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**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:31 AM

Phillies try to finish off sweep of Mets Sunday night

NEW YORK METS (11-16)

at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (18-8)

First pitch: Sunday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Philadelphia -170, N.Y. Mets +160, Total: 7

The Mets have reverted to their losing ways of late, and things won’t get any easier when they face Cliff Lee on Sunday night.

After a miserable start to the year, New York seemed to have turned a corner with last week’s six-game winning streak. But they’ve dropped three straight since, including the first two games of their three-game set in Philly (New York has dropped four of five in Philadelphia this season). The good news is that their one win was behind Sunday’s starter, Chris Young.

On April 5, Young held the Phillies to one run over 5.1 innings in a 7-1 Mets win. It wasn’t the prettiest outing though. Young allowed five hits and four walks in that start, and he’s not a great fit in Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. Young is an extreme fly-ball pitcher who’s prone to giving up the home run, and Citizens Bank is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the majors. Young gave up three homers in 4.2 innings in Washington on Tuesday. In his previous outing in Philadelphia, in 2009 when he was with the Padres, Young allowed seven runs (1 HR) in 3.2 innings.

The Phillies will have Cliff Lee on the mound. His ERA is a middling 4.18 through five starts this season, but it’s inflated by one disastrous outing (six runs allowed in 3.1 IP in Atlanta on April 8). In his three starts since then, he’s given up a total of seven runs (six earned) while striking out 25 with just three walks in 22 innings.

Including postseason, Lee has made 10 starts for the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, going 7-2 with a 2.60 ERA. Philly won eight of those games. He’s only made one career start against the Mets, holding them to two runs (both unearned) over seven innings at Citi Field in a 6-2 Phils win back in August 2009.

The Phillies have won eight of 10, and there’s no reason to think Young and the Mets will slow them down on Sunday night. I’m going with the obvious pick and taking Philadelphia.

On top of that, the FoxSheets have a five-star trend that’s working against the Mets:

Play Against - Road teams (N.Y. METS) – below-average NL hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a team with a very good bullpen (ERA <=3.33), with a starting pitcher whose gives up 1 or more HR's/start. (38-5 over the last 5 seasons, 88.4%, +31.5 units. Rating = 5*).

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:35 AM

NY Mets, Phillies close MLB betting week

Just in case you've been living under a rock and don't know this already, there's an incredible talent gap between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. How much of a gap, you ask?

Consider that New York sent its Opening Day pitcher to the mound in Friday's contest against essentially the sixth arm in the Phillies rotation, and Philadelphia still closed as 140 chalk.

What was possibly the Mets' best chance at a dubya in this 3-game series turned into a Phillies rout. Vance Worley, starting in place of the recently-injured Joe Blanton, tossed six shutout innings and got all the offense he needed from Ryan Howard in Philly's 10-3 cakewalk.

That left New York with the task of trying to even the series Saturday against Roy Halladay, the Phillies 200 favorites in that game that was still pending at press.

The two NL East rivals will close out their second series of the season Sunday night on ESPN (5:00 p.m. PT). Terry Collins will send big righty Chris Young to the Citizens Bank Park mound opposite lefty Cliff Lee, yet another ace up Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel's sleeve.

New York's loss in the first game of the set was its second straight defeat after winning six in a row. Backing the Mets this season left 4.4 units of red ink before Saturday's matchup.

One wager that has been profitable in Mets games this season has been the 'over.' Eighteen of the first 26 New York games have jumped the total, five of six entering play Saturday going that direction. Friday's 'over' left this series 3-0-1 to the high side.

The one 'push' in Philadelphia came in the start Young (2-1, 2.65) made on April 5. A 170 underdog to Cole Hamels and the Phils, Young tossed into the sixth inning allowing Philadelphia's only run in a 7-1 New York victory.

Young spent a couple of weeks in mid-April on the DL with biceps tendinitis and this will be his second start since returning. He allowed three solo shots in his first start back at Washington and was pulled before he got through the fifth. The Mets pulled out a 6-4 win eventually.

Dating back to his days in San Diego, the 6-foot-10 hurler is 3-1 with a no decision in his last five starts vs. the Phils.

Lee (3-2, 4.18) missed the Mets their first trip to Philadelphia and is coming off a 4-0 loss at Arizona this past Monday. The lanky southpaw only allowed five hits in seven innings while striking out 12 Diamondbacks. Two of the hits were home runs, however, Arizona's Chris Young smacking a 2-run shot in the third for the only runs the D-Backs would need.

Philadelphia will be missing Carlos Ruiz on Sunday, the catcher day-to-day nursing a sore back that will likely keep him out of action until the middle of next week. The Phillies bullpen is also short a couple of key arms with left-hander JC Romero (calf) and veteran right-hander Jose Contreras (elbow) both on the DL.

Jim Wolf is the scheduled plate umpire for the series finale with the veteran field arbiter working his sixth contest of the season. The 'over' has a slight 3-2 lean thus far this season after the 'under' was a strong 22-10 in his 2010 assignments.

All signs point to a pleasant day in the Philly area with mostly clear skies and an afternoon high around 70ºF cooling to the low-to-mid 60s by first pitch. A light breeze from the east is in the forecast (from 1B to 3B).

Both teams will have Monday off before resuming their schedules. The Phillies remain home on this long homestand with a 3-game series against the Nationals beginning Tuesday. The Mets head back to Queens to start a 6-game homestand with the Giants in town for three followed by the Dodgers.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:36 AM

NHL Odds: Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to take a 2-0 series lead this Sunday in their best-of-seven matchup against the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game time from DC's Verizon Center is 4 p.m. (PT) and it will be broadcast nationally on VERSUS.

Tampa Bay drew first blood in the match against its Southeast Division rival with an impressive 4-2 victory as a 156 road underdog in Friday night’s Game 1. The Lightning were coming off a draining seven-game series with Pittsburgh in which they had to win three straight to advance, including a 1-0 squeaker in Game 7 as a 115 road underdog.

Left winger Sean Bergenheim opened the scoring for Tampa Bay in the first period with his fourth goal of the postseason and center Steven Stamkos drilled home the eventual game-winner late in the second period.

Friday’s win came at a price as Simon Gagne left the game after hitting his head on the ice and remains questionable for Sunday. Along with Steve Downie (two goals and seven assists) and Martin St. Louis (four goals and four assists), Gagne has been one of the team’s top scorers in the playoffs.

Defenseman Pavel Kubina is also listed as questionable for the Lightning after taking a hard hit in Game 1.

Dwayne Roloson continues to hang tough in the net for the Lightning. He has played every minute of these playoffs and has a goals-against-average of just 1.8, stopping an outstanding 94.7 percent of shots. Friday he stopped 26 of Washington’s 28 shots.

Tampa Bay was also perfect on the penalty kill in Game 1, stopping the Capitals on all five of their opportunities.

Behind the play of Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin, Washington rolled to a first-round win over New York in five games. This team came into the playoffs with the fourth-best goals-allowed average in the league at 2.33. It held the Rangers to a total of eight goals in that series and just two in the three games at home.

The Capitals earned the Eastern Conference's No.1 seed through a conservative, mistake-free style of play, but none of that was evident in Friday’s loss.

Semin was able to tie the game at one goal apiece late in the first period and right winger Eric Fehr gave Washington the lead early in the second, but things sort of unraveled from that point on. The Capitals outshot Tampa 14-9 in the first period, but could only manage 14 more shots for the rest of the game.

Washington goalie Michal Neuvirth also showed some kinks in the armor after giving up four goals on just 24 shots. He came into this series with a ridiculous save percentage of .946 but was just .870 in Game 1. He now has a GGA of 1.62 through six playoff games.

Tampa Bay is 26-18 as an underdog this season and the total has gone ‘over’ in six of its last 10 games. Washington is 43-28 as a favorite and the total has stayed ‘under’ in four of its last seven games.

Head-to-head, the Capitals won four of six games in the regular season and went 2-1 at home. The total stayed ‘under’ in four of those six games.

This time around stick with Washington as a likely home favorite as it gets back to playing fundamental hockey to tie this series at one game apiece.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:41 AM

Miami Heat, Boston Celtics top NBA betting marquee

News that Shaquille O’Neal had started practicing Friday in hopes of playing in Sunday’s Game 1 had little influence on the price of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Most offshore sports books monitored by Don Best Sports’ Real-Time Odds have installed Miami as a 200 series favorite, with Boston listed at plus 170. Miami opened as a five-point home favorite in Game 1, with the total set at 182 ½ points.

The contest will be played at AmericanAirlines Arena starting at 12:35 p.m. (PT), with ABC providing television coverage.

O’Neal, who has not played since suffering a right calf injury on April 5, would give the Celts a much needed inside presence that would make Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade at least think twice about driving the lane.

“The price for Sunday’s Game 1 wouldn’t change even if O’Neal was in uniform for Sunday’s Game 1,” reported Sports Club oddsmaker Pete Korner. “When O’Neal was in his prime, his absence could affect the line by as much as four points.

“However, with Boston trading center Kendrick Perkins earlier this season, they certainly could use O’Neal’s big body to clog the paint.

“If O’Neal does return at some point in the series and proves effective, that could move the opening line for the next game just a bit,” concluded Korner.

The Don Best Sports injury report lists O’Neal as “doubtful” for Game 1. Miami forward Mike Miller is “questionable” with a thumb injury.

How they got here

Miami dismissed Philadelphia in five games during the Eastern Conference quarterfinal round. But the Heat failed to cover the spread on three occasions, including two of three at home. As a result, Miami is now a less-than-impressive 42-44-1 ATS overall and a dismal 17-27 ATS on its home court.

The ‘under’ cashed in three of the five games against the 76ers, leaving the ‘over/under’ 43-43-1 in Miami’s 87 overall outings this season.

The Heat’s “Big Three” of James, Wade and Chris Bosh had a fine five-game series against the 76ers. James averaged 24.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG and 6.2 APG. Wade averaged 22.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 5.2 APG. Bosh hauled down 9.2 RPG while averaging 19.8 PPG.

Boston registered a four-game sweep against the injury-plagued Knicks in its opening round match. The Celtics failed to cover in their two home games, but covered both road encounters. As a result, Doc Rivers’ troops are 40-44-2 ATS overall and 26-16-1 ATS in enemy territory.

The ‘under’ cashed in three of the four games against the Knicks, leaving the ‘under’ 47-38-1 overall and 26-16-1 in 43 road dates.

The Celtics used a four-pronged attack to dismantle the Knicks. Paul Pierce led the way with an average of 22.3 PPG, while Ray Allen chipped in with a 22.0 PPG average. Rajon Rondo averaged 12 assists in the four games, while Kevin Garnett averaged 15.5 points and a team-high 11.3 rebounds per game.

Regular season series

Boston was 3-1 both SU and ATS versus Miami during the regular season, with the ‘under’ also going 3-1. The Celtics captured the first three meetings before suffering a 100-77 loss as a six-point road underdog on April 10 in the most recent matchup.

That April game was played with postseason intensity. Jermaine O'Neal was given a flagrant foul for a body check while James was driving to the basket in the second quarter. James was hit with a technical foul for throwing the ball at O'Neal. Pierce and Wade were given technical fouls during the incident, while Bosh was later given a technical for arguing with the officials.

Trends

Boston is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 playoff games in the role of an underdog. Miami is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 conference semifinal games. The ‘under’ is 19-6-1 in Boston’s last 26 overall outings and 6-2 in Miami’s last eight contests. Boston is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 series meetings in Miami.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:44 AM

NBA Odds: Grizzlies, Thunder Game 1 Preview

Memphis was 3-1 vs. the Thunder in the regular season, the ’over’ going 4-0.
There is an unlikely matchup in the Western Conference semifinals between eighth-seed Memphis and fourth-seed Oklahoma City. Both teams have roots in the Pacific Northwest, with the Grizzlies relocating from Vancouver in 2001. The Thunder were originally the Seattle SuperSonics before moving in 2008.

Memphis became just the second eighth-seed to upset at top-seed since the NBA expanded the opening-round series to a best-of-seven. Things were so futile for this franchise that the Grizzlies were 0-12 in the postseason before this series.

Oklahoma City is also wading into uncharted postseason territory. This franchise had not won a playoff series since 2005 when it called Seattle home. The Thunder advanced to the postseason last year only to lose in the opening round to the eventual-champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

Don Best's Real-Time Odds opened Oklahoma City as seven-point home ‘chalk’ over Memphis in Sunday’s Game 1, with the total set at 195. ABC Sports will provide coverage of the opener beginning at 10:05 a.m. PT from Oklahoma City Arena.

The Thunder enter this series as a 6/1 selection to win the NBA Finals, while the Grizzlies are a 50/1 long shot.

Memphis dispatched San Antonio by winning Friday’s Game 6 as a 3 ½-point home favorite, 99-91, while the combined 190 points slithered ‘over’ the 189-point closing total. The ‘over’ has now cashed in the Grizzlies’ last three outings, but Friday’s outing only eclipsed the total because the Spurs fouled repeatedly towards the end of the game to stop the clock.

Memphis controlled the contest by leading San Antonio in rebounding, 43-32, and points in the paint, 62-38, while the Spurs delivered more assists, 15-12. The Grizzlies shot a robust 52 percent (38-of-73) from the field, but a dismal 11 percent (1-of-9) from behind the arc.

Power forward Zach Randolph led all scorers with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting, while also grabbing 11 rebounds. At one point in the fourth quarter, Randolph scored 17 of the teams’ 29 points. Center Marc Gasol stepped up with 12 and 13, while shooting guard Tony Allen added 11 and four steals.

Oklahoma City needed five games to eliminate fifth-seed Denver, closing out the series last Wednesday as seven-point home ‘chalk,’ 100-97. The combined 197 points failed to topple the 204 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve 3-0-1 the previous four outings.

The Thunder entered the fourth quarter trailing by four points before outscoring the Nuggets, 28-21. Both teams distributed 16 assists in the outing, while Oklahoma City dominated the game in rebounding, 51-38.

Forward Kevin Durant controlled the contest with 41 points on 14-of-27 shooting, scoring Oklahoma City’s final nine points. Point guard Russell Westbrook added 14 in the triumph, while center Kendrick Perkins contributed 11 points and nine boards.

Memphis went 3-1 straight up and against the spread against Oklahoma City during the regular season, with the ‘over’ cashing each time. The Grizzlies prevailed Jan. 4 as a one-point home underdog, 110-105, Feb. 8 in overtime as a 7 ½-point road ‘dog, 105-101, and March 7 as a three-point home favorite, 107-101.

The Thunder's only triumph came Jan. 8 as 6 ½-point home ‘chalk,’ 109-100. The lowest total for any of those contest was 198 ½.

Memphis forward Rudy Gay is ‘out’ the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury. Oklahoma City has no significant injuries to report for Game 1.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:45 AM

NBA Betting: Lakers and Mavericks tip series in LA

Dallas begins the series with LA on a 10-0 run against the spread.
This is the city, Los Angeles, California. There are 75,000 rapists, murderers and thieves, some of them also playing professional basketball. I was cruising the beach and catching some rays in El Segundo when the boys in Vegas called and assigned me to the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks Game 1 case.

This is their story. None of the names have been changed to protect any of the innocent or guilty.

Welcome to the Jack Webb Appreciation Society, or as it's also called the preview of Monday's Western Conference semifinal matchup between LA and Dallas. The best-of-7 set tips Monday night at Staples Center; TNT will begin its broadcast at 7:30 p.m. (PT).

The Lakers opened as 6-point Game 1 favorites and the line has been stuck there since. Monday's total started at 189-189½ but has since come down to 188½ at most NBA betting outlets.

As my colleague Adam Markowitz pointed out in his series preview, this would be a very tight series if it was played in a statistical vacuum. Dallas and Los Angeles enter with identical win totals on the season, 61 counting their playoff triumphs, their offensive and defensive numbers are comparable and the rosters are also similar in makeup.

But make no mistake, the stats are where the analogous proceedings begin and end. Setting aside intangibles like franchise histories and the home-court advantage Los Angeles begins the series with, the outcome comes down to a game of inside-outside. Simply put, the Lakers have the big edge inside with their deep front court and the Mavericks will have to shine outside the paint or it's going to be a short series.

Dirk Nowitzki can negate some of LA's inside strength by dragging one of the Lakers' Big 3 – Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom – from under the bucket. But that won't be enough for the Mavs to win the series or even Game 1.

Ironically, Nowitzki's worst statistical effort vs. the Lakers this season (14 points, 8 rebounds) resulted in Dallas' only win in the three regular season meetings. He averaged 26 points and 11.5 boards in the two Mavericks losses.

Tyson Chandler has to stay out of foul trouble in order to remain on the floor at least 75 percent of the time in this series. Jason Kidd is also going to have to make his shots. He won't have to make a lot like he did in scoring 24 and 18 points respectively in Games 1 and 2 vs. the Blazers, but he'll have to find the net with more consistency than he did in the ensuing four games.

After popping 9-of-16 three's to start that series, Kidd cooled and made just 6-of-22 from long range.

Likewise, Los Angeles can't just sit back and wait for the big guys to take over the game. Disrupting Dallas' half-court offense will fall on the shoulders of Ron Artest and Derek Fisher.

Health is always crucial this time of the season, especially in a series that figures to be 6-on-6. News surfaced this week that Dallas could get forward Caron Butler back for the LA series, but that appears to have been nothing more than wishful thinking on Butler's part. The 10-year veteran out of UConn is not expected to suit up for the series according to the Don Best injury report as well as his coach, Rick Carlisle.

Kobe Bryant is reportedly still hobbling on a bum ankle, that injury suffered in Game 5 of the Lakers' series with the Hornets. I'm not buying into that. Bynum is ok to go now, but is one awkward landing on his right knee away from dramatically affecting the matchups in this series.

Dallas has cashed 10 straight spread wagers after sweeping the NBA odds in the Portland series. The Lakers were 3-3 ATS in their 6-game battle with New Orleans after closing the regular season 1-6 ATS.

Los Angeles begins the series as 2/1 favorites to three-peat as NBA champions. The Lakers are 2/3 chalk to win the conference title and nearly 1/4 to win this series. Dallas enters 15/2 to raise its first league banner, 7/2 to tame the wild west and a 3/1 underdog to take four games over the next week or two from LA.

Tuesday's off day is followed by Game 2 of the series on Wednesday. TNT will have that broadcast at 7:30 p.m. (PT). The series will shift to Dallas for Game 3 this Friday and Game 4 on Sunday

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:47 AM

2nd Round Betting Angles

May 1, 2011

With the top seeds having flexed their muscle in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, it’s one to Round Two where a series upset or two is always in the realm of possibility.

Here are four solid moneymaking angles from my powerful database that have withstood the test of time throughout 2nd round playoff action. All results are ATS(against the spread) and since 1991, unless noted otherwise.

Enjoy!

Tripped out favorites

Teams that take it on the chin three times in a row do not fare well when laying points in Round Two.

That’s confirmed by the fact that teams laying points off three consecutive losses that are 3-13 ATS in these games.

Worse, if they dropped their last game straight up as a favorite these teams generally fall off the map and out of the playoffs, going 3-7 SU and 0-10 ATS.

Last year San Antonio and Utah were sent packing in this identical spot.

Thou shall not lay points to a No. 1 seed

One golden rule in this round applies to top seeds, namely: never lay points against No.1 seeds.

That’s because inferior teams are just 16-27-1 ATS when playing points into No. 1 seeds since 1996. Worse, if the No. 1 seed is off a SU and ATS loss, lower seeded favorites are just 3-10 ATS.

And if the lower seeded favorite beat the top seed and covered the spread by nine or more points, they dip to 1-10 ATS.

Role reversals

You may not be comfortable changing roles in a relationship, but NBA teams in this round of the playoffs certainly are.

Round Two dogs (or picks) off a straight-up loss as a favorite are a 58% ATS proposition, going 31-21 ATS.

When changing roles off back-to-back SU and ATS losses, these pick-of-the-litter plays bark to the tune of 12-5 ATS, including 11-1 ATS if they own a win percentage of les than .680 on the season.

Running on empty

Home favorites that scored well below their average (77 or less points) in their previous game tend to fuel up the next game in this round.

That’s evident by a sparkling 18-9-1 ATS mark by Round Two favorites that tallied 77 or fewer points in their last game.

Put these favorites up against .625 or greater opposition and they top off at 14-3 ATS, including 13-1 when laying four or more points.

There you have it. Four reliable betting theories you can hang your hat on throughout the 2nd round of this year’s NBA playoffs.

Use your head and play accordingly.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 11:49 AM

Thunder-Grizzlies Outlook

April 30, 2011

No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies

Series Price: Oklahoma City -350, Memphis +285

Series Format: Oklahoma City, 2-2-1-1-1

Game 1 - Sunday, May 1
Game 2 - Tuesday, May 3
Game 3 - Saturday, May 7
Game 4 - Monday, May 9
Game 5* - Wednesday, May 11
Game 6* - Friday, May 13
Game 7* - Sunday, May 15

HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISONS
TEAM SU ATS HOME AWAY OVER/UNDER PPG DPPG
50-38 57-29-1 33-11 17-27 44-43-1 99.9 97.6
59-27 45-39-2 33-10 26-17 46-39-1 102.1 94.8

2010-11 Head to Head Meetings
Date Results Total
03/07/11 Oklahoma City 101 @ Memphis 107 (-3) OVER 204.5
02/08/11 Memphis 105 (+7.5) @ Oklahoma City 101 OT OVER 205
01/08/11 Memphis 100 @ Oklahoma City 109 (-6.5) OVER 203.5
01/04/11 Oklahoma City 105 @ Memphis 110 (+1) OVER 198.5

Skinny: Many basketball fans thought this was the season that Oklahoma City would make that next step after getting knocked out by the eventual champion Lakers last season. The Thunder cruised past the Nuggets in five games of the first round as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook lifted Oklahoma City to the conference semifinals. However, not many people believed that the Grizzlies would pull the upset of the top-seeded Spurs, but Memphis did so in six games to win their first playoff series in franchise history.

While two big name squads in the Lakers and Mavericks fight it out in the other semifinal series, the Grizzlies and Thunder each will attempt to make the conference finals. Durant led the league in scoring (27.7 ppg) once again in the regular season, while putting up 41 points twice against the Nuggets, including a big fourth quarter in the final game of the series. Westbrook continues to prove himself as an elite point guard in this league, as the former UCLA standout averaged 23.8 ppg in the opening round.

The Grizzlies finished as the eighth seed in the Western Conference after losing their final two regular season games. That didn't faze Memphis much, as the Grizzlies drew a Spurs' squad that Memphis split four games with in the regular season. Lionel Hollins' team knocked out the Spurs in six games, including three victories at FedEx Forum. Zach Randolph compiled three double-doubles in the series, while scoring 31 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in the series-clinching victory. Without swingman Rudy Gay for the last three months, the Grizzlies turned to ex-Pitt star Sam Young, who filled in admirably down the stretch by averaging 11.8 ppg the last 10 games.

Head-to-Head Matchups: Memphis grabbed three of the four regular season meetings, including both at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies knocked off the Thunder in the first matchup in early January as one-point home underdogs, 110-105. Randolph dominated on the inside with 31 points and 16 rebounds, while Gay scored 27 points as the Grizzlies shot 51% from the floor. Durant and Westbrook each contributed their normal output (56 points combined), but there wasn't much help elsewhere for the exception of 17 points off the bench from James Harden.

Four days later, the Thunder picked up revenge with a 109-100 home triumph as 6 ½-point favorites. Durant dropped 40 on the Grizzlies, while OKC knocked down 35 of 42 free throws to clinch the win. Memphis was limited to 43% shooting from the field, including a dreadful 1-for-15 from three-point range. Randolph picked up another double-double (27 points, 16 rebounds), but it wasn't enough as that loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Grizzlies.

Memphis rebounded a month later with a solid road overtime victory at Oklahoma City Arena as the Grizzlies rallied for a 105-101 win. The Grizzlies were two men down as Gay sat out with a toe injury, while O.J. Mayo was in the midst of a league-imposed 10-game suspension. However, Tony Allen stepped up with 27 points as the Memphis starting five combined to score 97 points. The Grizzlies limited the Thunder to 41% shooting, even though Oklahoma City outrebounded Memphis, 58-36.

The Grizzlies finished off the season series victory by holding off the Thunder, 107-101 in early March. Memphis shot 51% from the floor as Allen and Mike Conley each paced the Grizzlies with 20 points apiece. If there's one thing that the Grizzlies excelled at this season, it was beating (and covering) against teams with no rest, as Memphis did so by staving off the unrested Thunder.

Betting Notes: Memphis put together an unbelievable 25-9-1 ATS record as a road 'dog this season, including a 2-0-1 ATS mark at San Antonio in the opening round. Keep an eye on the Grizzlies in Game 2 in the case they lose the series opener as Memphis owned a 16-3 ATS mark as an away underdog off a defeat. The Grizzlies were the best ATS team in the league, while compiling a 28-9 SU and 24-13 ATS at FedEx Forum.

The Thunder failed to cover two of three games as a home favorite against the Nuggets, as their record when laying points at home stands at 20-21-1 ATS. Despite a pair of losses at Memphis, Oklahoma City is 15-9-1 ATS when receiving points on the highway.

Series Outlook: Oklahoma City is in a favorable spot as the Thunder didn't draw the top-seeded Spurs. However, the Grizzlies proved they could beat the Thunder without Gay, doing so twice. The only knock on Memphis now is it doesn't face an aging Spurs' squad that it can run out. Both these teams are similar by throwing out young teams that can run, while each having legit scoring threats. The last time an eighth seed beat a top seed, Golden State knocked out Dallas; the Warriors were eliminated in the semifinals by the Jazz in five games. The same situation is likely to unfold with the Thunder moving to the conference finals in five games.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 12:30 PM

April's MLB Record:

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
04/30/11 15-*13-*0 53.57% +*835 Detail
04/29/11 18-*11-*1 62.07% +*4025 Detail
04/28/11 14-*8-*0 63.64% +*3125 Detail
04/27/11 15-*13-*0 53.57% +*280 Detail
04/26/11 12-*16-*0 42.86% -*3600 Detail
04/25/11 6-*12-*0 33.33% -*3350 Detail
04/24/11 6-*24-*0 20.00% -*10140 Detail
04/23/11 15-*15-*0 50.00% -*720 Detail
04/22/11 12-*11-*1 52.17% +*135 Detail
04/21/11 10-*10-*0 50.00% -*425 Detail
04/20/11 12-*18-*1 40.00% -*3280 Detail
04/19/11 17-*8-*1 68.00% +*5400 Detail
04/18/11 12-*7-*1 63.16% +*2595 Detail
04/17/11 10-*17-*0 37.04% -*4965 Detail
04/16/11 15-*10-*1 60.00% +*1765 Detail
04/15/11 14-*14-*0 50.00% +*190 Detail
04/14/11 10-*11-*0 47.62% -*1010 Detail
04/13/11 6-*11-*1 35.29% -*2945 Detail
04/12/11 11-*12-*1 47.83% -*455 Detail
04/11/11 9-*9-*0 50.00% -*65 Detail
04/10/11 17-*13-*0 56.67% +*1425 Detail
04/09/11 16-*14-*0 53.33% +*740 Detail
04/08/11 16-*9-*1 64.00% +*2845 Detail
04/07/11 8-*12-*0 40.00% -*2535 Detail
04/06/11 11-*14-*0 44.00% -*1330 Detail
04/05/11 15-*11-*1 57.69% +*1535 Detail
04/04/11 6-*6-*0 50.00% -*45 Detail
04/03/11 11-*15-*0 42.31% -*2105 Detail
04/02/11 14-*13-*1 51.85% +*565 Detail
04/01/11 10-*10-*1 50.00% -*35 Detail
Totals 363-*367-*12 49.73% -*11545

Sunday, May 1

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Toronto - 1:05 PM ET Toronto +129 500
NY Yankees - Over 10 500

Detroit - 1:05 PM ET Cleveland -136 500
Cleveland - Over 9 500

Seattle - 1:35 PM ET Seattle -115 500
Boston - Under 8 500

St. Louis - 1:35 PM ET Atlanta -109 500
Atlanta - Under 7.5 500

San Francisco - 1:35 PM ET San Francisco -126 500
Washington - Under 7.5 500

LA Angels - 1:40 PM ET Tampa Bay +123 500
Tampa Bay - Over 7.5 500

Milwaukee - 2:05 PM ET Milwaukee -118 500
Houston - Under 8.5 500

Baltimore - 2:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox -117 500
Chi. White Sox - Under 8.5 500

Minnesota - 2:10 PM ET Minnesota +102 500
Kansas City - Under 8.5 500

Pittsburgh - 3:10 PM ET Pittsburgh +179 500
Colorado - Under 8 500

Texas - 4:05 PM ET Texas +110 500
Oakland - Over 7 500

Florida - 4:10 PM ET Florida +103 500
Cincinnati - Over 8.5 500

Chi. Cubs - 4:10 PM ET Chi. Cubs +154 500
Arizona - Over 9.5 500

San Diego - 4:10 PM ET LA Dodgers -130 500
LA Dodgers - Under 7.5 500

NY Mets - 8:00 PM ET NY Mets +159 500
Philadelphia - Over 7 500

----------------------------------------------------------

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

04/30/11 4-*0-*0 100.00% +*2545 Detail
04/29/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% +*215 Detail
04/28/11 0-*2-*0 0.00% -*1050 Detail
04/27/11 3-*1-*0 75.00% +*1025 Detail
04/26/11 1-*5-*0 16.67% -*2145 Detail
04/25/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
04/24/11 3-*3-*0 50.00% -*150 Detail
04/23/11 2-*6-*0 25.00% -*2485 Detail
04/22/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*180 Detail
04/21/11 1-*5-*0 16.67% -*1790 Detail
04/20/11 4-*5-*1 44.44% -*725 Detail
04/19/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*150 Detail
04/18/11 4-*3-*1 57.14% +*345 Detail
04/17/11 3-*1-*2 75.00% +*1035 Detail
04/16/11 4-*4-*0 50.00% -*170 Detail
04/15/11 7-*1-*0 87.50% +*3085 Detail
04/14/11 5-*0-*1 100.00% +*3035 Detail
04/13/11 5-*4-*1 55.56% +*325 Detail

Totals 54-*48-*6 52.94% +2715

**StarDust Bum** · 05-01-2011, 01:08 PM

Sunday, May 1

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Detroit - 3:00 PM ET San Jose -124 500
San Jose - Over 5.5 500

Tampa Bay - 7:00 PM ET Washington -182 500
Washington - Over 5.5 500

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