The Bum's NBA Regular and Playoff Season's Best Bets !!

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Miami at Chicago
The Heat look to follow up their 115-78 win in Game 2 and take advantage of a Chicago team that is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game. Miami is the pick (-7) according to Dunkel, which has the Heat favored by 9. Dunkel Pick: Miami (-7). Here are all of today's picks.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

Game 717-718: Miami at Chicago (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 124.707; Chicago 115.485
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 9; 191
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 7; 187
Dunkel Pick: Miami (-7); Over

Game 719-720: San Antonio at Golden State (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 122.329; Golden State 128.928
Dunkel Line & Total: Golden State by 6 1/2; 199
Vegas Line & Total: Golden State by 2; 203
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (-2); Under




NBA
Long Sheet

Friday, May 10

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MIAMI (71 - 17) at CHICAGO (50 - 41) - 5/10/2013, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) on Friday nights this season.
MIAMI is 50-38 ATS (+8.2 Units) in all games this season.
MIAMI is 88-73 ATS (+7.7 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 26-17 ATS (+7.3 Units) in road games this season.
MIAMI is 26-17 ATS (+7.3 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
CHICAGO is 40-50 ATS (-15.0 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 14-30 ATS (-19.0 Units) in home games this season.
CHICAGO is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in a home game where where the total is between 185 and 189.5 points this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 9-8 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 9-9 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
10 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (63 - 25) at GOLDEN STATE (52 - 38) - 5/10/2013, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 12-23 ATS (-13.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 50-39 ATS (+7.1 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in all playoff games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 93-70 ATS (+16.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 22-8 ATS (+13.2 Units) in road games against Pacific division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) revenging a home loss vs opponent over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 7-6 against the spread versus GOLDEN STATE over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 10-3 straight up against GOLDEN STATE over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Short Sheet

Friday, May 10

Conference Semifinals, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
Miami at Chicago, 8:05 ET ESPN
Miami: 20-8 ATS after playing BB games as a home favorite
Chicago: 14-30 ATS in home games

Conference Semifinals, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
San Antonio at Golden State, 10:35 ET ESPN
San Antonio: 19-9 Over as an underdog
Golden State: 8-0 ATS in playoff games




NBA

Friday, May 10

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
MIAMI vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Miami's last 14 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

10:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. GOLDEN STATE
The total has gone OVER in 15 of San Antonio's last 21 games when playing on the road against Golden State
San Antonio is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Golden State is 7-12-2 ATS in its last 21 games when playing San Antonio
Golden State is 3-18 SU in its last 21 games when playing San Antonio

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Friday, May 10

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Heat at Bulls: What bettors need to know
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Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls (7, 187.5)

Best-of-seven series tied 1-1.

Chicago opened the series with a stunning upset and Miami evened it up with a savage beating. Pivotal Game 3 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series takes place Friday on the Bulls’ home floor two nights after the Heat inflicted a 115-78 beating on Chicago. Miami was crisp throughout the contest after being visibly rusty in the opening loss. The Bulls will again be without starters Luol Deng (illness) and Kirk Hinrich (calf).

Miami’s last visit to Chicago resulted in a 101-97 loss that snapped its 27-game winning streak. Friday’s contest figures to again be testy after the Game 2 outing that featured nine technical fouls (six on the Bulls) and a flagrant 1 foul on Heat forward Chris Andersen. Miami forward LeBron James says there is no carryover from the convincing win. “It’s just one game,” James said. “You don’t get two wins if you win by over 30 or over 40. You only get one game. They’re back in their home building, where they’re very good and we have to be ready for it.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT THE HEAT: Backup guards Ray Allen (21 points) and Norris Cole (18) were a combined 12-of-16 shooting in Game 2 as Chicago’s defensive intensity dropped significantly. Cole hit all four of his 3-point attempts and Miami was 9-of-18 from 3-point range while shooting 60 percent overall. The Heat also blistered Chicago in the interior with a 56-18 scoring edge in the paint and forced the Bulls into 19 turnovers. Guard Dwyane Wade is playing with a bruised right knee and the Game 2 blowout allowed him to get additional rest after playing 28 minutes. James is averaging 21.5 points through the first two games.

ABOUT THE BULLS: Deng met with Chicago-area reporters on Thursday’s off-day to detail his scary health ordeal. The All-Star forward said he came down with the flu and got severely ill after undergoing a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. He said that walking was a program and that he experienced piercing headaches and lost 15 pounds due to the illness that forced him to be hospitalized. “I couldn’t control my body really, and because of that I lost a lot of weight,” Deng said. At this point, there is no firm word on whether Deng will regain his strength soon enough to play in the series. Hinrich underwent another MRI exam and it also isn’t clear when he can return.

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-1 in Bulls’ last six home games.
* Bulls are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games.
* Heat are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 road games.
* Under is 4-1-1 in Heat’s last six road games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Game 2 marked the 41st time in NBA playoff history that a game was decided by 35 or more points.

2. Heat C Chris Bosh averaged just 11 points over the first two games.

3. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said PG Derrick Rose (knee) won’t play in Game 3 despite another round of speculation that Rose intended to return.


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NBA

Friday, May 10

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NBA series prices: Spurs-Warrors odds level out after split
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Bettors get a quick break from NBA playoff action Thursday and oddsmakers have had a chance to adjust their series prices since the start of the second round.

Each of the four series have been split 1-1 after the opening two games, stripping home advantage from the higher-seeded teams. Here’s a look at where each series opened and the adjustments made two games later:

Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls

Opening series prices: Miami -3000, Chicago +1500

Now: Miami (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) -1800, Chicago (5-4 SU, 4-5 ATS) +1,000

The heavily-favored Heat got caught with their pants down in the series opener, but responded with a 115-78 rout of the Bulls in Game 2.

New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers

Opening series prices: New York -185, Indiana +165

Now: New York (5-3 SU, 4-4 ATS) -110, Indiana (5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS) -110

Oddsmakers had trouble setting odds prior to this series and the outcomes of the first two games have resulted in an adjustment to even odds.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Opening series prices: Memphis -115, OKC -105

Now: Memphis (5-3 SU, 7-1 ATS) -190, OKC (5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS) +165

One has to wonder what these odds would have looked like if Russell Westbrook didn’t sustain a major injury in the opening round.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors

Opening series prices: San Antonio -900, Golden State +650

Now: San Antonio (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) -145, Golden State (5-3 SU, 8-0 ATS) +125

The Spurs were in cruise control before falling by nine to the Warriors in Game 2 at home. But if you still believe in San Antonio, now might be the time to jump in while the juice is low.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, May 10

Chicago-Miami split six games this season; Heat shot 50.7/51.4/60.0% in three games they won, 46.2/48.1/39.7% in three losses. Miami won 13 of its last 14 games overall; they're 5-1 in playoffs, with no wins by less than 11 points. Team that led at halftime won all five series games so far this season (one game was tied). Under is 4-1-1 in Heat's last six away games. Chicago has been mentally tough in playoffs, but reality is their 3rd string PG starts now. Hard to beat Miami that way.

Steph Curry played 101:00 of a possible 106:00 in first two games of a series where Spurs have led for only 11:00; not sure why teams that had to play Wednesday are playing here too, while Tuesday's teams are off until Saturday- TV's call? Warriors are now 11-0 vs spread in last eleven games overall; over is 4-4 in their playoff games. Spurs are now 5-1 in playoffs, with four wins by double digits; home side is 5-1 in series tilts this year, with Spurs losing by 6ot/10 in their two visits here. Golden State was 11-23 from arc last game; Thompson was amazing 8-9.
Reply With Quote

[StarDust Bum]

Heat-Bulls, Game 3

May 9, 2013


Golden State vs. San Antonio

The heat is on inside the second round series between Miami and Chicago after a pair of high-intensity contests. Miami rebounded from a sluggish effort in the series opener to blow away Chicago in Wednesday’s Game 2, as the defending champions try to keep their composure with things shifting to the Windy City for each of the next two contests.

The fireworks began on Chicago's opening possession with a hard foul by Udonis Haslem on Nate Robinson. The Bulls responded with Marco Belinelli roughing up Dwyane Wade on a fast break to even up the score, but Chicago was the team that became unraveled. The two teams combined for nine technicals, one flagrant foul, and two ejections, as Miami used a 72-30 run to rout Chicago, 115-78, to easily cash as 13-point favorites.

Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson were each ejected in the second half, as the Bulls' offense never got going by shooting just 35% from the floor. Carlos Boozer struggled for the second straight game, scoring eight points on 3-of-9 shooting, while putting up just 14 points in the series. Robinson couldn't come up with the big shots on Wednesday, as the diminutive guard tallied 11 points after several key baskets in Game 1.

After scoring just 86 points in the opener, the Heat offense picked things up with a 55-point first half, while putting up 60 points in the final 24 minutes. LeBron James scored 19 points, but 12 of those points came in the first quarter. Norris Cole helped key a late second quarter run by drilling a pair of three-pointers, while Wade shot an economical 7-of-11 from the field.

The Heat and Bulls split a pair of meetings at the United Center, but the contest that stuck out to most came in late March. Chicago snapped Miami's 27-game winning streak with a 101-97 victory as 6 ½-point underdogs, as Luol Deng paced the Bulls with 28 points. Deng missed the first two games of this series with complications following a spinal tap last week, as he is expected to miss Game 3.

Tom Thibodeau's club started the postseason with a 2-1 mark to the 'under,' but the Bulls have now cashed the 'over' in five of the last six contests. The Chicago offense has eclipsed the 100-point mark in only one of nine postseason games, coming in the 142-point output in the Game 4 triple-overtime victory over Brooklyn in the first round. The Bulls own an 11-4 ATS record the last 15 games as an underdog off a loss.

Miami has won 42 of its previous 45 trips to the court, while compiling a 15-5 ATS ledger the last 20 games. On the highway, the Heat owns an amazing 8-1 ATS record the past nine highway contests, as the only setback came at Chicago to end the long hot streak. The Heat has shaded to the 'under' away from the American Airlines Arena recently, hitting in nine of the last 15 road games.

Handicapper Joe Nelson points out the value in Chicago on Friday, "On the year Miami is just 7-10 ATS on the road against winning teams and while Chicago has a very poor ATS record at home they have rarely played at home in this type of an underdog role." The Bulls barely profited as a home 'dog this season, putting together a 5-4 ATS record, while beating the Knicks twice, Heat, and Lakers.

The Heat are listed as seven-point favorites, while the total is set at 187 ½. The game tips off at 8:05 PM EST and can be seen nationally on TNT.

[StarDust Bum]

Spurs at Warriors, Game 3

May 10, 2013

Chicago vs. Miami

On Wednesday, the Warriors evened up their second-round series with San Antonio with a 100-91 triumph in Game 2 as eight-point underdogs. The win snapped a 30-game road losing skid to the Spurs, and certainly boosted the confidence of this young energetic team.

Point guard Stephen Curry garners the majority of attention in Golden State but it was his backcourt teammate Klay Thompson who stole the show. The former Washington State standout scored 29 points in the first half as he connected on 8-of-9 from 3-point land.

Golden State led 28-23 after the first quarter and 62-43 at the break. Similar to Game 1, the Warriors had another second-half drought and San Antonio cut the lead to 11 points heading into the final quarter. The game slowed down in the last 12 minutes and the Warriors held on for the road win and cover.

Thompson led all players with career-high 34 points and he pulled down 14 rebounds as well. Curry posted 22 points, which was a big drop from his 44-point effort in Game 1.

When you look at the numbers, San Antonio is fortunate to have this series tied after two games. The Spurs were outrebounded in the first two installments and they only shot 43 and 39 percent from the field.

In Game 2 San Antonio was just 5-of-21 (24%) from 3-point land, which was far below their season average of 37.6 percent. Make a note that Golden State has left a lot of points off the board in this series, going 30-of-48 (63%) from the free throw line. Center Andrew Bogut (40%) has been the biggest culprit for the Warriors inability to cash from the stripe so far.

After two games, a lot of pundits are asking themselves are the Warriors for real or is San Antonio just not playing well? According to the oddsmakers, they’re buying into Golden State and so is the betting public.

CRIS, a major offshore outfit, opened San Antonio as a one-point road favorite for Game 3 but the money quickly came in on Golden State, who is now a 2 ½-point favorite.

The Warriors have covered all eight games in the playoffs and they’re currently on an 11-0 run against the spread when you include the final week of the regular season.

During this run, Golden State has gone 4-0 both SU and ATS at Oracle Arena, which includes a 116-106 regular season win on Apr. 15 against San Antonio, who rested its starters for this affair. Against Denver in the first round, the Warriors scored 110, 115 and 92 points and two of their wins came by four points or less.

San Antonio cruised past the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round and Greg Popovich’s team looked much better on the road. The Spurs walloped the short-handed Lakers by a combined 51 points (120-89, 103-82) in the two victories.

VegasInsider.com handicapper Brian Edwards believes that Game 3 could come down to role players. He explained, “Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are expending a lot of energy defending Curry and Thompson, so San Antonio needs somebody to step up offensively. Danny Green was that guy in Game 1, scoring 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. However, he was only 4-of-12 from the field in Game 2. The Spurs will need Green to hit 3's at Oracle Arena.”

The Spurs hit 13 bombs from downtown in Game 1 and just five 3-pointers in Wednesday’s loss. The drop off from downtown could be attributed to the play in the paint, in particular Bogut’s size against Duncan. Golden State doesn’t need to double-team the All-Star, which leaves the Spurs sharpshooters guarded on the perimeter. If Bogut does get into foul trouble, San Antonio’s outside game will have plenty of opportunities.

Prior to Game 1, the Warriors were listed as high as 5/1 underdogs on the series price to beat San Antonio in the best-of-seven battle. Now that the series is tied, Sportsbook.ag has San Antonio listed as a 5/8 favorite (Bet $160 to win $100) over Golden State (+140) despite losing home-court advantage.

Sportsbook.ag has also updated their Exact Game Props on this series.

5 Games Spurs Win (5/2)
5 Games Warriors Win (10/1)
6 Games Spurs Win (3/1)
6 Games Warriors Win (4/1)
7 Games Spurs Win (2/1)
7 Games Warriors Win (6/1)

The total in Game 2 closed at 205 and if wasn’t for a 36-point fourth quarter between the pair, we probably would’ve saw the ‘over’ improve to 2-0 in this series.

For Game 3, the total is hovering around 203 points and the ‘over’ could be a good lean when you look ahead to Game 4, which takes place on Sunday. The fourth installment is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, which will be a 12:30 p.m. PT start in the Bay Area. We mention that because the Warriors haven’t played a game this early all season at home.

When you consider that Wednesday’s game was on pace to go ‘over’ the number prior to the drought in the fourth quarter, total players could get a shootout on Friday with the late start.

ESPN will provide national coverage at 10:35 p.m. ET.

[StarDust Bum]

Bulls, Heat prepare for Friday's Game 3

May 9, 2013



DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) - It started with the flu, and turned into a hospital stay. There were terrible headaches and weakness. Just walking was a chore.

All at the worst time for Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls.

The All-Star forward made an appearance at Chicago's practice facility on Thursday, but it was clear from his drawn appearance and measured tone that he might not be able to make it back in time to play in the Bulls' rugged postseason series against the Miami Heat.

Looking for reinforcements for its depleted roster, Chicago is going to have to wait a while for Deng.

``I don't know. I want to play, but I don't know what I can do,'' he said. ``I just, I haven't done anything.''

Deng joined his teammates for the film session covering Wednesday night's 115-78 drubbing by the Heat that evened the series heading into Game 3 in Chicago on Friday night. He also got on the court and took a few jumpers, but that was all he could handle.

``Still day to day. He's feeling a little bit better,'' coach Tom Thibodeau said. ``We'll see tomorrow.''

While Chicago was taking stock of its injuries - Kirk Hinrich had a second MRI on his injured left calf, and Derrick Rose was the ``same,'' according to Thibodeau - Miami was bracing for the first game of the series at the United Center. It's the Heat's first trip to Chicago since a 101-97 loss on March 27 snapped their 27-game winning streak.

``We know that they call it the `Madhouse on Madison' for a reason,'' said Miami guard Dwyane Wade, a Chicago-area native. ``The fans are very loud. At the end of the day, once that settles down, it's the game of basketball and you have to execute your game plan. It's going to be the little things that wins games for your team.''

The Heat did everything right in Game 2, running away from the Bulls after a surprising 93-86 loss in the series opener on Monday night. A 62-20 run was more than enough to wipe away the residue from Miami's first playoff loss, and MVP LeBron James had only three points in the tidal wave - a scary statistic for Chicago, and there's more.

The Game 2 blowout was the 41st time that an NBA team won a playoff game by 35 or more points. In the previous 40 occasions, the team on top of the blowout went on to win the series 36 times.

It's a good omen for Miami, but James knows firsthand how it can turn around in a hurry. He was playing for Cleveland when the Cavaliers lost 108-72 to Washington in a 2008 playoff game and went on to win the series.

``It's just one game,'' he said. ``Even though you got dominated the game before and you didn't do things right, it's still one game. You don't get two wins if you win by over 30 or over 40. You only get one game. They're back in their home building, where they're very good and we have to be ready for it.''

It looks as if the Bulls will be without Deng, Hinrich and Rose once again. Thibodeau said the team was awaiting the results of the latest MRI for Hinrich, who hasn't played since Game 4 of Chicago's first-round playoff series against Brooklyn on April 27. Rose hasn't played all year, but no one has ruled out what would be an emotional return for the 2011 NBA MVP.

Even with the depleted roster, the Bulls managed to win Game 7 on the road against the Nets and then steal home-court advantage against Miami. Bouncing back against the Heat could be a matter of just keeping their cool after they were whistled for six of the nine technical fouls during the emotional Game 2, leading to ejections for Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson.

``We got to do better. We got to do a much better job of that,'' Thibodeau said. ``Can't get sidetracked. We know how it will be called. We're not going to get calls. We just got to be tough, mentally, physically, emotionally. We got to be a lot stronger.''

Asked what he meant about not getting the calls, Thibodeau responded: ``It's just the way it is, you know. We didn't allow that to impact us in Game 1 and I thought we allowed it to impact us in Game 2.''

Deng watched Game 2 on TV, and said he thought the Bulls let it get away from them. He said the trip to the practice facility was his first time out of the house since a ``scary'' couple of days.

Deng became sick during the Brooklyn series, missing practice on May 1 and Game 6 the next day. He felt so bad that he went to the hospital, where he had a spinal tap to rule out meningitis.

``After that, I just didn't respond well,'' he said. ``Started having severe headaches. Was struggling to walk. Started feeling really weak. Started throwing up ... I couldn't control my body really, and because of that I lost a lot of weight.''

Doctors recommended a blood patch to help heal the damage from the spinal tap, and Deng had to stay in the hospital for more than a day until his white blood cell count came down enough to allow him to have the second procedure. He dropped about 15 pounds, but is feeling a little better now and said he's proud of how the team has played without him.

``Guys are going out there and just playing together,'' he said. ``Just seeing them do it together is really the main thing. ... Watching it obviously is a lot harder when you're not out there, but just seeing your teammates play that hard and fighting together.''

[StarDust Bum]

Warriors, Spurs flip-flop roles in series

May 9, 2013


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The confident aura emanating from the Golden State Warriors right now might be the only thing brighter than those yellow shirts every home fan is expected to be wearing again for Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night at ear-piercing Oracle Arena.

The Warriors have outshot, outrebounded and outhustled the Spurs through the first two games of their Western Conference semifinal. And if not for an unprecedented collapse in Game 1, Golden State would be returning to the Bay Area with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series instead of being tied.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the hot-shooting Warriors have left the second-seeded Spurs searching for answers. And while there's still a long way to go, sixth-seeded Golden State is no long acting like an underdog.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Spurs (58-24) at Warriors (47-35)

Date: May 10, 2013 10:30 PM EDT


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The confident aura the Golden State Warriors are giving off right now might be the only thing brighter than those yellow shirts every home fan is expected to be wearing again for Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night at ear-piercing Oracle Arena.

Maybe for good reason, too.

The Warriors have outshot, outrebounded and outhustled the Spurs through the first two games of their Western Conference semifinal. And if not for an unprecedented collapse in Game 1, Golden State would be returning to the Bay Area with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series instead of being tied.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the hot-shooting Warriors have shown no signs of slowing down in the playoffs. The dynamic backcourt duo has left the second-seeded Spurs searching for answers. And while there's still a long way to go in the series, sixth-seeded Golden State is no long acting like an underdog.

``We're in the driver's seat right now. We control our own destiny. I feel like this is our time,' Thompson said during a light shootaround at the team's downtown Oakland headquarters Thursday. ``We put in so much work and it's paying off. And it's just beginning. We've got to stay humble.'

At the moment, they've sure humbled San Antonio.

The Warriors have held the lead for 95 of 106 minutes, with most of the Spurs' slim advantages coming in the two overtimes in Game 1, when San Antonio rallied from 16 points down in the final four minutes of regulation to a stunning victory. Golden State has outrebounded the Spurs 105 to 93, outshot them 48.3 percent to 41.7 percent and outworked - and perhaps outcoached - San Antonio in almost every way imaginable.

``We can't blame it on just luck,' Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. ``They did a great job, and we did a really poor job. We've got to give them credit. They played much better than us, and miracles don't happen that often. We didn't deserve Game 1, either. We've got to do better over there, because playing like this, we don't have a chance.'

San Antonio's championship pedigree is about to really be tested.

As good as Golden State looked in San Antonio, it has been far better at home all season, especially in the playoffs. The Warriors went 3-0 at home in the first round against Denver, with Curry seemingly controlling the standing-room only crowds on his fingertips - and feeding off fans as well.

The Spurs were 0-2 at Golden State this season, though San Antonio rested most of its starters in one of them.

The next game at Oracle Arena - a raucous venue even when the Warriors were terrible - might be the franchise's biggest game in Oakland since 1991, when Golden State returned home with its second-round series against the Lakers tied at a game apiece - only to lose three straight and be eliminated in Game 5 in Los Angeles.

In the playoffs for only the second time in 19 years, excitement in the basketball-starved Bay Area is at a fever pitch. The Warriors can unite fans with conflicting allegiances in a way almost no other team can in the sports saturated market.

Buses in San Francisco and Oakland have electronic banners that read: ``Go Warriors.' San Francisco's iconic Coit Tower has been lit with blue-and-gold lights, and fans on both sides of the bay can be seen wearing those yellow ``We Are Warriors' shirts given out at home playoff games.

With a sea of support behind them, all the Warriors need to do is win their home games to advance to the conference finals for the first time since the 1975-76 season.

``The sky's the limit for us right now,' said Thompson, who had a career-high 34 points and 14 rebounds in Golden State's 100-91 win Wednesday night, even joking at practice that he ``felt like Steph Curry out there' shooting 8 of 9 from 3-point range.

``Our confidence is at an all-time high,' Thompson added. ``We've shown we can beat this team, and we just have to stay humble about it and keep working hard because it's a long series.'

Golden State already has overcome two major hurdles.

The Warriors rebounded from what could have been a devastating Game 1 collapse. And they ``exercised the demons,' as Curry put it, by winning in San Antonio for the first time since Feb. 14, 1997 - four months before the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest and began a run that includes four NBA titles.

Even Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, has marveled at what his veteran-laden team is up against. During one television timeout captured on the TNT broadcast in Game 2, he told his team in the huddle: ``They got skill. They got talent. We've got to be on them.'

``They shot the heck out of it,' Popovich said at the airport before his Spurs boarded a flight to the Bay Area on Thursday. ``That's the difference.'

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

05/08/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
05/07/13 1-*3-*0 25.00% -*1150 Detail
05/06/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
05/05/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
05/04/13 0-*2-*0 0.00% -*1100 Detail
05/03/13 5-*3-*0 62.50% +*850 Detail
05/02/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
05/01/13 4-*2-*0 66.67% +*900 Detail

Totals 18-*18-*0 50.00% -*900


Friday, May 10

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Miami - 8:00 PM ET Chicago +8 500 POD # 2

Chicago - Under 186 500 POD # 3


San Antonio - 10:30 PM ET Golden State -2 500 POD # 1

Golden State - Over 202 500 POD # 4

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Tips

May 10, 2013


Gamblers have a doubleheader of NBA Playoff games to wager on Saturday. Let’s take an in-depth look at both matchups.

**Thunder at Grizzlies**

--As of late Friday afternoon, most books had Memphis (61-29 straight up, 53-35-2 against the spread) listed as a five-point home favorite with a total of 186.5. Bettors can back the Thunder to win outright for a +175 return (risk $100 to win $175). The Grizzlies are favored by 2.5 with a total of 94 for first-half wagers.

--Oklahoma City (65-25 SU, 52-36-2 ATS) won Game 1 in come-from-behind fashion by a 93-91 count as a 3.5-point home favorite, rallying to outscore the Grizzlies 29-18 in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant had a monster performance with 35 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Durant buried the go-ahead bucket with 11.1 seconds remaining. Kevin Martin added 25 points for the winners. The Grizzlies did take the cash, however, and the 184 combined points dipped ‘under’ the 186.5 points.

--In the Game 1 setback, Marc Gasol led Memphis with 20 points, 10 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Zach Randolph also had a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards.

--Lionel Hollins’s team bounced back in Game 2 to even the series by virtue of a 99-93 victory as a 2.5-point road underdog. Memphis hooked up money-line backers with a +125 payout. Mike Conley Jr. was the catalyst with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists compared to only two turnovers. Gasol added 24 points, five boards and five assists.

--Durant scored 36 points in the Game 2 defeat and nearly finished with a triple-double. Durant pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out nine assists. However, unlike in Game 1, Durant got no help from Martin, who scored only six points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. Veteran guard Derek Fisher buried 4-of-5 from behind the line en route to a 19-point effort.

--OKC owns a 5-2 spread record in its seven games as an underdog this season. This is the richest ‘dog situation the Thunder has seen this year.

--Memphis has covered the number in seven consecutive games and is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games.

--The ‘over’ is on a 6-2 run in the Grizzlies’ last eight games. However, they have watched the ‘under’ go 52-37-1 overall, 28-16 in their home games.

--The ‘under’ is 49-39-2 overall for the Thunder, 26-17-1 in its road assignments.

--The ‘over’ is 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings between these Western Conference rivals.

--Tip-off is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Knicks at Pacers**

--As of late Friday afternoon, most spots had Indiana (54-35 SU, 47-42 ATS) listed as a four-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 183.5. The Knicks are +150 on the money line (risk $100 to win $150). The Pacers are favored by 2.5 with a total of 92.5 for first-half plays.

--Indiana drew first blood in the opener of this best-of-seven series, beating the Knicks 102-95 as a five-point road underdog in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. The 197 combined points sailed ‘over’ the 181.5-point total. David West led six double-figure scorers with 20 points, while George Hill finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Paul George produced 19 points, five boards and four dimes.

--Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 27 points in the Game 1 loss, but he made just 10-of-28 shots from the field. Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith added 18 and 17 points, respectively.

--New York (59-31 SU, 50-38-2 ATS) responded in Game 2 by breaking open a close game late in the third quarter with a 36-4 run that resulted in a 105-79 victory as a 5.5-point home favorite. The 184 combined points hit right on the 184-point tally for a push on bets on the total.

--Anthony paced the Knicks in Game 2 with a game-high 32 points and nine rebounds. The Syracuse product made 13-of-26 attempts from the field. Iman Shumpert added 15 points and six boards, including an incredible putback dunk that brought the MSG crowd to its feet early in the first quarter.

--In the Game 2 defeat, George scored a team-high 20 points for the Pacers. Hill had 12 points and seven assists, while West finished with 13 points and six boards.

--After missing several months with a knee injury, Amare Stoudemire is expected to play in Game 3. The veteran power forward is scheduled to play 10-15 minutes. Stoudemire averaged 14.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 29 regular-season games.

--The ‘under’ is 46-41-3 overall for the Knicks, 21-21-2 in their road assignments.

--The ‘under’ is 44-43-2 overall for the Pacers, but the ‘over’ is 23-20-1 in their home games.

--The ‘under’ is 3-2-1 in the six head-to-head meetings between these clubs this season. Indiana won both home games against the Knicks this year by scores of 81-76 and 125-91.

--ABC will have the telecast at 8:05 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Sportsbook.ag has a slew of proposition bets for every playoff game. For instance, there are odds for whom will score the first points of the game. Anthony is the +275 ‘chalk’ (risk $100 to win $275). The next-shortest odds belong to George (+550), West (+600), Felton (+700), Hill (+750) and Hibbert (+800).

--Sportsbook.ag has updated series prices and has the Knicks and Pacers as a pick ‘em (-110 either way).

--Sportsbook.ag has the following prices for the other matchups: Heat -2000, Bulls +1200; Spurs -140, Warriors +120; Grizzlies -200, Thunder +170.

--Sportsbook.ag has these updated futures for whom wins the NBA title:
Heat -250
Grizzlies +800
Spurs 10/1
Knicks 15/1
Pacers 20/1
Warriors 20/1
Bulls 70/1

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Thunder (60-22) at Grizzlies (56-26)

Date: May 11, 2013 5:00 PM EDT


MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Grizzlies have had three days off in their series with Oklahoma City for their longest break since the All-Star weekend, more than enough time to become a popular pick to win Western Conference this postseason.

Giddy fans are tweeting about possible matchups with others wondering where a parade could be held. When the Grizzlies are out in the city, they hear from supporters with their tickets ready.

``You hear it, but we doing a good job focusing,' Memphis forward Zach Randolph said Friday of all the excitement. ``We don't let that get to us. We don't worry about what people say. We focus and take each game one game at a time and focus on the game.'

That means Game 3 on Saturday with this best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal tied at 1-1, though the Grizzlies have the next two at home along and three of the final five if needed.

The Grizzlies have won three straight on their home court in the postseason and are 17-1 going back to Feb. 8. Another sold-out crowd awaits at the FedExForum with the Grizzlies past their disappointment at missing the chance to return home with a 2-0 lead in this series.

``We've still got to do our part here at home,' Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said. ``We got to do our part and try to win both games at home in order for that road win to mean something.'

The Thunder lost their last visit to Memphis when Grizzlies center Marc Gasol tipped in a bucket for a 90-89 win in overtime on March 20. Kevin Durant said they remain confident in what they know will be a tough series.

``I don't think we've fallen off track,' Durant said. ``We dug ourselves a hole. We've just got to go in there and worry about the next game and take it a possession at a time.'

The Grizzlies left Oklahoma City with the split after beating the Thunder 99-93 on Tuesday night. They want to better defend both Durant, leading all scorers this postseason with 37.3 points a game, and his teammates from the 3-point line. Kevin Martin hit three 3s in Game 1, while Derek Fisher scored 19 points in Game 2 after hitting four of five beyond the arc.

Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter said they know they must better defend the perimeter with someone different stepping up every game this series for Oklahoma City.

``They have some weapons, and we know that,' Pondexter said. ``And that's why they're such a dangerous.'

The Grizzlies' challenge is figuring out when to guard the shooter out beyond the arc at the risk of leaving Durant too much room to operate. The Grizzlies' game plan is to try to take one or two players away, but Memphis guard Mike Conley said they still have to contest Durant as best they can.

``When he's a playmaker, we got to do a better job helping and getting out to their shooters like Derek and then Jackson and Martin, all those guys who've been hitting 3s against us. So we got to do a lot better job at that,' Conley said. ``And if we can do that, we have a great chance to win.'

Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks has his own issues.

The Grizzlies may rank eighth this postseason scoring 98.9 points a game, but they are averaging 105.3 points at home. Conley, Randolph and center Marc Gasol give Memphis the only team with three players ranked in the top 20 in scoring in these playoffs. Brooks said Memphis' scoring at home is definitely a concern.

``They have a very good team that has an inside-outside attack,' Brooks said. ``We have to make sure that we control Conley much better than we did in the second game. Our bigs, our smalls, our wings, everybody's going to have to do a great job defensively to stop them from getting on a run.'

Memphis may have been the NBA's best in the regular season allowing only 89.3 points a game, but the Thunder ranked second holding opponents to 42.5 percent shooting. That was just ahead of Memphis, the team with the defensive player of the year in Gasol, guard Tony Allen who finished fifth in that voting, and Conley - the NBA's steals leader this season.

So Brooks wants his Thunder to focus on preventing the Grizzlies from getting offensive rebounds and limiting their own turnovers. Memphis got 23 second-chance points and 29 off Oklahoma City's 21 turnovers in Game 2. Fisher agrees, especially on the road.

``You have to be even more careful with the basketball,' Fisher said. ``That's something that in order to impact not just Mike Conley but all of their perimeter players, we have to keep from turning the basketball over and give ourselves a chance to get back and get our defense set.'

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Grizzlies at Thunder
Sun, May 5 Final 91 to 93
Recaps

GAME 2
Grizzlies at Thunder
Tue, May 7 Final 99 to 93
Recaps

GAME 3
Thunder at Grizzlies
Sat, May 11 - 5:00PM EDT

GAME 4
Thunder at Grizzlies
Mon, May 13 - 9:30PM EDT

GAME 5
Grizzlies at Thunder
Wed, May 15 - 9:30PM EDT

GAME 6
Thunder at Grizzlies
Fri, May 17 - 12:00AM EDT

GAME 7
Grizzlies at Thunder
Sun, May 19 - 12:00AM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Knicks (54-28) at Pacers (49-32)

Date: May 11, 2013 8:00 PM EDT


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - New York coach Mike Woodson believes whole-heartedly that Amare Stoudemire can make a difference against the Pacers.

He's big, strong, and, when healthy, a proficient scorer - three ingredients the Knicks can use Saturday night.

The problem is Stoudemire hasn't played in an NBA game in more than two months and will now try to work his way back into game shape during the Eastern Conference semifinals. It's a risky move, one Woodson insists is worth the gamble given the potential payoff of breaking a 1-1 series and reclaiming home-court advantage in Game 3 of this best-of-seven series as it shifts to Indianapolis.

``If I didn't think Amare was important to our team, then I wouldn't even consider that,' the Knicks coach said after Friday's practice. ``But Amare can still play, and I think he proved that in the short time he was back this last time.'

On paper, it looks like a no-brainer.

Stoudemire gives the Knicks more scoring punch against one of the league's stingiest defenses and another big body against a Pacers team that led the NBA in rebounding during the regular season and has been the best in the playoffs, too.

What's the downside?

Without Stoudemire, limited to 29 games this season after surgeries on each knee, New York has still found ways to win. The Knicks clinched the second seed in the East and won their first playoff series in 13 years, including a 26-point win over Indiana in Game 2 to even this series.

And it's still not clear how effective Stoudemire can be. Woodson has already said he will limit his star forward to 10 or 15 minutes Saturday night, just long enough to force the team to change its rotations and potentially upset the chemistry of a group that's played pretty well during Stoudemire's absence.

Conventional wisdom suggests that putting a player like Stoudemire back in the lineup should provide an immediate boost. The Knicks agree.

``He gives us another scorer, gives us another big guy,' Knicks guard Raymond Felton said. ``This is a big team we're playing against, so any time we can get one of our bigs back, especially with him because he's a great scorer, we know it's going to help us.'

But Indiana fans know that's not always the case.

Exhibit A came during the 1996 NBA playoffs. Near the end of the regular season, Reggie Miller fractured his eye socket and missed the first four games of the best-of-five, first-round series against Atlanta. He returned in Game 5, wearing goggles, and scored 29 points. But the Pacers, who had figured out how to win without Miller, got out of sync and wound up losing the decisive game 89-87.

Exhibit B came during the 2007 NFL playoffs. Colts fans figured a rougher than usual season would be resolved when Peyton Manning got sure-handed receiver Marvin Harrison back for an AFC Divisional Round game. Instead, after sitting out three months with an injury, Harrison fumbled the ball the first time he was hit. The defending Super Bowl champs lost 28-24 to a San Diego team that finished the game without its starting quarterback or No. 1 running back.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel nearly faced a similar choice in late March when the Pacers appeared to be struggling and injured swingman Danny Granger was still trying to recover from a left knee injury. He was asked then about letting Granger play his way into shape during the playoffs. Vogel indicated then that it wouldn't be an ideal situation. About a week later, Granger had surgery on his left knee and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Indiana's players understood the reasoning.

``I don't think it's something easy to do,' Pacers point guard George Hill said when asked about dealing with rustiness. ``You have to get back into a rhythm and in shape. It takes you five minutes to get out of shape, but probably a year to get in shape.'

Trying to do that during the pressure-packed playoffs, Hill acknowledged, only makes the process of fitting in that much tougher.

``Definitely so. Your team had a rhythm and things like that and things are flowing,' Hill said.

If Stoudemire does return Saturday night, as expected, he will join a team that is busting with confidence.

The Knicks shot better in Game 2, were more productive inside and went toe-to-toe with the Pacers' big men. Defensively, New York held Indiana scoreless for the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter and seized control with a 30-2 run, winning its most lopsided playoff game since April 24, 1992.

``I'm not going to risk what we've been doing, but I am going to play him, just to see where he is in terms of, I think if he is where he needs to be,' Woodson said of Stoudemire. ``He didn't play big minutes the first go around before he got hurt and his minutes will definitely be limited this go around.'

New York's even bigger star, NBA scoring champ Carmelo Anthony, has promised neither he nor the Knicks will back down from the physical Pacers.

Not now, and certainly not with Stoudemire around to help out.

The Pacers wouldn't expect anything less.

``Our defense is designed to put our guys in position to stay home on shooters,' Vogel said. ``In terms of Amare, if you close your eyes or blink on Amare Stoudemire, he's dunking on you. It's just going to have to heighten our alertness on those guys.'

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pacers at Knicks
Sun, May 5 Final 102 to 95
Recaps

GAME 2
Pacers at Knicks
Tue, May 7 Final 79 to 105
Recaps

GAME 3
Knicks at Pacers
Sat, May 11 - 8:00PM EDT

GAME 4
Knicks at Pacers
Tue, May 14 - 7:00PM EDT

GAME 5
Pacers at Knicks
Thu, May 16 - 8:00PM EDT

GAME 6
Knicks at Pacers
Sat, May 18 - 12:00AM EDT

GAME 7
Pacers at Knicks
Mon, May 20 - 8:00PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Playoff Results - 2nd Round

May 11, 2013


First Round

Overall Game Results:

-- Road teams are 6-4
-- Favorites are 5-5 straight up
-- Underdogs are 7-3 against the spread
-- The Over is 5-4-1

Away Home Score ATS Result Total Result

Sunday May 5, 2013

Memphis Oklahoma City (-3.5) 93-91 Underdog Under (186.5)

Indiana (+5, +200) New York 102-95 Underdog Over (182)


Monday May 6, 2013

Chicago (+13, +900) Miami 93-86 Underdog Under (188)

Golden State San Antonio (-9) 129-127 (2OT) Underdog Over (203)


Tuesday May 7, 2013

Memphis (+3, +125) Oklahoma City 99-93 Underdog Over (189)

Indiana New York (-6) 105-79 Favorite Push (184)


Wednesday May 8, 2013

Chicago Miami (-13) 115-78 Favorite Over (186)

Golden State (+7.5, +270) San Antonio 100-91 Underdog Under (205)


Friday May 10, 2013

Miami (-8.5) Chicago 104-94 Favorite Over (186)

San Antonio (+2.5, +125) Golden State 102-92 Underdog Under (203)

Saturday May 11, 2013
New York Indiana - - -
Oklahoma City Memphis - - -

Sunday May 12, 2013
San Antonio Golden State - - -

Monday May 13, 2013
Miami Chicago - - -
Oklahoma City Memphis - - -

Tuesday May 14, 2013
New York Indiana - - -
* Golden State San Antonio - - -

Wednesday May 15, 2013
Chicago Miami - - -
* Memphis Oklahoma City - - -

Thursday May 16, 2013
* San Antonio Golden State - - -
* Indiana New York - - -

Friday May 17, 2013
Miami Chicago - - -
* Oklahoma City Memphis - - -

Saturday May 18, 2013
* New York Indiana - - -

Sunday May 19, 2013
* Chicago Miami - - -
* Memphis Oklahoma City - - -
* Golden State San Antonio - - -

Monday May 20, 2013
* Indiana New York - - -

*If Neccessary

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Oklahoma City at Memphis
The Grizzlies look to follow up their 99-93 win in Game 2 and build on their 6-0 ATS record in their last 6 games following an ATS victory. Memphis is the pick (-5) according to Dunkel, which has the Grizzlies favored by 7 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-5). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, MAY 11

Game 721-722: Oklahoma City at Memphis (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 123.616; Memphis 131.040
Dunkel Line & Total: Memphis by 7 1/2; 182
Vegas Line & Total: Memphis by 5; 186 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-5); Under

Game 723-724: New York at Indiana (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New York 118.193; Indiana 124.222
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 6; 187
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 4; 183
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (-4); Over




NBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, May 11

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OKLAHOMA CITY (65 - 25) at MEMPHIS (61 - 29) - 5/11/2013, 5:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MEMPHIS is 54-33 ATS (+17.7 Units) in all games this season.
MEMPHIS is 39-24 ATS (+12.6 Units) as a favorite this season.
MEMPHIS is 26-16 ATS (+8.4 Units) in home games this season.
MEMPHIS is 27-10 ATS (+16.0 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 30-16 ATS (+12.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MEMPHIS is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
MEMPHIS is 41-21 ATS (+17.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 51-37 ATS (+10.3 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 124-93 ATS (+21.7 Units) in road games since 1996.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=91 points/game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 12-8 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS is 10-10 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
14 of 20 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW YORK (59 - 31) at INDIANA (54 - 35) - 5/11/2013, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 33-23 ATS (+7.7 Units) as a favorite this season.
NEW YORK is 51-38 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all games this season.
NEW YORK is 59-36 ATS (+19.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
NEW YORK is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) against Central division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
INDIANA is 13-24 ATS (-13.4 Units) against Atlantic division opponents over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 7-6 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 7-6 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Short Sheet

Saturday, May 11

Conference Semifinals, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
Oklahoma City at Memphis, 5:05 ET ESPN
Oklahoma City: 12-4 Under playing with same-season revenge
Memphis: 12-3 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less

Conference Semifinals, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
New York at Indiana, 8:05 ET ABC
New York: 22-11 ATS off a win by 10+ points
Indiana: 4-14 ATS at home revenging a road loss by 10+ points




NBA

Saturday, May 11

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Trend Report
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5:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. MEMPHIS
Oklahoma City is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Memphis
Oklahoma City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Memphis
Memphis is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City
Memphis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

8:00 PM
NEW YORK vs. INDIANA
New York is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games
New York is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against New York
Indiana is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against New York


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NBA

Saturday, May 11

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Saturday's NBA playoff action: What bettors need to know
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New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers (-4, 183.5)

Best-of-seven series tied 1-1.

The Indiana Pacers have had three days to get over the mental hurdle of Game 2’s breakdown. The Pacers will try to avoid another meltdown when they host Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on Saturday. The Knicks bridged the third and fourth quarters with a 30-2 run in Game 2 that buried Indiana and evened the series at a game apiece. Carmelo Anthony was at his best during the decisive spurt.

Anthony might be getting some more help in the form of Amar’e Stoudemire, who has been out since March 7 following knee debridement, is expected to play 10-15 minutes in Game 3. Stoudemire gives the Knicks another big body to bang around with Roy Hibbert and David West on the inside. Those two were a big part of Indiana’s Game 1 victory but could not stop the bleeding when New York started to get going in Game 2. The Pacers dominated the Atlanta Hawks in Indiana during the first round and had no problem bouncing back from some tough losses in that series.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT THE KNICKS: Anthony scored 16 of his 32 points during the decisive run in Game 2 as New York reached 100 points in a postseason game for the first time since 1999 with the 105-79 triumph. Anthony’s shooting was key, but coach Mike Woodson was quick to highlight the defensive effort. “The fourth quarter, we just defensively, we picked up,” he said. “We kept getting stop after stop and then we would rebound the ball and get it up and our offense began to flow like old times. It was kind of nice to see.” The scene was much different from Game 1, when the Knicks were outworked on the inside and outscored 59-38 in the middle two quarters. Stoudemire went through a full-contact four-on-four session on Thursday and will help off the bench.

ABOUT THE PACERS: Indiana lost Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta during the first round by an average of 16 points but had no trouble picking things back up in its own building. The Pacers won their three home games in the first round by 18.3 points and accomplished what they needed by taking a game in Madison Square Garden and grabbing homecourt advantage against the Knicks. Indiana committed 21 turnovers that led to 32 points in Game 2 and was outscored 52-40 in the paint after controlling that area in Game 1. “I like where we are,” Hibbert told reporters. “We were right there most of the game. But we gave them a sliver of hope late in the third, and obviously they’re so explosive. Obviously, a split is great.”

TRENDS:

* Knicks are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following an ATS win.
* Pacers are 0-5 ATS in their last five Saturday games.
* Over is 6-0 in Pacers’ last six home games.
* Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. New York G J.R. Smith is 15-for-57 over the last four games.

2. Pacers F Paul George matched a season high (regular and playoffs) with seven turnovers in Game 2.

3. Anthony struggled to 7-for-21 from the field in his lone regular season appearance at Indiana.



Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies (-5, 186.5)

Best-of-seven series tied 1-1.

The Memphis Grizzlies had to settle for a split in Oklahoma City after letting a Game 1 lead get away and look to go on top in the Western Conference semifinal series when the Thunder visit in Saturday’s Game 3. Memphis rebounded from the devastating fourth-quarter collapse in the opener to notch a 99-93 victory in Game 2. Oklahoma City needs to split the two road games in order to regain the homecourt advantage.

Thunder star Kevin Durant averaged 35.5 points, 13 rebounds and 7.5 assists over the first two games as Oklahoma City continues to adjust to not having standout guard Russell Westbrook (knee). Splitting the contests at home was disappointing to Durant, but he doesn’t see it as an obstacle that can’t be overcome in a seven-game series. “I don’t think we’ve fallen off track,” Durant said. “We dug ourselves a hole. We’ve just got to go in there and worry about the next game and take it a possession at a time.” Memphis went 3-0 at home in the first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers and has won 17 of its last 18 home games.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT THE THUNDER: You would think Durant would be requesting more help from his teammates after his two big games in this series. But the player who has averaged 35.5 points over his last six playoff games is calling on himself to pick up the pace. “I always can do more,” Durant said. “I’ve got to put my teammates in better positions to score. I turned the ball over some where I thought I could have made better passes, shot some shots (where) I should have drove or should have got closer. But I always can be better.” Durant has struggled from 3-point range in the postseason. He is 3-of-11 against the Grizzlies and 28.3 percent in Oklahoma City’s eight playoff games.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Point guard Mike Conley is often the third wheel behind post players Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol but he was the definitive star of Game 2. Conley had 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:58 to play. His emergence as a go-to player looking to take pressure shots picked up after Memphis dealt Rudy Gay to Toronto in late January. Gay’s departure left the Grizzlies shy of players willingly to take the big shots and Conley hasn’t been shy about looking for the hoop in stressful situations. Conley is averaging 20.5 points over the last four games.

TRENDS:

* Thunder are 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games.
* Grizzlies are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.
* Over is 10-2 in Thunder’s last 12 Saturday games.
* Underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Memphis had 13 steals in Game 2, five from defensive standout Tony Allen.

2. Thunder reserve G Derek Fisher is 15-of-23 from 3-point range over his past five playoff games.

3. Gasol is averaging 22 points and shooting 59.3 percent from the field in the series.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, May 11

Carmelo Anthony was 13-26 in Game 2 after shooting 35-95 (36.8%) from floor in his first four games vs Indiana this year; JR Smith is 15-51 in three losses vs Pacers, 15-36 in three New York Ws- he might see his playing time cut here, since he hasn't been productive. Knicks get Amare Stoudemire back here; not sure how he'll affect their chemistry. Indana needs to keep Anthony under 40% from floor to win. Eight of last 12 Knick games stayed under the total; 12 of last 16 Indy games went over. New York lost 81-76/125-91 in its two visits to Conseco this year, with Pacers leading 74-44 at halftime of Knicks' last visit here.

Memphis won five of last six games, losing by hoop in Game 1; Martin reverted to 2-11 from floor in 29 unproductive minutes, failing to give Oklahoma City a scoring threat to compliment Durant. Last four series games were decided by six or less points. Thunder PG Westbrook is out for this series, which puts onus on vet PG Fisher and BC alum Jackson, who has four turnovers in 60 minutes in series. 17 of last 22 Thunder games stayed under the total. Six of last eight Memphis games went over the total. Oklahoma City covered four of last five as an underdog.