Posted on
4/18/2008 1:47:08 PM
NBA Basketball Betting - Eastern Conference Playoff Previews 2
By Eric Williams
Either the BetUS.com will have all the Eastern Conference playoff action covered throughout the postseason in the BetUS Locker Room and the BetUS Sportsbook, beginning with these informative series previews.
With tip-offs set to begin in just a day, haste makes waste so let’s get busy.
Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors
Season Records
Magic: 51-30 (1st in Southeast Division)
Raptors: 41-40 (2nd in Atlantic Division)
Season Series
Magic won, 2-1
Nov. 7: Magic 105, at Raptors 96
Feb. 20: at Raptors 127, Magic 110
March 4: at Magic 102, Raptors 87
The Toronto Raptors, (41-41 SU, 39-42-1 ATS, 41-40-1 O/U) have averaged 100.2 points per game on 46.8 percent shooting from the field while allowing 97.3 points per contest on 45.8 percent shooting from the field.
The Orlando Magic, (52-30 SU, 50-29-3 ATS, 36-44-2 O/U) have averaged 104.5 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting from the field while allowing 99.0 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field.
Analysis: This series could turn out to be one of the very best first round series taking place in either conference. Despite the 10-game difference in these teams’ regular season records and the fact that the Orlando Magic won the Southeast Division this season, I genuinely expect the Raptors to give the Magic all they can handle while taking at least two games in this series and scaring the dickens out of the Magic in the process before eventually falling.
NBA Free Pick: Orlando in seven
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards
Season Records
Cavaliers: 45-36 (2nd in Central Division)
Wizards: 43-38 (2nd in Southeast Division)
Season Series
Series tied, 2-2
Dec. 5: at Wizards 105, Cavaliers 86
Jan. 23: at Cavaliers 121, Wizards 85
Feb. 22: at Cavaliers 90, Wizards 89
March 13: at Wizards 101, Cavaliers 99
The Washington Wizards, (43-39 SU, 46-36 ATS, 44-38 O/U) have averaged 98.8 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.6 percent from long distance while allowing 99.2 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.8 percent from three-point distance.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, (45-37 SU, 37-45 ATS, 37-43-2 O/U), have averaged 96.4 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.8 percent from downtown while allowing 96.7 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent from long distance.
Analysis: I know LeBron James is the best player in the entire league not named Kobe Bryant – and that he has single-handedly knocked several teams out of the postseason the last two seasons, including the Wizards and mighty Detroit Pistons with numerous jaw-dropping performances along the way. However, something in the back of my mind tells me that the James and the Cavaliers are going down in this series despite having home-court advantage.
No matter what Charles Barkley says about the Wizards “being the stupidest team ever” for talking smack about wanting the Cavaliers and James after getting knocked out of the playoffs the last two seasons by the Cavaliers, I say the Wizards have been the most resilient team in the entire NBA this season, overcoming several injuries to their best players, including all-stars Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas, just to reach the postseason.
I know they still don’t play much defense, but something seems different about the Wizards this season, like maybe they’ve gone to see the ‘Wizard’ and finally got the ‘heart’ they’ve been lacking in the past. Don’t be surprised to see Washington advance here while covering the spread more often than not.
NBA Free Picks: Wizards in six
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