Ive started out 4-0 to begin the playoffs but hit a cold streak going 3-8 in my last 11 but I’m confident to turn it around and earn a big profit for the remaining of the playoffs for those who are tailing. BOL to everyone and the feedback on the write ups are always welcomed:
552 Magic +4.5 over Raptors
This will be the first Magic home playoff game since 2012 and their building will be electric. The Magic stole home court advantage without having a great performance from their best player Nikola Vucevic. Look for Vucevic to be more aggressive and have more of an impact on these next 2 games (2 regular season games at home vs the Raptors 22 PPG 18.5 RPG 6 APG on 62.1% FG). Also look for the Magic to play better defense on Kawhi Leonard. Leonard has played better against the Magic in the first 2 games of the playoffs compared to his output in 4 regular season games but I’m gonna continue to lean on the top 10 rated Magic defense and how they were able to defend him in the regular season (2 regular season games vs Magic in Orlando 19.5 PPG 42.9% FG). Kyle Lowry bounced back with a great performance but I’m not expecting him to repeat that on the road. I’m confident in the +4.5 and I’ll also have a play on the money line.
553 Celtics +3 over Pacers
The Pacers have played as hard as they possibly could and make these games competitive but the bottom line is they just don’t have their best and go to scorer in Victor Oladipo to help deliver wins and put their role players back in comfortable situations. Also Kyrie Irving has elevated his play in the playoffs (28 PPG 5 RPG 7 APG on 48.8% FG 53.3% 3-pt FG) this is an area where not having a healthy Oladipo hurts the Pacers as well because he was their best perimeter defender also. The Pacers will scrap and make it competitive but the Celtics will find a way to gain control and win comfortably led by Kyrie.
556 Thunder -7.5 over Blazers
There’s been a lot of overreaction to the first 2 games in this series. The Thunder have had their worst 2 shooting performances of the year from the 3 point line and if they would’ve shot close to 30%, which is still bad, this series would be tied 1-1. Going back home the Thunder are much better and their role players shoot much better especially against Portland (2 regular season games at home vs Portland 46.6% 3-pt FG). Also expect a huge game from Paul George ( 2 games vs Portland at home 41.5 PPG 10 RPG 7 APG on 53.2% FG and 57.9% 3-pt FG). Westbrook should continue to play a controlled game and keep creating open shots for his teammates they’ll knock them down at a better rate being at home but look for him to be a little more aggressive getting to the free throw line as he only shot 3 free throws in game 2 and in 2 games vs. Portland in the regular season he’s averaging 12.5 free throw attempts. Like the Thunder have had struggles on the road in the playoffs in recent history, the Blazers have been just as bad. Over the last 3 seasons the Blazers are 1-9 on the road in the playoffs losing by an average of 9.7 PPG. Expect for those struggles to continue while the Thunder make some adjustments to contain Lillard and McCollum on the way to a double digit win.