Service Plays Wednesday 4/20/11

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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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Lastly The Rx Moderators are appealing to you our everyday posters to report any promotional threads or posts that are made by services or individual touts. No links or contact information to an individual service will be allowed. Just the name of the service. Please report any threads or posts that are promotional attempts by services and touts to use this forum to promote themselves..

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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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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB News and Notes Wednesday 4/20
MLB Betting Preview: Minnesota Twins at Orioles
By: Brad Young

Two American League teams trying to improve their position in the standings continue a four-game series Wednesday when Minnesota visits Baltimore.

The Twins took Monday’s opener, 5-3, as they continue an eight-game road trip, while the Orioles continue to struggle.

Minnesota is currently the third-worst team in baseball in scoring differential at -22, scoring 50 runs this season while surrendering 72. Baltimore was atop the AL East standings briefly before enduring an eight-game losing streak.

ESPN will provide coverage of Wednesday’s matchup beginning at 4:05 p.m. PT from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Minnesota right-hander Nick Blackburn (1-2, 3.06 ERA) toes the rubber trying to break out of a personal two-game losing streak. The four-year veteran fell to Tampa Bay Friday as a 121 road underdog, 5-2, while the combined seven runs failed to topple the 8 ½-run closing total. The ‘under’ has cashed in all three of his starts this season.

Blackburn was reached for five runs on 10 hits (one home run) with no walks and six strikeouts over six innings and 87 pitches. Two of his starts this season have lasted six innings, while his first outing versus Toronto went 5 2/3 innings.

The 29-year-old beat the Orioles in his lone start against them last season as 147 home ‘chalk,’ 6-0. Blackburn tossed seven scoreless innings by allowing four hits with two walks and no strikeouts. The six runs failed to eclipse the 8½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 3-0 when he starts against Baltimore.

Minnesota has struggled to a 6-16 record its past 22 games on grass, while the ‘under’ has gone 16-5 the previous 21 outings overall.

Injuries are plenty in the Twins clubhouse with catcher Joe Mauer on the DL due to a viral infection that caused leg weakness. First baseman Justin Morneau is battling the flu and offseason free agent acquisistion Tsuyoshi Nishioka remains on the DL with a broken leg.

The Orioles give the starting assignment to rookie Zach Britton (2-1, 2.75 ERA) hoping he can rebound from his first loss. The southpaw fell to Cleveland Friday as a 101 road underdog, 8-2, while the combined 10 runs went ‘over’ the 7 ½-run closing total.

The 23-year-old tossed six innings, yielding five runs on eight hits (one home run) with a walk and six strikeouts on 83 pitches. His first two victories of the season went ‘under’ the closing total.

Britton is making just his fourth career start in Major League Baseball, and has never faced the Twins.

This four-game series concludes with Thursday’s matchup before Minnesota begins a six-game homestand versus Cleveland and Tampa Bay. Baltimore continues its 10-game homestand following this series with games against AL East rivals New York and Boston.

Mike Everitt will be the home-plate umpire for this contest, and has seen the ‘over’ go 3-1 in his four games behind the dish. There has been an average of 9.8 runs, 5.5 walks and 13.8 strikeouts during those four games.

Wednesday’s forecast for Baltimore calls for isolated thunderstorms and a 30-percent chance of rain, with a high of 85 degrees and a low of 55.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB News and Notes Wednesday 4/20
Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds in MLB battle
By: Willie Bee

Ian Kennedy dominated the Cincinnati Reds less than two weeks ago at home in Arizona. The Diamondbacks hope history repeats itself Wednesday when their right-hander will be called upon for an encore performance in the second of a three-game series.

First pitch from Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park is 4:10 p.m. (PT). The Reds will send veteran righty Bronson Arroyo to the mound to oppose Kennedy.

Arizona enjoyed Monday off before sending Armando Galarraga to the hill for Tuesday's series opener. Sam LeCure started for the Reds who were 155 favorites with 9½ for the total. The Reds entered that matchup having dropped three of four to the Pirates in a weekend wrap-around series.

Kennedy (2-1, 6.88) worked eight innings at Chase Field on April 8 as a 105 underdog, striking out nine Cincinnati hitters and allowing one run in Arizona's 13-2 rout. The Diamondbacks hammered three home runs and put the game away with a six-run eighth. It was Kennedy's first career appearance versus the Reds.

His most recent start was a complete and utter disaster, however. Installed as 120 home chalk against St. Louis a week ago, the Cardinals chased Kennedy from the game after just three innings, plating nine while he was on the bump on their way to a 15-5 laugher.

Like his opponent, Arroyo (2-1, 4.24) enters Wednesday's battle having suffered a rough assignment in his last start that followed a very good effort at the Diamondbacks. A day after Kennedy whistled through the Reds lineup, Arroyo tossed six strong innings of Cincinnati's 6-1 win against Arizona. The 12-year vet allowed just one unearned run, struck out six and didn't issue a free pass as an even-money road pup.

The Pirates then pasted Arroyo with a 6-1 loss in Cincinnati last Friday, the Reds carrying hefty 180 chalk into the game. Arroyo surrendered a pair of homers along with the only two walks he's allowed so far in 2011, leaving after just four innings and charged with five of the six Pirates runs.

Arroyo made two starts against the D-Backs in 2010, one at home and one on the road, with the Reds winning both games. Since joining the club for the 2006 campaign, Arroyo has made nine starts versus Arizona with Cincy winning six.

Cincinnati's chances of climbing out of a recent slump are good if recent history between the clubs is any indication. The Reds won five of the seven 2010 meetings with Arizona and are 18-7 going back to the start of 2007.

Arizona's two wins over the Reds last year did come in Cincinnati, however, with the clubs halving a four-game series in September.

Rain was threatening Tuesday's contest, but there's only a 10 percent chance of the wet stuff on Wednesday. Expect the thermometer in the low-50s to start the game and dropping into the low-40s as the evening progresses. Winds from the NNW in the 12-15 mph range are expected (out to right).

The three-game set draws to a close Thursday with a matinee start (9:35 a.m. PT). Arizona will send young right-hander Daniel Hudson to the mound.

Cincinnati is still listing its own young righty, Mike Leake, as the starter, but a recent run-in with the law could force a change. Leake was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday on shoplifting charges.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Wednesday's Best MLB Bets

Pittsburgh Pirates at Florida Marlins (-160, 8)

The Florida Marlins are fully confident that Mike Stanton is going to be a home run-clubbing outfielder. But the youngster’s cold start is forcing manager Edwin Rodriguez to drop him sixth in the batting order.

“I thought he was ready to go,” Rodriguez told AP reporters about Stanton, who missed most of spring training because of sore right hamstring but still began the season in the cleanup spot. “I take the blame for that. He needs more time, so I’m moving him down so he can relax more.”

Stanton isn’t the only batter who needs to get going for the Marlins. Hanley Ramirez is still homerless and Florida, as a team, is tied for last in the National League in big flies with just eight round-trippers.

More good news for total bettors: The under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the Bucs and the Fish.

Pick: Under

Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles (-133, 8.5)

The Twins are another squad struggling at the dish. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, the meat of their lineup, were both off to brutal starts before missing time due to injury and illness, and the supporting cast isn’t doing much to carry the load either.

Morneau sat out a third straight game because of flu-like symptoms Tuesday night. The Twins responded by putting up a goose egg against the O’s. It was the sixth time in 10 games the Twinkies crossed home plate three or fewer times.

It’s not just the lumber where the Twins are having issues. Joe Nathan lost the closer job and Matt Capps, who hasn’t exactly set the world on fire, was handed the role.

Pick: Orioles

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA News and Notes Wednesday 4/20
Memphis Grizzlies, Spurs resume NBA betting series
By: Adam Markowitz

Last Sunday was filled with carnage for high seeds in NBA playoff betting action. Since the field was expanded to 16 teams, never before had the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the same conference lost a Game 1 on the same day.

However, now the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs can say that they share that dubious distinction.

The Spurs are back in action in a Game 2 that almost feels like a do or die against the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Tip time from the AT&T Center in San Antonio is slated for 5:30 p.m. (PT), and the duel can be viewed live on NBA TV.

We've ripped Shane Battier before for how he didn't really do much in the way of helping out the Grizz after they traded for him right at this year's deadline. We're not bashing him or the team any longer.

Battier knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer with less than a minute to play in Game 1 to absolutely shock the faithful in San Antonio.

Of course, the argument could be made that a trade deadline deal that never happened – OJ Mayo to the Indiana Pacers – might have saved Memphis' season as well. Mayo and Battier combined to hit five of the team's six three-point baskets on the day, and they combined for 23 of the bench's 28 points.

The big days belonged to Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Conley had a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists, but the heroes for the day were the big men in the middle. Randolph and Gasol combined for 49 points and 23 rebounds, a tremendous effort in Game 1, especially against a gritty San Antonio side with a ton of great bigs.

The Spurs really need to tighten up their interior defense which allowed a whopping 40 points in the paint against Memphis on Sunday afternoon. There are other issues as well.

San Antonio needs to shoot better than 40.0 percent from the floor, and it probably needs more than 13 assists on 28 baskets. Committing fewer than 27 personal fouls would probably help, though Memphis committed 33 fouls and sent San Antonio to the charity stripe 47 times in the game.

However, the biggest problem that head coach Gregg Popovich has is getting Manu Ginobili back into the lineup after missing the series opener with an elbow injury. Ginobili averaged 17.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 4.9 APG this year, and he's officially listed as probable for Wednesday's second game.

Believe it or not, the Grizzlies have dominated this series of late, so the Game 1 upset should really come as no surprise. Last April, Memphis shocked San Antonio as 10½-point underdogs here at the AT&T Center. Since then, the Grizzlies have won four of six meetings straight up and covered the spread in all six games.

In Game 2, the Spurs are 8½-point favorites on the NBA odds at 5Dimes, while the only 'total' that is posted as of Tuesday morning is at the Las Vegas Hilton, a number set at 197.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA News and Notes Wednesday 4/20
Los Angeles Lakers host Hornets
By: Michael Robinson

The New Orleans Hornets look to build on their shocking Game 1 win at the Los Angeles Lakers when they meet Wednesday night at Staples Center.

Oddsmakers have New Orleans as big 11½-point road ‘dogs with a total of 188 points. TNT will have the tip-off at 7:30 p.m. (PT).

The Hornets (47-36 straight-up, 40-41-2 against the spread) were double-digit underdogs for Game 1 on Sunday, but won 109-100 in a result that even coach Monty Williams couldn’t have imagined.

The 209 combined points scored went way ‘over’ the 182 ½-point total. The ‘over’ is 4-1 in the meetings between the teams this year, but this is the first where more than 198 points were scored.

Point guard Chris Paul had 33 points on 11-of-18 shooting. He also got to the line 12 times and had 14 assists, continually breaking down the Lakers defense. Los Angeles tried to do switches with its big men as 36-year-old Derek Fisher has no shot of guarding Paul, but that didn’t work either.

Backup guard Jarrett Jack (15 points, five assists) also had success against the Lakers defense, playing alongside Paul at some points.

The Hornets shot much better than L.A. (51.9-45.9 percent) and only committed only three turnovers. That made up for the deficiency on the boards (41-33).

New Orleans was one of the lowest scoring teams in the regular season (94.9 PPG, ranked 27th). That was even with leading scorer David West (18.9 PPG), who was lost for the year in late March (torn ACL).

Coach Williams knows his guys are out-gunned offensively, so he used a different strategy on Sunday. The Hornets pushed the ball whenever they could, trying to beat the Lakers’ big men down the court. That worked well with Carl Landry (17 points) and Aaron Gray (12 points) both contributing big.

Landry was a huge pickup at the trade deadline from Sacramento. He’s now the starting power forward with West out and he’s a proven playoff performer. Gray sprained his ankle last game and is listed as doubtful for Wednesday. That would weaken an already mediocre bench.

The Lakers (57-26 SU, 39-43-1 ATS) are trying not to push the panic button after just one outing. After all, they’re likely to get a lot more production from Pau Gasol than last game (2-of-9, eight points). He was called out by Kobe Bryant and usually responds to such motivation.

Help is also on the way with reserve point guard Steve Blake. He missed Game 1 with chicken pox, but was back at practice on Monday and listed as probable. Blake’s defense is needed against Paul, although it’s still going to take a team effort to contain him.

Blake also needs to infuse a bench that was outscored 39-21. Lamar Odom had just 10 points and Matt Barnes was shutout in eight minutes while battling a sore knee.

Bryant had 34 points, but it took him 26 field goal attempts (making 13). He’s usually the one pulling out close games in the fourth quarter, but Paul outscored him 17-7 as the Hornets beat the Lakers by eight (36-28).

Los Angeles won the four regular season meetings with New Orleans, going 3-1 ATS. Paul averaged just 15.8 PPG in the four games. That was very close to his season average (15.9 PPG), which was a career low.

Paul can’t be counted on for another monster game, which means starter Trevor Ariza (2-of-13, six points) must play a lot better against his former team.

The series shifts back to New Orleans for Game 3 on Friday. The Hornets hope they’re still shocking the world with a 2-0 lead.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA News and Notes Wednesday 4/20
Wednesday's Playoff Tips
By Kevin Rogers

The Western Conference playoffs continue on Wednesday night with three games as the two top seeds look to even up their respective series at one apiece. The Spurs and Lakers were each shocked in the series opener, but things tip off in Oklahoma City as the Thunder looks to take a 2-0 series lead over the Nuggets.

Nuggets at Thunder

The 4/5 series in the West has started with a bang after Oklahoma City staved off Denver in Sunday's Game 1, 107-103. The Nuggets managed a cover as six-point underdogs, but there was controversy down the stretch as Oklahoma City took the lead late on a tip-in by Kendrick Perkins of a missed Russell Westbrook jumper. The only problem is Perkins stuck his hand through the basket and offensive goaltending should have been called (which the league has stated), but the Nuggets now need to get out of a 1-0 hole.

Denver improved to 21-4-1 ATS the last 26 games since the All-Star break, which coincides with the trade of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to New York. The Nuggets are now 11-2 ATS as a road underdog in this span, but the defense has allowed 100 points or more in five straight games. George Karl's squad had five players score in double-figures in the Game 1 loss, but one thing the Nuggets can improve on for Game 2 is the below-average shooting from the line (21-33).

The Thunder didn't need much help past Westbrook (31 points) and Kevin Durant (41 points) as the two All-Stars combined to shoot 25-45 from the floor. The unsung hero in the series opener for Oklahoma City was Eric Maynor, who came off the bench to score 12 points and hit a pair of key treys down the stretch. The Thunder has captured four of five meetings this season, including three matchups at Oklahoma City Arena.

Oklahoma City is listed as 4½-point favorites, while the total is set at 207. The game will be televised nationally on TNT.

Grizzlies at Spurs

Memphis finally picked up its first playoff win in franchise history after 12 losses as the Grizzlies shocked the Spurs in the series opener, 101-98 as 6 ½-point 'dogs. Shane Battier's three-pointer put Memphis up for good, as the Spurs couldn't overcome the absence of Manu Ginobili, who missed the loss due to an elbow injury.

Ginobili is listed as 'probable' for Wednesday's Game 2, which will be a welcome return since San Antonio shot just 40% from the floor in the series opener. The Spurs' defense was exposed by allowing 55% shooting to Memphis, including 49 points to the frontcourt duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies have held their own against the Spurs by covering all five meetings this season, including all three matchups at the AT&T Center.

The Spurs are pointspread poison as of late by covering just three of the last 11 contests. San Antonio has been involved in plenty of high-scoring affairs recently with an 11-2 mark to the 'over' the previous 13 games, even though the Spurs busted the 100-point plateau just seven times. Gregg Popovich's team owns a 1-3 ATS mark off a home loss this season, while going 3-8 ATS the last 11 games at the AT&T Center.

San Antonio is listed as 8½-point favorites, while the total is set at 197. The game will be televised on NBA TV.

Hornets at Lakers

The night wraps up in Southern California as the two-time defending champions look to even up their series with New Orleans at one game apiece. Already playing without David West, the Hornets had their hands full heading into Sunday's Game 1. However, New Orleans didn't let up in a 109-100 victory as 10-point underdogs, while basically leading from start to finish.

Chris Paul dominated the Lakers' defense with a 33-point, 14-assist effort, while the Hornets shot lights out at 52% from the floor. The Lakers knocked down 46% of their shots, as Kobe Bryant paced the Lakers with 34 points. The Hornets received huge contributions off the bench from Jarrett Jack (15 points) and Aaron Gray (12 points) to hand the Lakers their first series opening loss since the second round of the 2009 playoffs against Houston.

The Purple and Gold owns an 11-3 SU and 10-4 ATS mark off a playoff loss since the start of 2009, as all three defeats came in last year's postseason. Phil Jackson's club has compiled a 4-11 ATS ledger the last 15 games overall, while going 0-5 ATS the past five games at Staples Center. Los Angeles is not in a favorable ATS spot here as home favorites of at least 9½ points off a home loss are 8-22-1 against the number this season.

The Lakers opened up as 11½-point favorites, as this number has dropped to 11 at several books. The total is set between 187½ and 188, as the game can be seen on TNT.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

What Bettors Need to Know: Wednesday's NBA playoff action

Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (-4.5, 207)

Oklahoma City leads series 1-0

THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets knew that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook would likely do the bulk of the damage in their Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They'll need to do a much better job of containing the dynamic duo in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder escaped with a 107-103 win behind a combined 72 points from their two young superstars.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE THUNDER: Durant (41) and Westbrook (31) both set career playoff highs in Game 1, but it still took some late heroics - highlighted by a controversial non-call - to pull out the win. Kendrick Perkins' tip-in with 1:05 remaining put the Thunder ahead for good, but the basket should have been disallowed due to offensive goaltending. The referees allowed the shot to count despite pleas from Nuggets players and coaches, and Denver appeared rattled on its next possession, settling for a missed 21-footer from Kenyon Martin. The Thunder held on from there for their third win over the Nuggets in the past 13 days.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS: Frustration reigned following Sunday's season-opening loss, and most of it was directed at the officials. The league admitted the referees made a mistake in allowing the basket to count, which did little to placate Denver coach George Karl. “What can I say? It’s tough," he said. When you fight hard, it’s hard because guys give you everything you possibly can give there.” The Nuggets received more bad news Monday when they learned Arron Afflalo will miss Game 2 with a strained hamstring. Afflalo missed Game 1 with the injury, and his status for the rest of the series remains up in the air.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Durant was a one-man army in the opener, hitting on 13 of 22 shots from the field while going 12 of 15 from the free-throw line. Nuggets center Nene was Denver's best player in Game 1, scoring 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting while adding eight rebounds and a pair of steals.

KEY STATISTIC: 9-4 - Oklahoma City's edge in 3-pointers made in Game 1. The Thunder shot 47.4 percent from beyond the arc while limiting Denver to just 25 percent from long range.

TRENDS:

* Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Oklahoma City.
* Nuggets are 4-10 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
* Nuggets are 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings in Oklahoma City.

LAST WORD: “I saw it come off the rim and got a hand on it,” Perkins said. “I didn’t question it.”

Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs (-8.5, 197)

Memphis leads series 1-0

THE STORY: The drought is over. Memphis earned its first-ever playoff victory Sunday night and will look to make it two straight as the Grizzlies visit the top-seeded Spurs in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. Memphis had been 0-12 in its brief playoff history before stunning San Antonio 101-98 in Game 1.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV, Fox Sports Southwest

ABOUT THE SPURS: Playing without injured swingman Manu Ginobili, the Spurs looked a step behind the invigorated Grizzlies for most of the night. San Antonio's second-leading scorer remains a question mark for Game 2 with an elbow injury. With the Spurs facing the possibility of falling down 0-2 heading back to Memphis, he may be pressed into action even if he isn't at full strength. San Antonio kept things interesting late in Sunday's game on back-to-back 3-pointers from Matt Bonner, but a defensive lapse left Shane Battier open for the go-ahead shot. Tony Parker had 20 points to lead the Spurs while Tim Duncan added 16 points and 13 rebounds.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Battier has plenty to celebrate these days. The forward hit the big 3-pointer to lead Memphis to its first postseason triumph, then became a father for the second time later in the day. The Grizzlies were led, as usual, by Zach Randolph and his 25-point, 14-rebound performance. Memphis rewarded the All-Star power forward by agreeing to terms on a four-year contract extension on Monday. Marc Gasol also had a sensational showing in his playoff debut, scoring 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting while adding nine rebounds. Memphis shot over 55 percent for the game while putting up 31 points in the pivotal fourth quarter.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Memphis PG Mike Conley racked up 10 assists Sunday, his first double-digit assist peformance since March 21. Parker was able to overcome a 4-of-16 shooting effort by making 12 of 16 free-throw attempts Sunday.

KEY STATISTIC: 47 - The number of foul shots attempted by San Antonio in Game 1, a season high. If Memphis gives up that many free throws in Game 2, the result may be far different.

TRENDS:

* Grizzlies are 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Grizzlies are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings in San Antonio.
* Over is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in San Antonio.
* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Road team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.

LAST WORD: “What do you want to know about it? It counted for three. He caught it. He shot it. And he made it.” - Popovich on Battier's go-ahead shot.

New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers (-11, 187.5)

New Orleans leads series 1-0

THE STORY: Los Angeles may have been too caught up in its own hype. The Lakers fell apart at home against New Orleans and had no answer for Chris Paul in a 109-100 loss in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. The Hornets never gave in to their bigger and more experienced foe despite the absence of power forward David West, who is out for the season with a knee injury. The Lakers have little time to waste if they want any chance of winning a third consecutive title and need a victory in Game 2 Wednesday night at Staples Center.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE LAKERS: Kobe Bryant did his part, which often is enough for the Lakers. This time, however, his 34 points went for naught as he got little support from Pau Gasol (eight points and no offensive rebounds) and the rest of the front line. Lamar Odom had 10 points but just one rebound. Ron Artest had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Lakers will have guard Steve Blake back after he had chicken pox. “It’s not the end of the world,” coach Phil Jackson said. “Teams have good days and bad days. We probably had a bad day and they had a good day. Now we have to meet their energy.”

ABOUT THE HORNETS: Chris Paul might not be the league MVP, but don’t tell that to the Lakers. Paul was sensational and basically willed the Hornets to victory. He had 33 points on 11-for-18 shooting and added 14 assists, seven rebounds and four steals. Carl Landry scored 17 points and the New Orleans bench outscored the Lakers 39-21. The Hornets could be without 7-footer Aaron Gray, who had a season-high 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting but twisted his right ankle with 1:07 remaining in Sunday’s Game 1. Gray was in a walking boot but said he believes he can play Wednesday night.

WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Paul was the show for New Orleans. In addition to his scoring, he had seven rebounds and four steals. He also had eight of his 14 assists in the first quarter. Gasol had just eight points on 2-for-9 shooting (22.2 percent), his worst shooting game of the season.

KEY STATISTIC: New Orleans had just three turnovers, tying an NBA playoff record.

TRENDS:

* Hornets are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Over is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Over is 20-8 in the last 28 meetings.
* Underdog is 15-4 ATS in the last 19 meetings.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.

LAST WORD: “I’ve been here and done that before. We took the Lakers to seven games. That definitely gives me confidence and I was telling my teammates about the situation I was in two years ago.” – Landry on playing the Lakers in the playoffs when he was with Houston in 2009.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Pick 'n' Roll

Wednesday's Best NBA Bets

Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs (-8.5)

After the first few days of the NBA Playoffs, it looks like we have a series on our hands in all eight cases, and Memphis-San Antonio is no exception.

The Grizzlies knocked off the Spurs 101-98 as 6.5-point underdogs in Game 1 Sunday afternoon. Shane Battier hit a go-ahead three with 23 seconds remaining and Memphis ended the contest on a 7-0 run.

“I know Beale Street will be a fun place tonight,” Battier told the Memphis Commercial Appeal, speaking of the famous Memphis drag. “Most of these guys don't understand the history and the heartache that the city has gone through.”

Of course, the Grizzlies should feel like they have a real chance to win the entire series—not just one game. The opener does not seem like a fluke, as Memphis split the regular-season series with San Antonio 2-2, and the Spurs needed overtime for one of their victories.

Manu Ginobili returns to action after missing Game 1 with an elbow injury. That will make it tough for the underdogs to take a 2-0 lead, but 8.5 points are a lot for a confident team like Memphis.

Pick: Grizzlies

New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers (-11.5, 187.5)

The Spurs were not alone in catching the upset bug Sunday, as the Lakers succumbed to New Orleans 109-100. Turning in a near-flawless performance, the Hornets shot 51.9 percent from the floor and committed a mere three turnovers.

For L.A., on the other hand, Pau Gasol made only two of seven shots for eight points.

“I wasn't very sharp,” Gasol told the Los Angeles Times. “I couldn't get into a good rhythm. I didn't get myself going at all. It's up to me and get some energy out there and be aggressive and find ways to get that rhythm.”

Gasol and the rest of the team should benefit from the return of Steve Blake. The veteran guard missed Game 1 due to a bout with chicken pox, but he is listed as probable for Wednesday.

The Hornets, meanwhile, will likely be without backup center Aaron Gray (doubtful due to a sprained right ankle). Gray averaged just 3.1 points and 4.2 rebounds during the regular season, but he played 20 minutes in Game 1 and scored 12 points.

Pick: Lakers

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL News and Notes Wednesday 4/20
Detroit Red Wings at Phoenix
By: Barry Daniels

Avoiding as many grueling seven-game series as possible is critical to a club’s chances of making a deep postseason run. The Detroit Red Wings have an opportunity to end their quarterfinal series against the Phoenix Coyotes quickly by winning Wednesday’s Game 4 and completing a sweep.

The contest will begin at 7:30 p.m. (PT), with the Versus network providing television coverage as part of a National Hockey League doubleheader. An Eastern Conference battle between the Capitals and Rangers will get the evening started at 4 p.m. (PT).

Most sports books monitored by Don Best Sports’ Real-Time Odds have opened the Red Wings as 140 road favorites for Game 4, with the total set at 5½ ‘under’ (minus 115).

The Red Wings are 17-5 in their last 22 playoff games as a favorite of 150 or less, while the Coyotes are 1-5 in their last six playoff games as an underdog.

Detroit took a commanding 3-0 lead in this series Monday by defeating the Coyotes as a slight 105 road underdog, 4-2. The combined six goals skipped above the 5½-goal closing total, allowing the ‘over’ to cash in each of the first three games in this series.

That is not too surprising considering the Red Wings entered the series as the highest scoring road team in the postseason. They also own the most proficient power play of the 16 playoff squads.

The victory enabled the Red Wings to improve to 13-2-2 in their last 17 trips to Phoenix, with the ‘over’ going 8-2-3 in the last 13 matchups in the desert.

Getting off to a quick start was a problem for the Wings after the all-star break, but they have scored the first goal in two of the first three games of this series and have led going into the final stanza on all three occasions.

Shrugging off some big early hits by a Phoenix team that perhaps emphasized body-checking at the expense of positional play, the Wings continued to control the puck and push their attack.

The game was not even two minutes old when 190-pound Darren Helm knocked 230-pound Ed Jovanovski off the puck behind the Phoenix net, grabbed the puck and flung it toward the slot. Defenseman Ruslan Salei, who was pinching in from the point, then fired a slap shot past a shocked Ilya Bryzgalov.

Then, as the Wings continued to control the puck, Drew Miller tipped a Niklas Kronwall shot from the blue line into the net at 2:41. Two minutes and 12 seconds before Phoenix would fire its first shot, the Red Wings led 2-0.

In fact, for the first 8:30, the Wings outshot Phoenix 8-2 en route to a 13-9 advantage at the end of one period. Detroit finished the game by out-shooting the Coyotes, 34-30.

Jimmy Howard stopped 28 of those 30 shots to raise his save percentage during this series to .923. That’s considerably higher than his .908 save percentage during the regular season.

Bryzgalov, who was unanimously appraised at the start of the series as a key advantage for Phoenix, has clearly been outplayed by the 27-year-old Howard.

Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen scored the other two Detroit goals. Franzen was playing with a visor to protect his stitch-filled face thanks to a Shane Doan check that sent him crashing to the boards face-first in Game 3.

David Schlemko and Ray Whitney provided the Coyotes’ offense with power play goals. Phoenix went 2-for-4 with the man advantage, while the Wings failed on their four power play opportunities. Detroit’s power play is now 3-for-12 in this series, while Phoenix is 5-for-16.

Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg, who has missed the first three games of this series with a sprained knee, is listed as “doubtful” on the Don Best Sports injury report.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL News and Notes Wednesday 4/20
Wednesday's Ice Action
By Judd Hall

Everyone thinks that parity dominates the landscape of the NFL, but they’ve got nothing on the NHL. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are about as unpredictable as Margot Kidder in a neighbor’s bushes. Favorites have gone just 13-10 through Monday night’s contests, while home teams are just 12-11. Although this year’s tournament might actually have the Top 2 seeds from both conferences advance to the second round, which hasn’t happened since the 2008 Playoffs.

Wednesday’s playoff card has four games that could give teams a commanding 3-1 edge, while the other tilt can see a team swept right into the offseason. Let’s look at some things that could be very important for all of the contests.

Penguins at Lighting

This series started off the way that many anticipated. Pittsburgh took the opener against a Tampa Bay side that was making a return to the postseason in hostile territory. The ‘Ning did bounce back with a win in Game 2 to balance the series thanks to four power play goals on six tries. That special teams work helped them stay close with the Pens on Monday evening at home with a 2-for-4 night on the advantage, but still fell 3-2.

Tampa Bay will be trying to take command of the series on Wednesday night without the services of winger Steve Downie, who was suspended after flinging himself into defenseman Ben Lovejoy. This is a big loss because of his two-way potential and ability to get under the skin of the opposition. That could be a huge boost for the Penguins’ power play as they have yet to register a goal on the advantage on 15 chances through the first three matches. However, Chris Kunitz will also be out of the lineup for the Penguins after a elbow to the back of Simon Gagne.

Early lines on Tuesday after noon show Tampa Bay as a $1.50 home favorite (risk $150 to win $100). The Pens are 2-3 straight up and 5-0 on the puck line as road pups coming off of a win as road ‘dogs. The ‘under’ is 5-0 in that stretch to boot.

Capitals at Rangers

The series could literally have the Rangers up 2-1 had they not choked away Game 1 of the series. That’s a testament to the defense Washington has employed in direct result of two losses to the Blueshirts by a combined score of 13-0.

The Capitals were constantly playing in their defensive zone after getting shorthanded seven times in Game 3. Washington did snuff out six of those penalties, but couldn’t stop the physicality Michal Neuvirth had to contend with on 35 shots on goal.

Pressure is squarely on the Caps for Wednesday’s test. “It’s even if we lose the next game. It’ll be a big game for us, and that loss really didn’t feel good, the way it happened,” said Washington’s blueliner John Carlson. Look for Carlson to make some time for pushing around New York’s Marc Staal after his attempts to hit defender Mike Green in the head.

The Rangers are getting posted as slight $1.20 home faves for this game with a total of five. Washington, however, is 2-1 SU and 3-0 PL when listed as a road underdog after two days off.

Flyers at Sabres

Goaltending is always going to be at the heart of a playoff series and it’s front and center here for the Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky has performed admirably in this series, but Peter Laviolette opted for the veteran Brian Boucher for Game 3 in Buffalo. The moved paid off for a 4-2 as Boucher snuffed 35-of-37 shots on goal. Now the issue at hand is if Boucher or Bobrovsky will be back between the pipes for Game 4. The smart money is on Boucher since he is 2-2 with a 2.37 goals against average at HSBC Arena.

The Sabres might be gripping their sticks a little tighter since this is their first two-game slide since the middle of February. Buffalo has had plenty of chances to win both Games 2 and 3 with 14 power plays, but converted three of them into goals. They must do better on the advantage to make things easier for Ryan Miller in net.

The oddsmakers seem to believe that the Sabres are going to level the series by making them $1.20 home favorites with a total of 5½. Recent history states this is possible as they’ve won two of their last three home games, both SU and PL, that have come on the heels of a two-game slide. The ‘under’ is 2-1 in those contests.

Ducks at Predators

The Ducks may only be down 2-1 in this best-of-seven series, but this game is as must-win as a Game 7 would be for them. Anaheim may have lost only 4-3 to the Preds on Sunday night, but they were manhandled for much of the contest.

Anaheim will still be without forward Bobby Ryan’s services, who is serving the back end of his two-game suspension for blade stomping Nashville blueliner Jonathan Blum’s foot. His loss was definitely felt on the attack for the Ducks as they got off just 16 shots on goal against Pekka Rinne.

Nothing is for certain for the Predators. They held a 2-1 lead against Chicago, only to fall to the eventual champs in six games. What’s different from that team is a goaltender that seems poised for a big postseason and the experience of last year no doubt left a bad taste in the collective mouths of the team.

Most betting shops have made Nashville a $1.40 home “chalk” with a total of five for this matchup. The time off for the Preds has not been good for them in some instances…like when they’re home faves after two days off after a win as home favorites. That’s evidenced by a 1-3 SU and PL mark this season in that role, with the ‘under’ going 2-1-1.

Red Wings at Coyotes

The Red Wings come into this game with little to no pressure on them. Teams with a 3-0 lead tend to have that going for them (just don’t ask the Bruins about that whole 3-0 lead thing, alright?). Detroit has been able to get on the board early and often against Phoenix with a 5-1 goal scoring advantage in the first period.

I’d like to give the Coyotes a chance to win this game, but history sides heavily with Detroit in this instance. The Red Wings have gone 10-7 SU in their last 17 games that could clinch a playoff series since the lockout. Instead of taking the money line wager, consider the puck line here as they’re just 6-11 PL. The ‘under’ has gone 10-5-2 in those tests as well.

If you want to tighten that spot to just when the Wings can finish a sweep, then you’re in for much of the same. The Red Wings are 2-1 SU and 1-2 PL when playing for the sweep. The ‘over’ has cashed in two of those three battles.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

What Bettors Need to Know: Wednesday's NHL Playoff action

Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (-107, 5)

Washington leads series 2-1

THE STORY: The Washington Capitals have not had an easy time thus far in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the eighth-seeded New York Rangers. They can expect the crowd at Madison Square Garden to make things even more difficult in Game 4 on Wednesday thanks to coach Bruce Boudreau's comments about the legendary arena during a radio interview with a Washington station on Monday. The remarks come at a most peculiar time as the Capitals failed to put a stranglehold on the series Sunday, dropping a 3-2 decision in New York. The chance to even the series is enough to have the Garden faithful in a frenzy at the opening faceoff, but Boudreau definitely has given them added incentive.

ABOUT THE RANGERS: New York rolled up its sleeves and fought tooth and nail before coming away with a 3-2 victory it desperately needed Sunday. The Rangers had the lead twice but let it slip away before Brandon Dubinsky scored a fluke goal during a 4-on-4 situation with 1:39 remaining in the third period. The club finally broke through on the power play, going 1-for-7, and had what could be called an offensive explosion after scoring once on 47 shots over the first two games of the series. New York is 7-1-1 in its last nine contests at home.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Boudreau did not need to give his team any added pressure, considering its recent flops when owning a series lead in the postseason. The top-seeded Capitals battled back from a pair of deficits Sunday, but allowing the decisive goal late in the third period has the potential to be a series-changing moment. Washington needs to stay out of the penalty box after giving New York seven power-play chances Sunday.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Washington captain Alex Ovechkin recorded a goal and an assist in Game 3, giving him a team-leading four points in the series. The superstar has collected 44 points in 31 career postseason games. New York's Marian Gaborik is mired in a 12-game goalless drought and has gone 10 playoff contests without a tally dating to Game 4 of the 2007 Western Conference quarterfinals against Anaheim while with Minnesota. Brian Boyle led all players with nine shots on goal Sunday and captain Chris Drury won 15-of-19 faceoffs.

Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres (-119, 5.5)

Philadelphia leads series 2-1

THE STORY: The Philadelphia Flyers have certainly enjoyed their trips to western New York. The Atlantic Division champion Flyers boast a 6-0-2 mark in Buffalo and will look to improve on that impressive mark on Wednesday when they meet the seventh-seeded Sabres in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series. Coach Peter Laviolette's club regained home-ice advantage in the series by skating to a 4-2 triumph in Game 3 on Monday. Although Jeff Carter collected a goal and an assist, Brian Boucher was the star of the show by turning aside 35 shots while making his first start of this year's playoffs. Boucher is expected to be between the pipes on Wednesday.

ABOUT THE SABRES: After stopping all 35 shots in Game 1, reigning Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller has struggled in his last two outings. The Olympic netminder stopped 22 shots in Game 3. Game 1 hero Patrick Kaleta suffered an upper-body injury on Monday after a collision with defenseman Braydon Coburn in the first period. Defenseman Jordan Leopold returned after a 10-game absence and had two shots on goal in nearly 15 minutes of action. Drew Stafford netted a power-play goal and had a team-high six shots, Nathan Gerbe also tallied and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani notched a pair of assists on Monday.

ABOUT THE FLYERS: Former Sabres captain Daniel Briere scored his 37th career postseason goal and Nikolay Zherdev and defenseman Kimmo Timonen also tallied on Monday. Boucher improved to 6-1 in his postseason career against the Sabres. The 34-year-old Rhode Island native used his head - literally - in the third period after he intentially pulled off his mask to stop play during a 5-on-3 power play. The "creative" move stopped Buffalo's momentum, as Boucher used the rules to his advantage. "The mask was loose, and I felt it was kind of unsafe because the mask was kind of moving around on my face,” Boucher said. “I know the rules. Otherwise, I don’t know if I would’ve done it." Boucher was the team's starter in Game 3, Michael Leighton served as the backup while Russian rookie Sergei Bobrovsky was in street clothes. Bobrovski was the team's starter for much of the regular season as well as in Games 1 and 2.

WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Briere continues to haunt his former team. With his second tally in as many contests, Briere now has four goals and three assists in his last five games. Buffalo center Tyler Ennis, who notched an assist on Monday, has one goal and four assists in his last five contests.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (-150, 5)

Pittsburgh leads series 2-1

THE STORY: Both the Pittsburgh Penguins, who own a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, and Tampa Bay Lightning will be forced to make a lineup change for Game 4 of their series at the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday. Pittsburgh will be without Chris Kunitz, who was suspended one game after taking a page out of teammate Matt Cooke's book and delivering a vicious elbow to the head of Simon Gagne on Monday. Kunitz was third on the Penguins in scoring during the regular season but has just one goal thus far in the series. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's Steve Downie also received a one-game ban for leaving his feet and hitting Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy high with a check.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING: With the 3-2 loss in Game 3 on Monday, Tampa Bay fell to 1-5 at home in the postseason since its Game 7 win over Calgary in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning failed to score at even strength as their two goals were scored on the power play by Martin St. Louis. The All-Star's second tally at 2:12 of the third period forged a 2-2 tie, but Pittsburgh scored 31 seconds later to take the lead for good.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Max Talbot and Arron Asham scored 45 seconds apart to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead just 6:31 into Monday's contest. Asham has been a surprising offensive force in the series as he leads Penguins forwards with two goals and three points after entering the series with just 13 points in 52 career playoff games. Tyler Kennedy snapped a 2-2 tie early in the third for Pittsburgh, which improved to 10-1 in Game Threes since 2008.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Penguins defensemen Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik have notched three assists apiece in the series. Letang, Kennedy and blue-liner Zbynek Michalek each registered five shots on goal Monday, combining for half of Pittsburgh's total. St. Louis has scored three of Tampa Bay's seven goals, all on the power play. St. Louis, Gagne and defenseman Eric Brewer lead the Lightning with four points apiece.

Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators (-144, 5)

Nashville leads series 2-1

THE STORY: Nashville's much maligned offense has been the difference so far in its Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Anaheim Ducks. The Predators will look to keep those goals coming as they play host to the Ducks in Game 4 of their best-of-seven showdown Wednesday night. Nashville leads the series 2-1, and has done it with offense after carving out a solid regular-season showing on airtight defense and goaltending.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Nashville scored the second-fewest goals of the 16 teams to qualify for this year's Stanley Cup tournament. That hasn't mattered so far in Round 1, as the Predators have scored 11 times in three games against the Ducks. They preserved home-ice advantage with a 4-3 victory in Game 3 on Sunday night. Mike Fisher was the hero for the second time in the series, scoring the game winner midway through the third period. Nashville dominated the game from the outset, outshooting the Ducks 37-16. Fisher leads the Predators with three goals and five points in three games, atoning for a disapointing showing after coming to Nashville in a deadline trade with the Ottawa Senators.

ABOUT THE DUCKS: Anaheim didn't play its best in Game 3, but managed to stay in the game for 2 1/2 periods thanks to timely goaltending from Ray Emery and another strong performance from the ageless Teemu Selanne. Emery finished with 33 saves on the night while Selanne had two goals 30 seconds apart in the second period to erase a 2-0 deficit. The Ducks have taken advantage of their power-play opportunities - scoring four times on 12 man advantages - but need to be more disciplined. They've given Nashville 16 power plays in three games, the most of any team so far in the playoffs. The Predators have converted four of them, including their first of the night in Game 3.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Fisher is well on his way to surpassing his effort during the regular season, when he had just five goals in 27 games after joining the Predators. Selanne continues to amaze at age 40, leading the Ducks with four goals and looking as fit as ever.

Detroit Red Wings at Phoenix Coyotes (+121, 5.5)

Detroit leads series 3-0

THE STORY: The third-seeded Detroit Red Wings go for the sweep Wednesday when they take on the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series at Jobing.com Arena. Detroit is looking to make quick work of Phoenix after needing seven games to dispatch the Coyotes in the first round last year. The Red Wings trailed after the first period of the series opener but have been dominant ever since, save for a third-period scare in Game 2 when the Coyotes climbed within a goal after trailing 4-0. Detroit has had little difficulty in the desert, winning four straight playoff games at Phoenix.

ABOUT THE COYOTES: Phoenix kept Pavel Datsyuk off the scoresheet Monday but could not control the rest of the Red Wings early in periods as Detroit scored within the first three minutes of each session en route to a 4-2 triumph and 3-0 series lead. Ilya Bryzgalov has been shaky and the defense in front of him has been just as sketchy as Phoenix has allowed the first three goals in each of the last two contests. The only thing working for the Coyotes is their power play, which has accounted for five of the team's seven goals in the series and all of the tallies in the last two matches. Defenseman Ed Jovanovski was in the lineup after going down early in the second period of Game 2 with an upper body injury.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS: Detroit took the white-clad crowd out of the game early as defenseman Ruslan Salei and Drew Miller scored 44 seconds apart to give the Red Wings a 2-0 lead just 2:41 into the first period. Valtteri Filppula increased the advantage at 2:50 of the second and Johan Franzen tallied 45 seconds into the third. About the only area in which Detroit is struggling is the penalty kill as it was shorthanded only three times Monday but allowed two goals. The Red Wings have won 56 consecutive playoff games in which they have scored at least four times.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Datsyuk, Franzen and defenseman Brian Rafalski have two goals apiece, accounting for half of Detroit's total in the series. Everyone tried to get in on the offense in Game 3 as only two players failed to register a shot on goal. Captain Shane Doan, defenseman Keith ****le and Radim Vrbata each have four points for the Coyotes, who have not scored at even strength since the 7:32 mark of the third period of Game 1, a span of 132 minutes, 22 seconds. Blue-liner Adrian Aucoin is minus-4 on a team that does not have a player with a plus rating.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Ice Picks

Wednesday's Best NHL Bets

Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (-109, 5)

The Rangers opened the series by dropping a pair of road games to Washington, but they got back on track with a 3-2 home victory Sunday.

The Capitals simply did not deliver a strong performance with a chance to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. They committed eight minor penalties and, although they killed all but one power play, it did not help their efforts to get into any kind of rhythm.

“We’re desperate now,” defenseman John Carlson told the Washington Post. “It’s even if we lose the next game. It’ll be a big game for us, and that loss really didn’t feel good, the way it happened.”

But it could be tough for Washington to bounce back. Aside from its two wins to begin the series, the team did not fare well against New York during the regular season. After losing the first game, the Rangers won three in a row, including a 7-0 blowout in December and a 6-0 rout in February.

Pick: Rangers

Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators (-144, 5)

After a 4-1 Nashville road win in Game 1, a total of 15 goals have been scored over the past two contests - eight by the Ducks and seven by the Preds.

In a critical Game 3 Sunday, Anaheim battled back from a two-goal deficit but Nashville’s Mike Fisher lit the lamp for the game winner with 9:39 remaining. Fisher has three goals and five points in the trio of games.

“I'm just getting breaks,” Fisher told the Tennessean. “My linemates are playing really, really well,” Fisher said. “The (goal-scoring) play tonight was all my linemates. The team has played solid so far and we have to keep that going.”

The two teams have now faced each other seven times this season. Only their first clash went under the total (that ended with five goals, just below the 5.5-goal total). The winning team has scored at least four times in all seven games.

With the total at 5, the over is a smart play for this one.

Pick: Over

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

DCI NBA

Season
Straight Up: 813-353 (.697)
ATS: 607-610 (.499)
ATS Vary Units: 1432-1456 (.496)
Over/Under: 630-603 (.511)
Over/Under Vary Units: 758-736 (.507)

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 2, best-of-7
SAN ANTONIO 101, Memphis 97
L.A. LAKERS 98, New Orleans 89
OKLAHOMA CITY 109, Denver 105

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

PITTVIPER SPORTS

NBA Playoffs
SILVER: 2 UNITS: ROT# 731 - 10:30pm - New Orleans Hornets +12 -110 (my line: +5.24]

 

[White_Tiger]

Free Selection from #1 Sports

Wednesday's free selection: Baltimore Orioles - 125

 

[White_Tiger]

Jim Feist's Wednesday FREE Baseball Play:

4/20 11:20 AM MLB (903) SAN DIEGO PADRES VS (904) CHICAGO CUBS
Take: (903) SAN DIEGO PADRES
Reason: So which ace do you trust? San Diego has been respectable on the road and goes with the former Cincy Reds' ace, Aaron Harang. He's been a great fit, with a 3-0 record and a 1.50 ERA, fanning 16 in 18 innings. He also doesn't walk anyone, which is a huge edge in a small park like Wrigley Field. Chicago goes with newly acquired Matt Garza, who is struggling at 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA, as he learns a new league. Garza gave up five runs off of seven hits and a pair of walks through six innings of work to take the loss on Friday against the Rockies. It took him 119 pitches to labor through the six frames and it was his second disappointing outing in a row. Play the Padres.

 

[White_Tiger]

Free Selection from High Stakes Syndicate

Free Selection for Wednesday: Cleveland Indians - 110

 

[White_Tiger]

Free Selection from Totals4U

Wednesday's free selection: Cleveland Indians/Kansas City Royals over 8 1/2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

DCI NHL

Season: 385-289 (.571)

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 4, best-of-7
Washington vs. N.Y. RANGERS: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Philadelphia vs. BUFFALO: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Pittsburgh vs. TAMPA BAY: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 4, best-of-7
Detroit vs. PHOENIX: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
NASHVILLE 3, Anaheim 2