Basketball Betting Pick: Which Teams Should You Bet On Friday ?
Friday, May 06, 2011
by BetUS.com
After a lonely Thursday night without any NBA playoff hoops, Basketball Betting is back with a pair of two key Game 3’s Friday night.
The big story is whether or not the Los Angeles Lakers save themselves from the brink of elimination? But first, who will have the edge when the Bulls and Hawks get together for a crucial Game 3?
Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3
No. 1 Chicago Bulls at No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
Series Tied 1-1 (Both Teams 1-1 ATS)
Friday, May 6: 7:00 p.m. ESPN
Live from Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA
BetUS Sportsbook Betting Odds:
Chicago: -2 ½
Atlanta: +2 ½
Total: 178
Speaking of the Bulls and Hawks, that’s where our Basketball Betting doubleheader begins, after the two teams split Game’s 1 and 2 in Chicago.
To the Chicago Bulls credit, they bounced back from an abysmal Game 1 performance on Monday, to win Game 2 Wednesday and cover the nine points they were giving at home. And as was the case all regular season, it started on the defensive end. The Bulls held the Hawks to just 73 points in Game 2, on an awful 33.8 percent shooting. Most importantly, the Hawks 3-13 from beyond the 3-point arc was significantly worse than in Game 1, where they made 7 of 13. Included were five from Joe Johnson.
So ultimately what the NBA Basketball Betting on Friday comes down to is this: Back at home, can the Hawks possibly be as bad as they were Wednesday? We don’t buy it, which is why we’ll take them to win here.
The truth is, that for whatever shortcomings Atlanta had towards the end of the regular season (0-5 against the spread in their last regular season games), they have come up big in the playoffs, going 6-2 against the spread so far. And as bad as they were offensively in Game 2, we find it hard to believe that’ll happen again. In these playoffs, Atlanta is shooting an impressive 42 percent from the field, well above the number they put up Wednesday. Also, after scoring 34 points in Game 1, Johnson was terrible in Game 2 with just 16 points. He will be better Friday.
Back at home, we expect the Hawks to take on much more of their Game 1 form than their lousy Game 2 showing. They’re the Basketball Betting pick to make!
BetUS Sportsbook Basketball Betting Pick: Atlanta +2 ½
Western Conference Semifinals Game 3
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers at No. 3 Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Leads Series 2-0 (Dallas 2-0 ATS)
Friday, May 6: 9:30 p.m. ESPN
Live from American Airlines Arena, Dallas, TX
BetUS Sportsbook Betting Odds:
Los Angeles: +2
Dallas: -2
Total: 185 ½
Next let’s head out West, where the most shocking Round 2 results so far have come from the Dallas-Los Angeles series. After making the NBA Finals three straight years, the Lakers are just two games from elimination. Can they hold on for dear life with this series shifting back to Dallas?
Honestly, it’s hard to say, as the Lakers have been nothing short of awful in the first two games of this series. Game 2 on Wednesday was especially embarrassing, as Los Angeles was just about as bad from behind the arc as you can be, going just 2-20, while also hitting just 11 of 20 free throws. Kobe Bryant led the way with 23 points, with no one else scoring more than 18. Also, it’s important to note that Lakers forward Ron Artest will be suspended for Game 3, after getting ejected Wednesday.
Ultimately though, what this Basketball Betting matchup comes down to is one man, and that’s the Mavs Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki is once again proving to be maybe the most underappreciated star in this league, as he’s averaging 26 points and over 10 rebounds a game in this series alone. Meanwhile, surprising supporting players are stepping up, like guard JJ Barea who had 13 points in Game 2, and Shawn Marion who had 14.
The first two games of this series were absolutely, positively no fluke. The Mavericks will prove it by winning Game 3 at home Friday and covering the Basketball Betting odds.
BetUS Sportsbook Basketball Betting Pick: Dallas -2
Related Articles
- NBA Basketball Picks: Bulls, Lakers in Tough Positions for Game 2
- Betting on Basketball: NBA Releases 66-Game 2011-12 Schedule
- NBA Playoff Betting Picks: Dirk Nowitzki vs Kobe Bryant ! FINALLY!
- NBA Playoff Odds: Bulls vs Hawks and Lakers vs Mavericks on May 6
- NBA Odds: Atlanta Battles Chicago and Lakers Take on Dallas
Category
Tags
american airlines arena - atlanta hawks - basketball betting - chicago bulls - dallas mavericks - dirk nowitzki - jj barea - kobe bryant - los angeles lakers - nba finals
Proud member of the