Posted on
4/16/2008 12:36:16 PM
NBA Basketball Wagering –Cavs Face Improved Sixers in Playoff Tune-up
By Eric Williams
The Cleveland Cavaliers, (43-36 SU, 36-43 ATS, 37-40-2 O/U) and Philadelphia 76ers, (40-40 SU, 43-34-3 ATS, 38-41-1 O/U) have each earned spots in the postseason this year, but sportsbook betting faithful beware, neither club is playing its best basketball of the season as the playoffs are set to begin this weekend.
The Cavaliers have dropped three of their last five games and six of ten overall but are coming off a 84-76 win over the lowly Miami Heat on Sunday and can clinch home-court advantage in the first round with a win tonight.
The Cavaliers are likely to play the Washington Wizards in the first round and are looking forward to it after Wizards outspoken guard Gilbert Arenas said every team in the conference wants to play Cleveland in the first round.
"That's so fun. I'm excited," forward LeBron James said. "If we had to play somebody, I'm glad it's Washington."
The Sixers are tied with the Toronto Raptors for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, but could move up a spot if they win their last two games and the Raptors drop one. If the Sixers earn the conference’s fifth seed, they will play the Orlando Magic in the first round. If not, they will face No. 2 seed Detroit.
Philadelphia has lost three of four, including a 109-93 at Washington on Saturday.
"We have a lot of young guys, so that could be a problem," said guard Andre Iguodala. "I hope we just go out there and continue to play, just realizing that we don't have nothing to lose anyway."
The Sixers are a respectable 6-4 against the spread in their last ten while the Cavaliers have gone a dismal 2-8 against the spread in their last ten.
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my NBA Betting Picks.
The Cavaliers are 7-3 ATS in their last ten Monday games.
The Cavaliers are 31-14-1 ATS in their last 46 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
The 76ers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight vs. NBA Central.
The 76ers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine Monday games.
The Under is 9-3 in Cavaliers last 12 vs. Eastern Conference.
The Over is 9-1 in 76ers last ten vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
The Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Philadelphia.
The Over is 9-2 in the last eleven meetings.
Analysis: While I am impressed with Philadelphia’s second half surge, I am admittedly perplexed as to why they are nearly five-point favorites in this game despite struggling when they face the Cavaliers and James. Philadelphia has lost four straight to the Cavaliers and tonight Cleveland will make it five in a row.
NBA Free Picks: Cavaliers +5½ Points/Over 186½ Total Points
07:05 PM EST NBA Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers +4½ -110
Philadelphia 76ers -4½ -110
Over 186½ -110
Under 186½ -110
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