NBA Playoff Betting Picks: Dirk Nowitzki vs Kobe Bryant ! FINALLY!
Monday, May 02, 2011
by BetUS.com
They were drafted two years apart in the lottery, with many people very unsure of how much they would bolster any team’s NBA playoff betting viability. Yet here they are, ready to do battle and punch that lone ticket to the Western Conference Finals. Of course, I speak of the incomparable Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant who have played in the NBA for a combined 26 years and never once faced each other in the playoffs. This should be pretty fun, as long as you’re on the right side of the NBA betting line.
It also helps boost anyone willing to back the Dallas Mavericks that they’re an inexplicable 9-0-1 ATS in their last 10 games. That record comes with a slight caveat since the Mavericks are also just 2-5 SU in their last 7 games on the road and curiously vulnerable against the Lakers. The only team that can apparently deal with the awesome size of Kobe’s team is Memphis, so you have to wonder if Dallas can do enough to off-set the Lakers’ big men from the perimeter.
- Dallas Mavericks (57-25) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25)
Monday, May 2 --- STAPLES Center --- 10:30pm EST
NBA Playoff Betting Line:
Los Angeles -5.5 (188.5)
That might not be such an easy thing to push your money towards in NBA playoff betting, especially when you consider that the Mavericks are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games overall against the Lakers and 1-6 SU in their last 7 visits. It’s worth mentioning that the Lakers have usually made it a point to dominate the Mavericks in terms of wins, going 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
In general, the series history would push the numbers against the Mavericks. However, the Lakers have not been dominant in the playoffs. They beat the Hornets 4-2 SU but went 3-3 ATS with two home losses against the NBA playoff betting line. I have always said that the Lakers are an iffy take at home, and when you consider that they’re 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home stands it makes the Mavericks the logical choice.
The fans will get caught up in the Dirk vs. Kobe drama as usual, but that doesn’t mean the handicappers and betting community will have to. In three games this season, Dirk averaged 22.0 points and 10.3 rebounds against the Lakers and should do just enough to push his emotional band of supporting players to the wall and drive the slightly overrated Lakers to the brink at home. I’ll take a dogfight in a first-ever meeting between two superstars over a blowout the majority of the time.
BetUS Sportsbook Furious NBA Playoff Betting Picks – Dallas +5.5 (UNDER)
BONUS PICKS!
- Atlanta Hawks +8.5 over CHICAGO BULLS
From a betting standpoint, it would be irresponsible of you not to take the Atlanta Hawks in this game considering how they cleaned Orlando’s clock. Chicago didn’t exactly convince us that they were an NBA playoff betting beast against Indiana. Still, the road record of the Hawks is not exactly enticing.
Atlanta has gone just 1-6 SU and 3-4 ATS in their last 7 road games, which includes a 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS record on the road against Orlando in round one. The injury to Kirk Hinrich has to be a bit nerve wracking, especially with this team devoid of a true point man, but I am way more concerned about Carlos Boozer’s turf toe.
If any of you gamble on NFL games (or did so in the past now that it’s apparently gone forever), then you’re familiar with this outrageously painful injury which involves the toe being yanked from its socket. Not exactly ideal when – ya know – you’re almost 270 pounds and pivoting on it all day long.
The injury to Hinrich isn’t that much of a concern since Jamal Crawford can step in anyways. The loss of Boozer in any respect is a big blow to the Bulls, especially since his lack of production (10.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game) against the Pacers is exactly why they struggled to cover. That’s why my NBA playoff betting pick has to go with the spread bursting Hawks for the time being until we see some consistency out of Chicago that won’t arrive until Boozer is fully healthy.
Bet on NBA Basketball Playoff games with BetUS Sportsbook, click here!
Related Articles
- NBA Basketball Picks: Bulls, Lakers in Tough Positions for Game 2
- Basketball Betting Pick: Which Teams Should You Bet On Friday ?
- NBA Odds: Atlanta Battles Chicago and Lakers Take on Dallas
- Betting on Basketball: NBA Releases 66-Game 2011-12 Schedule
- NBA Playoff Odds: Bulls vs Hawks and Lakers vs Mavericks on May 6
Category
Tags
atlanta hawks - carlos boozer - chicago bulls - dallas mavericks - dirk nowitzki - jamal crawford - kirk hinrich - kobe bryant - los angeles lakers - nba playoff betting
