NBA Odds: Atlanta Battles Chicago and Lakers Take on Dallas
Monday, May 02, 2011
by BetUS.com
The online NBA Playoff betting train continues to chug along with two games in the second round on Monday, May 2.
The Atlanta Hawks, surprise winners of their first round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, battles the Chicago Bulls while the Los Angeles Lakers, the two-time defending NBA Champions, take on the Dallas Mavericks. Keep reading for previews of each game below.
NBA Playoffs – May 2 Games
- Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
When: 8:00 pm EST
BetUS Sportsbook NBA Odds: Atlanta +8 ½
Analysis: The Chicago Bulls are close to a 9 point online NBA Playoff odds betting favorite in Game 1 of their second round series against the Atlanta Hawks. So far, 36% of hoops handicappers believe that the Bulls will cover the spread. A huge 64% of handicappers are all over the ATL in this one. I’m one of the 64%. Why? Chicago covered in only 2 of the 5 games they played against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.
The Atlanta Hawks were 5 and 1 against the spread in their last 6 games against the Orlando Magic in their first round playoff series. Anybody who watched those games in the first round realizes that the Atlanta Hawks are a different team than the one that lost 114 to 81 to the Chicago Bulls on March 22, the last time that these two teams faced each other. Atlanta allowed Derrick Rose and the Bulls to score 41 points in the second half of that game. The Hawks gave up 72 points in the first half of that contest. Atlanta is much better than that now and should have no trouble keeping Game 1 within the 8 ½ point number.
- Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
When: 10:30 pm EST
BetUS Sportsbook NBA Odds: Dallas -6
Analysis: When push came to shove against the New Orleans Hornets and the brilliant Chris Paul, the real L.A. Lakers came to play blowing out the Hornets 98 to 80 in Game 6 of their first round playoff series and easily covering a NBA betting spread of 5 ½ points. The Lakers now host the very, very talented, and hungry, Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their series on May 2. L.A. is going to seriously have to step things up on Monday against the Mavericks.
The Lakers inside game started to come together versus New Orleans towards the end of that series, but facing off against the Hornets’ frontline and taking on Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Shawn Marion, Dallas’s frontline, is a different thing altogether. Marion, Nowitzki and Chandler make up one of the best frontlines in the NBA with Dirk being one of the Top 5 players in the league.
I just don’t see anybody on L.A.’s frontline capable of guarding Dirk. That could spell the word D-O-O-M for the Lakers in this series. Dallas should come out swinging and they showed in the first round that they have the ability to beat a good team on the road with a 103 to 96 victory over the Portland Trailblazers in the Rose Garden in Game 6. Dallas might be worth backing on the NBA Playoff moneyline odds. That’s what I’m going to do in this contest on May 2.
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atlanta hawks - chicago bulls - chris paul - dallas mavericks - derrick rose - dirk nowitzki - los angeles lakers - nba betting - nba champions - nba playoff betting
