Posted on
4/18/2008 4:53:12 PM
NBA Playoff Previews – Lakers vs. Nuggets – Hornets vs. Mavericks
By Eric Williams
With the online NBA playoff betting starting in just a day, four of the best teams in the BetUS Sportsbook are featured in two separate first-round Western Conference postseason matchups.
With time ticking and postseason tip-offs about to be tossed up, here we go.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
Season Records
Lakers: 57-25 (1st in Pacific Division)
Nuggets: 49-32 (2nd in Northwest Division)
Season Series
Lakers won, 3-0
Nov. 29: at Lakers 127, Nuggets 99
Dec. 5: Lakers 111, at Nuggets 107
Jan. 21: at Lakers 116, Nuggets 99
The Denver Nuggets, (50-32 SU, 44-38 ATS, 46-36 O/U) have averaged 110.7 points per contest on 47.0 percent shooting from the field and 107.0 percent beyond the arc while allowing 45.7 points per contest.
The L.A. Lakers, (57-25 SU, 47-33-1 ATS, 40-41 O/U) have averaged 108.6 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting from the field and 101.3 percent beyond the arc while allowing 44.5 points per game.
Analysis: Every time I think of the Denver Nuggets, words like, ‘dysfunctional, head-case and inconsistent, quickly come to mind despite Denver’s amazing ability to put the ball in the hole on a regular basis.
While the Nuggets can certainly steal a game in this series, expecting them to win any more than one game may be stretching it a bit. Trust me NBA Betting Community, Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant will not let his team lose this series no matter how many games it goes. I’m thinking the ‘Over’ should look pretty attractive in every game of this series.
NBA Free Picks: Lakers in five
New Orleans Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks
Season Records
Hornets: 56-26 (1st in Southwest Division)
Mavericks: 51-31 (4th in Southwest Division)
Season Series
Series tied 2-2
Dec. 1: at Hornets 112, Mavericks 108 (OT)
Dec. 14: at Mavericks 89, Hornets 80
Feb. 20: at Hornets 104, Mavericks 93
April 16: at Mavericks 111, Hornets 98
The Dallas Mavericks, (51-31 SU, 35-43-4 ATS, 38-42-2 O/U) have averaged 100.2 points per contest on 46.4 percent shooting from the field and 95.7 percent beyond the arc while allowing 44.3 points per contest.
The New Orleans Hornets, (56-26 SU, 50-30-2 ATS, 39-41-2 O/U) have averaged 100.7 points per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 95.4 percent beyond the arc while allowing 46.0 points per game.
Analysis: This series is definitely going to be exciting no matter which team prevails. Despite the season series being tied at two I really don’t think the Mavericks will prevail despite their edge in experience as the Hornets have proven time and time again this season that they are to be taken seriously. While it certainly won’t be a cakewalk, I say take the Hornets to win and advance. I keep telling people that the Mavs will never win an NBA title when their best payer is a seven-foot jump-shooter and the team has no low-post competence whatsoever at either end of the floor.
NBA Free Picks: Hornets in seven
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