NBA Playoffs
May 8, 2009
In an improbable last-minute turn of events, the Bulls’ loss coupled with the Sixers impressive win over the Cavs (albeit the Lebron-less Cavs) put the Chicago Bulls in the seventh seed and pit them against the Celtics in Round 1. For as up-tempo and disciplined as the Bulls have been playing lately, I think this was the worst possible match up for them. Yes, they beat the Celtics once this season, but that was without KG in the lineup.
The Celtics and Bulls both have depth, but the Celtics’ championship experience, bonafide star power and seasoned court leaders, the Bulls don’t have a chance in this one. I’d expect the Celtics to sweep, and Boston will carry a double-digit line at home, and six or seven points on the road for Game 3. I don’t see the line changing even if they’re up 3-0 by the time Game 4 rolls around. In a surprise prediction, I think the Celtics will have a better chance of covering on the road than they will at home. The Bulls aren’t a bad team by any stretch, they deserve to be in the playoffs, so they can definitely keep things close.
My other favorite nba betting first-round match up is out in the Western Conference where the Nuggets face the Hornets. Talk about up-tempo basketball, this one could see an over of 220 points every game. In a head-to-head “on paper” comparison, the Nuggets hold about every statistical advantage outside of free throw percentage – but the differential isn’t that great. These teams also split 2-2 during the regular season.
Remember back in 1994 when the Nuggets stunned the Sonics in Round 1, becoming the first eight-seeded team to upset a No. 1? Yeah, that was the last time the team actually won a playoff round. Will that change this year? Honestly, I don’t think it will. I like the Hornets’ chances and am calling a major upset in the first round, 4-2 Hornets. At home, the Hornets will be 3 or 4-point favorites, on the road they’ll be 6 or 7-point underdogs. I wouldn’t bet the farm on this one, but I think the Hornets have more reliable scorers and team players, and in the playoffs that’ll make a bigger difference than it did spread over 82 games of the regular season.
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