Are the Trailblazers finally on Playoff-course? Well, I think they are. Portland haven't missed the Playoffs for the last 20 (or maybe even 21) years and they will do everything to keep that streak alive.
After winning three in row (twice against Minnesota and once against Sacramento), the red-hot Portland will visit the Bradley Center. They are currently 10th in the Western conference (33-33), 2 games behind 8th Denver and just 1/2 game behind 9th Utah. If we look at the names of the starting five (Stoudamire, Anderson, Miles, Randolph, Ratliff) and their sixth man Shareef Abdur-Rahim, we should really wonder how they aren't between the top five in the West? Well, as we all know, there has been a lot of roster changes during the season and they played awful on the road (started 0-10, since 12-11). Now, they are ready to make the final push towards the Playoffs.
The Bucks are looking pretty bad at the moment, winning just one of their last six games. In their last game against the Kinicks, they blew a 20+ third quarter lead and lost 100:103. That was their second consecutive home defeat (after losing to Denver). Still, their 24-10 home record looks very nice. They have injured their starting PG T.J. Ford, but I really don't think that his inury affected this team so much, because Damon Jones is deputizing him very well. The reason for this weaker results is simply the lack of real team-quality.
Comparing these two teams, I think that the Blazers are much, much stronger. Milwaukee is very weak in defence, while Portland is excellent in that area. The Buck will definitely lose the battle under the rim, because they don't have a match for Ratliff&Randolph. Milwaukee will also have high motivation for this game: they are currently 5th in Easter Conf. (34-32), 1 game behind the 4th Hornets and they will do everything to have home court advantage for the first round of the 2004 NBA Playoffs. And if they lose this one, that would be their 3rd consecutive home loss!
Because of all these reasons, my stakes are low/medium. But I strongly advice you to make this bet, because you will bet on quality+form. Small value-bet.
After winning three in row (twice against Minnesota and once against Sacramento), the red-hot Portland will visit the Bradley Center. They are currently 10th in the Western conference (33-33), 2 games behind 8th Denver and just 1/2 game behind 9th Utah. If we look at the names of the starting five (Stoudamire, Anderson, Miles, Randolph, Ratliff) and their sixth man Shareef Abdur-Rahim, we should really wonder how they aren't between the top five in the West? Well, as we all know, there has been a lot of roster changes during the season and they played awful on the road (started 0-10, since 12-11). Now, they are ready to make the final push towards the Playoffs.
The Bucks are looking pretty bad at the moment, winning just one of their last six games. In their last game against the Kinicks, they blew a 20+ third quarter lead and lost 100:103. That was their second consecutive home defeat (after losing to Denver). Still, their 24-10 home record looks very nice. They have injured their starting PG T.J. Ford, but I really don't think that his inury affected this team so much, because Damon Jones is deputizing him very well. The reason for this weaker results is simply the lack of real team-quality.
Comparing these two teams, I think that the Blazers are much, much stronger. Milwaukee is very weak in defence, while Portland is excellent in that area. The Buck will definitely lose the battle under the rim, because they don't have a match for Ratliff&Randolph. Milwaukee will also have high motivation for this game: they are currently 5th in Easter Conf. (34-32), 1 game behind the 4th Hornets and they will do everything to have home court advantage for the first round of the 2004 NBA Playoffs. And if they lose this one, that would be their 3rd consecutive home loss!
Because of all these reasons, my stakes are low/medium. But I strongly advice you to make this bet, because you will bet on quality+form. Small value-bet.
