The Bum's Best Bets For Thursday 21st - MLB - NBA -NHL !

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Thursday, May 21


Ducks look to remain hot away from the Pond

The Anaheim Ducks are a solid 3-1 on the road during the postseason, and dating further back they are 7-1 in their past eight road games.

The Ducks have outscored their opposition 27-18 during that span with three games, including their one loss, going to overtime. Only two of those seven wins have seen the Ducks by more than one goal.

Anaheim is +118 when they travel to the United Center Thursday.


Lightning torch Lundqvist once again

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has allowed five or more goals just six times during the 2014-15 regular season and postseason, but after Wednesday's 6-5 loss in the Eastern Conference Final, four of those games have come against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Wednesday's scoreline marked the second-consecutive game in the series that the Lightning put six past the Swedish netminder. Tampa Bay tallied five in a 5-1 win against the Blushirts back on Nov. 17 and another five in a 6-3 win on Dec. 1.

The Lightning have a 2-1 lead in the series with Game 4 slated to go Friday evening in Florida.

[StarDust Bum]

Diamond Trends - Thursday

May 21, 2015


SU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Mets are 11-0 since August 27, 2013 as a home favorite vs a team that has won at least their last two games for a net profit of $1100.


PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- None

MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:

-- The Diamondbacks are 0-12 (+$1,215) since 2009 if they aren’t more than -135 favorites and have allowed six or less hits each of the past three games.

CHOICE TREND:

-- The White Sox are 0-11 OU since April 22, 2004 as a home dog after a loss in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $1100 when playing the under.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Rockies are 0-10 since September 10, 2014 after a loss it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $1025 when playing against.

-- The Blue Jays are 10-0 since August 27, 2014 at home when they lost the last two games their starter started for a net profit of $1002.

[StarDust Bum]

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores

9:00 PM EDT

505 HOUSTON ROCKETS 220o05 220o05 / 219.5 / 220 219.5 +500

506 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS -10 -08 -11 EVEN / -10.5 -05 / -10.5 -15 -10.5 -650

HOU-C-Dwight Howard-? | TV: ESPN, DTV: 206

[StarDust Bum]

Team Pitcher Open Line Movements Current Runline Scores


12:10 PM EDT

951 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (R) Bradley, A 8u20 8u20 / 7.5 7.5o15 +1.5(-190)
952 MIAMI MARLINS (R) Latos, M -130 -133 / -134 / -140 -130 -1.5(+160)
ARI-1B-Paul Goldschmidt-Doubtful | TV: FS-Arizona, MLB, DTV: 213, 686 | PARTLY SUNNY, 30% CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS. WIND IN FROM RIGHT 7-12. GAME TEMP 87, RH 58% HEAT INDEX 93 (MARLINS STADIUM ROOF CLOSES IN WET WEATHER)

1:10 PM EDT

953 ST LOUIS CARDINALS (L) Garcia, J 7.5u25 7o20 / 7o15 / 7u15 7u20 +1.5(-230)
954 NEW YORK METS (R) Degrom, J -125 -112 / -116 / -115 -113 -1.5(+190)
STL-LF-Matt Holliday-Doubtful | TV: FS-Midwest, SNY, DTV: 639, 671 | CLOUDY, 40% CHANCE SHOWERS. WIND OUT TO LEFT CENTER 8-13. GAME TEMP 58, RH 49%

3:10 PM EDT

955 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (R) Williams, J 10u20 10u20 / 9.5 / 9.5u15 9.5u25 +1.5(-155)
956 COLORADO ROCKIES (L) De La Rosa, J -150 -147 / -146 / -142 -152 -1.5(+135)
TV: MLB, DTV: 213 | PARTLY SUNNY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS. WIND RIGHT TO LEFT 7-12. GAME TEMP 56, RH 66%

3:45 PM EDT

957 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (L) Kershaw, C -130 -125 / -127 / -130 -125 -1.5(+145)
FREE
958 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (L) Bumgarner, M 6u20 6u15 / 6 / 6u15 6u20 +1.5(-165) HOT PICK
TV: CSN-Bay, DTV: 696 | MOSTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWERS. WIND OUT TO CENTER 6-11. GAME TEMP 68, RH 56%

7:10 PM EDT

959 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (R) Garza, M 7.5u25 7.5u25 7o20 +1.5(-195)
960 ATLANTA BRAVES (R) Teheran, J -130 -129 / -123 / -125 -126 -1.5(+165)
TV: FS-Wisconsin, SportsSouth, DTV: 646, 669 | PARTLY CLOUDY, WIND IN FROM LEFT 7-12. GAME TEMP 75, RH 47% HEAT INDEX 76

9:10 PM EDT

961 CHICAGO CUBS (R) Hendricks, K 7o25 -111 / -110 / -109 -107 -1.5(+155)
962 SAN DIEGO PADRES (R) Despaigne, O -115 7o25 / 7o24 / 7o20 7o25 +1.5(-175)
TV: CSN-Chicago, FS-San Diego, DTV: 665, 694 | MOSTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWERS LATE. WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 5-10. GAME TEMP 62, RH 69%

12:35 PM EDT

963 SEATTLE MARINERS (L) Happ, J 8o15 8.5u20 / 8.5u18 / 8.5u15 8 +1.5(-205)
964 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (R) Tillman, C -125 -117 / -113 / -112 -111 -1.5(+175)
TV: MASN, ROOT-Northwest, DTV: 640, 687 | CLOUDY, 60% CHANCE LIGHT RAIN. WIND IN FROM RIGHT 5-10. GAME TEMP 57, RH 72%

1:05 PM EDT

965 HOUSTON ASTROS (R) Feldman, S 8u15 8 / 8o12 / 8o15 8o20 +1.5(-165)
966 DETROIT TIGERS (L) Price, D -170 -157 / -156 / -152 -151 -1.5(+145)
TV: FS-Detroit, ROOT-Southwest, DTV: 663, 674 | PARTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO LEFT 9-14. GAME TEMP 62, RH 47%

7:05 PM EDT

967 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (R) Shoemaker, M 9u20 9u30 / 8.5 / 8.5o25 8.5o20 +1.5(-210)
968 TORONTO BLUE JAYS (R) Dickey, R -125 -115 / -112 / -106 -109 -1.5(+180)
LAA-1B-Albert Pujols-Doubtful | TV: FS-West, DTV: 692 | PARTLY CLOUDY, WIND IN FROM LEFT 8-13. GAME TEMP 61, RH 36%

7:10 PM EDT

969 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (R) Chavez, J 7.5o20 7.5o15 / 7.5 / 7.5u15 7.5u25 +1.5(-215)
970 TAMPA BAY RAYS (R) Colome, A -125 -115 / -114 / -108 -109 -1.5(+185)
TV: CSN-California, SunSports, DTV: 653, 698 | Dome

7:10 PM EDT

971 TEXAS RANGERS (L) Rodriguez, W 9u25 9u25 / 8.5o20 8.5o25 +1.5(-145)
972 BOSTON RED SOX (R) Buchholz, C -165 -175 / -170 / -163 -156 -1.5(+125)
TV: FS-Southwest, NESN, DTV: 628, 676 | MOSTLY CLOUDY, WIND OUT TO CENTER 7-12. GAME TEMP 64, RH 39%

8:10 PM EDT

973 CLEVELAND INDIANS (R) Salazar, D -115 -130 / -127 / -123 -125 -1.5(+135)
974 CHICAGO WHITE SOX (L) Danks, J 8.5u20 8.5 / 8.5u15 / 8.5 8.5u15 +1.5(-155)
TV: CSN-Chicago, SportsTime Ohio, DTV: 662, 665 | MOSTLY FAIR, WIND OUT TO LEFT 7-12. GAME TEMP 62, RH 41%

[StarDust Bum]

Team Open Line Movements Current Puck Line Scores

8:05 PM EDT

61 ANAHEIM DUCKS 5o40 5o40 +1.5(-260)
62 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS -135 -135 -1.5(+215)
ANA-G-Frederik Anderson-Probable | CHI-G-Corey Crawford-Probable | TV: NBCS, DTV: 220

[StarDust Bum]

RECAPPING LAST NIGHTS ACTION......NBA AND NHL BOTH GO 1 - 1...MLB HAS ONE OF ITS BEST NIGHTS GOING 10-2 AND HITTING 3 GRAND SLAMS....MAYBE THE TIDE HAS FINALLY TURNED......GOOD LUCK !!

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Arizona - 12:10 PM ET Arizona +126 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Miami - Under 7.5 500

Seattle - 12:35 PM ET Baltimore -113 500
Baltimore - Under 8 500 DOUBLE PLAY

Houston - 1:08 PM ET Detroit -150 500
Detroit - Over 8 500

St. Louis - 1:10 PM ET NY Mets -110 500 *****
NY Mets - Over 7 500

Philadelphia - 3:10 PM ET Colorado -150 500 *****
Colorado - Under 9.5 500

LA Dodgers - 3:45 PM ET San Francisco +116 500 GRAND SLAM
San Francisco - Over 6 500 DOUBLE PLAY

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Houston - 9:00 PM ET Golden State -9.5 500 SLAM DUNK

Golden State - Under 219 500 DOUBLE PLAY




NHL

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Anaheim - 8:00 PM ET Chicago -146 500 DOUBLE PLAY

Chicago - Under 5 500 *****

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Game Score Status Pick Amount

LA Angels - 7:07 PM ET Toronto +103 500 GRAND SLAM
Toronto - Under 8.5 500

Texas - 7:10 PM ET Texas +163 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Boston - Under 8.5 500

Oakland - 7:10 PM ET Tampa Bay -107 500
Tampa Bay - Over 7.5 500

Milwaukee - 7:10 PM ET Milwaukee +113 500 *****
Atlanta - Over 7 500

Cleveland - 8:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox +117 500
Chi. White Sox - Over 8.5 500

Chi. Cubs - 9:10 PM ET San Diego +103 500 TRIPLE PLAY
San Diego - Under 7 500 TRIPLE PLAY

[StarDust Bum]

NBA Playoffs: 3 adjustments Rockets need vs. Warriors in Game 2

Houston trails the Golden State Warriors 1-0 headed into Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night. Teams with home-court advantage that take a 2-0 lead have won the conference finals 94 percent of the time. That's history, not predictive, but it's certainly not a great sign. Here are three adjustments that the Rockets need to make if they're going to get a split in the Bay in Game 2 headed back to Clutch City.

1. The Steph Curry Conundrum: On Wednesday, I looked at how the Rockets allowed Steph Curry to get wide open looks, which Houston can in no way afford. What's interesting is the Rockets' only comments after Game 1 on Tuesday, and after Wednesday's practice on the issue were about offensive issues leading to that. Particularly turnovers.

"To be honest, when we started turning the ball over, that's when they got going," Corey Brewer said of the difference between the Rockets' great start and the collapse after building a 16-point lead.

"In the [fast] break, you've got to recognize where he is at, and you've got to get to him," coach Kevin McHale said. "I thought we made three mistakes on Curry on just transition where he got open baskets, and we've just got to be better on that."

That's covered in the above-linked piece on Curry as well, but as bad as those mistakes were, several were based on misfortune (one happened when Josh Smith collided with Dwight Howard, putting both men on the deck, another when Ariza got tangled up at the other end). A bigger issue: Instead of chasing Curry, Houston's guards were trying to pop "over" off-ball screens to beat Curry to his spot which allows Curry to shorten his curl and catch-and-shoot with no off-ball switch. That leads to wide open Curry corner 3-pointers, AKA pure doom.

"He's one of the toughest players to guard in the league," Pablo Prigioni said Wednesday. "His footwork, plus his catch-and-shoot is so quick. There's not one rule, some of it's just making little adjustments, following instincts. There's not one thing we have to do, we have to do many things. We've got to do a better job making him uncomfortable."

2. Stay composed: The Rockets took a lot away from that 16-point lead they had. It seemed to be proof they could hang with the Warriors. Despite the loss, Houston had an opportunity to win and blew it (in a matter of minutes) instead thinking it was some sort of fool's gold.

"The crowd is great here," Prigioni said of Oracle Arena, "but when we were up double-digits, they got into a little bit of 'Wait, what's happening here?' So we can affect the crowd too. We've just got to stay composed."

"[In that first-quarter run], we were all cohesive, we were playing together. We weren't making mistakes and, we weren't turning the ball over," Brewer said.

There was a lot of talk from McHale about offense, but the Rockets' might stand a better chance at focusing more on the defensive end, being more patient, and letting James Harden control possessions.

3. Life in the fast lane: The up-and-down, chaotic energy of Game 1 was enjoyed by both sides. Both teams said Wednesday that's the pace where they're comfortable. But who's really benefitting?

Andrew Bogut has some sort of cold that he said was really bothering him Wednesday. A big man with a head cold trying to get up and down the floor is a pretty tough deal. Then again, the Warriors' small lineups were successful for the most part. Or were they?

Overall, the lineup featuring Curry, Thompson, Shaun Livingston, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green was plus-15, but most of that came in the Warriors' second-quarter deluge in which Livingston scored 10 points in seven minutes. Overall in the second half, Warriors small-ball lineups with Green at center were minus-3.

McHale said after Game 1 he doesn't want to go small, he wants to stay big, but Dwight Howard's injury may compromise that. (More on that here.)

Are the Rockets really comfortable playing fast, vs. this team? The Warriors seemed enthused by the opportunity to run after the slugfest vs. Memphis, and the two teams tied in fast break points. Can Houston get back consistently in an up-and-down-game? They couldn't in Game 1, but they attributed that to turnovers. It just seems odd that Houston continues to believe they can win a shootout with a team defined by its stock of shooters.

[StarDust Bum]

Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily Picks: Weary Blackhawks return to home ice

Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Game 3

Series tied 1-1

After a marathon in Game 2 that featured three overtimes, the Ducks and Blackhawks each have to hope the players' bodies have recovered enough for what is sure to be another grueling contest as the series shifts back to Chicago. With only one day off in between games, which included a long flight for both teams, Game 3 is going to be a challenge for either club.

It could be particularly difficult for the Blackhawks and their depleted defense. Each of the top four defensemen played more than 45 minutes in Game 2. They won the game, but the miles that contest had to put on those players, particularly Duncan Keith who played nearly 50 full minutes in the game, is cause for concern. That's especially because they're going to have to play a lot again.

With the depth the Ducks boast throughout their lineup, there's really no break in there for Chicago's defense. All four lines can score and five of the six defensemen are true offensive threats. That forces Joel Quenneville to play his bottom two defensemen as sparingly as possible.

Kyle Cumiskey held his own in his first playoff game with the Blackhawks, but veteran Kimmo Timonen was the hockey equivalent of a tackling dummy in Game 2. Quenneville doesn't seem to have a whole lot of faith in another defense option in David Rundblad and the team's top defensive prospects -- Trevor van Riemsdyk and Stephen Johns -- are both injured. Creativity in defensive deployment in Game 3, with Chicago owning the last change, is going to be key to helping the blue line maximize its usage.

Chicago getting the last change is also going to allow Quenneville to get Jonathan Toews away from Ryan Kesler a little bit more. Toews had an assist and five shots on goal in the marathon Game 2 and has won the possession battle against Kesler, but those are still hard shifts. Also, it keeps Toews away from defending against Anaheim's top line.

It's going to be more interesting to see how Bruce Boudreau matches lines with Quenneville having the advantage of last change. The Ducks definitely were getting the matchups they wanted over two games, particularly with Kesler vs. Toews.

The other two guys who will be worth watching in this game rather closely are the goaltenders. Corey Crawford and Frederik Andersen put in a heck of a lot of work in Game 3. Crawford finished the contest with 60 saves over 116:12 of action, while Andersen posted 53 stops. Both were spectacular in overtime. The relatively tight turnaround between games puts a lot of strain on them individually. The goalie who recovered the best is probably going to have the best game. It's possible neither shows any ill effects, but if this game goes long again, it's something worth keeping an eye on.

The Ducks have a big opportunity here even though they're going into the United Center, where no visiting team has won this postseason. It's a tough place for visitors, but if the Blackhawks are at all tired, the Ducks can continue to wear the top four defenders down. Anaheim's minutes distribution in Game 2 should make them fresher in Game 3, in theory, so that's something they absolutely have to exploit.

Chicago's advantage of last change and just how good they've been at United Center so far makes them tough to pick against in this one.

Pick: Blackhawks 3, Ducks 2

[StarDust Bum]

Three stars

1. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks: After being held off the score sheet in the first two games of this series, Kane's return to the United Center could be the spark he needs to get involved in this series. Four of his seven goals this postseason have come at home. Before getting skunked in Games 1 and 2, Kane had points in seven straight. It could be Showtime in Chicago.

2. Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks: After another spectacular performance in Game 2, Crawford will make his fourth home start of this postseason. He has won the previous three with a .948 save percentage, allowing just four goals so far. The workload he handled in the last game is a concern, but he's won six of his last seven postseason starts.

3. Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks: Perhaps not having to agitate Toews every five seconds will allow Kesler to open things up offensively a little bit. Kesler has no points yet in the series after posting nine over his first nine postseason contests. Because he has his role in this series, it's easy to forget that he can produce. The Ducks may need him to if the Blackhawks get their matchups against the Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry line.