Wednesday 4/27/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Champions League TODAY 19:45

Atl Madrid

v

B Munich

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT S		2	11/5	13/8	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ATL MADRID	RECENT FORM
ALAWHWHWAWHW​ Most recent​	Unknown	HWAWADHWHWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Atletico have won 12 of their last 16 Champions League home fixtures

EXPERT VERDICT: Beating Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals was the perfect preparation for Atletico as Bayern play the same possession-based game as Barca but the Munich men have weaknesses in defence. Astute manager Diego Simeone can mastermind another Atleti success.

RECOMMENDATION: Atletico Madrid
1


REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League Th 28Apr 20:05

Villarreal

v

Liverpool

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		8/5	23/10	2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT VILLARREAL	RECENT FORM
HWHWAWALALHD​ Most recent​	Unknown	ADHWHWAWHWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Liverpool have lost one of their last seven away matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Liverpool are unbeaten in 12 Europa League matches this season and they can show their resilience by beating Villarreal at El Madrigal on Thursday. The contest should not hold any fears for Liverpool, who are going from strength to strength under Jurgen Klopp and were the better side in their 1-1 draw away to Borussia Dortmund.

RECOMMENDATION: Liverpool
2


REFEREE: Damir Skomina STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League Th 28Apr 20:05

Shakhtar

v

Seville

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT S		7/4	12/5	7/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SHAKHTAR	RECENT FORM
HWAWADHWHWAD​ Most recent​	2 - 3	AWALHL*HDALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Shakhtar have lost one of their last eight home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Seville have failed to win in 17 away games in La Liga but have fared better on Europa League road trips with one loss in three and they can hold Shakhtar Donetsk to a draw. Shakhtar have eliminated Schalke, Anderlecht and Braga, but face a Seville side bidding for a fifth trophy in 11 years.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
2


REFEREE: Szymon Marciniak STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

German Bundesliga Fr 29Apr 19:30

Augsburg

v

Cologne

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		13/10	23/10	21/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT AUGSBURG	RECENT FORM
ADHLALAWHWAW​ Most recent​	0 - 0 2 - 1 2 - 0	AWHLADHLAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Cologne have lost just one of their last ten away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Three consecutive wins have vaulted Augsburg into a much safer position in the Bundesliga but they look short enough to make it four against Cologne. The Billy Goats have been solid on the road this season and look worth backing to gain at least a point.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

Spanish La Liga Fr 29Apr 19:30

Sp. Gijon

v

Eibar

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS3		1/2	11/4	13/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SP. GIJON	RECENT FORM
HWADHLADHWAL​ Most recent​	3 - 2 2 - 0	ADHLALHWALHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Eibar have scored in five of their last seven matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Sporting Gijon are fighting for their La Liga survival and bookmakers expect them to beat an Eibar team with nothing to play for. However, the Basque minnows still carry a goal threat and they are expected to get on the scoresheet even if Sporting eventually get the job done.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
2

 

[superbeets]

Italian Serie A Sa 30Apr 17:00

Udinese

v

Torino

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT S		19/20	5/2	11/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT UDINESE	RECENT FORM
ADHWALHDHWAL​ Most recent​	3 - 2 0 - 2 1 - 0 2 - 0	HLAWHWAWALHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Udinese have won three of their last five home games

EXPERT VERDICT: A home win would leave Udinese nine points ahead of 18th placed Palermo with three matches left to play and they should all but confirm their survival against Torino. The visitors are destined for a mid-table finish and look likely to offer little resistance.

RECOMMENDATION: Udinese
2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Soccer: CL Best Bets - Semifinals
By Toby Maxtone-Smith

UEFA Champions League Semifinals - First Legs

There is quite a split between the four clubs in this year’s Champions League semifinals. All four are continental powerhouses, but two are old names at Europe’s top table and two are relatively new.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are the biggest clubs in their respective countries. They have won this competition 15 times between them. Manchester City, meanwhile, are in their first ever Champions League semifinal. Atletico Madrid have never won the competition either, but they did come within a minute of it in the 2014 final.

Bayern Munich have a difficult-looking draw with Atletico, but their consistent form over the season sees them go into the last four as 6/4 favourites.

Real Madrid will fancy their chances against Manchester City, but regular failure against the best teams in Europe over the last decade mean they are behind Bayern at 15/8.

Atletico Madrid are an attractive-looking 7/2 - they will fancy their chances against either of the other two semi-finalists.

Manchester City, who surprised a lot of people by defeating PSG in the last round, are outsiders at 15/2.


Tuesday, Apr. 26 (FS1, 2:45 p.m. ET)

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: Real Madrid to win at 29/20 (+145)
Manchester City were heavy outsiders to get past PSG and many people, including me, had written them off. But a 2-2 draw in Paris followed by an uncharacteristically mature 1-0 win at home (in a dreadful game, it must be said) saw them through.

But it is right that they should be outsiders, even at home. They are 2/1 to win this game and the same price to qualify for the final. Real Madrid are 29/20 to win on the night and 4/11 to make it to Milan.

It is necessary, not just to make myself feel better about an incorrect prediction, to put City’s win over PSG into proper context. They were very lucky to escape from the first leg with a 2-2 draw. They should have been at least two goals down before Kevin de Bruyne gave them the lead.

And in the second leg they were up against a PSG side short of Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti - two players who do so much to ensure PSG dominate games in midfield. That, added to some rather brainless tactical decisions from Laurent Blanc, all ensured that City’s opponents were nowhere near their best.

But of course Real Madrid hardly had it easy in the quarterfinals. They lost 2-0 at Wolfsburg before Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 37th Real Madrid hat-trick in the second leg to see Los Blancos through. Since then, however, they have been back on their usual form of sweeping aside Spanish teams with plenty to spare. Their most recent results in the league (all wins) go 3-1, 7-1, 2-1, 4-0, 2-1 (against Barcelona), 4-0, 5-1, 3-0, 3-2. In Cristiano Ronaldo they have a genius hitting form at the right time (playing against a City side without Vincent Kompany).

City’s price seems to have taken their win over PSG into account too much, and 29/20 on Real Madrid is more than fair.

Wednesday, Apr. 27 (FS1, 2:45 p.m. ET)

Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich: Atletico Madrid to win 1-0 at 6/1

This looks like being the most interesting two-legged European tie for years. Pep Guardiola, the great attacking coach of the era, takes on Diego Simeone who, along with Jose Mourinho, stands for the other type of football - all about fight, determination and tactical intelligence. And a lot of good defending.

The prices on this game are rather similar to in the City-Real match, though fewer goals are expected and the draw is a correspondingly shorter price. Atletico are 2/1 to win on the night and 13/8 to qualify. Bayern are 13/8 to win on the night and 4/9 to qualify.

Guardiola has lost his last three Champions League semifinals, and this looks set up very nicely for Atletico at the prices. Atletico knocked out a slightly superior team in Barcelona in the last round - and they did it with relative ease. Had Fernando Torres not been sent off in the first leg, they may well not have lost 2-1. And in any case, they won 2-0 at the fortress of the Vicente Calderon stadium.

At 6/1 odds, a 1-0 outcome seems like a very short price for a correct score, but there are many reasons to be confident in backing this. They have kept seven clean sheets in eight home games in the competition this year. Even more amazingly, they have kept six consecutive clean sheets in knockout games - including against Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Chelsea.

Bayern’s away record in big games this year has been patchy, and Atletico have enough to get a goal or two. 1-0 looks a very tasty bet.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Ducks aim to change their Game 7 history
By The Sports Xchange

The Nashville Predators have never played in a Game 7. Ever. The Anaheim Ducks have not won a Game 7 since 2006.
When the teams meet in the deciding game of their first-round Western Conference playoff series Wednesday night in the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., one club is going to change its recent history.
The Ducks will be trying not to think about last year's playoffs, when they faced a similar scenario. Leading the Chicago Blackhawks three games to two, Anaheim lost Game 6 on the road and came back home to drop Game 7 in the Western Conference finals.
On Monday night, the Ducks went on the road and lost 3-1 to the Predators, evening the series at three wins each. The Ducks now head home again. See the pattern?
"It's a new team, new time," Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Every year is different. Every day is different. We're looking forward to the game."
The Ducks' last Game 7 win came against the Calgary Flames in 2006. They are 1-5 in similar situations. Boudreau has served as their coach for the last three of those and is 1-6 overall in Game 7s including his time with the Washington Capitals.
"It's a different year, it's a different team with different players, new guys who haven't been here for what we've gone through in the past," Ducks forward Corey Perry said. "You've just got to go out and play hockey and not worry about all the other extra (stuff). You've just got to go out and play and keep pushing."
The team that gets off to a good start could have a leg up. The Ducks are 0-4 in Game 7s when they give up the first goal.
"We need to come out and be willing to out-compete them," Anaheim forward Andrew Cogliano said. "Waiting for something to happen, you lose."
Perry has struggled in the series, producing four assists but no goals after scoring a team-best 34 goals during the regular season. He failed to connect on a close-range shot late in the third period Monday night with the score tied.
On the other side, the Predators might not be feeling as much pressure after never having been to this point in a series. However, their coach by no means is a stranger to the situation.
Nashville coach Peter Laviolette can draw upon his 4-1 record in Game 7s at previous stops, including a 3-1 win with the Carolina Hurricanes over the Edmonton Oilers in the decisive game of 2006 Stanley Cup finals.
"I don't think there's anything better in the Stanley Cup (playoffs) than a Game 7 when everything means something," Laviolette said. "It's a big game, our guys will be excited."
The winner will move into the Western Conference semifinals against the San Jose Sharks, who eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in five games.
The Predators haven't advanced past the first round since 2012, but they figure to have gained confidence from Monday night. It was Nashville's first win after going up 2-0 and then losing three straight to the Ducks.
All-Star goaltender Pekka Rinne has played a key role in the series for the Predators. He made 26 saves Monday, including the critical one against Perry with 6:40 remaining.
Six Predators players have played in Game 7s with other teams.
"(The) mindset is a little bit different," Rinne said. "Just facing Game 7, you know what it means and what's at stake."
Ducks goaltender Frederik Anderson has a 1.26 goals-against average in the series but has unpleasant memories from last year's Game 7 against the Blackhawks, when he gave up two first-period goals in a 5-3 loss.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Game 7 - Predators at Ducks

The second Game 7 to take place in the quarterfinal round of the NHL playoffs happens in Anaheim on Wednesday night. The Pacific Division champion Ducks are pushed to the limit against the upstart Predators after Nashville won for the first time at home in this series in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory at Bridgestone Arena.

Anaheim dropped the first two games at home to Nashville by one goal apiece, but the Ducks rebounded by crushing the Predators on the road in Games 3 and 4 by three goals each. The Ducks continued their domination of the Predators in a 5-2 home blowout in Game 5, but Nashville stayed alive with its Game 6 triumph at home.

The Ducks head into Wednesday’s Game 7 at the Honda Center as a -160 home favorite, while the total sits at 5. Three games in this series have been pushes on a 5 total, while only one contest has exceeded the ‘over’ of 5, coming in the Game 5 rout by Anaheim where seven goals were scored. In all six games of this series, the losing squad has scored two goals or fewer.

Anaheim fell short in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals last season to Chicago at home, 5-3 to be eliminated in a Game 7 for the third straight postseason. In the lockout-shortened season of 2013, the Ducks were knocked out by the Red Wings in the conference quarterfinals, followed by getting bounced by the rival Kings in the 2014 conference semifinals in seven games. The last time that Anaheim was victorious in a Game 7 of the playoffs came in the 2006 conference quarterfinals against Calgary.

The Predators are taking the ice in a Game 7 for the first time in franchise history as Nashville last advanced past the opening round in 2012 before bowing out to the Coyotes in the conference semifinals.

There have been 162 Game 7’s in the NHL Playoffs and the home squad owns a 95-67 (58.6%) record. In this season’s playoffs, the home team is 1-0 in Game 7’s, as home squads won three of five times in Game 7 in 2015.

Recent Game 7 History

Anaheim

2015 – Chicago Blackhawks 5 at Anaheim Ducks 3 (Conference Finals)
2014 – Los Angeles Kings 6 at Anaheim Ducks 2 (Conference Semifinals)
2013 – Detroit Red Wings 3 at Anaheim Ducks 2 (Conference Quarterfinals)

Nashville

First Game 7

NHL Game 7 Playoff History (2012-2015)

The winning team in four of five Game 7's in 2015 scored just two goals, as four of those games finished 'under' the total. The road team captured Game 7 victories in each of the conference finals last season (Chicago and Tampa Bay), while the Lightning were the only team to win a pair of Game 7's.

2015
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 at New York Rangers 0
Chicago Blackhawks 5 at Anaheim Ducks 3
New York Rangers 2 at Washington Capitals 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 at Detroit Red Wings 0
Washington Capitals 2 at New York Islanders 1

2014
Los Angeles Kings 5 at Chicago Blackhawks 4 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 6 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Montreal Canadiens 3 at Boston Bruins 1
New York Rangers 2 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Philadelphia Flyers 3 at New York Rangers 4
Minnesota Wild 5 at Colorado Avalanche 4
Los Angeles Kings 5 at San Jose Sharks 1

2013
New York Rangers 5 at Washington Capitals 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Boston Bruins 5 (OT)
Detroit Red Wings 3 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Detroit Red Wings 1 at Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 1 at Los Angeles Kings 2

2012
Ottawa Senators 1 at New York Rangers 2
Washington Capitals 2 at Boston Bruins 1 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 3 at Florida Panthers 2 (2OT)
Washington Capitals 1 at New York Rangers 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Islanders (45-27) at Lightning (46-31)

Date: April 27, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Steven Stamkos is serving as an inspiration for the Tampa Bay Lightning as the defending Eastern Conference champions attempt to make a deep playoff run without him.

The team's captain and leading scorer was back on the ice with teammates Tuesday, participating in shooting and skating drills for the first time since undergoing surgery for a blood clot discovered near his right collarbone this month.

Stamkos and coach Jon Cooper, however, stressed the two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner is not anywhere close to being ready to face the New York Islanders in a second-round series that begins Wednesday night.

'Nothing's changed from the original timeline,' said Stamkos, who wore a red non-contact sweater during an hour-long practice at Amalie Arena.

'Naturally we all want him back, but it's not taking away from the task at hand,' Cooper said. 'We just went through a series without him, and we're fully expecting to go through another series without him.'

When Stamkos underwent surgery April 4 to treat a type of Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, the Lightning said the 26-year-old would be sidelined one to three months.

He's maintained a relatively low profile since being released from the hospital, rehabbing and supporting teammates but careful to not draw attention to himself during Tampa Bay's first-round series win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Islanders advanced in six games against the Florida Panthers.

'It's kind of a fine line. ... You definitely don't want to be a distraction in the playoffs,' Stamkos said in his first public comments since surgery. 'I've tried to be there, obviously, for games and practices and to interact with the guys. That's never going to change.'

Teammates were happy to see him back on the ice, and being out there lifted Stamkos' spirits, too.

'That was fun, but it's really just a waiting game now. Obviously you can't rush back into things of this magnitude. I'd say nothing's changed in that regard,' Stamkos said.

'I feel great. That's kind of the tough part for me. Feeling physically ready to play almost, but obviously with this type of injury and the blood thinners and stuff like that, you have to take your time. ... Any contact, any bruising, anything like that can lead to complications,' he added. 'We have to be careful in that regard, even on the ice in practice.'

Stamkos said when he'll be ready to come off blood thinners is the 'million dollar question.'

For now, the Lightning are excited to have him around as much as possible.

'It makes everybody feel better,' the coach said. 'There's just the uncertainty of when he can come back. But every step he takes to get closer back with our team, for sure it's motivating.'

Things to know about the Islanders and Lightning:

STOP THE PUCK: Goalie play will be one of the keys to the series. The Islanders' Thomas Greiss gave up just 13 goals on 234 shots in the first round for a 1.79 goals-against average and a .944 save-percentage. Bishop faced 160 shots against the Red Wings, allowing eight goals in five games for a 1.61 GAA and .950 save percentage.

SLOWING TAVARES: One of more intriguing matchups in the series figures to feature Islanders star John Tavares and Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman, the first two players selected in the 2009 draft. Tavares had five goals and four assists in the first round. 'He's a world-class player, one of the best players in the league,' Hedman said. Tavares respect's Hedman's game, too. ''He's got such great physical abilities, a high hockey IQ, so every time we've played against him it's a great challenge,' Tavares said. 'He had a great playoff last year, really put that D corps on his shoulder in many ways and was huge for their run last year.'

STEPPING UP: With Stamkos out, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn have stepped up offensively for the Lightning, coming for 10 goals and 10 assists. The rest of the team combined for two goals.

ADVAVTAGE?: While the Lightning had nearly a week's rest after eliminating Detroit, the Islanders have a quick turnaround after advancing with a double overtime victory Sunday night. 'You can look at it both those ways. Their team's had a lot of time to rest, work on some things,' Tavares said. 'And we're obviously coming off an emotional, intense couple of games and want to carry over that intensity. So it can really go either way.'

WE RESPECT `EM: The team met three times during the regular season with the Islanders winning twice. Tampa Bay lost four of five games to Florida, so coach Jon Cooper understandably is impressed with New York's first-round victory. 'We know what to expect,' Cooper said. 'And just the mere fact that they knocked out one heck of a Florida team shows how well they're playing right now.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Predators (41-27) at Ducks (46-25)

Date: April 27, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

What's uncharted territory for the Nashville Predators is a haunting reminder for the Anaheim Ducks.

After forcing the first Game 7 in team history, the Predators attempt to end the Ducks' season in the exact fashion the previous three have concluded Wednesday night.

Monday's 3-1 loss in Nashville can't help but conjure memories of Anaheim's recent playoff failures as it returns home for the finale of this opening-round series. The Ducks also owned a 3-2 series lead over Chicago in last year's Western Conference finals before losing Game 6 on the road and Game 7 at Honda Center.

That same scenario unfolded against Los Angeles in the second round in 2014 and against Detroit in the 2013 quarterfinals.

'It's a new team, new time,' coach Bruce Boudreau said. 'Every year is different. Every day is different. We're looking forward to the game.'

Still, history isn't exactly on the Ducks' side. They've lost four consecutive Game 7s since defeating Calgary in 2006 and Boudreau, behind the bench for the last three such defeats, is 1-5 in winner-take-all games.

"Nothing needs to be said," captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "We've got to go out and do it. There's no big speech or anything when it comes to Game 7. Everyone knows what they're doing, and we've got to go out and execute better than the other group."

Though Nashville has never been in this position, its coach has plenty of experience - and success - in these situations. Peter Laviolette is 4-1 in Game 7s, the most notable a 3-1 win over Edmonton in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final with Carolina.

'I don't think there's anything better in the Stanley Cup (playoffs) than a Game 7 when everything means something,' he said. 'It's a big game, our guys will be excited.'

Nashville still has some work to do to reach its first conference semifinal since 2012. The Predators are 1 for 23 on the power play in the series and have had a tough time against Frederik Andersen in the Anaheim goaltender's four starts.

Andersen temporarily turned the series in the Ducks' favor after replacing John Gibson following a 3-2 home loss in Game 2. He stopped 84 of 87 shots to lead Anaheim to wins in the next three.

Outplayed by Andersen in each, Pekka Rinne was more than up to the challenge Monday. The All-Star made 26 saves, including a point-blank stop of Corey Perry with 6:40 left that protected a 2-1 lead.

Mattias Ekholm and James Neal put Nashville ahead with second-period goals and Shea Weber had an empty-netter in the final seconds that sealed the Predators' first Game 6 win when facing elimination. They had been 0-8.

'They're fighting for their lives, and we knew that we were going to get their best,' said Getzlaf, held off the scoresheet after producing two goals and three assists over the first five games.

Andersen owns a 1.26 goals-against average in the series. However, he struggled against Chicago in Game 7 last year, yielding two first-period goals and stopping just 21 shots in a 5-3 defeat.

San Jose awaits Wednesday's winner after dispatching Los Angeles in five games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Wednesday's games

NY Islanders-Tampa Bay (0-0)
Islanders won four of last five games with Tampa Bay, but lost three of last four visits here, in a series where hisme side won six of last seven games- over is 4-1-1 in last six. Islanders just beat Florida in six tough games; their last three wins were all in OT. NY won four of last five road games overall. Tampa Bay won four of its last five games, allowing eight goals in dispatching Red Wings in five games- they had three extra days to rest here. Lightning won its last four home games, allowing five goals.

Nashville-Anaheim (3-3)
First-ever Game 7 for Predators, who've won only two playoff series in franchise history, last of which was in 2012. Ducks are 2-5 in Game 7's, losing last four. Home side won last two series games, after losing first four; in last 16 series games, over is 10-2-4, 3-0-2 in last five played here. Predators are 2-3 in last five visits here, 2-1 in this series. Under is 5-2-3 in last ten Nashville games overall, 6-2-3 in last eleven Duck games. Anaheim is 3-21 on power play in the series, Nashville 1-23, 0-10 last three games.

Playoffs tally: Home: 23-23, Over: 16-16-14

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Game 7 for Predators, Ducks'

There's one more game left in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Nashville Predators will visit the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night (10 PM EST) for Game 7 of their Western Conference quarterfinal; Nashville extended the series Monday with a 3-1 victory, as Pekka Rinne made 26 of 27 saves for the Preds.

The Ducks (46-25-11) during the regular season were expected to make short work of Nashville (41-27-14) after winning their fourth straight Pacific Division title, all under head coach Bruce Boudreau. Anaheim was available at +800 on the Stanley Cup futures market going into the playoffs, compared to +2500 for the Predators. But Nashville has knotted this series despite getting outscored 17-12.

The Preds might have already eliminated Anaheim had forward Craig Smith (21 goals, 37 points) not gotten injured early in Game 3, after Nashville won the first two games at the Honda Center. Smith returned Monday and played right wing on the second line with Calle Jarnkrok (16 goals, 30 points) on the left and Mike Ribeiro (seven goals, 50 points) in the middle; Smith also took his usual turn on the power play, logging 14:23 of total ice time.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL Hockey Odds and Picks: Scouting the Week Ahead
by Alan Matthews

Somewhat tough to scout the week ahead because the NHL hasn't yet announced the schedule for the conference semifinal round of the playoffs. In the West, Dallas has advanced after taking out Minnesota in six games. That one was an easy call. I didn't expect to see San Jose eliminate the Los Angeles Kings, but the Sharks did so in five games. That had to be sweet redemption for San Jose after blowing a 3-0 series lead against L.A. in 2014.

The Stars are now +260 favorites to win the Western Conference and the Sharks at +300. What we don't know is the opponent for each team. Anaheim was in Nashville on Monday night looking to close that series out in six games. Anaheim would face San Jose if it wins that series. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks and Blues played a Game 7 in St. Louis.

So this story will focus on the Eastern Conference as we know the matchups there, just not when they start, as of this writing. Washington and Pittsburgh square off on one side and that's clearly the marquee matchup of the semifinal round no matter what happens in the West. Both the Capitals and Penguins are +140 to win the East and +350 favorites to win the Stanley Cup. But on the series line, Washington is the -122 favorite as it has the home-ice advantage. Believe it or not, it's only the second time superstars Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have squared off in the postseason.

Pittsburgh certainly was the most impressive team in the first round. I picked the New York Rangers to beat the Penguins because Pittsburgh was so banged up in goal. But they got Matt Murray back for Game 3 of the series and didn't lose again. Murray, 21, spent time in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., with the team's American Hockey League affiliate earlier this season. That's also where current head coach Mike Sullivan spent the first part of the season until he replaced the fired Mike Johnston in December. I presume Murray will get the call in Game 1, which probably will be Thursday. No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is still experiencing concussion symptoms. He did take part in an optional workout on Monday and he is able to face shots from teammates.

Washington took a little longer than expected in ousting No. 8 Philadelphia in six games -- the Capitals managed just two total goals in the final three but took Game 6 1-0 behind Braden Holtby. You aren't beating the high-flying Penguins without scoring at least three goals a game. I say this series likely starts Thursday because it can't on Friday. There's a Justin Bieber concert at Verizon Center that night. Go away Bieber!

Crosby and Ovechkin faced off in the conference semifinals in 2009. They each scored eight goals in that seven-game series, with each having a Game 2 hat trick.. Pittsburgh won in seven. The Penguins won three of five meetings in this regular season with Washington. Ovechkin didn't score a point against the Penguins, while Crosby had a goal and three assists. Fleury started three games and Murray two. Holtby played in five.

On the other side of the bracket is the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders. I thought the Bolts might lose to Detroit in Round 1 without Steven Stamkos but they prevailed in five games, not allowing the Red Wings to score more than two goals in a game. Nikita Kucherov led the Lightning with five goals and eight points. Ben Bishop had a 1.61 goals-against average and .950 save percentage. The Lightning aren't getting Stamkos back for this series. They are hoping to get top defenseman Anton Stralman at some point vs. the Islanders, however. He has missed five weeks with a broken leg. Tampa is +550 to win the East and +1200 for the Stanley Cup. It is -143 on the series line.

The Islanders have advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 23 years, and I did have the Isles beating the Florida Panthers in Round 1. New York finished it off in six games, winning the final two by identical 2-1 overtime scores. Captain John Tavares scored the tying (with 53 seconds left) and double-OT goal in the clincher. Tavares had five goals and four assists overall in the series. I still have questions on Isles goalie Thomas Greiss, but he was great in that series with a 1.79 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. Prior to this postseason, Greiss had played in one NHL playoff game, with the San Jose Sharks in 2010. New York is +850 for the East, +1600 for the Cup and +123 on the series line.

I project a Washington-Tampa Bay Eastern Conference Finals because I favor those two teams in net for their respective series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hornets (48-34) at Heat (48-34)

Date: April 27, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Dwyane Wade was in college the last time the Charlotte Hornets won a road playoff game. Kemba Walker was in grade school.

Home court has played a prominent role in this series between the Hornets and Miami Heat, who look to once again utilize that advantage in Wednesday night's Game 5 and regroup from back-to-back losses to a younger and deeper Charlotte team.

Just as its considerable postseason experience was evident in two double-digit home victories to open this series, Miami has shown its age in the last two matchups. With Wade and fellow 30-somethings Luol Deng and Joe Johnson logging heavy minutes, the Heat weren't able to keep up down the stretch in Saturday's 96-80 loss at Charlotte and Monday's 89-85 defeat in Game 4.

The Hornets' more spry backcourt rotation of Walker, Jeremy Lin and Courtney Lee was the difference Monday, with Walker and Lin combining for 55 points and Lee limiting Wade to 12 on 4-of-11 shooting as the star guard's primary defender.

Walker had 19 of his playoff career-high 34 points in the second half and did all of the scoring an 11-5 run that put Charlotte up 87-80 with 3:10 left.

'He's a handful in the pick-and-rolls and there is only so much you can do with that little guy,' Wade said. 'He's crafty. ... And every time we tried to make a comeback, he hit a big shot.'

Improved interior defense has also allowed Charlotte to even the series. The Heat attacked inside at will in the first two games, shooting a combined 67.1 percent in the paint. They've been held to 41.4 percent while being outscored 96-58 in the lane in the last two.

The Hornets have made Hassan Whiteside, in particular, less of a factor. After the 7-footer went 17 of 19 from the field in totaling 38 points in Miami's two wins, he's scored 21 while getting off only 11 shots in the two losses.

Wade shot a combined 35.5 percent in Games 3 and 4 after amassing 28 points in the Heat's 115-103 win in Game 2.

"We have to find a way to carry this defense on the road," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.

That's been tough for Charlotte to do in Miami, where it's lost 19 of 21, including playoffs. The Heat have shot 54.7 percent from the floor and averaged 112 points in the four meetings at AmericanAirlines Arena this season.

Miami has history working in its favor as well. The Heat are 13-2 in their last 15 postseason home games, with the losses coming to San Antonio in the 2014 Finals. Charlotte has dropped nine straight playoff games on the road since the franchise's first incarnation defeated Orlando in Game 4 of the 2002 opening round.

The Hornets will likely need to shoot better to end that drought. Fourth in the NBA in 3-pointers made during the regular season, Charlotte is 16 of 67 (23.9 percent) from beyond the arc for the series and was 1 of 16 in Game 2.

Charlotte has been able to compensate for those struggles by excelling at the foul line. It's shot 82.8 percent and attempted 122 free throws to Miami's 94.

"We've probably fouled more in these four games than we have in the last four weeks," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But you have to give them credit. They're aggressive."

That ability to draw fouls has also added more pressure to a Miami bench that's mostly been a liability during this series. Even with Nicolas Batum out the last two games with a sprained left ankle, the Hornets' reserves have outscored the Heat's by 15.7 points over the past three.

Batum, who had 24 points in Charlotte's 123-91 loss in Game 1, is expected to be a game-time decision Wednesday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Trail Blazers (44-38) at Clippers (53-29)

Date: April 27, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

(AP) - For the third straight year in the playoffs - all under Doc Rivers - the Los Angeles Clippers have been plagued by bad luck.

Now, they've lost their two All-Stars.

Blake Griffin is out for the rest of the postseason after aggravating his left quadriceps tendon and Chris Paul has undergone right hand surgery, leaving the Clippers without their top two players for the remainder of their first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers.

'It's bum's luck three years in a row,' Rivers said. 'You just got to keep going. You wake up in the morning and you feel like we're going to find a way.'

The franchise that began in Buffalo, moved to San Diego and then Los Angeles has never advanced past the second round, and the stunned Clippers head back home for Wednesday night's game tied 2-all with Portland.

The team said Griffin had an MRI that revealed no further structural damage to the quad that he originally injured Dec. 25. He missed 41 games and an additional four as punishment for punching the team's assistant equipment manager, returning April 3.

'You feel bad for Chris, you feel bad for Blake,' said guard J.J. Redick, who is dealing with his own nagging left heel injury.

Paul had surgery to repair a hand fracture sustained in the third quarter of Monday night's 98-84 loss in Game 4. Griffin averaged 15 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4 assists, while Paul averaged 23.8 points, 7.3 assists and 4 rebounds in the series.

'We still have home court. No one has won a road game yet in this series,' Rivers said. 'Now we have to find a way of winning tomorrow and that's as far as we can think right now. My job with the guys is to make sure that they're ready and focused. It's easy when you have the injuries we have to think all kinds of other stuff.'

Rivers has not yet decided who will start in place of Griffin and Paul.

'We've had 10 different lineups on the board,' he said. 'Most likely it will be a pretty big lineup.'

In 2014, voice recordings of then-owner Donald Sterling surfaced during the playoffs in which he made racist comments. Last year, the Clippers were within a game of reaching the conference finals for the first time, only to blow a 3-1 lead and lose the last three by a combined 46 points to Houston.

'We have a very competitive basketball team and they have proven that all year,' Rivers said. 'We have won games before without key guys and we can win games in the future without key guys.'

Paul controls the Clippers' offense like few others in the NBA. However, they installed a motion offense for when Paul wasn't on the floor this season, freeing up Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers while letting anyone else get the ball moving.

'We were very effective at it,' Doc Rivers said. 'Thank God we did that because now playing without him we'll be in motion for 48 minutes.'

Al-Farouq Aminu scored a career-high 30 points as Portland pulled away after Paul left Monday.

'It changes a lot,' Blazers guard Damian Lillard said. 'Their best player goes down. The guy who makes their offense go. It's unfortunate. You don't wish that on anybody, but they still have a really good team.'

CJ McCollum added 19 points while Mason Plumlee had 14 rebounds and 10 assists for Portland, which is trying to become the first team to overcome a 2-0 deficit since Memphis came back against the Clippers in the first round in 2013.

"I think we came out and it was obvious that we weren't going to go away," Lillard told the Blazers' official website. " ... We came out and did the things that we did last game at an even higher level. Multiple guys stepped up. We had just a great group effort. I think everybody was locked in to what we needed to do as a team and we turned it up tonight from last game."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockets (41-41) at Warriors (73-9)

Date: April 27, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Now that Steve Kerr has been named the NBA's coach of the year, he faces his greatest challenge of his coaching career.

He'll have to guide the Golden State Warriors without Stephen Curry for the time being as they look to close out their first-round series against the Houston Rockets in Game 5 at home Wednesday night.

Kerr earned the honor Tuesday thanks to Golden State's NBA-record 73 wins. It must be bittersweet in the aftermath of the news the day before that Curry is expected to miss at least two weeks with a Grade 1 sprain of the MCL in his right knee.

That means the Warriors will be without the NBA's leading scorer for the duration of this series and potentially a good chunk of the second round should they advance.

'From our perspective, it's relatively good news,' general manager Bob Myers said. 'Clearly we don't want to be here getting MRIs at this point of the season, especially someone of Steph's stature. ... But mechanically the knee is intact, so that's good.'

Myers said the two-week estimate is an educated guess based on how players typically respond to similar injuries, but cautioned the absence could be three weeks or possibly slightly shorter.

Curry returned Sunday after missing Games 2 and 3 with a sprained right ankle before he suffered the knee injury on the final play of the first half of a 121-94 victory. He didn't return after halftime as the Warriors rallied around the loss of their fallen star by outscoring Houston 41-20 in the third quarter to emphatically break a tie.

'When you have a team that is as together as ours is and cares about each other like ours does, you tend to pick up the fight a little bit,' Kerr said. 'Our guys sensed that we needed to come together.'

Shaun Livingston figures to replace Curry in the lineup again after he scored 16 in each of his first two starts in this series.

Klay Thompson scored 23 points and Andre Iguodala added 22 on Sunday for the Warriors, who became the first team to win on the road in this series and can finish it against a Rockets team that has lost five playoff games at Oracle Arena the last two seasons as part of a nine-game skid there.

Houston was left lamenting a missed opportunity to take advantage of Curry's absence and even the series.

'Terrible way, terrible way, terrible way to lose ... just a terrible quarter and that's what gave the game away,' star guard James Harden said.

Harden is averaging 24.5 points on 37.7 percent shooting in the series with 30 assists over the last three games.

Dwight Howard has double-doubles in all four games with averages of 14.5 points and 12.3 boards. He's shooting 65.7 percent and the Rockets have yet to find a way to get him more than 10 shots in this series.

"We just gotta get him the ball," Houston coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "We gotta throw it down there. We feel like we have an advantage in the post."

These teams ranked first and second in the regular season in 3-point attempts, with Golden State averaging 31.6 and Houston 30.9. The Warriors are shooting 39.8 percent on 3s on 113 attempts in this series while the Rockets are connecting at a 29.1 percent clip on 110.

Houston isn't looking to get into another shooting contest as it tries to force a Game 6 at home Friday.

"You see the 3s going, you see the 3s going and then in your mind it's 'Oh we need to get some 3s to stay in the game,' and then the ball doesn't get back to the post where it needs to," Bickerstaff said. "We need to make sure it's more of a focus for us and that we understand that in those moments to settle us down and to make them have to defend we need to get the ball to the guys in the post."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA Odds: Wednesday, April 27 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

I'm not sure I've ever seen a day like Monday in the NBA playoffs where the championship odds shifted around so much. When we learned that Warriors star and lock repeat NBA MVP Steph Curry would miss at least two weeks with a knee sprain, the Warriors were passed at sportsbooks by the San Antonio Spurs as title favorites. But then the Warriors caught a massive break on Monday night: Clippers star Chris Paul broke his hand against Portland and is expected to miss the rest of the playoffs. I would have projected the Warriors to lose to a healthy Clippers squad if Curry were to miss at least the first four games. Now? No chance. In fact, I'm not even sure the Clippers can get by the Blazers now. Golden State is again the title favorite at +135. But San Antonio is just behind at +170.


Game 5: No. 6 Hornets at No. 3 Heat (-6, 193)

I haven't been able to figure out this series at all. I gave Charlotte little chance to get this past five games after losing swingman Nic Batum to a Game 2 injury and being blown off the floor the first two games in Miami. But the Hornets evened the series with two low-scoring home wins. It was 89-85 on Monday as Kemba Walker dominated with a career playoff-high 34 points. He also had 11 of his team's final 13. In one run down the stretch, he was 4-for-4 from the field (one 3-pointer) and 2-for-2 from the line. Jeremy Lin tied a playoff career high with 21 points; he has been the main beneficiary of Batum sitting out. It's not likely that Batum returns from his sprained ankle here but he will travel.

Miami basically kept turning the ball over in the two games in Charlotte and got into foul trouble. Offensively, the Heat averaged 82.5 points and shot only 35.9 percent from the field combined in the two games. Dwyane Wade had just 12 points in Game 4 (but 10 assists and seven rebounds) and Goran Dragic 12 as he dealt with foul issues. The Heat were minus-10 when Dragic was on the court. Hassan Whiteside was a game-time call with a thigh injury but played. He was held to eight points and seven rebounds and also some foul trouble. The Heat have never had a 2-0 lead in the playoffs and lost the series.

Series line: Heat -195, Hornets +170

Key trends: The Hornets are 2-5 against the spread in their past seven road games. They are 3-8 ATS in their past 11 following a win. The Heat are 13-3 ATS in their past 16 at home. The "over/under" is 5-0 in Charlotte's past five on the road.

Early lean: Heat and over.

Game 5: No. 5 Trail Blazers at No. 4 Clippers (-2, 199)

I think you can stick a fork in the Clippers and any championship hopes with a core of Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan now. Time to get rid of one of those guys and recalibrate. Paul has never gotten a team past the conference semifinals and that seems impossible now that he's likely done with that fractured right hand. Just crushing news as Paul had such a great regular season carrying the team in Griffin's injury absence. Yes, the Clippers split two road games without Paul in the playoffs against the Rockets last year when he was sidelined by a hamstring injury. But Griffin also might miss Game 5 as he aggravated a quad injury in Game 4. After the game, Coach Doc Rivers said it's "50-50" whether Griffin will be able to play, and Griffin could barely move so it's not looking good. The Clippers could still beat the Blazers without one of those guys but highly doubtful without both. Also remember that J.J. Redick is laboring through a heel injury.

Portland took Game 4 98-84 despite just 12 points from Damian Lillard. All series, the Clippers have been trapping Lillard and C.J. McCollum and daring Al-Farouq Aminu to hit shots. He finally did in Game 4 with a career-playoff high 30 points, nailing 6-for-10 from long range. Mason Plumlee isn't scoring much but is holding his own otherwise against Jordan as Plumlee had 14 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in Game 4. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good and Portland has some great fortune right now to win Game 5 and close it out at home in Game 6.

Series line: TBA

Key trends: The Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their past six following a loss. The under is 6-0 in Portland's past six. It is 20-6 in L.A.'s past 26 at home.

Early lean: Blazers and under.

Game 5: No. 8 Rockets at No. 1 Warriors (-9.5, 211.5)

Considering how it looked and what could have been, the Warriors were quite fortunate to learn that Curry might only miss two weeks. And now they know the Blazers-Clippers series will go at least six games and not start the conference semifinals until early next week instead of Sunday. The longer Blazers-Clippers goes, the better for Golden State obviously to trim Curry's missed potential games. I saw some early series projections that the Clippers-Warriors matchup might have been a pick'em if not for those L.A. injuries. I don't see Portland beating Golden State in a series even if Curry misses 3-4 games. Shaun Livingston starts with Curry out, but the offense will run mostly through Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Houston simply lacks any heart. The Rockets should have taken Game 4 by the throat after Curry left, but they literally didn't care at all after that happened and were blown out in the third quarter as Golden State took control on the way to a 121-94 win. This presumably will be the final game in a Houston uniform for Dwight Howard. Good riddance, dude. Why anyone would pay $20-plus million a year to that sourpuss is beyond me. Probably also the final game for interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The Rockets aren't sure if point guard Patrick Beverley will play in Game 5 due to a hamstring injury. He was a total non-factor in 16 Game 4 minutes.

Series line: None

Key trends: The Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their past seven after a loss. Golden State is 2-5 ATS in its past seven following a double-digit win. The over is 8-1 in Houston's past nine following a double-digit loss. The over is 5-1 in Golden State's past six at home.

Early lean: Warriors win, but I'll take the points. Maybe James Harden can single-handedly keep this close. Go over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Wednesday's games

Charlotte-Miami (2-2)
Home side won all four series games; Walker/Lin combined for 55 points in Game 4 win- no other Hornet had more than 11. Hornets lost five of last nine games with Miami (over 6-2 in last eight). Hornets lost four of last five visits here; Heat scored 115-123 in Games 1-2 here, then 80-85 in Charlotte. Hornets won five of their last eight games (over 7-2); they lost four of their last six road games. Miami won its last five home tilts, all by 8+ points- their last three home games all went over.

Portland-LA Clippers (2-2)
Clippers are without Paul/Griffin for duration of this series; Portland is 0-4 in last four games played here, with three losses by 15+, but missing Paul is huge for LA- Game 4 was Monday, so Rivers had only had a day to retool offense, with less dynamic PG Prigioni getting more minutes. Home side won all four series games; last five games in series stayed under total. Trailblazers won nine of their last 13 games overall; eight of their last ten games stayed under the total.

Houston-Golden State (G 3-1)
Curry is out for series, but Warriors outscored Houston 41-20 in decisive third quarter Sunday, without Curry. Golden State won 12 of last 14 games (9-5 vs the spread) against Houston, covering three of last four played here (non-cover was by half-point). Last game, Iguodala scored 22 points in 24:00 to pick up slack created by Curry's injury. Not big fan of Houston's chemistry; they went in tank last game, they have interim coach- they're 1-3 vs spread in last four road games. .

Playoff tally: Favorites vs spread: 21-14, Over: 11-24