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SAN ANTONIO SPURS (57-29) at LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (58-28)

2015-04-29

The Clippers and Spurs battle for a lead in the series when the two teams meet in Los Angeles for Game 5 on Tuesday.

The Clippers went into San Antonio down 2-1 in Game 4 Sunday and played an unbelievable game, winning 114-105 as 6-point underdogs. Los Angeles was in a must-win situation and came through on both ends of the floor, shooting 53.6percent from the field and also holding the Spurs to 44.0percent shooting. The Clippers desperately needed to shoot the ball well, as they could have suffered from a loss of confidence after shooting 34.1percent from the field in Game 3. These teams have now split victories both SU and ATS in this series. Two of the games have gone Under the total and the other two both went Over. Over the past three seasons, these teams have split victories both SU and ATS when playing at Staples Center. San Antonio is 10-0 ATS after a game committing eight or less turnovers this season and gets to face a Clippers team that is 4-13 ATS in home games after a combined score of 215 points or more on the season. The Spurs are not currently dealing with any injuries and both SF Matt Barnes (Shoulder) and PF Blake Griffin (Shoulder) are probable for the Clippers in this one.

The Spurs were unable to take a 3-1 lead by defeating the Clippers at home in Game 4 and will now look to steal a win in Los Angeles in order to give themselves a chance to close it out at home in Game 6. SF Kawhi Leonard (24.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 BPG in playoffs) had 26 points, seven boards and five assists in 40 minutes of action on Sunday. Leonard is shooting 56.3percent from the outside over the past five games and has been outstanding on both sides of the ball. It would not be surprising at all if the Spurs turn him loose offensively in this one. He is one of the only players who has consistently created his own shot in this series. PF Tim Duncan (16.3 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.3 BPG in playoffs) had 22 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in Game 4. He did, however, foul out in the game and must be more disciplined on the defensive end. He has been able to score around the basket, but he hasnt done a good job of defending Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan when called upon. PG Tony Parker (8.8 PPG, 2.5 APG in playoffs) had 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field in Game 4. It was his best offensive performance of the postseason and hell need to find a way to be effective in Game 5.

The Clippers won a huge game on the road in Game 4 and PG Chris Paul (23.5 PPG, 6.0 APG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG in playoffs) caught fire for Los Angeles. Paul had 34 points and seven assists in 38 minutes of action and has torched every Spurs guard that has tried to cover him so far. Hell need to continue to be aggressive as a scorer moving forward, as San Antonio does not have an answer for him. PF Blake Griffin (22.3 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.3 SPG in playoffs) has also had a fantastic series for the Clippers. Griffin had 20 points, 19 boards, seven assists and a steal in 43 minutes of action on Sunday. His speed has been too much to handle for Tim Duncan and hell need to continue to attack the rim moving forward. C DeAndre Jordan (11.3 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.0 BPG) has had everybodys back defensively in this series and blocked four shots in Game 4. He is, however, shooting just 33.3percent from the line in this series and has been a liability at times when the Spurs turn to the Hack-a-Shaq. One player who really stepped his game up in Game 4 was PG Austin Rivers (8.3 PPG in playoffs). Rivers had 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field and provided the scoring spark that Los Angeles needed to get over the hump.

March Madness Bracket
2015-02-15

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Can Mikhail Prokhorov turn the Nets around?
2010-06-25

With the exception of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, most of the other owners in the NBA stay out of the spotlight. However, it appears that Cuban may have to share some of the attention in the years to come. The new owner of the New Jersey Nets has generated a great deal of notice in recent weeks. Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has brought a new dynamic to the NBA. It appears that he will do whatever it takes to turn the Nets franchise around. Prokhorov inherits a team that is coming off of one of the worst seasons in the history of the NBA. In the 2009-10 campaign, the Nets were on the verge of posting a dubious feat for a good portion of the year. The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers set a mark of futility by posting a 9-73 record. The 2009-10 Nets dropped its first 18 contests of the season, and the NBA betting community closed the door on them. As the year progressed, things didn't get much better. After 70 games, New Jersey held a record of 7-63. The Nets were on the brink of a record that no team wanted to be associated with. The club was able to post a respectable 5-7 mark in the final 12 games of the year to avoid the 76ers record. Still, a 12-70 record has left the Nets with a lot of work to do heading into the 2010-11 season.

There are some glimmers of hope heading into the upcoming year for the Nets. New Jersey has a chance to build around one of the top young centers in the league. 22-year-old Brook Lopez was the lone bright spot for the Nets last season. In just his second year in the league, he averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds per outing. In the backcourt, point guard Devin Harris (17 points, 7 assists per game last season) is a solid performer. He will be looking to stay on the floor a little more often next year. Harris has missed 18 or more games in each of the last three seasons. The upcoming draft should provide some help for the club. In a deep draft, the Nets will have 3 of the first 31 selections. New Jersey will have the third overall choice in the draft. The Nets should be able to get an impact frontcourt performer to compliment Lopez. New Jersey will also have selections at spots 27 and 31. With his deep pockets, Prokhorov could be active in this summer's free agency period. He will likely make a strong run at league MVP LeBron James. If Prokhorov is unable to land James, there are several other big names available for the Nets to pursue.

After last year's disaster, the Nets will have a new coach prowling the sidelines this season. It appears that former Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson will be the club's choice. He took Dallas to the NBA Finals back in 2006. Fans of the Nets will be able to watch the club at a new arena in Brooklyn in two years. With Prokhorov's aggressive approach, New Jersey could be a factor in the Eastern Conference quicker than expected.

Are you ready for some NBA betting? Are you betting the Nets are going to turn it around in 2010-2011? Head over to www.sportsbook.com the king of NBA betting.

NBA: Atlanta at Milwaukee 7:00E ESPN
2010-04-30

Though the hip-hop generation of NBA players likely doesn’t include many U2 fans, a song comes to mind watching Atlanta and Milwaukee the last three games, “Desire”. Milwaukee has shown it, Atlanta hasn’t, thus the reason the Bucks have a chance to close out the first round series on Friday night at home. Sportsbook oddsmakers have other ideas though, making the downtrodden Hawks the favorites by 2-points.

The Bucks Game 5 performance in pulling the 91-87 upset as nine-point favorites was unremarkable, given the fact they shot 40.3 percent for the game, were outscored at the center position 25-4 and saw various players disappear for long stretches even when they were on the floor.

Yet, if one game defines a team and its coach, it was Game 5 for Milwaukee with their desire. Scott Skiles grinded away as a college and NBA player and his less-talented contingent played like he did his whole career. This Bucks team is 14-4 ATS in home games after playing as a road underdog this season and goes for the first real big surprise of the playoffs.

Atlanta showed what they were made of as Josh Smith, Al Horford, Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford all decided individually they were going to be “the man” and went about their business trying to take their defenders one on one with passing the ball be damned. Once again the Hawks proved they are not mature TEAM and that they lack heart. Peering ahead it is little wonder this team is 1-10 ATS revenging a home loss this season.

Sportsbook.com still has the more talent-laden Atlanta squad as two-point favorites, however it would take a large dosage of courage to back a team that is 1-10 SU and ATS on the playoff road the last three seasons. Milwaukee was the best spread team in the NBA this campaign and it is continuing in the playoffs. They are 20-6 ATS having covered the spread in three or more consecutive contests.

Tip-time for tonight’s game is 7:00 PM ET, and the StatFox Power Line shows Milwaukee should be favored by 4-points.

NBA: Raptors invade Atlanta seeking playoff bid
2010-04-09

The Toronto Raptors find themselves in a difficult spot with just four games remaining in the NBA’s regular season. While tied with the Bulls for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as of this morning, Toronto needs a win in a city it has struggled, Atlanta, all the while hoping to avoid looking ahead to Sunday’s showdown with Chicago. Making matters worse, Raptors star Chris Bosh could be sidelined for the rest of the season. Sportsbook.com has installed the host Hawks as 9-point favorites for Friday’s contest.

Three weeks ago, Bosh helped the Toronto Raptors take advantage of the absence of Atlanta Hawks leading scorer Joe Johnson. While Johnson might be out again Friday night in Atlanta, the Raptors won’t be able to rely on Bosh this time. Attempting to close in on the Eastern Conference’s final playoff berth, Toronto will try to overcome the loss of its leading scorer and rebounder and win in Atlanta for the first time in nearly 2 1/2 years.

Bosh made a 16-foot jumper with 2.1 seconds left in a 106-105 home victory over the Hawks on March 17, while Johnson sat with a strained Achilles’. That shot is one of the reasons Toronto (38-40, 35-41-2 ATS) is still battling Chicago for the eighth playoff spot in the East.

The Raptors will have to beat out the Bulls without Bosh, who’s expected to be sidelined for “weeks” while recovering from surgery to repair a facial fracture. The All-Star forward, whose averaging career bests of 24.0 points and 10.8 rebounds, suffered the injury when he took an inadvertent elbow from Cleveland forward Antawn Jamison in a 113-101 loss Tuesday.

The next night, Hedo Turkoglu bumped heads with Boston’s Tony Allen as Toronto dropped its third straight, 115-104. Turkoglu remains day-to-day after a CT scan showed no major injuries.

“When it rains it pours, I guess,” swingman Antoine Wright said. “We’re dropping like flies right now.” The spread losses are piling up as well with 4-14 ATS record after allowing 100 or more points.

Those injuries could hurt the Raptors, who are 6-13 ATS off SU loss, during a pivotal two-game stretch against the Hawks (49-29, 44-33-1 ATS) and Bulls, who visit Toronto on Sunday.

Heading to Atlanta doesn’t seem like a good way to begin as they’re winless in four trips (1-3 ATS) since a 100-88 victory Dec. 11, 2007. The Raptors, though, could have an opportunity to snap that skid if Johnson misses his fourth straight game with a sprained right thumb.

Before the loss in March, the Hawks had won four straight over Toronto with their leading scorer (21.2 ppg) in the lineup, including the first two meetings this season. In the previous matchup in Atlanta, they broke a Philips Arena scoring record with a 146-115 victory Dec. 2. Al Horford scored 24 points to lead nine Hawks players in double figures.

Atlanta, though, has scored 94.3 points per game - 7.3 below its season average - over its last nine contests, topping 100 just once. Despite those scoring struggles, the Hawks have won 10 straight at home (6-4 ATS), their longest streak since taking 20 straight from Nov. 12, 1996-Feb. 12, 1997.

Adding to that run would give Atlanta its first 50-win season since 1997-98 and also help in the race for the East’s No. 3 seed. The Hawks enter Friday tied with Boston with four games remaining for both clubs and they are 6-2 ATS if their opponent cracked the century mark in points in previous outing.

They’ll face a Raptors team that’s allowed at least 113 points in four straight games and an average of 108.7 during a 7-16 stretch. That could help the Hawks deliver a better performance than in Wednesday’s 90-88 loss at Detroit. Against a team that was missing five players, Atlanta blew a nine-point lead, getting outscored 25-16 in the fourth quarter.

Sportsbook.com released the Hawks as nine-point favorites with total of 202.5 in this battle of Eastern Conference clubs fighting for positioning in the playoffs. Atlanta is 14-4 ATS vs. Atlantic Division teams and 9-3 OVER off a spread loss.

Toronto is 4-1-1 ATS in last six road encounters, but 9-23 ATS if last outing was double digit loss. The Raptors are 7-3 OVER after a spread defeat.

This matchup begins at 7:30 Eastern in local TV markets with the favorite 10-3 ATS.

The StatFox Power Line shows Atlanta by 9, almost as if oddsmakers simply looked at that number before releasing it.