Remember this Dante, when the favorites have been covering, the general public basically has a little extra money to play with thus causing more of a percentage of square money as compared to sharp money than is the norm.
Sharp bettors are like Picassos the way they analyze betting events and line movements, and this is just ONE SMALL example of how they do this......they are arists at their trade.
It will take a sportsbettor many years to develop this artistry, if they EVER do.
ps- Understand, there can be many other things that can be analyzed that could sway a pro to either side on the games you inquired about. I am in no way suggesting which sides are the right side.....but may have an opinion by game time for me personally.
Sharp bettors are like Picassos the way they analyze betting events and line movements, and this is just ONE SMALL example of how they do this......they are arists at their trade.
It will take a sportsbettor many years to develop this artistry, if they EVER do.
ps- Understand, there can be many other things that can be analyzed that could sway a pro to either side on the games you inquired about. I am in no way suggesting which sides are the right side.....but may have an opinion by game time for me personally.
The reason the double digit favorites are covering so much is the #6-#8 seeds in each conference are laughable. Vegas and offshore boooks should have put up some -12 to -15 numbers if they wanted to win. I look for the bottom three seeds to not even put up a fight and lose in either 4 or 5 games.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mango Man:
The reason the double digit favorites are covering so much is the #6-#8 seeds in each conference are laughable. Vegas and offshore boooks should have put up some -12 to -15 numbers if they wanted to win. I look for the bottom three seeds to not even put up a fight and lose in either 4 or 5 games.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
FISH good points But I tend to believe Mangoman here as to why. The Knicks and Celtics, for example are COMPLETELY pathetic so far, and IMO feel they have 0 chance of doing anything with there horrid teams in the playoffs anyway
The reason the double digit favorites are covering so much is the #6-#8 seeds in each conference are laughable. Vegas and offshore boooks should have put up some -12 to -15 numbers if they wanted to win. I look for the bottom three seeds to not even put up a fight and lose in either 4 or 5 games.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
FISH good points But I tend to believe Mangoman here as to why. The Knicks and Celtics, for example are COMPLETELY pathetic so far, and IMO feel they have 0 chance of doing anything with there horrid teams in the playoffs anyway
I think there are numerous reasons, Rockets were 8 point dog game #1, but so far 6,7 and 8 seeds lousy. Why, in the East, 8 teams make it, but only 5 belong, as I think Bucks were not a playoff team since after all-star break. In the West, bottom teams are green teams, and unlike Panthers of NFL, it is a slow ascension to the title game in NBA. Green teams cannot understand next level intensity, and tend to get schooled first time. Next, except for Lakers, top seeds are very good, experienced and the matchups totally favor them. Also, bottom teams, like most years, are not balanced. Many are good offenses, bad defenses. Top teams seem to be defensive studs, and defense, especially opponents FG% is what wins now. I think what troubles me most is the wide difference from last year, where dogs and upsets were frequent in first round. These differences I mentioned are what I beleive has changed. Have to wait for the dogs to eat from my hand, chasing them just wears you out. Best Wishes...OF
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dante:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mango Man:
The reason the double digit favorites are covering so much is the #6-#8 seeds in each conference are laughable. Vegas and offshore boooks should have put up some -12 to -15 numbers if they wanted to win. I look for the bottom three seeds to not even put up a fight and lose in either 4 or 5 games.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
FISH good points But I tend to believe Mangoman here as to why. The Knicks and Celtics, for example are COMPLETELY pathetic so far, and IMO feel they have 0 chance of doing anything with there horrid teams in the playoffs anyway<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Also the 1st round is a best-of 7 so there is not the urgency to win one of the first two. I would like to believe this but these teams either suck (Knicks, Celts), inexperienced (Denver, Memphis) or going against much better defensive teams (Bucks).
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mango Man:
The reason the double digit favorites are covering so much is the #6-#8 seeds in each conference are laughable. Vegas and offshore boooks should have put up some -12 to -15 numbers if they wanted to win. I look for the bottom three seeds to not even put up a fight and lose in either 4 or 5 games.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
FISH good points But I tend to believe Mangoman here as to why. The Knicks and Celtics, for example are COMPLETELY pathetic so far, and IMO feel they have 0 chance of doing anything with there horrid teams in the playoffs anyway<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Also the 1st round is a best-of 7 so there is not the urgency to win one of the first two. I would like to believe this but these teams either suck (Knicks, Celts), inexperienced (Denver, Memphis) or going against much better defensive teams (Bucks).
Timberwolves 95, Nuggets 81
By Dave Campbell, Associated Press, 4/22/2004 00:38
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Latrell Sprewell took care of the shooting, and Kevin Garnett did the dirty work.
Sprewell scored 31 points, Garnett had his third career playoff triple-double and the Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 95-81 Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
The series shifts to Denver for the next two games, with Game 3 set for Saturday night.
Garnett didn't have any great highlights, shooting just 9-for-27. But he finished with 20 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists, and now has 42 rebounds in two games.
Voshon Lenard led the Nuggets with 24 points, but only nine came in the final three quarters. Rookie of the Year runner-up Carmelo Anthony continued his quiet postseason with 15 points, nine rebounds and 5-for-11 shooting.
The Timberwolves are halfway to winning their first playoff series, and Garnett, their perennial All-Star and MVP candidate, hasn't led them in scoring in either game.
He's been valuable, though, providing plenty of support for both of his new teammates in Sam Cassell, who had 40 points in Game 1, and Sprewell, who went 7-for-8 from 3-point range in Wednesday's win.
That's exactly why the Wolves traded for them last summer, and the three haven't disappointed.
Sprewell, held to 11 points in Game 1, had 14 at the end of the first quarter after an impressive 12-minute duel with Lenard. They exchanged some trash talk, played soft defense on each other and led their teams to a 1980s-style score at the end of the quarter 28-27 in favor of the Wolves.
Lenard, wearing a baby blue headband crookedly above his ears, made some incredible outside shots. He was a standout for the University of Minnesota in the early 1990s, and fans have cheered his introduction before the games.
The Nuggets started turning the ball over, though, and scored just nine points in the second. Sprewell hit a long jumper to put the Wolves ahead 46-35 with 1:22 left, and the lead never got below double digits after that.
Sprewell was shooting so well that he shook his head in disbelief when coach Flip Saunders took him out with 1:11 remaining in the first half with just two fouls.
''I'm on fire,'' Sprewell pleaded.
Garnett wasn't happy, either, shouting toward the bench, ''Where's HE going?''
The damage was already done to Denver, however. The Wolves scored four more points before the buzzer to build their biggest lead of the half, 50-36.
The Nuggets, beaten badly on the pick-and-roll in Game 1, tightened up their defense on Cassell and forced him into some ill-advised shots. Denver shored up the middle, too, with Nene and Marcus Camby hounding Garnett all night and evening out the huge rebounding edge that Minnesota owned Sunday.
But Anthony, who averaged 21 points during the regular season, once again failed to make an impact. The 19-year-old is now 11-for-28 from the floor in his first two playoff games.
Point guards Andre Miller and Earl Boykins had 12 points apiece for Denver, which shot 11-for-36 over the second and third quarters. Notes: Cassell finished with 12 points. ... The nine points allowed by Minnesota in the second quarter were both a season low and a franchise playoff low. The previous mark in both categories was 10. ... Lenard was only 3-for-9 from the floor in Game 1. ... The Wolves were 13-2 during the regular season when Sprewell led them in scoring. ... Garnett had two triple-doubles in a 2000 playoff series against Portland.
By Dave Campbell, Associated Press, 4/22/2004 00:38
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Latrell Sprewell took care of the shooting, and Kevin Garnett did the dirty work.
Sprewell scored 31 points, Garnett had his third career playoff triple-double and the Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 95-81 Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
The series shifts to Denver for the next two games, with Game 3 set for Saturday night.
Garnett didn't have any great highlights, shooting just 9-for-27. But he finished with 20 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists, and now has 42 rebounds in two games.
Voshon Lenard led the Nuggets with 24 points, but only nine came in the final three quarters. Rookie of the Year runner-up Carmelo Anthony continued his quiet postseason with 15 points, nine rebounds and 5-for-11 shooting.
The Timberwolves are halfway to winning their first playoff series, and Garnett, their perennial All-Star and MVP candidate, hasn't led them in scoring in either game.
He's been valuable, though, providing plenty of support for both of his new teammates in Sam Cassell, who had 40 points in Game 1, and Sprewell, who went 7-for-8 from 3-point range in Wednesday's win.
That's exactly why the Wolves traded for them last summer, and the three haven't disappointed.
Sprewell, held to 11 points in Game 1, had 14 at the end of the first quarter after an impressive 12-minute duel with Lenard. They exchanged some trash talk, played soft defense on each other and led their teams to a 1980s-style score at the end of the quarter 28-27 in favor of the Wolves.
Lenard, wearing a baby blue headband crookedly above his ears, made some incredible outside shots. He was a standout for the University of Minnesota in the early 1990s, and fans have cheered his introduction before the games.
The Nuggets started turning the ball over, though, and scored just nine points in the second. Sprewell hit a long jumper to put the Wolves ahead 46-35 with 1:22 left, and the lead never got below double digits after that.
Sprewell was shooting so well that he shook his head in disbelief when coach Flip Saunders took him out with 1:11 remaining in the first half with just two fouls.
''I'm on fire,'' Sprewell pleaded.
Garnett wasn't happy, either, shouting toward the bench, ''Where's HE going?''
The damage was already done to Denver, however. The Wolves scored four more points before the buzzer to build their biggest lead of the half, 50-36.
The Nuggets, beaten badly on the pick-and-roll in Game 1, tightened up their defense on Cassell and forced him into some ill-advised shots. Denver shored up the middle, too, with Nene and Marcus Camby hounding Garnett all night and evening out the huge rebounding edge that Minnesota owned Sunday.
But Anthony, who averaged 21 points during the regular season, once again failed to make an impact. The 19-year-old is now 11-for-28 from the floor in his first two playoff games.
Point guards Andre Miller and Earl Boykins had 12 points apiece for Denver, which shot 11-for-36 over the second and third quarters. Notes: Cassell finished with 12 points. ... The nine points allowed by Minnesota in the second quarter were both a season low and a franchise playoff low. The previous mark in both categories was 10. ... Lenard was only 3-for-9 from the floor in Game 1. ... The Wolves were 13-2 during the regular season when Sprewell led them in scoring. ... Garnett had two triple-doubles in a 2000 playoff series against Portland.
