Brooklyn Nets (44-38, 16-25 away) @ Toronto Raptors ML (48-34, 26-15 home)
I recommend a play on the Toronto Raptors on the Moneyline in the NBA playoffs on Saturday. I think they cover the 2-2.5 pt spread but as you know, my style is to risk more on the moneyline to take the small spread out of the equation. I like the young Raptors to play this game with a huge chip on their shoulder. The Raptors are 41-22 SU since they traded Rudy Gay earlier in the year, which is good for the best record in the Eastern Conference during this time period. This team gets absolutely no love from the public, but as those who follow know, the Raptors get alot of love from me. The Nets basically tanked their way out of the 5 seed and into the 6 seed to intentionally play the Raptors instead of the Chicago Bulls. The Nets basically intentionally walked the bases loaded while the Raptors were on deck, showing no respect for them what so ever, basically telling them they rather play them instead of the Bulls. To that I say, be careful what you wish for Brooklyn, because this Raptors team is for real. The Raptors are an impressive 46-34-2 against the spread which is one of the top records ATS this year. Everyone and their mother is on the Nets in this series, but in my opinion the Raptors are the better team and they have proved this throughout the entire season. The Raptors have two up and coming super stars that had an argument to be All Stars this year in Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan. I expect a great home crowd and for the home team to really take it to the visiting Nets in this first game. The Raptors were favored by 7-8 points the last time these two squared off on this floor earlier this year. I know the Nets have been gearing up for these playoffs the entire season so their record and stats can kind of be thrown out the window because all 5 starters rarely played together this year. Taking this into account I still fully expect the younger, more explosive Raptors to take it to the Nets in this series and control game 1 from the tip for a wire to wire victory in front of their raucous home crowd, which is why I am making the Toronto Raptors on the Moneyline one of my NBA Playoffs Plays of the Day.
Raptors 101 Nets 93
Personally I am risking 2.9 units on the ML (-145) to win 2
Atlanta Hawks (38-44, 14-27 away) @ Indiana Pacers -7 (56-26, 35-6 home) O/U 186 pts
I recommend a play on the Under (186 pts) in the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks opening game in the NBA playoffs on Saturday. Pretty simple for me here as I expect this to be a low scoring defensive, grind it out affair. The Pacers struggle at times on the offensive end of the floor and are one of the best if not the best defensive team in the league. The Hawks are a team I despise but they have played well as of late and are coached by Mike Budenholzer who is a Greg Popovich disciple, so you know he will be preaching defense during these playoffs. The Hawks went 7-3 SU down the stretch to make the playoffs and didn't allow a team to reach the 100 point mark during this time. I expect this improved defense to continue in Game 1 of this match up. These teams had a hard time reaching this number during the regular season when they played each other. Now it's the playoffs, where defensive intensity is at the maximum and games are generally played slower and in the half court. Both teams are fully rested so there is no excuse not to give their all on the defensive end. I expect a slow half court type of game with many empty possessions and for this one to stay way under the posted total as I don't see either team reaching 90 points here, which is why I am making the Under (186 pts) in the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks Game 1, one of my NBA Playoffs Plays of the Day.
Pacers 89 Hawks 77
Personally I am risking 1.1 units to win 1
Washington Wizards +5 (44-38, 22-19 away) @ Chicago Bulls (48-34, 27-14 home)
I recommend a play on the Washington Wizards plus the points (+5) in the NBA playoffs on Sunday.
Write up posted later.
Bulls 91 Wizards 90
Personally I am risking 1.1 units to win 1