago will likely get the win behind Danks on Sunday, but this lineup can’t be trusted to put up enough runs to support him right now.
With wind blowing in from left field at almost 20 miles per hour and the ineptness of the Mariners offense, the under looks to be the better play.

Pick: Under

 

[freud5137]

Mark Lawrence

St. Louis' Penny over SF!

Comp play from Covers

 

[BiggDogg5n2]

Bookie Monster
29-9 (76%) Bonus Play Run
Fri 1-0
Sat 1-0
Sun
Twins -128

 

[BiggDogg5n2]

Big Al Mcmordie
14-9 (61%) Run
Sat 2-0
Sun 2-1
Tue 3-1
Wed 1-0
Thu 2-1
Fri 3-3
Sat 1-3
Sun
Angels +121
A's -114
Nuggets +2

 

[uga1018]

Sam Bambino

friday 0-1
he went 2-1 yesterday

today

boston +2
utah -2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Don Wallace Sports
NBA

10* Dallas +2.5 over San Antonio
10* Denver +2 over Utah

1-1 yesterday

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hondo

Hondo scored easily with the Tribe yesterday and was on the verge of winning his sixth straight when the Mariners collapsed in Chicago, leaving him with slightly inflated earnings of 130 balbonis.

Today, Mr. Aitch feels obligated to back Bush and the big, bad Brewers after they came to his emotional rescue last week by getting him off the schneid. Ten units.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Big Al Mcmordie

Sun
Angels +121
A's -114
Nuggets +2

Big Al
Baseball Plays for Sunday, April 25

3* Angels +121 (Kazmir/Vazquez)
3* A's -114 (Gonzalez/Masterson)
Opinion Rangers/Tigers 'over' 9 (Porcello/Lewis)


Basketball Plays for Sunday, April 25

3* Nuggets +2
Opinion Cavaliers -5.5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

papayagang pick of the day 20* 4/25

20* pick for sunday

Washington Nationals ML

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CAPPERS ACCESS
Heat
Cavaliers
Brewers

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

GAMBLERS DATA
Minnesota -130

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Joe Wiz's Daily Free Pick

Under 8.5 runs bet. Cleveland and Oakland

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPORTS ADVISORS

NBA PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston (3-0 SU and ATS) at Miami (0-3 SU and ATS)

The Celtics look to become the first team through to the second round when they go for a sweep of the Heat in Game 4 of their first-round series at American Airlines Arena. Paul Pierce hit a buzzer-beating dagger to end Game 3, lifting Boston to a 100-98 win Friday night as a four-point road underdog. The Celtics, who have also cashed in all three games in this series, got 32 points from Pierce and 25 from Ray Allen, and they got to the free-throw line six more times than Miami (23-17), making 18. Miami lost Game 3 despite shooting a solid 50.6 percent from the floor (39 of 77), though the Heat were just 6 of 18 from 3-point range (33.3 percent). Dwyane Wade had a game-high 34 points to go with eight assists, but he went 3-for-11 from long distance. The Heat also gave up 21 fast-break points, while scoring just 11. Miami is 24-18 SU (18-23-1 ATS) at home this year, averaging 96.8 ppg on 45.7 percent shooting and giving up 93.5 ppg on 44.4 percent shooting. Boston is 27-15 on the highway (22-19-1 ATS), putting up 98.1 ppg on 47.6 percent shooting and allowing 94.3 ppg on 44.3 percent shooting. Boston has absolutely owned this rivalry lately, taking the last eight in a row (6-2 ATS) and 14 of the last 15 meetings (11-4 ATS), and Doc Rivers’ troops are 8-1 ATS on their last nine trips to South Beach. The chalk has cashed in 11 of the last 13 clashes, the road team is on a 10-5 ATS run, and the SU winner is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 head-to-head battles. In addition, the SU winner has covered in Miami’s last 10 postseason affairs and is 13-3-1 ATS in Boston’s last 17 playoff games. The Celts are on ATS runs of 5-0 in first-round games, 5-1 against winning teams and 9-2-1 as a playoff pup, but are also 1-5 ATS in their last six after a day off, 2-6 ATS in their last eight after a SU win and 2-5 ATS in their last seven after a spread-cover. The Heat are on a handful of ATS slides, including 2-6 overall, 3-10-1 in opening-round playoff games (1-6 last seven), 1-6-1 at home and 11-25 at home against teams with a winning road record.
Boston holds “over” streaks of 9-3 overall, 6-1 in first-round playoff games, 5-1 as a ‘dog and 6-2 against winning teams. Miami is on “over” strings of 6-2 overall, 10-4 at home, 6-1 after a SU loss, 5-1 as a favorite and 7-2 against winning teams. Finally, the total has cleared the posted price in seven of the last nine meetings between these rivals, including the last two in this series and four of the last five dating to regular-season play.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER


Cleveland (2-1, 1-2 ATS) at Chicago (1-2, 2-1 ATS)

The eighth-seeded Bulls will try to knot up their series with the top-seeded Cavaliers in Game 4 at the United Center. Chicago climbed back into this first-round series by holding on for a 108-106 victory Thursday night in Game 3, watching a 21-point third-quarter lead dwindle to one in the waning seconds, while cashing for the second straight game. Derrick Rose had 31 points and seven assists for the Bulls, Kirk Hinrich added 27 points, and Joakim Noah had 10 points and 15 rebounds. Chicago shot an even 50 percent (42 of 84) and committed just eight turnovers, while forcing 13. Cleveland fell despite a game-high 39 points from LeBron James, who also had 10 rebounds and eight assists, but committed five turnovers. The Cavaliers chucked up 35 shots from 3-point range and knocked down a respectable 14 (40 percent), but it wasn’t enough to seize complete control of the series. With Thursday’s loss, Cleveland fell to 26-16 SU (22-19-1 ATS) on the road this year, averaging 101.1 ppg on 47.3 percent shooting while allowing 97.0 ppg (44.8 percent). Chicago is 25-17 SU (23-19 ATS) at home, narrowly outscoring visitors (98.2-97.5) while shooting 45.3 percent and allowing 43.0 percent shooting. The Bulls lost five straight home games to start March, but have won six of their last nine at the United Center (5-4 ATS). The underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight contests in this rivalry (4-1 last five), and the home squad is on a 20-9 ATS roll, with Chicago cashing in five of the last seven at the United Center. In addition, the SU winner is 29-3 ATS in the last 32 head-to-head clashes between these Central Division rivals. The Cavaliers are on ATS purges of 3-10 overall (1-5 last six), 2-8 as a favorite, 2-9 after a SU loss, 2-7 after a non-cover and 1-4 on the highway. That said, Cleveland is also 13-5 ATS in its last 18 first-round playoff games (6-2 last eight) and 16-6-1 ATS in its last 23 outings as a playoff chalk. The Bulls are on a bundle of ATS rolls, including 14-6 overall (5-1 last six), 19-8-1 against Central Division rivals, 7-2 as an underdog, 7-2 as a playoff ‘dog and 25-10 following a spread-cover. However, they are still 5-9 ATS in their last 14 against teams with a winning percentage above .600. The over is on runs for Cleveland of 6-1 as a playoff chalk, 4-1 in roadies and 11-4 as a road favorite, and Chicago is on “over” stretches of 18-7-1 in first-round playoff games (6-1 last seven) and 9-1 as a playoff pup. On the flip side, the under is on stretches of 7-2 for Cleveland after a SU loss, 38-13-2 for the Cavs on Sunday and 5-1 for Chicago following either a SU or an ATS win. Finally, Games 2 and 3 in this series cleared the posted price, following a 5-1 “under” surge in this rivalry. Also, the total has gone high in nine of the last 13 United Center meetings between these two teams.

ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO and OVER


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Dallas (1-2 SU and ATS) at San Antonio (2-1 SU and ATS)

The seventh-seeded Spurs look to take command of this first-round series among Texas rivals when they host the second-seeded Mavericks in Game 4 at the AT&T Center.
San Antonio trailed by nine at one point in the third quarter of Game 3 on Friday night, then outscored Dallas by 13 points the rest of the way in a 94-90 win to barely cover as a 3½-point home favorite. The Spurs, who have won and covered two in a row after losing the series opener, saw Big Three deliver big time in Game 3, with Tim Duncan scoring 25, Tony Parker adding 23 and Manu Ginobili chipping 15 (plus seven assists). Ginobili suffered a broken nose after being hit by a Dirk Nowitzki elbow in the third quarter, but he came back to score 11 in the fourth.
Dallas took as many shots as the Spurs (76), making 34 while San Antonio hit 37. The Mavs went 8-for-20 from long distance, while San Antonio missed all seven of its 3-pointers. Also, Rick Carlisle’s troops went 14-for-15 at the line (93.3 percent), but the Spurs made 26 trips to the charity stripe, hitting 20.
San Antonio is now 30-12 SU (25-16-1 ATS) at home this season, outscoring visitors by more than eight ppg (105.2-97.0) and outshooting them 49.2 percent to 46 percent. Dallas stands 27-15 SU and 26-16 ATS on the highway, with the Mavs averaging 101.9 ppg on 46.8 percent shooting and yielding 98.8 ppg (45.3 percent). These instate rivals also met in the first round last year, with Dallas rolling to a 4-1 series victory while also going 4-1 ATS. The Mavs are still 7-3 ATS in the last 10 clashes, but San Antonio’s victories in the last two contests halted a 4-0 SU and ATS run by Dallas in this rivalry. The host is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 matchups, but Dallas is 12-5 ATS on its last 17 trips to San Antonio. Also, the SU winner is on a 16-1 ATS tear when these squads hook up. The Mavericks are 9-4 SU and ATS in their last 13 starts overall (6-2 SU and ATS last eight), and they are on further pointspread upticks of 5-1 on the highway, 6-2 after a day off and 5-2 as a road pup. However, they are 1-5 ATS in their last six starts as a playoff ‘dog (0-4 last four). The Spurs are on ATS upswings of 20-8 overall, 9-2 at home, 8-2 as a home chalk, 20-6-2 as a playoff chalk, 8-2 after a day off and 8-3 against winning teams, though they remain just 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 first-round games (2-4 last six, all against Dallas). San Antonio is on “under” runs of 4-1-1 overall, 5-1-1 against winning teams and 16-7 after a spread-cover, but the over for the Spurs is on surges of 5-1 at home and 4-1 as a home chalk. Dallas is on under rolls of 10-4-1 overall, 4-0-1 in the Southwest Division and 5-1 as an underdog. Finally, the under is 5-1-1 in this year’s seven clashes in this rivalry, with the last three meetings – the regular-season finale on April 14 and the first two games of this playoff series – staying low.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER


Denver (1-2 SU and ATS) at Utah (2-1 SU and ATS)

The Jazz try to take a commanding 3-1 advantage in this best-of-7 Western Conference series when they meet the Nuggets inside EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. After dropping Game 1 in Denver, Utah has won two straight, including Friday’s 105-93 home victory, easily cashing as a 2½-point favorite. The Jazz dominated the middle of the game, outscoring the Nuggets 63-41 in the second and third quarters to key the victory. Five Utah players scored in double digits, led by Deron Williams’ 24 points (along with 10 assists). Paul Milsap also was huge for the Jazz, contributing 22 points and 19 rebounds, and Carlos Boozer added 18 points and eight rebounds. Defensively, Utah allowed just two Nuggets to reach double figures in scoring, as both Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony (plagued by foul trouble) each had 25 points. The road has been rough on Denver this season, as it fell to 19-23 (15-22-5 ATS) with Friday’s defeat, and the Nuggets are just 2-7 (1-7-1 ATS) in their last nine on the highway. On the other hand, Utah is a dominating 33-9 in front of the home fans (27-13-2 ATS), winning 11 of its last 12 in Salt Lake City (9-3 ATS). The Jazz were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs a season ago by the Lakers in five games (3-2 ATS). They’re in the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, but have lost four of their last six first-round series. The Lakers also took out the Nuggets on their way to the NBA title, topping Denver in six games (3-3 ATS) in the Western Conference Finals. Prior to meeting Los Angeles, the Nuggets had won eight of 10 playoff contests in the first two rounds – eliminating New Orleans and Dallas – while going 10-0 ATS. This is Denver’s sixth consecutive playoff appearance after a nine-year drought from 1995-2003. The Nuggets still lead the season series 4-3 (3-2-2 ATS), but the Jazz are 2-1 at home (1-1-1 ATS). Denver remains 7-2-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings, including 3-1-1 ATS in Utah, but the favorite is 25-11-3 ATS in the last 39 meetings.
Denver is on pointspread skids of 5-13-1 overall, 1-7-1 on the road and 1-5-2 as an underdog, but it is on positive ATS streaks of 6-2 as a playoff underdog and 4-1-1 after a non-cover. The Jazz are on a plethora of ATS upticks, including 33-15-3 overall, 24-9-2 at home, 9-3 as a home favorite, 22-7-1 as a chalk of less than five points and 23-11-2 against Western Conference squads. The Nuggets have topped the total in four of five overall, six of nine against Northwest Division teams and four of five against winning teams, but they are on “under” streaks of 5-1 on the road, 38-17 as an underdog, and 22-6 as a playoff ‘dog. Utah has gone over the total in 20 of 27 against Northwest Division rivals and four of five against winning teams, but it is on “under” runs of 6-0-1 after a straight-up win, 3-1-1 at home and 6-2-1 as a favorite.
In this rivalry, the over is 4-1 in the last four meetings, but the under has cashed in five of the last six in Utah, with Game 3 staying low after the first two contests in Denver hurdled the total.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UTAH and UNDER


AMERICAN LEAGUE

N.Y. Yankees (12-5) at L.A. Angels (9-10)

Javier Vazquez (1-2, 8.27 ERA) looks to build on his best start of the season when he takes the ball for the Yankees in the rubber match of a three-game series against the Angels and Scott Kazmir (1-1, 7.45). Los Angeles got a two-run homer from Kendry Morales in the eighth inning Friday to break a 4-4 tie and win 6-4, then came back Saturday and got mowed down by Andy Pettitte in a 7-1 defeat. The Angels have still won six of nine overall and they’re on additional surges of 4-1 against the A.L. East, 37-16 on Sunday and 47-19 in the third game of the season. New York remains on positive runs of 64-26 overall (playoffs included), 42-18 against left-handed starters, 19-9 on the road versus southpaws, 7-2 against the A.L. West, 74-33 in the third game of a series and 49-22 on Sunday. Going back to last season (including the playoffs), the Yankees have won eight of 12 against Los Angeles, but they’re still just 8-20 in their last 28 games at Angel Stadium. Vazquez, who made 32 starts for the Yankees back in 2004 and re-signed with the club in the offseason, got off to a rough start to 2010, allowing 12 runs in his first two starts covering 11 innings, and losing both contests (including a 5-3 home setback to the Angels). However, he was much sharper in Oakland on Tuesday, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-3 victory. Still, the veteran right-hander has surrendered 11 runs in 11 innings in two road games so far. Including the 5-3 home loss on April 14, Vazquez is now 0-2 with a 3.51 ERA in five career starts against the Angels, including 0-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two games in Anaheim (two earned runs allowed in 13 2/3 innings). Going back to 2004, Los Angeles is 3-1 the last four times it has faced Vazquez. One day after Vazquez struggled against the Angels at home, Kazmir got rocked in a 6-2 loss to the Yankees, yielding all six runs (including three homers) in just four innings. However, he bounced back Tuesday and led the Angels to a 6-5 home win over Detroit, going six innings and allowing two runs on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Since being traded from Tampa Bay to Los Angeles last September, Kazmir has made five starts at Angel Stadium and gone 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA. However, both losses came against the Yankees (one in the regular season, one in the playoffs). In fact, Kazmir is 0-3 with an 8.36 ERA in three starts against New York since Sept. 23. Prior to that, he had gone 6-4 with a 2.20 ERA in his first 13 appearances (12 starts) against the Bronx Bombers (all with Tampa Bay). The Yankees are on “over” runs of 12-4-1 on the road, 7-1 against lefty starters, 5-1 behind Vazquez (dating to his last stint with the organization) and 4-0 with Vazquez working on the road. Meanwhile, L.A. has topped the total in four of five against right-handed starters, but otherwise is on “under” stretches of 38-18-3 overall, 4-1-1 in the third game of a series and 7-3 with Kazmir on the hill. Finally, the over is 17-6-1 in the last 24 Anaheim Stadium clashes between these rivals (1-1 this weekend).

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

 

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Arthur Ralph Sports
436 - 316 run 59 %

Bonus Play Sun Over 8 1/2 CUBS