Michael Cannon
NBA Playoffs: 17-11-1 (+85 dimes)
Wednesday's Plays...
15 Dime –
CELTICS
Take the Celtics minus the points tonight over the Cavaliers.
The Jekyl and Hyde Celtics return home where they’re unbeaten this playoff season and I expect a carbon copy of Games 1 and 2 tonight.
The Celtics suffocated the Cavaliers offensive attack in the first two games of this series, and despite winning the last two games at home, Cleveland star LeBron James still hasn’t gotten on track offensively.
Boston can lament all they want about how poorly they’ve played on the road, but they can get some momentum back tonight in front of the home crowd. You can bet most every shot that goes up for Cleveland tonight will be contested, and the Celtics are a team that feeds off its defensive effort.
Until LeBron can get untracked, I don’t see this Cavaliers team winning on the road here.
Take the Celtics minus the points as they grab the win and cover.
10 Dime –
RED SOX (With Lester and Cabrera as listed pitchers)
Take the Red Sox for the road win this afternoon over the Orioles.
Jon Lester will start for Boston and he’s 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA on the year. The left-hander has had good success against the Orioles in his career, going 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three games.
The Orioles will start Daniel Cabrera, who is having a solid season so far. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA in eight starts and seems to be pitching with better control than he has in the past.
But Cabrera hasn’t had any success whatsoever against the Red Sox in his career, going 1-9 with a 7.84 ERA in 11 games.
Take the Red Sox as the small road chalk as they grab the win.
5 Dime –
BLUE JAYS (With Halladay as listed pitcher)
Take the Blue Jays for the road win tonight over the Twins.
Toronto has been inconsistent, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to get Roy Halladay at this price with Boof Bonser scheduled to start for the Twins.
Halladay is 6-0 with a 2.66 ERA in eight lifetime games against the Twins. He’s posted a solid 3.29 ERA this season in eight starts, but only has a 3-5 record to show for it due to poor run support.
Toronto should be able to plate some runs tonight, however. Bonser is 2-4 with a 5.09 ERA in eight games this year and 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays.
Take Toronto as they grab the road win.
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