Stephen Nover
LA Lakers at Utah
Play: Utah +1.5
The Lakers very well could be the best team in basketball. They've gotten away with beating the Jazz at home the first two games of the series by playing well in spurts.I don't see the Lakers getting away with that in Salt Lake City. The Jazz beat the Lakers twice at home in the playoffs during Games 3 and 4 last year after losing the first two in Los Angeles.Obviously, this is the Jazz's season since they'd have no shot if they fell behind 0-3.Utah losing at the Staples Center is not a huge surprise. They've lost 11 straight road games to the Lakers.But at home the Jazz are 33-8 this season. I see them playing with everything they have in a fully concentrated effort. They will be the more intense team.The Lakers have shot 58 percent from the field during the first two games. Utah's defense is down from past seasons, but that shockingly high percentage cannot continue.It's a bonus for the Jazz if center Mehmet Okur can play after missing the first two games.The Lakers are 1-5 against the spread as a playoff favorite the past six times.
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LA Lakers at Utah
Play: Utah +1.5
The Lakers very well could be the best team in basketball. They've gotten away with beating the Jazz at home the first two games of the series by playing well in spurts.I don't see the Lakers getting away with that in Salt Lake City. The Jazz beat the Lakers twice at home in the playoffs during Games 3 and 4 last year after losing the first two in Los Angeles.Obviously, this is the Jazz's season since they'd have no shot if they fell behind 0-3.Utah losing at the Staples Center is not a huge surprise. They've lost 11 straight road games to the Lakers.But at home the Jazz are 33-8 this season. I see them playing with everything they have in a fully concentrated effort. They will be the more intense team.The Lakers have shot 58 percent from the field during the first two games. Utah's defense is down from past seasons, but that shockingly high percentage cannot continue.It's a bonus for the Jazz if center Mehmet Okur can play after missing the first two games.The Lakers are 1-5 against the spread as a playoff favorite the past six times.
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Chip Chirimbes
Boston at Chicago
Pick: Boston +4.5
Analysis: The Chicago Bulls (42-42) look like last years' Atlanta Hawks. Just remind the Celtics who gave them their toughest series in last years' championship run through the NBA Playoffs. Boston knows how tough the Bulls are going to be at home but they have enough defense to win this one outright.
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Boston at Chicago
Pick: Boston +4.5
Analysis: The Chicago Bulls (42-42) look like last years' Atlanta Hawks. Just remind the Celtics who gave them their toughest series in last years' championship run through the NBA Playoffs. Boston knows how tough the Bulls are going to be at home but they have enough defense to win this one outright.
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Brian Edwards
LA Lakers at Utah
Play: Over 214
I've cashed a couple of winners by backing the 'over' in this series to date. The 'over' has actually hit in eight consecutive head-to-head meetings between these long-time Western Conference rivals. Although the number has been increased a few points for this spot, I still think we'll comfortably cash this winner thanks to Utah's uptempo style with Deron Williams pushing the pace.
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LA Lakers at Utah
Play: Over 214
I've cashed a couple of winners by backing the 'over' in this series to date. The 'over' has actually hit in eight consecutive head-to-head meetings between these long-time Western Conference rivals. Although the number has been increased a few points for this spot, I still think we'll comfortably cash this winner thanks to Utah's uptempo style with Deron Williams pushing the pace.
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Yankee Capper High Roller
Exclusive MEMBERS ONLY Plays for Thursday, April 23rd 2009.
Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh PA
TV: CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Pick: Over 5.5
For the Philadelphia Flyers, it's win or go home. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's win and move on or lose and have to cross the Keystone State for Game 6. Either way, neither team wants to lose this game and both will be pulling out all the stops. And that can only mean one thing... a LOT of goals. Despite the spectacular play of Marc-Andre Fleury and Marty Biron, I'm looking for the goal lights to come on quite a bit tonight at the Igloo in Game 5. After the Flyers huge win in game 3, Game 4 became much less of a must win for them but after the way they dominated Sunday they were probably expecting a win Tuesday night. And that lead to a fairly conservative game being played in the first period. Once the Penguins scored the first couple of goals, the Flyers picked up the intensity and started playing classic Philly hockey. Tonight I expect Philly to play like that from the very start. Now to the Penguins. I fully expect the Penguins to close this series out tonight, and in order for them to do that they will have to match the intensity of the Flyers. The last time these two teams played with the series on the line, the Pens shut Philly out 6-0 to move on and send them home. I am certainly not expecting another game like that, however I do see the Penguins putting up 5 or 6 goals tonight at home in front of a sea of white at Mellon Arena. Look for the Flyers to counter with 3 or 4 goals against Fleury and you have 8-10 goals scored in this one. High Rollers, roll into the 'Burgh, Take OVER 5.5 and walk away with a Primanti's bag full of cash.
Yankee Capper High Rollers Club
Current Club Record: 27-16
** 63% WINNERS **
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 7:05pm ESTMellon Arena, Pittsburgh PA
TV: CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Pick: Over 5.5
For the Philadelphia Flyers, it's win or go home. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's win and move on or lose and have to cross the Keystone State for Game 6. Either way, neither team wants to lose this game and both will be pulling out all the stops. And that can only mean one thing... a LOT of goals. Despite the spectacular play of Marc-Andre Fleury and Marty Biron, I'm looking for the goal lights to come on quite a bit tonight at the Igloo in Game 5. After the Flyers huge win in game 3, Game 4 became much less of a must win for them but after the way they dominated Sunday they were probably expecting a win Tuesday night. And that lead to a fairly conservative game being played in the first period. Once the Penguins scored the first couple of goals, the Flyers picked up the intensity and started playing classic Philly hockey. Tonight I expect Philly to play like that from the very start. Now to the Penguins. I fully expect the Penguins to close this series out tonight, and in order for them to do that they will have to match the intensity of the Flyers. The last time these two teams played with the series on the line, the Pens shut Philly out 6-0 to move on and send them home. I am certainly not expecting another game like that, however I do see the Penguins putting up 5 or 6 goals tonight at home in front of a sea of white at Mellon Arena. Look for the Flyers to counter with 3 or 4 goals against Fleury and you have 8-10 goals scored in this one. High Rollers, roll into the 'Burgh, Take OVER 5.5 and walk away with a Primanti's bag full of cash.
Yankee Capper COMPS
TODAY'S Bonus Plays (Bonus Plays 1-2 Wednesday)
NHL
Anaheim Ducks +125
NBA
Utah Jazz +1.5
MLB
Texas/Toronto o9
TODAY'S Bonus Plays (Bonus Plays 1-2 Wednesday)
NHL
Anaheim Ducks +125
NBA
Utah Jazz +1.5
MLB
Texas/Toronto o9
smooth44 added plays:
(NBA) 8:05PM EST
BOSTON +3
BOSTON ML +140
***KNOCKOUT PUNCH OF THE DAY***
It is absolutely mind boggling to me how a team can totally dominate the board and shoot 80% from the charity stripe compared to their opponent's 62% and yet when the final buzzer sounds you look up at the scoreboard and realize that team LOST by DOUBLE DIGITS!! Yes, I am talking about New Orleans last night!! So frustrating and my POD run in the Playoffs has been horrible but tonight it changes with a HUGE anti-public team - BOSTON!! The Celts just split games at home and have an injury list that continues to grow and yet tonight finds themselves as ONLY a 3 point DOG!! And let's not forget this line actually opened at 1.5!! But why?? Why such a soft line especially given the fact that the injuries keep mounting for the Celts and they just struggled at home in a 2-game stand and easily could have found themselves down 0-2 coming into tonight - but why did oddsmakers make Chicago such a soft fave on their own home floor?? The answer is simple!! It's called "the heart of a champion"!! Because the Bulls were so competitive on the road the public sentiment has quickly shifted in favor of the Bulls. The Bulls, who opened up as a huge series dog, are now the public "favorite". EVERYONE has written off the Celts but NOT ME!! I look for Pierce and Allen to step and have huge nights and to re-gain control of this series with a huge road win!! I am all over Boston - MY PREDICTION: BOSTON 105 DA BULLS 92
(NBA) 8:35PM EST
SAN ANTONIO +5
(NBA) 10:35PM EST
LA-LAKERS -1 -120
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(NBA) 8:05PM EST
BOSTON +3
BOSTON ML +140
***KNOCKOUT PUNCH OF THE DAY***
It is absolutely mind boggling to me how a team can totally dominate the board and shoot 80% from the charity stripe compared to their opponent's 62% and yet when the final buzzer sounds you look up at the scoreboard and realize that team LOST by DOUBLE DIGITS!! Yes, I am talking about New Orleans last night!! So frustrating and my POD run in the Playoffs has been horrible but tonight it changes with a HUGE anti-public team - BOSTON!! The Celts just split games at home and have an injury list that continues to grow and yet tonight finds themselves as ONLY a 3 point DOG!! And let's not forget this line actually opened at 1.5!! But why?? Why such a soft line especially given the fact that the injuries keep mounting for the Celts and they just struggled at home in a 2-game stand and easily could have found themselves down 0-2 coming into tonight - but why did oddsmakers make Chicago such a soft fave on their own home floor?? The answer is simple!! It's called "the heart of a champion"!! Because the Bulls were so competitive on the road the public sentiment has quickly shifted in favor of the Bulls. The Bulls, who opened up as a huge series dog, are now the public "favorite". EVERYONE has written off the Celts but NOT ME!! I look for Pierce and Allen to step and have huge nights and to re-gain control of this series with a huge road win!! I am all over Boston - MY PREDICTION: BOSTON 105 DA BULLS 92
(NBA) 8:35PM EST
SAN ANTONIO +5
(NBA) 10:35PM EST
LA-LAKERS -1 -120
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