Bryan Leonard
Miami at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia +5.5
The Heat have been an enigma this season, looking unbeatable on occasions but very human at other times. They have beaten Philadelphia nine straight games and are coming off a 94-73 beat down in Miami. Now the overconfident Heat take to the hostile environment of Philadelphia to try to go up 3-0 in this series.
Teams who are down in a series and are coming off an embarrassing performance give it all the next game out, especially if playing at home. Miami had 33 more free throws than the Sixers in the first two games and that simply won't continue with the venue change. The star treatment is much easier to project when playing at home and that won't be the case for the Heat here. We expect Philadelphia to let it all out tonight as they try to make this a series once again.
Miami at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia +5.5
The Heat have been an enigma this season, looking unbeatable on occasions but very human at other times. They have beaten Philadelphia nine straight games and are coming off a 94-73 beat down in Miami. Now the overconfident Heat take to the hostile environment of Philadelphia to try to go up 3-0 in this series.
Teams who are down in a series and are coming off an embarrassing performance give it all the next game out, especially if playing at home. Miami had 33 more free throws than the Sixers in the first two games and that simply won't continue with the venue change. The star treatment is much easier to project when playing at home and that won't be the case for the Heat here. We expect Philadelphia to let it all out tonight as they try to make this a series once again.
WUNDERDOG (NHL)
1 OF 2
Game: Chicago at Vancouver (10:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Chicago +175 (moneyline)
It looks like the oddsmakers have come to a foregone conclusion that the Canucks will win tonight and advance. We saw a series like this last year that appeared to be heading down that road then all of a sudden a team wins, gets hot and runs the table. I'm not sure if the Blackhawks will accomplish that, but the Stanley Cup Champions aren't going down without a hard fight. Down three games to none, they showed they were not about to quit with a big 7-2 win, and they know this is a series again with a win tonight. The Canucks have been strong all year, but with one chink in the armor as they are just 1-4 following a 3-goal loss or more. The Blackhawks can win this game as they are 26-12 straight-up since last season vs. great teams (those at .600 or better). On the road over that span, they are 18-10 vs. teams that score 3+ goals per game. They are also 30-9 over that span after a home win by 4+ goals.
At these odds, I like Chicago.
1 OF 2
Game: Chicago at Vancouver (10:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Chicago +175 (moneyline)
It looks like the oddsmakers have come to a foregone conclusion that the Canucks will win tonight and advance. We saw a series like this last year that appeared to be heading down that road then all of a sudden a team wins, gets hot and runs the table. I'm not sure if the Blackhawks will accomplish that, but the Stanley Cup Champions aren't going down without a hard fight. Down three games to none, they showed they were not about to quit with a big 7-2 win, and they know this is a series again with a win tonight. The Canucks have been strong all year, but with one chink in the armor as they are just 1-4 following a 3-goal loss or more. The Blackhawks can win this game as they are 26-12 straight-up since last season vs. great teams (those at .600 or better). On the road over that span, they are 18-10 vs. teams that score 3+ goals per game. They are also 30-9 over that span after a home win by 4+ goals.
At these odds, I like Chicago.
