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**StarDust Bum** · 05-09-2010, 10:41 AM

Cavs and Suns look to do their thing

Who could blame Boston GM Danny Ainge for waving something else this time, like the surrender flag after watching his team get pummeled on their home court by Cleveland. The Cavaliers, with the NBA’s most famous elbow, will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series on Sunday afternoon. Later, catch a gander of Phoenix on Mother’s Day, who is unbelievably going for the sweep of San Antonio, after three sharp performances against what has been their biggest nemesis.

Cleveland at Boston 3:30E ABC

At least for Game 3, LeBron James elbow was just fine, since the only pain felt was by Boston on the receiving end of 21 of his 38 points in the opening 12 minutes. The Celtics efforts of gaining home court advantage were vanquished within roughly 30 minutes real time as Cleveland led 36-17 after the first quarter.

“It started with me tonight. Everyone else saw my aggression and took advantage of it,” James said. “I think rest helped me; rest helped all of us, and we were able to put together a complete game for the first time in these playoffs.” This major announcement moved Cleveland to 11-2 ATS record in the second round of the playoffs.

The Celtics have gone from looking like wise veterans to golden oldies throughout the three contests in this series are in a world of hurt without Paul Pierce who continues to be a non-factor. Pierce is shooting 31 percent for the series and 25 percent from beyond the arc and is a shell of the player that was leading his team over Cleveland two years ago.

“We just need Paul to be aggressive,” forward Kevin Garnett said Saturday. “On both ends. Period.”

Pierce has the toughest matchup on the floor, having to guard James and trying to beat the younger, stronger Akron native, who was an All-Defensive team selection this season. “Obviously we do want to get him (Pierce) involved more, he has to get his rhythm better,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after practice.

Equally as disturbing is the C’s lack of aggressiveness at home, where they are pedestrian 27-18 at TD Garden, with ghastly 15-29-1 ATS record. Boston is 10-21 ATS in home whites revenging a loss over the last two seasons.

Sportsbook.com again opened Cleveland as one-point road favorites, with the total up to 197. The wagering public took the bait in Boston and sent them off as Game 3 single point faves. It will be interesting to see what they do this time since the Celtics are 3-12 ATS in downtown Boston when the total is between 195 and 199.5 points. Coach Rivers club is 16-6 OVER off an upset loss as a home favorite.

It will also be noteworthy to view the Cavs state of mind since they have had one complete game in three and are 18-7 ATS after a blowout win by 20 points or more, winning by 13.3 points a contest. The Cavaliers usually bring a defensive mentality into Sunday’s with 21-7 UNDER record the two seasons.

Phoenix at San Antonio 8:00E TNT

It’s unusual enough to see Phoenix up 3-0 over San Antonio, but it has been the manner in which it has occurred. The Suns have taken it to the Spurs time and again and most of their rebuttals have been have lacked the necessary punch.

Much like a prize fighter having knocked out opponents for years, San Antonio finds themselves trying to land haymakers and the opponent is not flinching when struck, which has to hurt the team’s psyche.

The Suns have so confounded the Spurs, even coach Gregg Popovich has made atypical judgments that have not worked.

San Antonio is 12-23 ATS at the AT&T Center revenging a defeat, but they can’t be entirely blamed since who could possibly have foreseen of the Phoenix lineups that have worked.

In Game 2 it was Amare Stoudemire and a group of players known only to Phoenix fans that that fueled a second quarter rally that got Los Suns back to even at halftime and the regulars took care of the rest from there forward.

On Friday night, with Steve Nash, Jason Richardson and Stoudemire on the bench to start the fourth quarter and trailing by a point, coach Alvin Gentry unleashed the “Slovenian slayer” Goran Dragic, who scored 17 points in five minutes in the deciding quarter and 23 all told in the last frame to send Spurs away totally bewildered.

"I knew I was hot," Dragic said, "so I just wanted to have the ball during the pick-and-roll. On a lot of those plays, I had Tim Duncan on my side, and Coach told me if you feel it, shoot it." He and even faster Leandro Barbosa abused the Spurs defensive tactics for 39 points combined, while committing only one turnover.

The Suns are 13-4 ATS away after a combined score of 205 points or more three straight games this season and let’s be truthful, who really wants to play this club right now.

Phoenix actually went off a seven-point underdog in last contest, no more, now down to 3.5-points with 22-8-1 ATS record off a cover. This one is about pride for San Antonio who is 9-3-1 ATS as home favorite, however the Suns bring such an unknown as to what player or groups of players that could rise and shine, the Spurs have to have their heads on swivel trying to figure out where Phoenix will attack next.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-09-2010, 10:42 AM

Sunday Night Baseball Betting Preview

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have become infamous for playing lengthy games in recent seasons, but Boston has been surprisingly swift in slipping from relevance in the AL East race. Two blowout losses this weekend have not helped, and the Yankees can complete an emphatic three-game sweep at Fenway Park with a seventh straight win Sunday night.

The archrivals were called “pathetic and embarrassing” for their slow play by umpire Joe West last month, and Saturday’s game did little to quiet critics. The 3 hours, 56 minutes - not including a 1 hour, 14 minute rain delay - were especially painful for Boston, which lost 14-3.

Any momentum the Red Sox (15-16, -6.6 units) gained with a four-game sweep of Los Angeles this week has been quickly squelched by the Yankees, who won 10-3 in the series opener Friday. Boston’s season began with a 9-7 home win over the Yankees on April 4, but the Red Sox have since gone 0-8 against New York and Tampa Bay, with all the losses to the AL East’s top teams coming at Fenway.

Boston, which has dropped 13 of 15 to New York, trails the Rays by 7 1/2 games and the Yankees by seven, not to mention Toronto by 2 1/2. “It doesn’t matter who you play,” Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez said with is club 1-8 vs. teams outscoring opposition by 0.5 or more runs a game on the season. “You always want to go out there and get the best out of it.”

New York (21-8, +9.9) has matched a season high with six straight victories, and the Yankees are only getting healthier. Mariano Rivera (stiff side) has been available to pitch this weekend, and Robinson Cano did not miss a start after getting hit by a pitch in the knee Friday.

Nick Johnson (wrist) joined Curtis Granderson (groin) on the disabled list Saturday, but the Yankees expect to have Jorge Posada (calf tightness) in the lineup Sunday for the first time in six days.

Posada will be the designated hitter, meaning catcher Francisco Cervelli will get another start. Cervelli had a career-high five RBIs on Saturday and has gone 9 for 14 (.643) in his last four games. “I do my best. That’s all I can do,” Cervelli said. “I play every game like it’s my last.” So does his team as New York is 21-4 after two straight wins by four runs or more over the last three seasons.

Mark Teixeira also keyed Saturday’s blowout, becoming the only Yankee other than Lou Gehrig to hit three home runs against the Red Sox. Teixeira, a notoriously slow starter who was batting .181 entering the game, went 4 for 6 with five RBIs. “I don’t know why I have slow starts,” Teixeira said, “but I end up having good seasons.”

The Yankees will face a hot pitcher in Jon Lester, who has allowed one run over 20 2/3 innings in his last three starts. Lester (2-2, 3.93 ERA, 1.309 WHIP) has quickly found his form after going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his first three outings. The left-hander pitched a season-high eight innings in a 5-1 win over the Angels on Tuesday and is 21-3 at Fenway after giving up one or less earned runs last outing. (Red Sox record)

New York’s A.J. Burnett (4-0, 1.99, 1.156) has been just as good lately, holding opponents without an earned run in three of his last four starts. He gave up one unearned run in 7 1/3 innings of a 4-1 win over Baltimore on Tuesday.

“I feel more like myself than I have in a long time,” Burnett said who is 12-2 vs. the AL East. (Team’s Record)

Lester and Burnett squared off at Fenway on April 6, with each allowing four runs in five innings of New York’s 6-4 win. Burnett did not get the decision and is 0-2 with an 11.72 ERA in four starts at Boston since joining the Yankees last year.

Sportsbook.com has the Red Sox favored for the first time in the series at -107 on the money line at Un9 and they are 23-6 after six or more consecutive home games. Boston is 9-1 OVER revenging two home losses in a row since last year. New York prepares for the sweep and is 17-5 in road games after two or more Over’s and Burnett is 10-1 UNDER in May games since his Toronto days. (Team's Record)
This ESPN Sunday night telecast at 8:00 Eastern is calling for cool windy conditions.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-09-2010, 10:42 AM

Chicago after clincher on home ice

CHICAGO (AP)—Roberto Luongo has a different look heading into Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. Who knows if it will affect his play on the ice. The Vancouver goalie has shaved off his beard. Change things up a little bit,” Luongo said Saturday. “Give something else a try.”

Trailing 3-1, the biggest change for Vancouver on Sunday night is to have more discipline, stay out of the penalty box and limit Chicago’s power play chances. Chicago’s Jonathan Toews scored three of the Blackhawks’ four power-play goals Friday night in a 7-4 victory when the Canucks seemed to confuse physical play with ill-advised penalties—eight of them—while trying to counteract 6-foot-4, 257-pound Dustin Byfuglien.

The Blackhawks have apparently gotten into the Canucks’ psyche, while finding a way to score on Luongo. Luongo’s own coach, Alain Rigneault, described the Olympic gold winner as the second best goalie on the ice behind Chicago rookie Antti Niemi.

Byfuglien scored three goals in Chicago’s Game 3 win and then drew three penalties Friday night. His ability to get in Luongo’s space has been one of the big factors in the Blackhawks’ success against the Canucks the last two postseasons.

Chicago ousted Vancouver in the semifinals a year ago and is 55-26 after scoring four goals or more in their previous game. “Just going out there and doing my job, getting in front and trying to give him a hard time to see the puck,” Byfuglien said Saturday.

“I knew it was going to be a physical game. I think everyone did—they were going to come out like that. And they weren’t smart about it.”

For the Canucks, finding a day to maintain their physical, up-tempo style will be a priority at the United Center, where they were able to win the opener.

Giving the talented Blackhawks an extra man or even two won’t work. “That’s not the type of game we need to be playing and it hurt us last year and it’s hurting us again this year,” Luongo said.

“We’ve got to realize we’re a good team and when we play the way we are supposed to play, we’re one of the best in the league. … It’s just a matter of making sure we play for the crest on our jersey.” Vancouver is 9-0 in road games revenging a home blowout loss of three or more goals to same foe.

Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo suggested that the Canucks can play physical but also be in control and they have to be able to do that Sunday night.

“I don’t know, I haven’t felt they are in our heads, but saying that we’re still taking a lot of penalties so that’s not a good thing,” Salo said.
“We know what kind of hockey we can play if we keep our heads cool and play the game.”

Toews, benefited from Byfuyglien’s presence on his line, had two assists to go with his three goals. He has 18 points in the playoffs. “Some nights you are not going to play your best and everything kind of goes in for you. Obviously it was one of those nights where you are around the net and everything seems to find you, pucks are going to you and you get lucky,” the Blackhawks captain said Saturday whose hockey club is 40-19 against teams with losing road record. (Vancouver is 22-24 on the year)

“We want to keep that going, especially tomorrow night.”

Vigneault said his comment that Luongo was the second best goalie stemmed from the team’s play. “Roberto and our team the last two games we have been the second best team on the ice,” he said.

“The goaltender has been a big part of it and he’s been in this situation before. He was in this situation just a couple months ago with Team Canada where they couldn’t lose and he won three straight, so I’ve got a lot of faith him, I’ve got a lot of confidence in him and I know he’s going to do the job for us. … The series is not over.”

Vancouver’s Shane O’Brien expects the Canucks to play loose, despite their predicament. “We got nothing to lose now. We’re in a situation where probably no one thinks we can come back and the odds are we probably can’t, but we’re going to give it our best go,” O’Brien said. “It would taste even better if we came back from 3-1.”

The Blackhawks are glad to be back on their home ice with a chance to return to the Western Conference finals for a second straight year. It took them six games to oust the Canucks a year ago. In that Game 6 in Chicago, Luongo gave up seven goals, three to Patrick Kane. A year later, Chicago is in the same position and the Canucks are 4-16 after permitting five goals or more in consecutive contests.

“We have to find a way to play our best game of the series. We know what it will take to put this team away,” Toews said.

Sportsbook.com has Chicago as -200 money line favorites with total at Ov6. The Blackhawks have won 39 of 54 as home ice betting choice and are 14-5 OVER after a game where eight or more total goals were scored this season. Vancouver is just 1-5 recently as an underdog and is 9-1 OVER when facing elimination in a playoff series.

The puck drops just after 8:00 Eastern on VERSUS and CBC.

**Tnbreakers** · 05-09-2010, 11:04 AM

Gl Bum!

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