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Tuesday, April 22
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Pick 'n' roll: Tuesday's best NBA bets
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Toronto at Orlando (-5 1/2, 198 1/2)
The Raptors couldn't catch a break in Sunday's 114-100 loss in Game 1. Most of the damage was done in the first quarter when the Magic shot 80 percent from the field and poured in an amazing 43 points.
But all is not lost for Toronto. First of all, it's not likely the Magic will put on another shooting performance like that. Secondly, the Raptors made a lot of tactical mistakes (such as using Andrea Bargnani out of position to guard Hedo Turkoglu, and starting T.J. Ford instead of Jose Calderon at point guard) which can be corrected for tonight's game.
The fact that the Raptors were so badly outplayed and still only lost by 14 seems to indicate that they should be able to stay within five points of the Magic if they make the proper adjustments tonight.
Pick: Raptors
Phoenix at San Antonio (-1 1/2, 191 1/2)
After a battle like the one waged between these teams in Game 1, you have to like the losing team to bounce back in Game 2. It took double-overtime for the Spurs to hold home court in the series-opener and although the Suns would like to have that one back, they aren't dwelling on the loss.
"It's a long series and they've held home court one game and that's it," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They dodged a bullet. We didn't catch a bullet, they just dodged a bullet."
Although Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 40 points in the game, a lot of his success was because Shaq, Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw all got into foul trouble and as a result, Duncan was largely free to operate on the offensive end. The Suns will have a much better chance if those big men - Shaq in particular - can avoid taking fouls.
Pick: Suns
Tuesday, April 22
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Pick 'n' roll: Tuesday's best NBA bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto at Orlando (-5 1/2, 198 1/2)
The Raptors couldn't catch a break in Sunday's 114-100 loss in Game 1. Most of the damage was done in the first quarter when the Magic shot 80 percent from the field and poured in an amazing 43 points.
But all is not lost for Toronto. First of all, it's not likely the Magic will put on another shooting performance like that. Secondly, the Raptors made a lot of tactical mistakes (such as using Andrea Bargnani out of position to guard Hedo Turkoglu, and starting T.J. Ford instead of Jose Calderon at point guard) which can be corrected for tonight's game.
The fact that the Raptors were so badly outplayed and still only lost by 14 seems to indicate that they should be able to stay within five points of the Magic if they make the proper adjustments tonight.
Pick: Raptors
Phoenix at San Antonio (-1 1/2, 191 1/2)
After a battle like the one waged between these teams in Game 1, you have to like the losing team to bounce back in Game 2. It took double-overtime for the Spurs to hold home court in the series-opener and although the Suns would like to have that one back, they aren't dwelling on the loss.
"It's a long series and they've held home court one game and that's it," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They dodged a bullet. We didn't catch a bullet, they just dodged a bullet."
Although Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 40 points in the game, a lot of his success was because Shaq, Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw all got into foul trouble and as a result, Duncan was largely free to operate on the offensive end. The Suns will have a much better chance if those big men - Shaq in particular - can avoid taking fouls.
Pick: Suns
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