Official Plays
Hornets -2 - Play of the Day
Miami +1
Nets -3
This is the time of the season where it just becomes a crap shoot on the last few games. The only games that can really be capped are ones where teams are trying to move up or keep their position. Other then that, it is difficult to tell how a team is going to play.
Here are the playoff standings right now:
1x-
2x-
3y-
4x-
5x-
6
7
8
Still alive
9
10
11
Red are teams I would stay away from.
Detroit has not clinched officially, but as soon as they win a game or Cleveland loses a game and Chicago loses a game each, they will be locked in. And then expect a lot of rest for the starters.
Chicago and Cleveland will be playing all out to get that second spot in the east. Huge difference between the 2 spot and the 5 spot.
Toronto is in and will try to get that number 2 seed from Chi/Cle. They have two games coming up against the pistons, who will probably be favored. I like Toronto the rest of the way until they lock in their position.
Miami is in no mans land right now. I guess hypothetically Washington could catch them. It is not realistic though. I think a lot will be said tonight when they play Charlotte if they are going to try or have a push left in them. Green for tonight, reevaluate tomorrow.
Washington is dead for all intents and purposes. No Areans, No Caron Butler, no chance at doing anything. They are also in this kind of no mans land where they cannot realistically catch anyone, but could very well get caught. The problem isn't motivation to win these last few games, but just a lack in talent.
New Jersey, Orlando, and Indiana are all battling each other for those last two spots. I expect that no one wants to be the 8 seed and play Detroit. These teams should all be battling. New Jersey has a slight chance at getting past washington, but it is very slim. They play tonight.
Philly, I am undecided on right now, but I can assume that since they have some slight chance that they will be bringing it until they are eliminated. New York has already thrown in the towel.
The rest of the East (Atlanta, Charlotte, Boston, Milwaukee) have already started shutting down by putting players on injured reserve. The problem is that they are playing a lot of young players who have a lot of energy and a lot to prove, so you cant be too sure what you are going to get from these teams. Tread lightly playing for or against these teams.
In the west,
1z-Dallas
2y-Phoenix 6
3x-San Antonio 8
4y-Utah 16
5x-Houston 15.5
6
7
8 Golden State 26.5
Still alive
9
10 NO/Okla. City 28
Dallas is locked in #1 - tread lightly with them
Phoenix and San Antonio will be battling the rest of the way to get that 2nd seed and home court against each other in the second round.
Utah and Houston are locked in and locked in to play one another. Both have look suspect lately.
Funny thing about Denver and the Lakers is that both probably want to play Phoenix. Denver is almost a lock now to get in, lakers look content with attempting to keep the 7 spot. I am keeping an eye on them.
Golden State, LA Clippers and New Orleans should be a nice battle to watch down the stretch. I really like the Hornets and the Warriors and really despise the Clippers.
Of the other teams, be careful with Portland, Minnesota, Seattle, Memphis, and Sacramento. All of these teams recently have beaten a playoff team straight up as big dogs, and this is with nothing on the line. These teams will have huge lines on them, and they can easily cover or get blown out. I would not touch many games with these teams in them.
So here is how this breaks down -
Red vs Red - PASS
Red vs Green - Look for out of whack line (like Pacers -10 against anyone) bet if line looks somewhat normal.
Green vs Green - normal handicapping, emphesis on better team/better players.
1 comment:
Well, it appears that Miami has showed their true colors. They are now officially red.
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