NBA Playoffs Odds: 3 Big Games in NBA Playoffs First Round Tonight
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
by BetUS.com
Three huge games await NBA betting players in the NBA Playoffs’ first round on Tuesday, April 19.
The New York Knicks will try to even the score against the Boston Celtics as a more than 6 point underdog while the Atlanta Hawks battle the Orlando Magic and the Portland Trailblazers try to even their series against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. Check out previews for all three games below and then log onto the BetUS Sportsbook and get down on the NBA Playoffs!
April 19 – NBA Playoff Games
- New York Knicks at Boston Celtics
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
When: 7:00 pm EST
BetUS Sportsbook NBA Playoffs Odds: New York +7
Analysis: New York almost beat Boston at their game, a defensive struggle, in an 85 to 87 loss in Game 1. The Knicks easily covered a 6 point NBA Playoffs Odds spread in that contest with the 2 point loss. Chauncey Billups is doubtful on Tuesday night. Perhaps, that’s why the odds makers have set a line that’s very reminiscent of Game 1’s line. I just don’t feel that Boston is as good this season as they were last season. As this series wears on, I believe that basketball fans are going to start seeing that.
Guard Toney Douglas should be able to slash and move to the basket forcing Rajon Rondo to play defense. Amare Stoudemire can’t be stopped and Carmelo Anthony has finally found his place with this team. The key for the Knicks is to not get caught up in trying to turn the game into a track meet. In the past, they’ve done that after tough defensive battles and it’s been disastrous. NYK has to force Boston to play defense. If they can do that, then New York could actually win this game on Tuesday night.
- Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
When: 7:30 pm EST
BetUS Sportsbook NBA Playoffs Odds: Atlanta +8 ½
Analysis: Wow, that was some performance by the unheralded Hawks in Game 1, wasn’t it? Atlanta, as a big 8 ½ point online sportsbook underdog, took down the Magic 103 to 93. The ATL had great balance with Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson, Kirk Hinrich, Al Horford and Joe Smith all scoring in double-figures. Dwight Howard scored 46 points and grabbed 19 boards in one of the most amazing performances I’ve ever seen, but it was all for naught because the Magic lost the game.
Orlando’s Jameer Nelson put in 27 meaning that Howard and Nelson accounted for 73 of Orlando’s 93 points. Hey, it worked for Lamb and Walker with UConn in the NCAA Tournament, right? Well, this isn’t college. So, unless the Magic figures out a way to get somebody else to double-figures in this game, the Hawks could actually upset Orlando again. Taking the points is an absolute must given how the last game was played.
- Portland Trailblazers at Dallas Mavericks
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
When: 9:30 pm EST
BetUS Sportsbook NBA Playoffs Odds: Portland +3 ½
Analysis: With the 89 to 81 victory over Portland in Game 1 of this first round NBA Playoff series, the Mavericks have now covered the online sports betting spread in 5 straight games. I’m not convinced that Dallas is actually 8 points better than the ‘Blazers, though. Portland shot 46.1% from the field in Game 1 compared to Dallas’s 40.9%. The ‘Blazers grabbed 40 boards to Dallas’s 39. What Portland didn’t do well was defend the 3 point shot. Jason Kidd was 6 out of 10 from behind the arc for the Mavs.
Dallas as a team shot 10 out of 19 from behind the three-point line for a 52.6% hit rate. Portland was 2 out of 16 from behind the arc for a 12.5% hit rate. If the ‘Blazers can defend the three-poit line better and can raise their shooting from behind the arc, then there’s a good chance that they can beat Dallas straight up in Game 2. Hoops handicappers should expect a much, much tougher Portland team showing up in Big D on April 19.
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al horford - amare stoudemire - american airlines center - amway center - atlanta hawks - boston celtics - carmelo anthony - chauncey billups - dallas mavericks - dirk nowitzki
